Canadian TV Shows on DVD - Page 3

I believe Littlest Hobo was a children's program. Was it bad in that context? All I dimly remember was the theme song in the background.

As for imaginary DVD's - clips of Don Cherry with dubs by DOUBLE EXPOSURE?

PS - Since this is a thread for Canajuns, how come this lame country can't have a winter holiday?

AUGGHH!! I now have the theme song for The Littlest Hobo stuck in my head!! It'll be there forever.

The Associates either just came out on DVD or is just about to come out. I saw an ad for it in a DVD trade magazine. Mr. Dressup is also already available.

Twitch City might actually happen in the next little while & same with the new Newsroom. I actually made up the chapter titles for the DVD of the original series. (The honest truth is that I was drunk when I wrote some of them. Hey, I have to do that stuff on my own time!) That's my boss on the commentary. And the mistake in the copy on the back of the sleeve is my fault. That DVD set is actually quite close to my heart so thank you to those who said nice things about it!

I'd definitely be interested in Twitch City, and from the one episode I saw the Newsroom would be worth owning as well. Of course, Made in Canada is still my top pick for Canadian TV on DVD (i.e. more than just the first six episodes).

I would like a couple of shows that still air in syndication in Canada and not here anymore:

-Counterstrike
-Lightning Force
-Sinbad

Maybe 'The King of Kensington'? too. I havent seen many of those in a while.

No one mentioned This Hour Has 22 Minutes?

Grew up watching Canadian TV, we get CBC here OTA and even on our local cable stations.

talkin' about the worst of them.

Anyone remember Snow Job.

How about Black Fly? It may have been inspired by Black Adder, but gawd was it terrible.

It couldn't possibly be worse than that robin-hood show that was on a year or two ago. The production values were so low that half the knights were wearing tin foil. I never actually made it through an entire episode of that show, but I seem to recall someone going to slay a dragon that turned out to be a green alien with a flame-thrower...

Then there's "Train 48". It's a show that takes place entirely on a single commuter train. There are no other sets. Just people... on the train. Watching this show is like ripping your fingernails off and watching them grow back. I can't believe somebody actually had the balls to sell the concept for this show. However, I can believe that CBC bought it. Ironically, thanks to it's rock-bottom production costs Train 48 is actually producing profits, and it's already in it's second season! Ye gods!

Back to stuff that actually deserves to be on DVD...

I am eagerly anticipating the new KITH sets, even though it's an american production (starring Canadians). My Irish brother-in-law absolutely loved "Due South". Apparantly that show went over really well in Guiness/Potatoe-land. (He came over after it had aired there.) I found it strange that an american show that exploited Canadian stereotypes and tanked in the states would be picked up by CBC (with a much lower budget) and become a Canadian favorite. Man we're wierd people.

A "Talking to Americans" compilation would be absolutely wonderful. "Save the Peter Mans Bridge!" I suspect that it might find more of a market South of the border than one might suspect... Does anybody else want to see an interview/encounter between Conan O'Brien and Rick Mercer? That would be "Talking to Americans" on steroids!

I'm dragging this thread out of last month to ask you guys - what do you think of Corner Gas on DVD? Would you buy the first season? I know it's doing well and people have expressed enthusiasm for it.

My gosh, I would love to see Seeing Things again! What a great show.

I got the first season sets of Cold Squad and DaVinci's Inquest, and I have to say I wish more Canadian programming would make its way south into the US. Heck, some of the best US programming is made in either Vancouver or Toronto these days ... :>

Corner Gas is currently my single favorite show and the only one I go out of my way to watch each week. And now Comedy channel is showing it on Saturdays so its on twice a week. I hope it gets a good couple years in.

Their "interweb" site is a riot too, www.cornergas.com

Puttnam's would be an interesting addition. Actually, I've known actor/musician Billy Morton (who played the closet scientist, Ivan) for the better part of 20 years, and have brought up the subject from time to time.

