Television Review: Corner Gas (2004-Present)

Corner Gas is a T.V. show that some of you might not have heard of before. You're probably scratching your head trying to figure out what the hell Corner Gas is, so let me tell you. Unless you live up in the Great White North or you get over billion satellite channels, you have probably never seen this show. You see, Corner Gas is something very unusual. Something very rare. It is something almost mythical in nature, such as unicorns or white pants that are not totally see-through. Corner Gas is a successful, multi-season, non-cancelled, Canadian sitcom.

See, Canada is not exactly famous for its television (but we award our rarely watched television shows at the Gemini awards, which is televised, but similarly, rarely watched by Canadians). Oh, we have television up here. And boy, do we love to watch it. But almost ever show we watch is set in New York. Or L.A. Or Boston, Chicago, Miami or Las Vegas. None of the shows I've ever seen have ever been set in Moose Jaw. Which is not to be confused with Moosonee. Which is not to be confused with Napanee. Which is... well, you get the point. I truly can not think of a successful, funny, and not cancelled show that has been set in a Canadian city other than Degrassi and Trailer Park Boys.

Anyway, Corner Gas has turned into a bit of a Canadian phenomenon. It gets good ratings, people all across the country are said to watch it, and people are actually taking trips out to Saskatchewan to see where the show is set. If you've ever been there, you'd know that Saskatchewan, while beautiful, is not exactly known for its tourism. Corner Gas is set in a small (think miniscule) town in rural Saskatchewan (that rectangle shaped province, squeezed between Manitoba and Alberta). The fictional town of Dog River (which is supposed to be somewhere between Regina and Saskatoon) is where everyone knows everyone else's business because there is nothing else to talk about. In Dog River, the liquor store is also where life, car and property insurance is sold. Where the police force consists of only two cops who have to try to find people who are even coming close breaking the law. And Corner Gas is the only place to fill up for kilometers around.

The show centres around Brent LeRoy (Brent Butt). Brent owns the gas station that he took over from his father, Oscar (Eric Peterson) and his mother, Emma (Janet Wright). Oscar is the very definition of "cantankerous" and Emma is a very, very patient woman.

Wanda Dollard (Nancy Robertson) works at Corner Gas with Brent. Wanda is an interesting resident of Dog River, as she is usually reading books on quantum physics or comparative religion in between stocking the chocolate bars at the front counter.

Lacey Burrows (Gabrielle Miller) is the new owner of The Ruby, the town's restaurant which is connected to Corner Gas. She just moved to Dog River from Toronto, and is doing her best to get accustomed to small town life, but has the sneaking suspicion that everyone still thinks of her as "Big City" (which many people do).

Hank Yarbo (Fred Ewanuick) is the town lay-about and Brent's best friend since childhood. He works as the mechanic when he's not hanging out bothering Brent and Wanda. He's a good guy, just a little eccentric. And usually a little slow on the up-take.

Finally, there are Davis Quinton (Lorne Cardinal) and Karen Pelly (Tara Spencer-Nairn), the officers of the law. They spend their days hanging out at The Ruby, walking the streets (to increase police presence in the town) and sitting in their squad car by the highway into town, looking for speeders (except its a highway in Saskatchewan, so its not exactly bustling).

Corner Gas is one of my Must-See shows. Its a Canadian show without being an over-the-top Canadian show (if you hosers know what I mean, eh?). The cast is all Canadian, and the guest-stars are often of Canadian fame (how's that for an oxymoron?). The jokes are quick and spot on. The characters are well-formed and the depiction of small-town life is right on. All in all, Corner Gas is a show that deserves to not be cancelled. So, lets strive for that, ok?

I'll leave you with some of my favourite quotes from this show:
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Lacey: Yeah, right. What are the chances of there being a riot in Dog River?
Karen: Fifty-fifty.
Lacey: What?!? Fifty-fifty? How do you figure?
Karen: Well, either there will be a riot, or there won't be.
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Brent: Dad look, you're gonna be around for a long time.
Oscar: How can you be so sure?
Brent: Because, I've angered the Karma Gods, and you're my punishment.
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Brent LeRoy: Morning, want me to fill it up?
Customer: Do you work here?
Brent LeRoy: It'd be a pretty weird hobby.
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Hank: Hey, Davis just gave me a parking ticket.
Wanda: Yeah, he gave me on too, and I'm parked in the parking lot.
Hank: Yeah, well I wasn't even parked. I was stopped at a stop sign, he came running out from behind a bush.
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Karen: Where'd you get the cash for that stun gun? I though you were gonna use the surplus to buy bullet proof vests.
Davis: I saved a little money by buying bullet *resistant* vests.
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