said much the show's "charm" is derived from seeing Levy and O'Hara portray "extreme, unsympathetic characters," further arguing that only the seasoned professionals "could pull off the levels of deadpan required to convince us that, say, the parents can't remember their own daughter's middle name." Brian Moylan of The Guardian called the series a nice "recipe for these two comedy vets to stretch their chops." Moze Halperin of Flavorwire had a decidedly different reaction, calling Levy and O'Hara's performances "vacated" and "more actorly than comedic." As the series progressed, critics reacted with far more praise. Vulture's Maggie Fremont declared Levy and O'Hara's characters the emotional "anchor" of the show, and Caroline Framke of Variety called the actor pairing a "reliable goldmine." Critics also noted how Johnny Rose is a departure from most of Levy's previous roles. People Magazine's Gillian Telling said that rather than a "bumbling oaf or super-nerd," Johnny Rose was "stronger" and "more confident." Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair also called the role "against type" and Levy's portrayal smart and "surprisingly dashing." The Guardian's Brian Moylan further appreciated the turn, saying the role let the actor be in "much finer form" than some of his previous roles. And Julie Miller, in a retrospective article on the character for Vanity Fair, declared Levy as Johnny Rose "may be the most brilliant of the actor’s nearly 50-year career—a masterclass in his deadpan gift." Accolades For his work as Johnny Rose, Levy has been nominated for four consecutive Canadian Screen Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role, beginning in 2016. He subsequently won the award in 2016, beating out his on and off-screen son, Dan Levy. As part of the ensemble cast, the elder Levy also won two Canadian Screen Awards for Best Comedy in 2016 and 2019, with an additional nomination in 2017. In 2019, Levy received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. In 2019, Levy and the Schitt's Creek cast were also honored with the ACTRA Award for Member's Choice Series Ensemble, an award for which they were also nominated in 2017 and 2018. The ensemble scored additional wins for TV Comedy of the Year and Unsung TV Show of the Year as part of the 2019 Dorian Awards. Other 2019 cast nominations included a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Comedy Series; a Critics Choice Award for Best Comedy