What's up Canadians? I love your television, tell me more...

rampop · 1 year

It's been off the air for a while now, but the old "The Kids in the Hall" episodes are pure gold. Probably one of my favourite shows of all time.

gollumullog · 1 year

sctv.

Naberius · 1 year

My sense, from five years living in Canada, is that Canadians love to beat up on Canadian TV because they think it doesn't stand up to the polish and budgets of American shows. They think it's bland and boring compared to the U.S. stuff, just as they half secretly fear that Canada itself is bland and boring compared to the U.S. They're mistaken on both counts.

As an American, I loved Canadian TV for those precise qualities. It was more surprising, more engaging than polished and predictable US product. It was far more willing to do something interesting without trying to appeal to the broadest possible audience.

For example, there is no way in hell something like Trailer Park Boys would ever fly on U.S. network TV. It's too edgy, not homogenized enough to play to a broad audience. The only things on U.S. TV that are willing to go to that level are things like the Adult Swim animation on Cartoon Network. And those shows are basically just about being crass and shocking to pander to their particular audience. There's nothing there but crass and shocking fed to you with a spoon. With Trailer Park Boys, those qualities were wrapped around real characters and the show had something to say about those characters and their world. It wasn't just about figuring out what very specific things their audience liked and then dialing those things up to 11 and ignoring everything else.

As with a lot of things about Canada, actually, I think Canadians don't appreciate just how cool their TV really is.

Okay, yes, for every Corner Gas or Trailer Park Boys, there's a Little Mosque on the Prairie. And I'm not convinced that Royal Canadian Air Farce was ever funny, but if it was it stopped like fifteen years ago. But that's what happens when you experiment. And often even when it's not wholly successful, Canadian TV is at least interesting.

ponymchoofyson · 1 year

oh so THAT's who watches them! ;-)

baconpancakes · 1 year

Kids in The Hall

danthrax · 1 year

Kenny vs Spenny is pretty funny (and is produced by Stone and Parker of South Park), Clone High was a really funny cartoon... I think that might be it...

borkran · 1 year

It's not a TV show, but you must see 'Bon Cop Bad Cop'!

smj · 1 year

Check out the movie Fubar, you might like it.

cecilkorik · 1 year

Just for the record, it's "eh?" not "ay?". But I wanted to also add a second vote for The Red Green Show, which was fantastic.

sideways8 · 1 year

Due South, man. It's been off the air for years but it's epic.

elgopo · 1 year

Jon Dore! tv show

sirspate · 1 year

Check out The National Film Board. There is a lot of quality Canadian material up there, funded by our tax dollars, and not all of it's documentaries! I'm not sure whether or not it's gated to folks from other countries, but it may be worth your while taking a look, as there are some culturally resonant items in there.

Oh, and there are a few funny items in there too.

poubelle · 1 year

I CAN NOT BELIEVE "TWITCH CITY" HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED. Positively brilliant, weird and funny.

Also, "The Newsroom", previously mentioned, is fantastic. Ken Finkleman is a sick genius.

AND... the youth series "Our Hero" was so so so so brilliant. It killed me when it was cancelled.

phirate · 1 year

Puppets Who Kill.

you are using 'eh?' incorrectly. It feels more at home at the end of a statement. It is not a question mark but a question in and of itself.

JeanNaRH · 1 year

Pure pwnage, internet version. TV version :(

Koss424 · 1 year

SCTV
Codco
Kids in the Hall
Prisoners of Gravity
The Starlost

phedre · 1 year

Made in Canada, staring Rick Mercer.

thegreatrobot · 1 year

Slings and Arrows, if you're a Shakespeare/theatre fan (or maybe even if you're not). Mark McKinney (from Kids in the Hall) is in it. It's funny but I don't know if I'd call it a comedy.

ohhnoodont · 1 year

Lexx - A forgotten sci-fi classic that was produced between Canada and Germany. It could be considered a comedy, but offbeat.

The Odyssey - More sci-fi. Watched this often when I was younger. Not sure how well it holds up today.

Are You Afraid of The Dark? - A quality show although it may not be what you're after. Reams of nostalgia for any Canadian growing up in the 90's.

