"Corner Gas"

[Technobuilder]

"Corner Gas" created by: Brent Butt

I'd heard of this show before, but knew nothing more about it until recently when a friend from University showed me a random episode over the course of an "Un-Birthday Party". (Something we try to do once or twice a year as a way of maintaining friendships, celebrating birthdays & Holidays, and generally just keeping in contact now that many of us have moved several states apart.)

Any who...

I've been watching the first season on YouTube, since I'm one of those people who (once I've decided to watch a series) starts from the beginning, and I wanted to mention it here and get a read on what others thought of it. From what I understand it's Canadian in origin and airs in the U.S. on WGN Superstation.

It's nothing fancy and deceptively simple, yet it contains a complex sense of humor, sarcasm, and wit that makes me glad I've found it.

It kind of reminds me of the situations that would arise amongst the denizens of "Stars Hollow" on Gilmore Girls, and that sort of rather particular quirkiness may in fact be one of the reasons I've enjoyed it so much thus far.

I don't know, I'm still getting into it. But I thought I'd see what other peoples thoughts were of the show and it's cast.

Official Site:
http://www.cornergas.com/

IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397138/

Corner Gas - EpGuide:
http://epguides.com/CornerGas/

Complete Seasons:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CornerGasSeason1
http://www.youtube.com/user/CornerGasSeason2
http://www.youtube.com/user/CornerGasSeason3
http://www.youtube.com/user/CornerGasSeason4
http://www.youtube.com/user/CornerGasSeason5
http://www.youtube.com/user/CornerGasSeason6

 

[Phillip Culley]

Make the most of it - the current season (Season 6) is the last one...

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

It figures that they only TV show you can make in small-town Saskatchewan is a TV show about... Small-town Saskatchewan. I once visited the actual town where they shoot the series, and it in fact is exactly what you see on the show. Truly eerie.

Mark

 

[firehawk12]

There's a thread on the show every once in a while, which is kind of nice.

Anyway, I guess it's another habit show for me. I'm glad they toned down the "WE'RE CANADIAN LOOK AT OUR CELEBRITIES" gimmick that they used in the last few years, but S3 was when they really lost me.

That said, I must admit that the Keifer cameo was pretty outstanding.

 

[Ashu]

What I like about Corner Gas is that when they have cameos, they dont over publicize it. It usually just happens. My two favourite cameos were when Ben Mulroney was on, and when the Tragically Hip were on

"I dont care what the poets are doing, get your stuff and skidaddle"

"Doctor! We need a doctor! Is anyone here a doctor?" "No...but I'm..Ben Mulroney" "oohh.."

 

[Canadave]

The first season is absolutely fantastic, IMO. Seasons 2 and 3 were pretty good as well, but since then it's been fairly uneven. It's still enjoyable enough, just not as hilarious as it was when it first started.

 

[firehawk12]

What I like about Corner Gas is that when they have cameos, they dont over publicize it. It usually just happens. My two favourite cameos were when Ben Mulroney was on, and when the Tragically Hip were on

"I dont care what the poets are doing, get your stuff and skidaddle"

"Doctor! We need a doctor! Is anyone here a doctor?" "No...but I'm..Ben Mulroney" "oohh.."

Yeah, but I'll say this again... could you imagine Bush showing up on Friends or Obama showing up on The Big Bang Theory? When PMs start showing up on the show, that's got to be a shark jumping moment.

 

[Ashu]

Well, there's always PMs involvement with Rick Mercer. I mean, can you see Stewert or Colbert spending the night at the Presidents house?

 

[firehawk12]

Rick Mercer jumped the shark after the "Talking to Americans" thing.

 

[Ashu]

Yes, but I'd still marry him.


...If he wasn't gay.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Yeah, but I'll say this again... could you imagine Bush showing up on Friends or Obama showing up on The Big Bang Theory? When PMs start showing up on the show, that's got to be a shark jumping moment.

(sorry for the bump, I'm just on a Corner Gas high at the moment)

The Secret Service would never allow that. AFAIK, present *and* past Presidents get lifetime protection. They wouldn't be allowed within five miles of a movie or TV set. (Canada must have different rules for protecting its politicians.)

 

[T'Baio]

We just don't have people in the world with hard ons to kill our leaders, actually.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Plus, your politicians must be better actors.

(Love that bit with Adrienne Clarkson: "Take THAT, you stupid barn!" )

 

[firehawk12]

What about Late Night TV though? Obama's been on Leno or something since he was elected, hasn't he?

 

[23skidoo]

Why would having a PM on Corner Gas be a "shark jumping moment"? If anything it affirms the show's importance because it was the only show of its kind to get sitting political leaders to appear -- and lampoon themselves, yet.

I'll never forget when then-PM Paul Martin appeared on the show. It was literally the night before the sponsorship scandal broke which brought down his government. That was news.

