New laughs and must-see drama coming to CBC in August
August brings a fresh wave of must-watch content, starting with the vibrant comedy special FreeUp! Emancipation Day 2025: Jokes, Jokes, Jokes, and a new season of the time-travelling drama Plan B, where a determined mother will do whatever it takes to save her daughter.
Get ready to laugh with a new season of The New Wave of Standup, spotlighting 14 fresh and fearless comedians.
Plus, more episodes of the offbeat cult favourite Portlandia, and the thought-provoking podcast Personally: Forever is a Long Time. There's something for everyone throughout August on CBC.
FreeUp! Emancipation Day 2025: Jokes, Jokes, Jokes - Watch Free on CBC Gem.
A fresh take on marking Emancipation Day in Canada — an eight-episode comedy series for CBC Gem that centres truth, joy and resistance. Each digital short features one of Canada's sharpest comics — Chris Robinson, Lisa Berry, Daniel Woodrow, Ngozi Paul, Keesha Brownie, Alan Shane Lewis, Hoodo Hersi and Tamara Shevon — taking the mic to share stories, observations and moments only they could deliver.
This is freedom experienced live and unfiltered through humour, honesty and the immediacy of stand-up comedy. From family dynamics and historical absurdities to everyday truths, FreeUp! Emancipation Day 2025 is an open invitation to laugh, think, and genuinely connect. Because sometimes the most radical thing we have is laughter.
Plan B - New Season - Watch Free starting August 8 on CBC Gem
The third season of the time-travel anthology adapted from the Radio-Canada original series. Abigail Walker, a woman devastated by her daughter Lucy's suicide, repeatedly travels back in time to prevent it. Each attempt to alter the past leads to unforeseen consequences, forcing Abigail to confront difficult truths about her relationships and the limitations of her control over Lucy's life.
The New Wave of Standup - Watch Free August 29 on CBC Gem
The laughs keep coming on a new season with 14 of Canada's hottest new comics gathered for one hilarious night of standup as part of the JFL NorthWest Festival in Vancouver. These rising stars each headline their own 10-minute episode exclusively for CBC Gem.
Portlandia - New Season - Watch Free starting August 1 on CBC Gem
Visit the quirky and hilarious world of Portlandia, where the mundane becomes absurd. Created by and starring comedy duo Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein along with an assortment of guest stars including Kyle MacLachlan, Aubrey Plaza, Kumail Nanjiani, and Jason Sudeikis.
Podcast
Personally: Forever is a Long Time - available now on CBC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.
When Ian Coss decided to get married, every living member of his family who had ever been married had also gotten divorced: parents, grandparents, and all his aunts and uncles on both sides — some of them twice.
Today, he has questions: What is the value of a lifetime commitment? Are we doomed to recycle the patterns of behaviour we get from our ancestors? Are we all just better off alone? Forever is a Long Time is a five-episode series that weaves reflection and original music through Ian's conversations with his wife and divorced family members — a look at love with people who have made mistakes.
Looking for more? Get inspired with Season 8 of countryside renovation series Chateau DIY (August 1) and international luxury cuisine takes centre stage in the exclusive Canadian premiere of Big Zuu and AJ Tracey's Rich Flavours (August 8). Grab the popcorn and stream Greta Gerwig's directorial debut, Academy Award-nominated coming-of-age story Lady Bird (August 22), and Australian drama The Royal Hotel (August 29) starring Julia Garner.
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