AgoodStory · 1 year

Trailer Park Boys

If you haven't watched every single mother fucking episode, you're doing it wrong.

the_duckman · 1 year

Kevin Spencer - "the chain-smoking alcoholic sociopath"

Deadlysherpa · 1 year

if you can find it, buzz tv.

it was a comedy network show a few years back

[deleted] · 1 year

Please don't kill me but I liked Robson Arms.

wrongnumber · 1 year

Ok I'll probably be downvoted but, Being Erica is really good.

skello · 1 year

SCTV, if you like old school sketch comedy.

rodgerjames · 1 year

People actually watch Hiccups and Dan for Mayor? =(

ninsei · 1 year

How's it going 'eh'?

brokenhead · 1 year

KEVIN SPENCER! Canada's answer to Simpsons,EH?

computermonkey · 1 year

The Littlest Hobo

The Beachcombers

Captin_Obvious · 1 year

jPod - awesome show
Chilly Beach - Cartoon watch online

For non comedies The Bridge and Intelligence are good

smorks1 · 1 year

the red green show

bdelgado · 1 year

Canadian Bacon if its on re-runs.

j1ggy · 1 year

The one thing about Canadians... whenever someone asks about something Canadian, everyone and their dog chimes in. ;)

Foaric · 1 year

Republic of Doyle is a great detective show, lots of comedy with some drama here and there.

the_typist · 1 year

Anything with Rick Mercer.

I highly recommend Rick Mercer Talking to Americans http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7111005509913775935

gotemfooled · 1 year

If you'd like to try something a little darker - and I don't mean dark comedy - you can't go wrong with "Durham County".

Cand1date · 1 year

This hour has 22 minutes. Four on the Floor. Kids in the Hall. Rick Mercer.

That is all.

[deleted] · 1 year

A lot has been mentioned already that I'd concur with: SCTV, Kids in the Hall, CodCo, Trailer Park Boys.

The movie FUBAR is also worth a peek.

I also like Just for Laughs Gags out of Quebec, which I think might be a copy of a British show, but I always see it on CBC so..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pL9YLrU3w4

Kenadian · 1 year

You used eh incorrectly. As a prominent eh user it usually comes at the end of a statement which is seeking agreement.

For example... 'It's nice outside. Eh?' or 'That ice is cold. eh?' or 'Canadian television is awesome. Eh?'

Babel72 · 1 year

Has no one mentioned Maniac Mansion yet?

option_30 · 1 year

Reboot!

scientificopolitico · 1 year

Definitely Kenny Vs Spenny. You might also like Little Mosque on the Prairie judging from what you've listed.

Spectre_Lynx · 1 year

Kids in the Hall released a movie as well, its called "Brain Candy". Its... well.... as strange as the tv show was.

mcrob · 1 year

I suggest you check out the vinyl cafe pod cast.

1 year

[deleted]

thesheeplookup · 1 year

The Listener While this scene is a mild spoiler, it's better than any trailer I could pull up. All of them were god-awful and didn't do the show justice. The background story is he's a paramedic in Toronto who happens to be telepathic and the guy he's talking to in this scene is his partner.

PogoPoutine · 1 year

Maybe everyone else here is too young to remember it, but I loved the House of Frightenstein as a kid, and it's still watchable now. It's a kids show, but trippy in a 70s way kind of like a Canadian version of H.R._Pufnstuf.

swordgeek · 1 year

SCTV!!!

TechStuff · 1 year

Sorry, were you looking for good Canadian TV shows?

TechStuff · 1 year

Sorry, were you looking for good Canadian TV shows?

pixxiest · 1 year

Ohh I completely forgot about Ed the Sock! He's like the Canadian version of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog! Did I mention you're a godsend for starting this beyond awesome post?

[deleted] · 1 year

Bob Gratton: My Vie, Ma Life

If you can understand French, it's fucking awesome.

kel_varnson · 1 year

Street Cents and Reboot.

ZestyMordant · 1 year

Try Flight of the Conchords. I think they must be from Newfoundland because they talk funny.

Felix_D · 1 year

Just for Laughs Gags.

E: oh no you all hate me why

CrazyJoey · 1 year

Flashpoint is considered a good Canadian drama.

