TV Guide Canada recently released it’s 2013 Television Critics Poll: Canada’s Best in Show. Sixteen of Canada’s top television editors and critics across the country were asked to rank Canadian television series. The results were interesting, suggesting that critical darlings are not always the shows with mass appeal, or the best ratings. Though it was a no-brainer that breakout hit Orphan Black got the top spot, the real surprise was that seemingly popular shows like Heartland, Degrassi and Arctic Air were at the bottom of the list. Television critics who participated in the poll included Amber Dowling (TV Guide Canada), John Doyle (Globe and Mail), Brent Furdyk (TV Week), Scott Stinson (National Post), Eric Volmers (Calgary Herald) and Tony Wong (Toronto Star), amongst others.

The Critics' Top Ten Rankings:

1. Orphan Black (Space) 2. Seed (City) 3. The Amazing Race Canada (CTV) 4. Murdoch Mysteries (CBC) 5. Call Me Fitz (Movie Network/Movie Central)     Republic of Doyle (CBC)     Rookie Blue (Global) 6. Lost Girl (Showcase) 7. Bomb Girls (Global) 8. Continuum (Showcase) 9. Motive (CTV) 10. Less than Kind (HBO Canada)

Orphan Black image courtesy of Bell Media