Corner Gas celebrates 100 episodes

From a media release:

CORNER GAS Unplugged: It’s “Turn Off Your TV Week” in Dog River as CORNER GAS Celebrates Its 100th Episode, March 2 on CTV

• Milestone 100th episode kicks off seven-episode countdown to the finale
• Fans are encouraged to participate in CORNER GAS send-off by signing the guest book at cornergas.com
• Michael Bublé guest stars in landmark CORNER GAS episode

Dog River gets set to unplug their TVs for a week in a town-wide celebration of “Turn Off Your TV Week.” How will Dog Riverites make out without television 40 kilometers from no where? Canada’s #1 original comedy series CORNER GAS commemorates its 100th milestone episode in “TV Free Dog River”, premiering Monday, March 2 at 9:30 p.m. ET, once again rounding off CTV’s two-hour Monday night comedy block. The history making episode kicks off the series’ final victory lap, with seven episodes left until Dog River says good-bye forever. The episode also airs Saturday, March 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The Comedy Network, on demand on the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca, and on the go at iTunes.

“After 100 episodes, CORNER GAS’ resounding success is attributed to its incredible creative team, and the audiences across Canada who have welcomed this ground-breaking series into their homes from the very start,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “While Dog River finds ways to cope without TV for a week, in a few months, we will all have to find ways to cope without new episodes of CORNER GAS.”

As of March 2, CORNER GAS will stand proud amongst a short list of Canadian scripted series to have reached 100 episodes. This notable list includes: THE KING OF KENSINGTON, Degrassi: The Next Generation, KIds in the Hall, and THE Beachcombers, to name few.

“I grew up dreaming of being on TV, but I never dreamed, or certainly never expected, to be on a show that runs for more than100 episodes,” said creator Brent Butt. “CORNER GAS slips into rare company now, and I could not be more proud.”

It was only six years ago that the tiny town of Dog River and its odd bunch of archetypal characters went from an idea, to a script, to becoming Canada’s most-watched comedy series. After six seasons – and over 1,200 cups of coffee served – CORNER GAS is celebrating its 100th episode by…err…saying No to Television in “TV Free Dog River.”

In the episode, Emma announces at a town meeting that they should all partake in “Turn Off Your TV Week” to re-connect with their families and community. And if rival town Wullerton(spit) can do it, they sure as hell can do it better! While Emma stays busy keeping a watchful eye on everyone, the rest of the town folk come up with innovative ways to keep themselves busy – and to survive without television.

Brent stumbles across a bright idea after witnessing Hank and Wanda squabble over a crossword puzzle. He covertly appoints them as the stars of his new made-up show, which he watches through the Corner Gas window. Across town, Senior Officer Davis tries to fill the entertainment void by turning the Dog River police station into an all-jazz station!

Downtown Davis dishes out grooves so smooth, not even platinum-selling, Grammy®-winning Michael Bublé can get air play.

“I find it completely heartbreaking that Downtown Davis, someone I believed to have such taste and appreciation for greatness, didn’t recognize me; legendary jazz great; Michael Bublé,” said Michael Bublé.

Meanwhile, Karen has a more raucous radio format in mind, complete with bells and whistles! Back at the Leroy residence, Oscar starts up a bootleg TV service. Lacey joins his underground operation, by serving sticky buns for five bucks a pop, so that she can get her beloved fix of “So You Think Your Kid Can Dance.”

Viewers can share their own ideas of how to spend a week in Dog River with no TV, or pay homage to CORNER GAS, by logging on cornergas.com, to post their comments, and share their favourite CORNER GAS moments, quotes, and episodes. Viewers can also log on to The Comedy Network’s UPLOAD YOURS at uly.thecomedynetwork.ca, and post videos of CORNER GAS spoofs, or re-enactments of their favourite character or scenes.

CORNER GAS continues to air with all-new episodes Mondays at 9:30 p.m. ET on CTV and Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The Comedy Network.

CORNER GAS stars Brent Butt as Brent Leroy; Eric Peterson and Janet Wright as Oscar and Emma Leroy; 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.

Butt leads a six person writing team which includes Supervising Producer Kevin White (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) along with Mark Farrell (This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Made In Canada) as producer/writer; Emmy® winner Norm Hiscock (Saturday Night Live, King Of The Hill, Kids In The Hall) as consulting producer/writer; Andrew Carr (Comics) as story editor/writer; and Dylan Wertz as story editor/writer.