Frankly, I find most Canadian television content unbearable... not because there isn't talent, but you can't get government/Canadian network funding unless everything is wholesome, Canadian-focused, etc. So we'll never have our own gritty versions of The Sopranos or The Wire or Breaking Bad... :(

harrywhite1 · 1 year

Any redditors who like Camadian Ty shows should definitely check out Jpod. It is filmed where I went to school - Simon Fraser university - and stars Alan Thicke.

Ratings and reviews showed that people did not understand this program for what it was - kind of the Canadian version of Weeds.

frid · 1 year

The Trouble With Tracy

MyNameIsDan_ · 1 year

TIL Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian show.

Matt08642 · 1 year

Not comedy, but for an awesome 90s kids oriented show, grab the first 5 seasons of "Are You Afraid Of The Dark?"

That shit IS my childhood.

amatijaca · 1 year

Trailer Park Boys, Rick Mercer Report and if you dare Talking to Americans. The TtA has a great line (asking one American) "Do you think we (Americans) should bomb Winnipeg?" - the answer is almost unanimous "yes"!!

campbellschunky · 1 year

I liked The Morgan Waters Show. It was on CBC for kids, but its hilarious. All the episodes are on youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/donniebilson

olddirtybastard · 1 year

Check out the foundation, I just found this one a few weeks ago but it's pretty ruthless comedy. not sure if you can watch it online from down there - or even find episodes for download but, it's totally worth it.

CanadianGal25 · 1 year

I'm 26 and was born and raised here in Canada. Only time I've left the country was my honeymoon. And I have never watched any of those shows. Ever. We don't watch a whole lot of modern or popular shows. We have a handful of favourites and that's all. The only Canadian show I can think of that we watch is Flashpoint. It's about a SWAT team stationed in Toronto, Ontario, and it's fantastic. One of my all-time favourite shows. They cast it very well, and the script is really properly written, and it's dramatic without being campy or over-the-top. For 45 minutes, you feel like you're right there with them. I like it.

If you ever get a chance, though, here are some good older shows that you could probably find or download: Royal Canadian Air Farce, Due South (I LOVED THAT SHOW!!), Stargate: SG-1 (yes, I'm a nerd, leave me alone), This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and ReGenesis (awesome, but there are a lot of "fast forward" scenes).

Most of the shows we watch are American, sadly, and we are Doctor Who fans as well.

Also, it's "eh". : D

mookst3r · 1 year

I read the comments all the way through, and today I'm a little more proud of my country than usual, considering no mentioned "The Beachcombers."

jordanblock · 1 year

smj · 1 year

The Canadian Conspiracy is somewhat funny as well.

chapdelaine · 1 year

If you don't mind subtitles you should check out the Canadian movie "C.R.A.Z.Y."

Curmudgeon · 1 year

Try "Hatching, Matching & Dispatching" and "Robson Arms", both short runs, but have their moments. Also go way back for Codco.

AussiePete · 1 year

Oh, sorry. Completely forgot to mention Aaaargh! It's The Mr Hell Show. Love that show, Bob Monkhouse was brilliant!

I can't believe no one has steered me towards it...

drexl019 · 1 year

Less Than Kind has it's moments, but I could be biased cause it's set in Winnipeg
The Jon Dore show is just awesome
Hotbox is kinda like Tim and Eric in that I find like one in 5 skits really really funny while the rest are weird as hell.

moghua · 1 year

If you like "low brow", I suggest Testees and Rent a goalie. For high brow I might suggest This is Wonderland and Slings and Arrows.

AmandaKerik · 1 year

"Little Mosque on the Prairie" and "Talking to Americans" by Rick Mercer. Tons of good stuff out there if you've acquired a taste for it.

Check CBC's schedule for ideas?

ether_reddit · 1 year

Definitely Made in Canada, by the same production company and several actors from the sketch comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

MistyMountainHop · 1 year

The Tournament — Hilarious comedy series about the parents and coaches of hockey kids.

iHateusernames1 · 1 year

wait wait..someone watches corner gas? wow

ttoyooka · 1 year

If you want to dig up Canadian comedy history, try to find Wayne and Shuster. They did a lot of sketch-style comedy, on radio first, then television. Most consider their "Shakespearian Baseball" sketch to be their best.

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