TV, eh?

From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail:

• 10 TV shows that mattered in 2009
  “From hockey lunks to modern families, our critic’s picks of the best stuff to hit the small screen this year.” Read more.

From Brad Oswald of the Winnipeg Free Press:

• Best of the iDecade: On TV
  “In 2004, Canadian television did something that had never been done, and that many TV watchers figured might not ever be done — produced a homegrown situation comedy that was successful, immensely popular and actually laugh-out-loud funny. CTV’s strategy was shrewd, and a rarity in the TV biz — it bought a funny idea from a funny person (Brent Butt), and then stayed out of the way and let the comedians handle the comedy.” Read more.

From Cassandra Szklarski of the Canadian Press:

• Variety, cable, single-camera sitcoms mark decade of flux and creative risks
  “TV rediscovered variety, premium cable transformed the serial drama, and sitcoms overtly broke the fourth wall in the 2000s as the small screen shifted into new territory in a bid to keep eyeballs glued to the tube. Meanwhile, audiences splintered as they embraced an increasing number of specialty and pay channels, PVR viewing and on-demand entertainment, raising the bar for all shows seeking viewer loyalty.” Read more.

From Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family:

• TSN’s Grey Cup Beats Super Bowl, Oscars

Monday, November 30

8 p.m. – CORNER GAS – “Merry Gasmas” – ENCORE HOLIDAY EPISODE

In the classic CORNER GAS episode “Merry Gasmas”, Lacey (Gabrielle Miller) decides to head home to Toronto for the holidays. Along the way, she crosses paths with characters played by Gavin Crawford (THE GAVIN CRAWFORD SHOW, THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES), Roman Danylo (COMEDY INC.) and Dan Redican (PUPPETS WHO KILL, THE FRANTICS). Meanwhile, although Brent (Brent Butt) sticks in Dog River for the holidays, he must find a way to cope when he finds out that his mother (Janet Wright, The Perfect Storm) wants a conventional Christmas, ditching years of unconventional LeRoy family tradition.

From Rob Salem of the Toronto Star:

• 10 most important TV shows of the past decade
  “In an interview this year, performer/producer Mark McKinney (Kids in the Hall, Slings & Arrows, Less than Kind) generously allowed that Canadian television would forevermore be divided into two distinct eras: before Corner Gas and after.” Read more.

From a media release:

ICONIC CANADIAN COMEDY SERIES TO RECEIVE SPECIAL GEMINI TRIBUTES

• Corner Gas, Royal Canadian Air Farce and Trailer Park Boys Recognized On-Stage at the 24th Annual Gemini Awards
• Gala Presenters to Include Star of the Hit Global TV Show GLEE – Cory Monteith, Rick Mercer, Hugh Dillon, Jessica Lucas, Erin Karpluk, George Stroumboulopoulos and many more
• Broadcast live to air on Global and Showcase this Saturday, November 14th – 9pm ET/PT from Calgary
• Tickets to the 2009 Gemini Awards are available for $10.50 at www.ticketmaster.ca

Canwest and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television will proudly pay tribute to three Canadian comedic television gems at the 24th Annual Gemini Awards.

This Saturday, November 14 – 9pm ET/PT on Global and Showcase (please check local listings), the Gemini Awards will salute Corner Gas, Royal Canadian Air Farce and Trailer Park Boys for their outstanding and enduring contributions to the Canadian television industry. Having recently wrapped their final seasons, the Academy will honour these influential comedies with a special look back at their funniest moments on-air. Cast members from each show will be on hand to accept their award.

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From a media release:

CTV Release: CORNER GAS Spills Out More Dog River Insights with Dog River Confidential: The Even More, Super Complete Corner Gas Guide Hitting Bookshelves Nationwide, November 10

• CTV’s CORNER GAS Spills Out More Dog River Insights with Dog River Confidential: The Even More, Super Complete Corner Gas Guide Hitting Bookshelves Nationwide, November 10
• This is the official must-have companion to Seasons 4 to 6
• Dog River Confidential also available at cornergas.com, chapters.ca, and amazon.com
• CORNER GAS lives on with daily multiple airings on The Comedy Network, and on demand at ctv.ca and thecomedynetwork.ca

When nearly three million viewers tuned into CTV for CORNER GAS’ series finale, it was clear that fans weren’t close to their fill of their favourite comedy series. Nor was Michele Sponagle, the nation’s leading authority on CORNER GAS and author of Penguin Canada’s Dog River Confidential: The Even More Super Complete Corner Gas Guide. Available Tuesday, Nov. 10, this follow up to the 2006 blockbuster book Tales from Dog River, showcases Michele Sponagle’s best investigative work as she uncovers the business, the funny business and the magic behind the final two seasons of this iconic series.

