Tag Archives: Corner Gas

The Comedy Network’s #1 Original Series, Corner Gas Animated, Returns Canada Day

From a media release:

As Brent Leroy announced today on CTV’s YOUR MORNING, Season 2 of CORNER GAS ANIMATED arrives on The Comedy Network this Canada Day, with a special guest star appearance from Michael J. Fox. The most-watched original series of all time on Comedy, CORNER GAS ANIMATED returns for Season 2 on Monday, July 1 with two back-to-back episodes beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

The new 11-episode, half-hour season sees Brent (Brent Butt), Hank (Fred Ewanuick), and Emma (Corrine Koslo) compete to make viral videos; Karen (Tara Spencer-Nairn) and Davis (Lorne Cardinal) trying to scam the town at the annual Turkey Shoot; Wanda (Nancy Robertson) going power mad during Darts Night; Oscar (Eric Peterson) launching an eyebrow-raising website for the local paper; and Lacey (Gabrielle Miller) organizing a Bachelor auction and attracting high bids for Brent.

In the season premiere, “Dream Waiver,” (Monday, July 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT) Brent recruits Wanda to help him figure out recurring nightmares about being attacked by Michael J. Fox. Then, in an all-new episode at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT entitled “Drone and Dumber,” Brent gets a new drone that he uses to terrorize Oscar. Meanwhile, Wanda and Emma set out to test a turkey’s intelligence.

As previously announced, Season 2 of CORNER GAS ANIMATED features an all-star lineup of cameos from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Chris Hadfield, Russell Peters, Jann Arden, and EPIC MEALTIME’s Harley Morenstein.

Leading up to the two-episode premiere, viewers can spend their Canada Day in Dog River as Comedy delivers a catch-up marathon featuring every episode of Season 1, beginning at 8 a.m. ET and repeating at 1:30 p.m. ET on Monday, July 1.

The first season of CORNER GAS ANIMATED became a ratings hit after debuting in Spring 2018 with the most-watched series premiere in Comedy’s history and concluding the season as the most-watched series of the broadcast year on Comedy among total viewers and all key demos (A18-34, A18-49, and A25-54). CORNER GAS ANIMATED won the 2019 Canadian Screen Award for Best Writing, Animation for the episode “Squatch Your Language,” written by series creator and star Brent Butt.

For updates on all things CORNER GAS, including CORNER GAS ANIMATED merchandise as well as Limited Collectors’ Editions, events, and news, visit cornergas.com.

CORNER GAS ANIMATED is an inter-provincial co-production produced by Prairie Pantoons (BC), comprised of Brent Butt and David Storey from 335 Productions; and Moving Mountoons (ON), comprised of Virginia Thompson and Robert de Lint from Vérité Films, in association with Bell Media, Canada Media Fund, Bell Fund, Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit, Film Incentive BC Tax Credit, Digital Animation, Visual Effects and Post Production Tax Credit, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. Animation is produced by Prairie Pantoons, Moving Mountoons, and Smiley Guy Studios.

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Preview: Tara Spencer-Nairn guest-stars on Frankie Drake Mysteries

I love watching Tara Spencer-Nairn act. I first came across her work in a little show called Corner Gas. I think most know her from playing Officer Karen Pelly on Corner Gas in the live action TV show, movie and animated series, but she’s turned in some incredible dramatic roles. Two recent standouts for me was an episode of Saving Hope and a mini-arc on Killjoys. (And if you’re not already following her on Instagram, you really should.)

All this is my way of saying if she’s on-screen a series is better for it. So I was thrilled to see her name in the credits for Monday’s episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries. She portrays Ida Pike, a woman who asks Frankie and Trudy to find her missing husband.

Here’s what the CBC has revealed as the storyline for “Radio Daze,” written by Cal Coons and directed by Ruba Nadda.

Mary (Rebecca Liddiard) is acting in a radio drama, but when she realizes the play is a cover for a heist, she must find a way to warn Frankie (Lauren Lee Smith).