I'm holding my breath for The Hilarious House Of Frightenstein, starring the late Billy Van (who died in 2003), Fishka Rais, Vincent Price, and a host of others. Recorded at Hamilton's CHCH-TV, supposedly all the master tapes were erased. Visit frightenstein.com for a thorough history of the show.

im gonna disagree with this whole post.. All canadian programing (IMO) is garbage. I am Canadian so im not bashing (ontario here ).. Anyway I just found all canadian shows to be dull and boring.. not to mention technecally challenged. I will stick with the American made shows.

I used to think that way too... When I was 12!

Funny, I'm an American and I think the overwhelming majority of American made shows are garbage. Go figure.

You have to consider that the Canadian talent pool is nowhere near as extensive as in the US. Plus for every US show that makes it on the air, probably another 20 are rejected, and even then, there is no guarantee today that these shows last if the 'suits' don't see an instant return on investment with viewership (so many new shows are lucky to get past 6 episodes befor the plug is pulled).

Canada also does not have a star system the same way that American shows do, and a familiar face from an old show could stand a chance in a new series in the US.

That said, .

There's just more of it...

Obviously you haven't been watching 'This is Wonderland'

Speaking of Canadian Garbage, anybody remember CHECK IT OUT! with Don Adams as a grocery store manager? It was on around the same time as SNOW JOB in the early 80's. in fact, I think both of them were on the same night in some markets.

And speaking of The Beachcombers, anyone ever spend a rainy afternoon watching Bruno Gerussi's cooking show CELEBRITY COOKS? They revisit this show in Paul Schrader's AUTO FOCUS to concoct some bizarro Bob Crane appearance. And then there was WOK WITH YAN, another culinary classic.

Another show I remember briefly running on Global was THE IRISH ROVERS, in which the Rovers performed various songs and banter in a pub setting, occasionally with musical guests. I actually have one lowly episode of this on VHS with Lonnie Donegan (a favourite performer of mine) as a guest.

Someone way, way back mentioned BIZARRE with John Byner. I have most of this hilarious, irreverent and gleefully crass sketch series on old Beta tapes just waiting to be transferred to DVD someday. I should be so lucky that they'd release it officially first. This is the show that launched the career of Bob Einstein's Super Dave character. I also used to love the way Bob (who also produced the show) would saunter on stage to spike one of Byner's "ripoff" bits, and then Byner would launch into his usual bag of insults.

"Guests of Bizarre stay at Toronto's beautiful Royal York Hotel. Cars for Bizarre provided by Tilden Rent-a-Car." The stupidest things get stuck in my head sometimes.

Not so shabby then - the Royal York is a lovely hotel. :>

Have there been any rumblings of Adderly being released to DVD? Or even VHS? That was a popular show and winner of a Gemini or two, wasn't it? I loved that series when it was shown in the US on CBS Late Night.

I have vague recollections of ADDERLY. Was Winston Reckert in that? Or Donnelly Rhodes?

Come to think of it, wasn't Rhodes on some marine biology adventure show in the 80's and 90's where he starred with a couple of kids? I'm probably thinking of DANGER BAY, which has probably been mentioned earlier i this thread.

And you're right. The Royal York's a stunning place to stay!

I'd forgotten Bizarre, with SUPERDAVE OSBORNE

I remember CHECK IT OUT, but not so as to say it was as bad as SNOWJOB.

Has Maniac Mansion been mentioned?

Maniac Mansion - was that with Joe Flaherty?

Re: Adderly. Yep, that was with Winston Rekert. Adderly was a master spy who'd been benched when he'd irreparably damaged his hand in the field. Banished to "Miscellaneous Affairs" section, under the watchful (and all-too-retentive) eye of Melville what's-his-name. Featured Dixie Seattle as Mona. I think it ran 3 seasons. I would buy that show on DVD without thinking twice.

I didn't see it often, but Joe Flaherty and possibly other SCTV people were involved.

I remember Check It Out. I liked it.

Well it's possible, but there are concerns that it won't sell too well. That's why I'm asking.

I'm just waiting for "Leo and Me"

Anybody remember The Plouffe Family?