How 'Schitt's Creek' honors fans in final season: 'You don't want to disrespect them'

PASADENA, Calif. – As sad as it may be, the journey to "Schitt's Creek" is coming to an end.

The sixth and final season of PopTV's critically acclaimed sitcom began last week (Tuesdays, 9 EST/PST), and although the cast isn't quite ready to say goodbye to each other quite yet, co-creator and star Dan Levy knew it was time for the story to end.

"None of us necessarily wanted to end it," Levy said at a farewell panel for the comedy series at the Television Critics Association Monday. "I could work with this team of people forever. But at the same time, you have to respect the viewer who has tuned in for 80 episodes of the show. You don't want to disrespect them."

Levy co-created the series – about a vapid wealthy family that loses everything and has to move to a dinky small town with an unusual name – with his father, actor Eugene Levy ("SCTV," "American Pie"). The father-son duo had the advantage of deciding exactly how "Schitt's" would end, and said six seasons were what they needed to tell the story.

The finale "was more or less how I pictured it," Dan Levy said. "It surpassed my expectations ... 80% was how I pictured it in my head and 20% was magic."

The series grew from relative obscurity on nascent network PopTV to a cult hit, in large part thanks to its availability on Netflix, and the cast couldn't be happier about the largely positive and joyful fan base.

"People felt like they had found something no one else had ever seen, and they were telling their friends," Levy said. "This show seems to be supported by people who are just enthusiastic. We haven’t had to hire skywriters to get people to watch it. It has been grassroots. ... The enthusiasm is so extraordinary to see and hold and interact with."

"Our viewers are lovely people who badger their friends and family relentlessly," joked co-star Catherine O'Hara, another veteran of "SCTV" and Christopher Guest movies, adding that the show has gotten so much more love than many of her other projects. "I’ve never had this kind of attention."

The Levys, O'Hara and their co-star Annie Murphy were mum on details about the final season, including whether the Rose family decides to stay in Schitt's Creek permanently. But they're hopeful that the finale will please dedicated fans.

"I think the final season is just a natural culmination in how things naturally work themselves out in terms of relationships and character growth," Levy said. "It all kind of points to a very satisfying ending."

Added O'Hara: "You do get the answers."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Schitt's Creek' finale: How the sitcom honors fans