Corner Gas

I had always been a fan of Brent Butt's comedy stylings, watching him on his specials and on Just For Laughs so when it came time to sit down and watch his new show, I was more than excited. Thankfully, I was treated to a fabulously written simple comedy about very small town life in Saskatchewan. Having grown-up on a farm myself, I couldn't help but chuckle with the identifiable characters on the show with their small town foibles and mentalities. I'm glad that Canadians have embraced this show and that it already has the green light for next season. I'm sure that any Americans (esp in the mid-west) who have access to CTV will also enjoy the humour being portrayed. Corner Gas is a simple comedy but that doesn't make it any less successful at its job; its a perfect blend of Canadian small town living and comedic satire. A Must See!!

This show is a rarity in Canadian television - it's good! Too much of Canadian programing is slow, dry and boring - and aside from NHL hockey, there is not much else worth watching. A few shows have made attempts at being clever comedies, but have always failed because Canadian programming always tends to alienate the main audience by becoming too political, historical or just plain arrogant (vis-a-vis the CBC and CRTC).

But this show has succeeded and, more importantly, is extremely entertaining because its focus isn't on some political agenda, but rather on the art of entertaining. Brent Butt has figured out the formula that has made this series a hilarious success - and I think I can identify what some of those criteria are.

1. It has great characters - And character development. Just like other successful comedies (Seinfeld, The Office, Cheers, etc.) quirky characters are fun to watch.

2. It has great writing - The stories seem to be about nothing - but even nothing is something!

3. It has excellent pacing - It does not slow down at all, and continues to improve its pacing as the seasons go by. The more jokes you can fit in to the half hour, the better.

4. It is not sentimental - If anything, most of the characters are less than sympathetic, and that type of darkness of the human psyche is far more appealing and funny when you are making a comedy about quirky people in a quirky little town.

5. There is NO winter!! - Have you seen any snow yet in Dog River? This is critical for a successful Canadian comedy - because snow complicates things. It is bleak, uninteresting, and unfortunately too much of a reminder of reality for those of us who have to live with it for 10 months out of the year. In fact, with out the snow - it makes this small town in Saskatchewan look quite charming, and all the more interesting and lovable.

Now these are just my opinions - but if you want to take a chance on a Canadian TV show - this should be the one. Canadians should be (and are - for the most part, I think) proud of this series. I, for one, try not to miss it each week, and I own all the DVD's too...its just a fun show to watch, and I would rank it up there as one of the best new comedies on TV right now.

I can't stop laughing. In the mode of Red Green. Subtle humor delivered by some seriously good actors. And thank God, no laugh track.

I admit that I didn't set out to watch this show, it was on before "American Idol" one night. But I was converted into a fan with one episode.

I really like the quirky humour and the way that the characters interact with each other. And how the characters stay true to themselves.

I'd never heard of Brent Butt, or anyone else in this show, before. Doesn't matter. They make a good ensemble.

So Canadians are capable of producing a good TV show themselves! You don't have to be from the prairies to understand the flavour of small town Canada.

A friend recommended the show, streaming on Prime presently. What a fantastic, hilarious comedy about a small town in Saskatchewan where the little cafe and gas station is the hub of small-town interactions. Like all small towns, everybody knows everybody and the characters are fun and lovable. The writing is awesome! The acting & directing super! This is a great, light, fun, hilarious show.