If your life has felt like an empty void since Corner Gas ended it’s six season run, this next one is for you.
Eric Peterson, who played Oscar on Corner Gas will soon be popping by another CTV series Dan For Mayor. That show stars former Corner Gas-er Fred Ewanuick. And since Brent Butt’s Hiccups airs right before, it’s really like Corner Gas is back for an entire hour. Okay, it’s a bit of a stretch.
In Sunday’s episode Peterson will actually not just being going around calling people jackass, instead he’ll be playing an eccentric sculptor hired by the city to help with their public image.
The ratings for this season of Dan For Mayor have only been so-so, so here’s hoping the mini-Corner Gas reunion gives the show a little bit of an uptick.
Can you believe that it has been three years since Corner Gas went off the air? It really doesn’t seem like it was long ago at all! Even crazier is that fact that we still haven’t been able to create a comedy with as much buzz and more importantly, ratings as Corner Gas did in its six seasons.
In fact, Corner Gas is still so popular that the show’s producers are holding an auction this weekend and will be selling off more than 1,000 props, costumes and set pieces! The money raised will go to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. The charity is one that is near and dear to the show’s cast. In years past, they’ve already raised more than $500,000.
So what can Corner Gas fans expect to pick up at the auction? Everything from furniture from main characters’ homes, to counters and desks from the Corner Gas and police station, and of course, Dog River signs.
The set sale is taking place this Friday to Sunday in Regina.
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It’s the morning after the debuts of CTV’s Hiccups and Dan For Mayor. I’ve spend the entire night with them and now I’ve quietly rolled over to share my thoughts on the new comedies.
Hiccups
Mini review: Charming showcase for Nancy who does her best impression of both George Costanza and Liz Lemon. The has (and needs) room to grow.
Review:
The show is about a successful children’s author who is a little prone to flying off the handle. It stars Nancy Robertson and Brett Butt, both of Corner Gas fame.
Since I never really watched Corner Gas, I’m one of the few who are immune to comparing this show with the popular Canadian comedy. The first episode was full of scenes featuring Butt and Robertson, but I’m guessing that has to do more with drawing in new viewers to the show, than it does the general direction of the sitcom. Over the next couple of weeks, I think we can expect to see more and more of Millie’s equally eccentric co-workers (and less and less of Butt.)
The jokes are a mile a minute, most are funny, though some are not. They come from every which direction, so you never really know what to expect. Luckily, I don’t think it matters what Nancy does as Millie, it’s always going to be a pleasant mix of sweet and funny….and a little crazy.
Dan For Mayor
Mini review: Four minutes in you’ll already be rooting for Dan. Interesting story with a B+ cast. Fun twist at the end.
Review:
How do you not like Fred Ewanuick? He’s ridiculously charming and a great comedic talent. You had to know that CTV wouldn’t let him get too far after Corner Gas ended. In his new show, Ewanuick plays a down on his luck bartender who decides to run for the mayor.
Like Corner Gas, Dan is surrounded by some of the quirkiest people his town has to offer, the appliance store owner and the owner of the bar are my favourite! The others will have to really up their game, I’m wondering if the cast might not be a tad too big for a sitcom.
I also have my eye on the new-to-me Mary Ashton, who plays Dan’s ex. She’s cute, pretty and funny. (And yes, pretty and cute are two different things.) If Dan for Mayor doesn’t stick around (it will), CTV should definitely hold on to her.
Sidenote:
Oh and CTV, well played on the media kits this year. Very classy. Your move CBC and Global TV.
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I couldn’t sleep last night. I’m not really sure why, so I did what I always do when I can’t sleep, think of TV schedules. It’s like sheep, only with bad reality shows, doctors and cops.
While I was lying there it, occurred to me: Does CTV ever air comedies? Ever since Corner Gas went off the air, I can’t think of a single comedy on the network. That can’t be right can it.
I looked into and yes, technically CTV has one single show that is billed as a comedy, whether it is funny, is something different all together. The show in question is called, The Middle and it stars Everybody Loves Raymond’s Patricia Heaton.
And that’s it. That’s the only comedy on the networks entire line up! Doesn’t that seem strange?
I’m not sure if CTV has any new shows lined up for the winter, but any network that thinks Leah Miller is a good host for So You Think You Can Dance, obviously has a good sense of humor.
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I picked up some great news this weekend and I just had to share it.
For years there have been rumors about a Corner Gas movie, but no one could ever say for sure. Well, I chatted with two of the stars of the hit tv show and they all but confirmed that a Corner Gas Movie is not far off! It will be on the big screen and everything. Hey if The Trailer Park Boys can do it, why not Corner Gas!
I probably shouldn’t say who told me, but if you scroll down to my Gemini pictures, it is a pretty easy guess. I don’t even think they were supposed to tell me, but it slipped out and now I’m telling you.
Great news for the people of Dog River!
Are you excited for a Corner Gas movie?
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On Monday Night, Canada will bid farewell to Corner Gas, which is arguably the most successful and popular television show to come out of this country in recent memory. The whole country, including myself, will be saying goodbye to Dog River. But there is just one singular problem:
I’ve never seen Corner Gas.
No, I’m not proud of it. Every time I think of it I feel significantly less Canadian, but somewhere between not being an 80 year old woman and having it ingrained in me that Canadian TV is typically pretty awful, I missed the Corner Gas train.
And it’s not that I’m ashamed of the hit show. What Brent Butt was able to do for so many Canadian actors over the past six seasons is nothing short of amazing. Notably, the success of Corner Gas has propelled Canadian shows into the spotlight, many of them now even get picked up in other countries. While Corner Gas isn’t the first show to break into the American market, it certainly made it easier for many shows that followed (Flashpoint, Being Erica, Little Mosque on the Prairie)
So I’m officially a Corner Gas band wagon jumper. Much like watching the Stanley Cup finals if there is a Canadian team in them, it’s the Canadian thing to do. My hope is that networks like CBC, CTV and Global continue to make shows that strive to achieve the success that Corner Gas was able to.
Congrats Corner Gas!
For all your Corner Gas fans out there, Monday is going to be your day to spend with the entire Dog River gang!
- The entire cast of CORNER GAS wakes up the neighbourhood as CANADA AM broadcasts a live one-hour special from Toronto’s Masonic Temple.
- The cast appears with fans on LIVE AT ETALK: THE CAST OF CORNER GAS at 7 p.m. ET.
- Then, CTV goes behind-the-scenes of the taping of the final episode in the exclusive, half-hour retrospective special, IT’S BEEN A GAS, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
- Then the finale airs at 9:30pm ET time. (Check your local listings.)