And I’ve got more details after watching the instalment in advance.

Mary Shaw, Morality Officer
I’d almost forgotten Mary had that title, but I was reminded during her stint on the radio, where she reminds listeners to, among other things, not venture into the woods alone. And certainly not without sensible footwear. There’s also a nod to Lillian Gish that had me scrambling to my Google machine to learn more about the actress, writer and director.

A salute to Orson Welles
The nod to Lillian Gish isn’t the only reference to real history in Coons’ script. The radio show has a distinct The War of the Worlds vibe about it that makes this storyline even more enjoyable.

More guests
Tara Spencer-Nairn isn’t the only familiar face in 1920s Toronto. Look for recent Wynonna Earp visitor Justin Kelly—who portrays broadcasting great Foster Hewitt—and Kevin Jubinville. Grace Lynn Kung and Romaine Waite check into their recurring roles as Wendy and Bill. Speaking of Bill, he’s started acting strangely and Trudy is worried he’s keeping secrets from her.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Featured image courtesy of CBC.

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A (Corner) Gas of a time on MasterChef Canada

Tuesday’s “Cooking with (Corner) Gas” episode of MasterChef Canada was full of challenges for the Top 7 home cooks. They had to compete in a Mystery Box Challenge and, FINALLY, a classic MasterChef Canada Tag Team Challenge. But just hold on and let me tell it in order.

As the seven remaining home cooks entered the kitchen they saw a MASSIVE Mystery Box. What could be in it? Or perhaps, who could be in it? Tonight’s challenge was elevated diner food and the contestants got a little bit of help from the cast of the hit series Corner Gas Animated, including Brent Butt, Tara Spencer-Nairn, Lorne Cardinal and Nancy Robertson. For me, it was a good opportunity to add one more great Canadian series to my watch list. For the cooks, winning would give them a huge advantage in the upcoming Elimination Challenge.

All of the cooks rushed to the pantry and got baskets full of delicious products. And then there was Beccy, who had just a couple of grapefruits, eggs and butter. I was looking forward to seeing what she had in her creative mind and what the judges would get in the end. The atmosphere in the kitchen was easy and fun. The Top 7 cooks were cooking passionately and had so many great ideas, like chicken and waffles from Eugene, a Japanese play on steak and eggs from Kaegan and a tuna melt from Marissa. But chefs Claudio, Alvin and Michael made their choice and decided to try three dishes out of the seven; the lucky ones were Nadia, Andy and Beccy. Nadia made a stuffed French toast with smoked applewood brie and spicy berry fig sauce and the judges loved her brie! Beccy cooked an elevated diner pie with grapefruit and basil with Italian meringue and crumble; the presentation was extraordinary. Andy prepared a Thai Burger with vegetable tempura.

Chef Alvin was very impressed by Andy’s dish … and he was the home cook who won the challenge. Which dish would you like to try?

The Elimination Tag Team Challenge was a replication of an Asian box with five different dishes. It contained perfectly crafted Chinese bao with pork belly, cucumber and Asian pear, jellyfish salad and Banh Mi sandwich, and Takoyaki. And for the dessert? Fried banana in coconut batter. The home cooks had 70 minutes to master the box. Andy was safe from elimination but as well had a power to make teams for the Tag Team Challenge. He made Eugene and Beccy a team, Michael G. and Kaegan the second team and Nadia and Marissa the third. The heat was on. The teams were rushing to finish. The normally quiet Beccy was very vocal, urging Eugene to work faster. The judges started to sample the dishes. The first team to get all of their items in their box were Kaegan and Michael G. The Banh Mi was great, the takoyaki and the bun were good, but the bananas were burnt. Beccy and Eugene missed a couple of details but still made a great box. Nadia and Marissa, unfortunately, disappointed judges and Marissa left MasterChef Canada.

MasterChef Canada airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on CTV.

