I stumbled onto it a couple of days ago and I’ve been binging ever since. It’s available to stream on Amazon Prime.
It’s quirky ensemble comedy set in a nowhere town in Saskatchewan called Dog River. Guy owns a gas station that rents videos. His coworker is a slightly cynical grammar maven. Cute girl inherits cafe next door. Goofy best friend, cranky dad, long-suffering mom. Two cops, male and female. The flavor of it is kind of a combination of Seinfeld and Taxi, with hints of Northern Exposure.
I’ve been watching tons of cop/crime/murder shows recently when I’m not reading the news, and this show is a welcome break from both. Even though it’s as far from Jewish-urban as you can get, it’s like Seinfeld, because it’s about nothing. It’s light, witty, a little wacky, and not the least bit topical or timely. It’s balm for the battered mind.
As a lifelong Saskatchewan resident, I can assure you that this is not a comedy, it’s a documentary. I have met many of the actors. I have met ALL of the characters.
Possibly amusing fact: we were out after work one night, having drinks, and ran into some of the cast at the bar. When one of us mentioned Woolerton, they all, as one, stopped talking and spit, then resumed their conversation as if nothing had happened.
I’m in Ontario, and have never been to Saskatchewan, but it’s very relateable. It does venture into topical subjects occasionally when certain Canadians appear briefly in cameos. I’m pretty sure very few Americans would have a clue who they are though.
I watched this when it was first out, over a decade ago now wow! I liked it, and I turned my parents on to it too. Solidly funny and charming and not risqué.
I just watched that one today. “Kiss me, Fish Man!”
I hate it when that happens to shows. It happened to Monk. I know, not a comedy, but in the beginning, Monk’s quirks were interesting and well, quirky, but in later episodes, they became too much and the character was humiliated by them.
I’m watching it on amazon prime as I type this. I caught a few episodes on late night television years ago and was thrilled to discover the whole thing on amazon prime recently. A sweet little show.
