Shelved: “Like The Office, but in a library.”

June 11, 2022

One of the highlights from this week’s Bell Media upfront was the announcement that CTV had picked up a new series from Counterfeit Pictures and Anthony Q. Farrell called Shelved, a comedy centred around the employees and patrons at the fictional Jameson Public Library in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood.

Anthony Q. Farrell is a writer and producer, known for Overlord and the Underwoods (2021), The Office (2005) and Secret Life of Boys (2015).

From Bell Media’s News Release:

From Anthony Q. Farrell (THE OFFICE) and Counterfeit Pictures, new CTV Original single-camera work-place comedy, SHELVED, is centered around the lives of the employees and patrons at the Jameson Public Library in Parkdale.

SHELVED – CTV Set in the Jameson Public Library in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood, SHELVED is a single-camera, workplace comedy that follows the employees and patrons as they go about their lives in this unassuming and extraordinary place. (Counterfeit)

In a Bell Media promo article in The Lede, Justin Stockman (VP, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media) described Shelved:

“There’s good pedigree as far as knowing how to do a workplace comedy, because Anthony Q. Farrell, who worked on THE OFFICE for several seasons as a writer, is involved. It takes place at the Parkdale Library, and there’s a place like Parkdale in every city, where the troubled neighborhood meets gentrification. There are many elements there, with different types of people dealing with everyday challenges.”

Counterfeit Pictures’ website offers some more details about the show, including some of the writers, producers, and directors:

Like The Office, but in a library.

Libraries are amazing places—Noble institutions boasting thousands of years of history. They provide services that are unique and incredibly unheralded. They’ve raised the bar so high that it’s impossible for the people that work there to reach it anymore. No matter what they do, we want more. Do you realize that anyone can walk into one of those buildings and read a whole book? Or watch a movie? Or use the Internet? Or build a resume? Or learn an instrument? And all for free. Free! How are librarians not showered with praise and treasures? We just take it all for granted. It’s crazy!

Shelved is a single-camera comedy set in a small downtown branch of the public library. The series follows the employees and patrons as they go about their lives in this unassuming and extraordinary place. Libraries are community centres with unlimited obstacles and endless characters. Ours, in particular, is one of the lesser-funded branches: A forgotten place for forgotten people.

From creator Anthony Q. Farrell

Cast
To Be Announced

Writers
Anthony Q. Farrell, Jay Vaidya, Brandon Hackett, Sadiya Durrani, Eva Thomas

Executive Producers
Shane Corkery, Dan Bennett, Anton Leo, Anthony Q. Farrell,

Producer
Colin Brunton

Director
Aleysa Young, Joyce Wong, Cory Bowles, Cazhhmere, Samantha MacAdam

Like… this is dope news. I’m excited. https://t.co/DDzByH0RAx

— Anthony Q. Farrell (@aqfarrell) June 10, 2022

There is no news yet on when the show will premiere. This is a developing story so keep an eye out for updates.