Why Stevie Is Missing From Two Schitt's Creek Episodes

Stevie, Schitt's Creek's sarcastic motel employee, appeared in every episode of the sitcom except for two. Here's what those episodes are.

Why Stevie Is Missing From Two Schitt's Creek Episodes

Stevie, the sarcastic clerk (and later owner) of the motel in Schitt’s Creek, is a major part of the show; however, her character is missing from two episodes of the Canadian sitcom. Schitt’s Creek is notable for its colorful cast of characters, especially the Rose family, who are forced to move to the small town after losing all of their money. However, Stevie, played by Emily Hampshire, is also a much-loved character due to her sharp sense of humor and endearing friendship with David (Dan Levy). Though Stevie is a significant character throughout Schitt’s Creek, she is only in 78 of the show’s 80 episodes.

Pre-Schitt’s Creek, Emily Hampshire’s credits included two episodes of the ’90s Nickelodeon horror anthology Are You Afraid of the Dark?, some voice acting roles, and a co-starring role in the 90s rom-com Boy Meets Girl alongside Stranger Things‘ Sean Astin. However, Hampshire has said in an interview (via POPSUGAR) that during the year before she got cast on Schitt’s Creek, she struggled, unable to book any roles. In the same interview, Hampshire also explains that she reluctantly did an in-person audition for Schitt’s Creek in front of Dan Levy. Though she was incredibly nervous and has no recollection of the audition, Levy thought her audition was great, and Hampshire landed the role that brought her critical acclaim.

The two Schitt’s Creek episodes that Stevie is absent in are season 3, episode 9, “The Affair,” and season 4, episode 10, “Baby Sprinkle.” “The Affair” focuses on three storylines: Moira (Catherine O’Hara) and Roland (Chris Elliot) go to a convention and hilarity ensues after she accidentally falls asleep in his bed, Alexis (Annie Murphy) drives a wedge between David (Dan Levy) and Patrick (Noah Reid), and Patrick gets involved in David’s new business. In “Baby Sprinkle,” Jocelyn (Jennifer Robertson) recruits David to plan her baby shower, Moira and Johnny (Eugene Levy) research a dating group for the town’s upcoming Singles Week event, and Alexis receives a visit from some old friends. Though she does not appear, characters in both episodes make passing references to Stevie. In “The Affair,” Johnny mentions that Stevie’s name is on the sign-out sheet to borrow the car, while in “Baby Sprinkle,” Johnny explains to Moira that Stevie is helping Roland run the motel while he accompanies Moira to a singles’ group.

One reason for Stevie’s absence in those episodes could relate to her role in the Syfy sci-fi series 12 Monkeys, which aired around the same time as Schitt’s Creek. A loose adaptation of the 1995 Brad Pitt film of the same name, 12 Monkeys focused on James Cole (Aaron Stanford) and Cassie Railly (Amanda Schull), two strangers brought together on a mission to use time travel to stop the Army of the 12 Monkeys, a mysterious organization. Emily Hampshire played Jennifer Goines, a math genius who is introduced as a recurring character but was promoted to a series regular in 12 Monkeys season 2. It seems like she was able to balance her schedule between both shows for the most part, but there might have been scheduling conflicts that led to Hampshire being unavailable for two episodes of Schitt’s Creek.

There isn’t a concrete reason to explain Stevie’s absence in two Schitt’s Creek episodes, but there are enough entertaining storylines happening in both episodes to make up for her disappearance. However, Stevie has a presence that benefits the show for the better. Thankfully, the majority of Schitt’s Creek episodes feature plenty of Stevie and her wisecracks.