Corner Gas wasn't a perfect show by any means, but it was still far and away the best sitcom Canada has produced in years and one of the first to actually generate international appeal (another is the Trailer Park Boys, which I cannot stand, and the Beachcombers, which was more a dramedy). I think the occasional Canadian cameo worked in its favor (my favorite being Colin Mochrie of Whose Line is it Anyway). I mean, shows like Doctor Who feature UK star cameos regularly and no one seems to care. And half the humor of Monty Python is lost on anyone not intimately familiar with British culture, so I can't see why Corner Gas couldn't get away with the occasional Canadian politician or newscaster.

I miss the show already and given the choice between it and the only other major Canadian sitcom on the air right now, Little Mosque on the Prairie (which is so much a rip off of Corner Gas it's not even funny, and the show itself is not even funny), the wrong show decided to end this year.

I'm waiting for Fox or NBC to announce an Americanized version of Corner Gas. It'll be the ultimate in "missing the point" as far as I'm concerned.

The Secret Service would never allow that. AFAIK, present *and* past Presidents get lifetime protection. They wouldn't be allowed within five miles of a movie or TV set.

HUH???? What exactly gives the impression that movie studios are dangerous places for politicians? Have you ever actually been to a movie studio? I've seen military bases with less security than the firewalls (and you can almost read that literally) thrown up at places like Warner Studios, Disney Studios and Paramount Studios.

Alex

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The Secret Service would never allow that. AFAIK, present *and* past Presidents get lifetime protection. They wouldn't be allowed within five miles of a movie or TV set.

HUH???? What exactly gives the impression that movie studios are dangerous places for politicians? Have you ever actually been to a movie studio? I've seen military bases with less security than the firewalls (and you can almost read that literally) thrown up at places like Warner Studios, Disney Studios and Paramount Studios.

I'm not implying that studios actually *are* dangerous, just that the Secret Service would probably not risk it.

 

[FordSVT]

President Ford appeared briefly on SNL during his presidency, Clinton, Bush and Obama have done Meet the Press. First Lady Reagan did an appearance on Diff'rent Strokes, I don't imagine security around her is super-lax. Obama did Leno and Letterman this year.

The President routinely visits locations ranging from manufacturing plants to military bases to schools and hospitals, to large outdoor events like baseballs games ( )and on overseas visits. I just don't see what's inherently dangerous or insecure about a television studio. It's not a security issue with Presidents appearing on sit-coms, it's appearance. It would be seen as undignified my many people if Obama did a cameo on Two and a Half Men and they would probably be right.

 

[firehawk12]

Why would having a PM on Corner Gas be a "shark jumping moment"? If anything it affirms the show's importance because it was the only show of its kind to get sitting political leaders to appear -- and lampoon themselves, yet.

It's just tacky.

The politicians are whoring themselves on a popular show to help improve their image and the show just wants the news bump of the headlines that an appearance by the PM would generate.

I think Chretien appeared on Air Farce one year, which is as close to SNL that Canada had, really. And that was just a gag cameo right at the end of a sketch, so it didn't stand out as an opportunist moment.

I don't know. I mean, what if Obama showed up on CSI and helped the team solve a case? "Listen team... I know this murder looks unsolvable, but I have a motto: Yes We Can! (solve this murder)". Or maybe he shows up on Grey's Anatomy or House to make a case for public health care.

I think the line is crossed the moment someone has lines written for them and they start playing a caricature of themselves.

 

[Owain Taggart]

What I like about Corner Gas is that when they have cameos, they dont over publicize it. It usually just happens. My two favourite cameos were when Ben Mulroney was on, and when the Tragically Hip were on

"I dont care what the poets are doing, get your stuff and skidaddle"

"Doctor! We need a doctor! Is anyone here a doctor?" "No...but I'm..Ben Mulroney" "oohh.."

My favourite one was when Peter Mansbridge appeared in a news broadcast on the episode when Brent dreams of getting an HDTV, so real he could picture being there, and having the camera pull back to revealing Peter Mansbridge and Brent sitting side by side and giving Brent an odd look.

As far as celebs appearing on Corner Gas, I look at it as Canadians being laid back. We generally don't foam at the mouth and go gaga over a celeb and let them get on with their lives if seen in public.

There have been a lot of Canadian celebs on other shows like Air Farce, including Premiers.

I once went to an outdoor concert for one of my favourite bands. Waited beside their bus to see if they'd come out to see if I'd have a chance to meet them. Then, I saw one of them walk towards a food stand. I didn't run up to him or yell out, "Hey you! Yeah you!" I just let him go get something to eat and go on with his business like an ordinary person. And I think in general, Canadians are sensible like that.

And then there was the time I met Bram Morrison (of Sharon, Lois, & Bram. Hey, knock it off, I grew up with them :P) a few years ago, and he was coming out of the outhouse and didn't want to shake my hand because he was about to do a performance.

And then just a few months ago I met the Arrogant Worms. Oh, I would of loved to have seen them on Corner Gas. They would of been a perfect fit.

Anyway, I think it's healthy to see a PM being able to lampoon themselves. See, who said Canadians couldn't poke fun at themselves.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

My favorite cameo was Colin Mochrie... especially when Brent said "This guy's gotta be in everything!" (pretty much already is, isn't he? )