Tag Archives: Tara Spencer-Nairn

The Crave original comedy, The Trades, returns for Season 3, March 20

From a media release:

The Crave Original comedy series THE TRADES returns for its eight-episode third season, and continues to follow pipefitter Todd Stool (Robb Wells, TRAILER PARK BOYS) as he navigates his blue-collar life at a refinery with a little “help” from his family and friends. The first two episodes of THE TRADES Season 3 drop on Friday, March 20, followed by new episodes on subsequent Fridays.

Created by Ryan J. Lindsay, THE TRADES blends workplace satire with sharp character-driven comedy while celebrating the camaraderie, and absurdity of life on the tools. In Season 3, the stakes at Imperial Valley refinery are heightened as power shifts, and loyalties are tested, and management proves messier than the job site. The new season finds Todd “Goldenarm” Stool newly promoted to General Foreman, walking the fine line between friend and boss, after successfully unionizing Conch Industries. Meanwhile, his sister Audrey (Anastasia Phillips, MOONSHINE), is secretly dating Todd’s best friend Backwoods  (Dan Petronijevic, LETTERKENNY), a relationship everyone knows about, except Todd. Site manager Chelsea  (Jennifer Spence, YOU ME HER), struggles with the return of  (Jennifer Irwin, SUPERSTORE), whose “nepo babysitting” and unhinged policies once again shake up Imperial Valley refinery life.

Additional returning cast includes Raoul Bhaneja, Jesse Camacho, Brandon Oakes, Jason Daley, Susan Kent, Patrick McKenna, Aaron Poole, Tara Spencer-Nairn and Dave Lawrence. Notable guest appearances this season include Canadian rock  legend Alex Lifeson as Fernie, bartender at The Leaky Pipe; comedy icon Mary Walsh as Chelsea’s neighbour Gladys; and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE  alum Jon Lovitz who appears as Cam, Homer’s addiction sponsor.

Filmed in Nova Scotia and Ontario, THE TRADES is co-produced by TPBI and Kontent House Inc. in association with Bell Media’s Crave. Gary Howsam is executive producer; Ryan J. Lindsay is creator, writer, and executive producer; Robb Wells is producer and writer, and Jonathan A. Walker is producer. Jennifer Irwin and Warren P. Sonoda are executive producers; Neha Kohli is co-executive producer and writer. Irwin and Susan Kent are also writers this season. Lindsay directed one episode and Sonoda directed seven.

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Links: Corner Gas Animated, Season 4

From Melissa Hank of Postmedia:

Link: Brent Butt says goodbye to Corner Gas Animated
They say every dog has its day. Dog River, the setting of Canadian TV franchise Corner Gas, has had 10 seasons. First, as a live-action series from 2004 to 2009 and then as a cartoon revival debuting in 2018. The animated series wraps up its run Monday on CTV Comedy Channel. Continue reading.

From Bill Brioux of Brioux.tv:

Link: Brent Butt sets up the 4th and final season of Corner Gas Animated
Check out the latest from Brent Butt, my guest this week on brioux.tv: the podcast. The creator, writer, executive producer and star of Corner Gas Animated returns to brioux.tv: the podcast to set up the fourth and final season of his award-winning series. Continue reading.

From Greg Harder of the Regina Leader Post:

Link: Corner Gas animated series set to go out with a bang
This may be the end of the road for Corner Gas, but that doesn’t mean its final incarnation is running on fumes. Continue reading.

From Stephen Cooke of Saltwire:

Link: Halifax-raised Corrine Koslo reflects on final fill-up for Corner Gas Animated
It’s a long way to go from rural Saskatchewan to seaside Nova Scotia, especially in the middle of a pandemic. Continue reading.

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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.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

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.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

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.

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