Corner Gas debuts Monday, Sept. 18

From a CTV media release:

Corner Gas and The Class Combine for Power Hour of Comedy Starting Sept. 18 on CTV

– Corner Gas Episodes and Webisodes go online on The CTV Broadband Network –
– Corner Gas Season 3 DVD to be released Oct. 3 –
– Official Corner Gas book Tales From Dog River hits stores Nov. 1 –
– Brent Butt gasses up for national stand-up tour this fall –

CTV announced today that it has scheduled one of TV’s most-anticipated new sitcoms The Class alongside Canada’s most-watched comedy series Corner Gas on Mondays from 8 – 9 p.m. ET (check local listings) beginning September 18, creating the most laugh-filled hour of comedy on television this Fall. First at 8 p.m. ET, the co-creator of Friends (David Crane) returns to television with The Class, a half-hour comedy starring Jason Ritter, Lizzy Caplan and Andrea Anders. Then at 8:30 p.m. ET viewers can fill up with a whole new fourth season of laughs when Canada’s hit comedy series Corner Gas returns with 19 new half-hour episodes.

With special guest stars such as Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, Olympic champion Cindy Klassen and Canada AM hosts Seamus O’Regan and Beverly Thomson, the new season of Corner Gas will also air Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, beginning Sept. 23 on The Comedy Network. Fans can also look forward to full episodes and original Webisodes on The CTV Broadband Network at www.ctv.ca, the publication of the official Corner Gas book and the release of Season 3 on DVD.

Corner Gas, of course, needs no introduction. Since the television phenomenon launched in January 2004, no original episode has ever delivered an audience less than one million viewers in its entire three-season run. In fact, Corner Gas concluded its third season as the highest-rated comedy series and the only Canadian scripted series in Canada’s Top 20 most-watched programs. With an average audience of 1.6 million viewers (2+) (Source: BBM), Season 3 was up 13 percent in total viewers compared to Season 2, making it the most successful season to date.

This season, the Corner Gas television broadcast experience will be complimented on The CTV Broadband Network at www.ctv.ca like never before. Full episodes will be available on demand for free at 9 a.m. ET the day following each television broadcast. In addition, seven original Corner Gas Webisodes will be available for streaming on demand. This bonus, original web content expands upon the personalities of each character with short scenes of events that could have taken place before, during or between episodes.

Also available this season is the first-ever Corner Gas book entitled Tales From Dog River and set for publication on November 1. Written by Michele Sponagle with a foreward by Brent Butt and published by Penguin Books (Canada), Tales From Dog River celebrates the little show that has become a national television phenomenon. Clocking in at over 200, jam-packed pages of exclusive Corner Gas content, the book features interviews with the cast, producers and crew who reveal secrets about how the show is made, their own favourite moments, bloopers and inside jokes and behind-the-scenes trivia. Also featured are notes from famous fans (including George Clooney and Paul Martin) and a look at Rouleau, Saskatchewan – the “real” Dog River.

In addition to the bonus web content and book, the Corner Gas Season 3 DVD is set for release October 3 by CTV and Video Service Corporation. The three-disc DVD package, which features a dynamic mock comic book cover from Canadian Marvel and DC comic book artist Ron Boyd, includes all 19 episodes from Season 3 as well as the W-FIVE special BEYOND CORNER GAS: Tales From Dog River. It will be sealed in a limited edition, red collector’s case and copies will include a coupon for a $15 discount for a Corner Gas hockey jersey from the Corner Gas web store at www.cornergas.com. Nominated as “Best Canadian DVD-English” by the Canadian Entertainment Network, both Season 1 and Season 2 DVDs have sold out in stores across Canada.

And if that isn’t enough, Corner Gas star Brent Butt takes his prairie charm on the road in a national live stand-up comedy tour this fall. Thrilling audiences with his depiction of small-town life for over 15 years, it’s an opportunity for fans to see the comedian perform his unique brand of “coffee shop” comedy up, close and personal. Tour details to be announced soon.

The entire Corner Gas ensemble cast returns for Season 4 which was filmed at Regina’s Canada / Saskatchewan Production Studios and on location in neighbouring Rouleau. Brent Butt returns in his popular role as gas station proprietor Brent Leroy. It was also announced today that for a second time, Brent is set to put on his director’s hat and direct another episode of Corner Gas, adding to his impressive list of credits including star, writer and executive producer.

Also returning are Saskatchewan natives and Gemini Award winners Eric Peterson and Janet Wright as his parents Oscar and Emma; Gabrielle Miller as coffee shop owner Lacey Burrows; Fred Ewanuick as best friend Hank Yarbo; Lorne Cardinal and Tara Spencer-Nairn as police officers Davis Quinton and Karen Pelly; and Nancy Robertson as retail assistant Wanda Dollard.

In the Season 4 premiere, the laughter continues as Karen makes Emma mad when she agrees to cut Brent’s hair. As well, Davis is after Oscar to replace his muffler, which is as loud as it is old. Also coming up this season:

– Brent has to save face when a DJ from the city starts impersonating him on his morning radio show
– Oscar and Emma’s new digital thermostat causes problems when they can’t agree on the right temperature
– Lacey and Karen test their friendship by instituting an open-borrowing policy, while Brent watches his very first horror movie
– Brent discovers a newfound love of his childhood toys when Emma clears out Brent’s old room and starts giving them to Hank
– Emma gives Davis and Wanda piano lessons and Lacey deals with a broken arm
– Brent’s in the doghouse when Hank proves to be a better son to Emma than Brent

Corner Gas’ success in 2005/2006 was highlighted by two Gemini Awards (“Best Comedy Program or Series” and “Best Interactive” for www.cornergas.com), two Canadian Comedy Awards (“Pretty Funny Television Direction” and “Male Television Performance”) and a Canadian Screenwriting Award in the “Comedy and Variety” category. In May, Corner Gas impressively picked up three 2006 Leo Awards including “Best Music, Comedy or Variety Program or Series”, “Best Direction” and “Best Performance or Host(s)” in the Music, Comedy or Variety program or Series categories.

Additional highlights in 2005/2006 included: Corner Gas Live!, a six-city stand-up comedy tour headlined by Brent Butt; the world’s first online stand-up competition, “Comic Genius”, debuted on Cornergas.com which saw five finalists square-off in a live television special on The Comedy Network; the official Dog River merchandise line continued to thrive at www.cornergas.com and expanded to over 100 retailers across the country; and last fall, the cast, directors, and producers were honoured with Saskatchewan’s prestigious Commemorative Medal for the Saskatchewan Centennial.

Corner Gas was recently nominated for three Gemini Awards including “Best Comedy Program or Series”, “Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series” and “Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series.”

Boasting an award-winning creative team, Corner Gas features directors David Storey, Mark Farrell (Made in Canada, The Newsroom, This Hour Has 22 Minutes), Robert de Lint (renegadepress.com, Incredible Story Studio), Jeff Beesley (Borderline Normal) and Brent Butt. Paul Mather (Rick Mercer’s Monday Report) is Supervising Producer and writer. Mark Farrell is Consulting Producer and writer. Kevin White (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) is Executive Story Editor and writer, Andrew Carr (Comics) is Story Editor and writer and Rob Sheridan (Naked Josh, Red Green Show) is Story Editor. Executive Producers are Brent Butt, David Storey and Virginia Thompson.