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From the Canadian Press:

• King, Peterson to get special Geminis
  “The late documentary master Allan King and Corner Gas star Eric Peterson are among those set to receive special Gemini awards this year.” Read more.

From a media release – Canadian shows only:

Catch Up to Canada’s Most-Watched TV Programs Online:  CTV.ca Announces Fall Lineup

• Canada’s beloved THE LITTLEST HOBO now available on demand along with other retro classics

Responding to an outpouring of support from fans across Canada, CTV’s own THE LITTLEST HOBO returns home exclusively online with all six seasons to be rolled out over the course of the season.

CTV.ca’s 2009/10 Online Lineup:

Primetime

• THE BRIDGE **New**
• DEFYING GRAVITY **New**
• COMEDY NOW!
• CORNER GAS
• DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION
• FLASHPOINT
• THE LISTENER
• ROBSON ARMS
• SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA (highlights)

Online Exclusive **New**

• THE LITTLEST HOBO

From Alex Strachan of Canwest News Service:

• Reality, crime the success stories
  “Two Canadian programs broke into the Top 20 list for the first time: So You Think You Can Dance Canada (No. 14, with 1.4 million viewers), and Flashpoint (No. 18, with 1.3 million). Corner Gas drew more than a million viewers a week as well, for its swan-song season. Corner Gas is now closed, but So You Think You Can Dance Canada and Flashpoint are expected to return.” Read more.

From the Canadian Press:

• Butt puzzled by Gemini nom snub
  “Corner Gas creator and star Brent Butt says it’s “kinda goofy” that his celebrated show has been snubbed by the Geminis this year.” Read more.

From John Doyle of the Globe and Mail:

• The Geminis are beyond weird
  “There are 99 categories for this year’s nominations, with Flashpoint breaking the record. But why didn’t Corner Gas make the cut?” Read more.

Canadian shows currently on iTunes:

6TEEN

Air Farce

Being Erica

The Border

Chilly Beach

Corner Gas

Degrassi: TNG

Dragons’ Den

Flashpoint

Heartland

Instant Star

jPod

The Jon Dore Television Show

Life’s a Zoo

Little Mosque on the Prairie

The Listener

No Opportunity Wasted

Odd Job Jack

Rick Mercer

Robson Arms

Sophie

Stargate Atlantis

Stargate SG-1

Stargate Universe

Stratusphere

This Hour Has 22 Minutes

Total Drama Action

Total Drama Island

The Tudors

The Week The Women Went

Wild Roses

From Simon Houpt of the Globe and Mail:

• Why product placements on TV are stuck in bit roles
  “In its six years on air, Corner Gas may have been the most successful scripted show to adopt so-called product integration, in which commercial messages are woven into the plot or dialogue. But it was an exception on the Canadian television landscape, for even as the practice explodes in the United States, advertisers here remain wary.” Read more.

This is not likely an exhaustive list so let me know if I’m missing any Canadian shows that are currently on iTunes:

6TEEN

Air Farce

Being Erica

The Border

Chilly Beach

Corner Gas

Degrassi: TNG

Dragon’s Den

Flashpoint

Heartland

Instant Star

jPod

The Jon Dore Television Show

Life’s a Zoo

Little Mosque on the Prairie

The Listener

No Opportunity Wasted

Odd Job Jack

Rick Mercer

Robson Arms

Sophie

Stargate Atlantis

Stargate SG-1

Stargate Universe

Stratusphere

This Hour Has 22 Minutes

Total Drama Action

Total Drama Island

The Tudors

The Week The Women Went

Wild Roses

From a media release:

The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) announces the 2009 DGC Awards nominations. Comedian Shaun Majumder will host the annual gala on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. See nominees here.

From CBC News:

• Abandoned Corner Gas set gets fixup
  “The neglected Corner Gas buildings in Rouleau, Sask., will receive much-needed repairs, thanks to a local business owner.” Read more.

From CBC News:

• Corner Gas site cleanup focus of meeting
  “The Saskatchewan government has set up a meeting next week to see if the former site of the Corner Gas TV series can be cleaned up and turned into a tourist attraction.” Read more.

From the Canadian Press:

• Sask. town says ‘Corner Gas’ set falling into disrepair since series over
  “The pumps may have gone dry on the TV show Corner Gas, but something is fuelling a debate in the town that stood in for the fictional community of Dog River, Sask.” Read more.