# Anyone watch "Corner Gas"? (Canadian sitcom) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 30, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936 "2018-12-30T19:27:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/21 "2019-01-01T15:59:12Z")
We tried it last night and in Ep. 1 we found the out-of-sync dialogue a bit disturbing. Lips did not match speech. Was it dubbed? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/22 "2019-01-01T16:05:49Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > We tried it last night and in Ep. 1 we found the out-of-sync dialogue a bit disturbing. Lips did not match speech. > > Was it dubbed? No. They’re speaking English. Canadian English, but it doesn’t need dubbing. Usually. Might be a function of streaming. Try some later episodes. I usually have captions on due to my hearing problems and then I don’t notice stuff like out of sync. The other day I was watching an episode of _Maigret_, which takes place in France but is in English with British actors, and the captions were for an entirely different show. My motto: this techie stuff is great when it works. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/23 "2019-01-01T16:43:47Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Even though it’s as far from Jewish-urban as you can get, it’s like Seinfeld, because it’s about nothing. I would have said it’s closer in tone to _Parks & Recreation_ than _Seinfeld_. But yeah, great light entertainment. I started watching a couple years ago, I think because of someone recommending it here on the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/24 "2019-01-01T18:20:14Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > No. They’re speaking English. Canadian English, but it doesn’t need dubbing. … Curiously, I’m wondering what “Canadian English” means in this context. Is there a discernible Canadian accent, or idioms? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/25 "2019-01-01T18:33:25Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Curiously, I’m wondering what “Canadian English” means in this context. > Is there a discernible Canadian accent, or idioms? That was a joke. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/26 "2019-01-01T18:35:25Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Curiously, I’m wondering what “Canadian English” means in this context. > Is there a discernible Canadian accent, or idioms? Sometimes. For example, I was surprised to hear “drama” pronounced “DRAM-a” instead of “DRA-ma,” a la Orson Welles. Mostly, though, it sounds like I’m back in Minnesota. I’m curious as to how they pronounce “theatre.” “The-AY-ter”? :dubious: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/27 "2019-01-01T19:12:53Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Sometimes. For example, I was surprised to hear “drama” pronounced “DRAM-a” instead of “DRA-ma,” a la Orson Welles. > > Mostly, though, it sounds like I’m back in Minnesota. I’m curious as to how they pronounce “theatre.” “The-AY-ter”? :dubious: 😕 I don’t understand any of this. We, Canadians, mostly pronounce words like drama, and pasta, and Mazda, etc. with the same “a” sound for both vowels, like in santa for example. Is that what you’re talking about? Theatre: Is there any other way to pronounce theatre in English? THEE-a-ter. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/28 "2019-01-01T19:21:59Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I don’t understand any of this. > > We, Canadians, mostly pronounce words like drama, and pasta, and Mazda, etc. with the same “a” sound for both vowels, like in santa for example. Is that what you’re talking about? > > Theatre: Is there any other way to pronounce theatre in English? THEE-a-ter. 😕 It. Was. A. Joke. Because \*\*jsg \*\*asked if the show was dubbed because the soundtrack was not synced. I attempted to make a joke. Canadian English is 99.9% congruent with American English. Any differences in pronunciation are no bigger than differences among states south of the Canadian border. People say “thee-AY-ter” in South Texas, too. Personally, I say “THEE-uh-ter.” People around here say “EYE-rack” for the Middle Eastern country. I say, “ih-RACK.” It was a joke. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/29 "2019-01-01T19:23:19Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I don’t understand any of this. > > We, Canadians, mostly pronounce words like drama, and pasta, and Mazda, etc. with the same “a” sound for both vowels, like in santa for example. Is that what you’re talking about? > > Theatre: Is there any other way to pronounce theatre in English? THEE-a-ter. 😕 In outstate Minnesota (i.e., away from the Twin Cities), “the-AY-ter” is heard a lot. I would pronounce “drama” as “DRA-ma.” On _ **Corner Gas** _, Davis called it “DRAM-a” (with “DRAM” like the unit of measurement). The only other time I’ve heard this was on an Orson Welles special many years ago. You really pronounce “Santa” like “Mazda”? That’s one I haven’t heard before! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/30 "2019-01-01T19:25:52Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > It was a joke. :rolleyes: We cunning linguists love such humor! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/31 "2019-01-01T19:29:32Z")
I was an Air Force brat and grew up in different places where people pronounced things differently. I outgrew that humor. But carry on. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/32 "2019-01-01T19:34:26Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I was an Air Force brat and grew up in different places where people pronounced things differently. I outgrew that humor. But carry on. I grew up in such places too. I thought it was delightful. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/33 "2019-01-01T19:44:37Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I would pronounce “drama” as “DRA-ma.” On _ **Corner Gas** _, Davis called it “DRAM-a” (with “DRAM” like the unit of measurement)… I’m not getting the difference here. No big deal, but again, it’s not clear to me what you’re trying to convey. Is the first one more like “DRAW-ma?” ETA: Because Davis’ pronunciation is correct for Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/34 "2019-01-01T21:15:09Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I stumbled onto it a couple of days ago and I’ve been binging ever since. It’s available to stream on [Amazon Prime](https://smile.amazon.com/Ruby-Reborn/dp/B07KWHNXS8/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1546197304&sr=1-1&keywords=corner+gas+tv+show). > > 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. > > This is season 1/episode 1: If you like light comedy with a lot of charm, give **The Detectorists** a try. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/35 "2019-01-02T00:47:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > If you like light comedy with a lot of charm, give **The Detectorists** a try. I have tried that show a couple of times due to recommendations here, but I couldn’t get into it. I’ll try again. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/36 "2019-01-02T16:37:46Z")
The show’s great. It’s has the rural quirkiness of _Northern Exposure_ and the smash-cut sarcasm of _Scrubs_ and is better than either. ---
**Author:** ![cgg419](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cgg419/32/2847_2.png) [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/37 "2019-01-02T17:16:47Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Curiously, I’m wondering what “Canadian English” means in this context. > Is there a discernible Canadian accent, or idioms? Skipping all the original aftermath of this post, I have been told more than once by Americans that I have an accent. I’ve lived my whole life in southern Ontario, and don’t notice one in myself or my family and friends. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/38 "2019-01-02T20:18:57Z")
Oh hell, I thought it was free, but I see they whack you $21 to watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/39 "2019-01-02T22:27:54Z")
I watched this years back when it was broadcast on WGN. One of the first episodes I saw was the one with the Security Camera Plays. In fact, the line where Lacey says “Oh, he’s just auditioning for the Security Camera Plays” _like that’s a thing_ is what hooked me on this show. Another line that slayed me (but I’m from a Montanan hockey family): “He gets 110 shots-on-goal, but that’s only because our defensemen can’t skate backwards…” ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936/40 "2019-01-03T05:22:02Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I have Brent’s shirt from the “Shirt Powers” episode. > > I also have one of his bar bills. > > And have visited Dog River before they tore it down last year. It was only about 40 k from where Piper Clan lives. > > Fitzie’s grandmother is a friend of ours. But have you ever been to the land of rape and honey? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watch-corner-gas-canadian-sitcom/826936.md?page=3)