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TV Eh B Cs podcast 81 — Wine and McDonald’s with Corner Gas Animated’s Tara Spencer-Nairn

Note: Unfortunately, something weird happened in the downloading of the files for Tara and my conversation. The result is some crosstalk that is, at times, super annoying. I sincerely apologize to my listeners and Tara for this. 

Tara Spencer-Nairn returns as the deadpan police officer Karen Pelly in Corner Gas: Animated—airing Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on The Comedy Network—a role she played in the Gemini-winning, No. 1 rated CTV sitcom Corner Gas, earning a Gemini Award for Best Ensemble Performance in 2007 and two Gemini nominations in 2004 and 2006.

A graduate of the Vancouver Film School, her big breakthrough came in 1999 when she was cast in the highly acclaimed New Waterford Girl. The film screened at the Sundance Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival and received seven Genie Award nominations including Best Picture.

Spencer-Nairn appeared in the recurring role of Sandy in CTV’s hit drama The Listener. She has appeared in numerous other television productions including The Outer Limits, The Strain, Murdoch Mysteries, Waking Up Wally: The Walter Gretzky Story, Flashpoint Saving Hope and Degrassi. Most recently she could seen in the third season of Syfy/Space hit series Killjoys as a recurring guest star.

Spencer-Nairn was born in Montreal, raised in Vancouver and now calls Toronto home. The youngest of three siblings, the actor spent 12 years as a competitive gymnast. She is married and the mother of two young sons.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

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MasterChef Canada reveals its Top 12 for Season 5

It’s doesn’t really feel like spring—at least to me anyway—unless MasterChef Canada is on the air. And, after four excellent seasons on CTV, it’s become a rite of this time of year. As flowers bloom in gardens and those first crops begin to grow, home chefs from across the country are sweating it out in the kitchen fighting for the grandest of prizes: $100,000 and the title of MasterChef Canada.

Back to judge, critique and encourage are Claudio Aprile, Michael Bonacini and Alvin Leung, who will put the contestants through their paces and the emotional ringer each week. Last year it was MCC staffers who dropped off cases to the home cooks. This time around it was the judges themselves shocking folks in their hometowns—in kitchens, the workplace, while hunting—to deliver the good news they’d made it into the competition and a request to bring a special ingredient that represents them and their community to the kitchen for their audition dish. In an interesting twist, the three judges were walking around, watching the home cooks during the 60-minute challenge. If they weren’t impressed, a home cook was tapped on the shoulder, signalling they had been eliminated. It was an ingenious way of shaking up the audition process and a reminder you can never get comfortable in the MCC kitchen.

An early exit befell Dawn and her blueberry grunt and Oyak, who’d cut himself and was struggling with nerves and his pot of rice.

With Season 5’s return on Tuesday night, there were a few contestants of the Top 21 who I made note of right out of the gate either because of their skills or signature dishes on the road to scoring that all-important white apron and the Top 12.

  • Beccy, of course. Her beetroot and steak wowed the experts. The fact she’s only 19 serves notice that youth is not a hindrance and may, in fact, help her in the weeks to come.
  • Jonathan. He showed skill in taming the heat of the ghost pepper for this chicken stew. I’m hoping he uses his Trinidadian background as much as possible to keep things interesting.
  • Reem. I loved her statement on her Muslim background and her baba ganoush. I wanted to reach through the TV and devour it.
  • Eugene. I’m impressed by his resilience and guts for keeping his nerves in check when called upon to re-do his audition dish a different way. He’s got some promise, but I worry his nerves could let him down in future weeks.

Next week the competition gets going for real as the Top 12 head into Mystery Box challenges, team challenges and Pressure Tests designed to break spirits and weed out the weaklings. Guests this season include the cast of Corner Gas, Lloyd Robertson, past MasterChef Canada winners and dogs. Many, many dogs.

MasterChef Canada airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on CTV.

Images courtesy of Bell Media.

 

 

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