CBC’s popular unscripted show, The Assembly, is set to make a comeback for its second season, featuring six new celebrity interviews and an expanded cast of over 30 neurodivergent and autistic adults as interviewers. Among the notable celebrity guests facing the questions are actors Hudson Williams from Heated Rivalry, Zach Galifianakis known for The Hangover, and Jay Baruchel from This is the End.
The upcoming season will also showcase interviews with renowned personalities like actor and Miss Universe Canada Ashley Callingbull, singer-songwriter Lights, and three-time Olympic hockey gold medalist Marie-Philip Poulin. Each celebrity will engage in candid and personal ask-anything interviews, delving beyond the usual promotional discussions to create real and unexpected connections.
Building on the success of the first season, The Assembly embraces a diverse mix of familiar faces from the previous season alongside fresh participants, fostering genuine exchanges, humor, and moments of revelation. The show’s format, inspired by the French program Les Rencontres du Papotin, has garnered international acclaim with adaptations featuring global figures like Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, and David Tennant.
The inaugural season of CBC’s The Assembly received accolades including a Canadian Screen Award for best direction, three Telly Awards, and a Golden Sheaf Award at the Yorkton Film Festival, in addition to a Banff Rockie Award nomination. Executive producers Jennifer Dettman and Stephen Sawchuk express excitement for the new season, promising more heartfelt, humorous, and authentic conversations that resonate with audiences’ yearning for genuine human connections.
Produced by Vancouver-based Small Army Entertainment, The Assembly Season 2 premieres on Sunday, November 1, at 9 p.m. ET on CBC TV and CBC Gem. Exclusive “producer’s cuts” will be available for streaming on CBC Gem starting at 9 a.m. ET on the same day.