MovieChat Forums > Corner Gas (2004) Discussion > Help me nail down the characteristics of...

Help me nail down the characteristics of Canadian TV humour

posted 8 years ago by drunkbear
10 replies | jump to latest

I am a Midwestern American, and I have fairly-extensive experience of American humor and British humor, as far as TV shows are concerned. As I see it, American TV humor tends to lean towards the farcical, with a simple situation going manically out-of-control. British TV humour seems to often be based around the British obsession with respectability and politeness.

I really have only studied/watched two Canadian TV comedy series: 'The Red Green Show,' and 'Trailer Park Boys.' I can tell there's some quality that sets Canadian TV humour apart from American TV humor or British TV humour, but I'm not sure if I can put my finger on exactly what it is.

My thought/theory is that the signature feature is the laid-back Canadian 'vibe,' but I don't know exactly how to describe it. Can anybody help me understand it?

Oh, and I think 'Corner Gas' is hilarious.

- HOW kin I be so brainless, when I is so smart?

[–] monkeyalien 8 years ago

Ditto on those shows for me too. I discovered Corner Gas due to it's syndication on WGN. The Red Green Show was on a local PBS station for years where I saw glimpses of it while channel surfing & listed in the program guide, but I assumed it was some mundane thing because it was on PBS. Trailer Park Boys came about with the release of the first movie and is now beloved and often reference in my circle of friends. It's criminal that Canadian hits aren't moremainstream in the US.

My only experience with British comedy is an episode or two of the The Office and Todd Margaret so I can't really speak for it. I wouldn't say that American TV humor (kudos on the British spelling BTW) leans the way you describe, except for when things do go out of control due to absurdist characters & situations. Trailer Park Boys does this extensively despite not being American. There's plenty of non-maniacal TV humor based on misunderstandings and oblivious characters. Stuff on IFC comes to mind, but I'm not sure a lot of that qualifies as humor. {cough} Maron {cough}.

I can't peg what the signature feature of Canadian comedy is, if it actually has. Maybe it's the lack of need for a laugh track, the lack of real authority figures, or different expectations from the Canadian networks. These three shows were very different from each other. Obviously Trailer Park Boys has overt methods with rampant profanity, intoxication, absurd lifestyles, running jokes, and characters that generally accepted what each other did despite those actions not being acceptable in polite society. The Red Green Show had the absurdity & often slapstick without the profane but with the 'straight man' aspect thanks to Harold & others. I can't really explain what made Corner Gas funny except for the right mix of quirky and 'straight man/woman' characters in a small quiet setting.

(this signature was absent on picture day)

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

I couldn't get into TPB, because every character on it seemed to be an *beep* One thing I was thinking that RG and CG had in common was characters who had one dominating trait, as opposed to being balanced. RG had guys who were monomaniacal about RVs, golf, lying, loneliness...CG had characters with one single, major trait: Wanda was sarcastic, Hank was stupid, Davis was childish...they all had a single, dominating personality factor, except for the main character. He liked his comic books, but he was a relatively balanced personality, compared to the other chars, like Red Green.

- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?

[–] monkeyalien 8 years ago

Not every character on TPB was an *beep*, particularly Bubbles and for the most part Randy. You're right about Corner Gas characters having single major traits, thought I can't think of Karen's. She was pretty normal except for her apparent willingness to get naked on the spot. Red was relatively balanced but he was slightly off in just the right way, enough to make take up crazy projects. Winston was pretty much normal except for his love of sewage.

Singular distinct personality traits can make for excellent shows but it's certainly not what sets Canadian comedy apart. Friends, Newsradio, That '70s Show, much of The Office (US), and Parks & Recreation come to mind.

(this signature was absent on picture day)

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

The impression I got of Karen was that she was competitive. Oscar was a jackass, Emma had a temper.

I have tried out all of the shows you listed, and I honestly didn't like any of them. Another IMDb user recommended 'Schitt's Creek' to me, as a good Canadian comedy. Haven't checked that one out, yet.

Part of the reason that I loved 'Red Green' was that the stories he told reflected the way that my redneck Midwest U.S. family did things. "This is only temporary - unless it works."

- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?

[–] monkeyalien 8 years ago

I couldn't get through an episode of Schitt's Creek because I don't see how it's considered a comedy. Same way with Maron and Comedy Bang Bang, IMO.

(this signature was absent on picture day)

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

Guess I'll try those on youtube before I order the discs, then. Have you seen 'Smith & Smith,' where the Red Green character originally debuted? I've only seen the parts that were included on the Red Green Show disc set, and I've always been curious what else they had on the show.

- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?

[–] monkeyalien 8 years ago

I have not, but I want to along with the Red Fisher Show which The Red Green Show is supposed to be a spoof of. Red is the uncle I wish I had and I'd love to start an organization like Possum Lodge.

(this signature was absent on picture day)

[–] stevefisher 8 years ago

I think you'll like Schitt's Creek.

One thing that occurred to me as I was reading this thread is that one of things that's different about Canadian comedies became events. Corner Gas and Schitt's Creek were both event series for my extended family. We'd get together and watch them together. Trailer Park Boys wasn't that, but I remember when it first came out it was on the big screen at the pub each week (or, at least, each week it didn't conflict with the local NHL team). People would actually go to the pub just to watch it while having a beer or two.

There were a few other series like that, such as Psych. (And I know Psych wasn't a Canadian series, because writers and actors were from elsewhere… but after watching Gus's 29 point turn I consider it an honorary one.)

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

I assume that you're Canadian, from your post.

Why did people gather at the pubs to watch the shows? Could they not get the broadcasts at home, or was it more of a reason for neighbors to get together at the pub?

Down here in Kansas City, the only reasons we gather in pubs (aside from getting drunk) are to watch sporting events. There's always loud music or karaoke, so you can WATCH shows, but never HEAR them.

I've always thought that Canadians maintain the UK pub culture, which (as far as I can tell) involves just having everybody in the neighborhood together.

Please respond. I'd love to know more.

- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?

[–] stevefisher 8 years ago

Yes, I'm Canadian. :)

And no, I haven't seen people gather in pubs to watch TV much. I think some of these shows are on specialty channels. But even so, it's not like people just gather to watch TV. There was something about Trailer Park Boys, though, that it just caught on there.

I'm probably the wrong guy to ask about pub culture. It does seem to be more than what you describe in KC, but less than what I hear about in UK. You certainly don't need to get drunk every time. Pubs can be a great place for interesting food and a drink.

I've been out of pubs for a while since getting married and having kids. I've still taken my wife out to a couple meals there.