MovieSet Dailies

Holy smokes eh! What a round of interesting comments and entries in the Canadian Comedic Exports contest to win 2 Trailer Park Boys DVDs – The Movie and Countdown to Liquor Day. As mentioned about the grading requirements, (you) “will be graded on originality as well as awesomeness so put on your thinking toque and choose wisely.”

Ricky (Robb Wells), Bubbles (Mike Smith) and Julian (John Paul Tremblay) in TRAILER PARK BOYS II: COUNTDOWN TO LIQUOR DAY, an Alliance Films' release.

So again, the MovieSet contest high council gathered around the festive hearth and sorted through over 40 nuanced references to the northland’s proud tradition of humour – and yes, some of you managed to surprise us with your impassioned pleas and obscure choices. As such, these four historians will receive the dual-DVD funpack – run/cokes not included.

Chris – Charlie Farquharson

Hire Charlie Farquharson (i.e., Don Harron) for your event

Without a heavy pitch, Chris’ minimalist mention of Charlie Farquharson was just the sort of librarianship we were seeking. Don’t know who Charlie Farquharson is? Don’t sweat it – not everyone does. He was an alter-ego character created by Don Harron. Here’s what the holy tome of Wikipedia says:

“Harron is best known for the character Charlie Farquharson (pronounced by Harron in performance /ˈfɑrkəsən/), a personality he first portrayed in 1952 on the CBC series The Big Revue and used as part of the cast of the U.S. country music television show, Hee Haw. The character was also reprised on The Red Green Show.

Dressed in an overly well-worn sweater and frayed cap, and sporting a grizzled ‘two-day beard,’ Farquharson is a decidedly rural Ontario farmer from near Parry Sound. He and his wife, Valeda, have a son, Orville.

He would deliver his opinion about matters local and worldwide, using many malaprops in the process that often resulted in both double meanings and increased satire about the events. He was also known for his loud hearty laugh “Hee! Hee! Hee!”. In addition to his television appearances, Harron published several books in the character, reproducing the malapropisms in print and including strange photos and woodcuts as illustrations.”

Well played Chris. Enjoy your DVDs.

Susan – Rick Moranis

Next up is SUSAN K.’s historical soliloquy about Rick Moranis’ work. While best known for Ghostbusters and the Honey, I Shrunk … series, his skills were at the peak in the glory days of SCTV where he created many memorable characters while always supporting his co-stars.

Susan points out here faves which spurred an half hour of laughter:

My favourite Canadian comedic export is Rick Moranis. He was really funny in Ghostbusters as the nerdy neighbour. When SCTV was screened in the US, they finally admired his comedic characters of; kid-brother amateur comic Skip Bittman, and motor-mouthed film producer Larry Siegel. Love him then, and love him now!!!

SCTV – The Larry Seigel Show via Shelf Life blog post Rick Moranis is a Genius

John – Kids in the Hall

John’s Kids in the Hall entry gets the extra points to vault it over its similar choices due to the insider info about their new show “Death Comes to Town” – the Kids in the Hall’s new 8-part series in which everyone in town is implicated when one of its most distinguished citizens is found murdered – along with calling out a few of his fave sketches and characters. Who knows what next from this quadfecta of comedic actors… We’ve heard about another TV show in development about a 80’s new wave band reunited, with hi-jinks.

Kids in the Hall are my favorite Canadian Comedy Import, a flying pig, chicken lady, putrid soup, Buddy – laughs a-plenty! The new “Death Comes to Town” is filmed in North Bay Ontario – it should be a riot!

Kids in the Hall, from left, Scott Thompson, Dave Foley, Mark McKinney, Bruce McCulloch and Kevin McDonald are shooting an eight-part murder mystery in North Bay, Ont. (Canadian Press via CBC)

Brian – Tommy Chong

And finally, Brian McGee ran down a list of greats including Tommy Chong and others who didn’t make our preview post. In the true spirit of Trailer Parks Boys, included a special dedication to the true visionary of the Cheech and Chong movies who broke into show biz first as the “Calgary Shades,” then with a Vancouver band which i cannot type here in this politically correct era (they agreed and changed their name to the blander “Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers” and signed with Motown (really)) and he even ran a series of night clubs in Vansterdam where he discovered Cheech Marin laying carpets – now you know.

Can you spot Tommy Chong?

Chong spotting part 2

Honorable Mentions

Thanks to all who entered but extra tip of the Molson to Janice and Red Green = Tim Tooltime Taylor comparison, Sean Snow for Geddy Lee rocking with Bob and Doug, Jon Jennings for this Pavlovian analysis and research Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles of “Who’s Line is it Anyways,” Angela for giving it up for Indo-Canadian Russel Peters and mineola for a detailed description of fave TPB characters.

Along with the aforementioned shows, there were multiple votes for Canadian Bacon (the Michael Moore movie, not the meat), Jim Carrey, Bob and Doug many times over, ditto on Corner Gas, Michael J Fox, Royal Canadian Air Farce, Mike Myers, and of course The Trailer Park Boys.

Wish we could send something to each of ya but instead, keep entering – ya still got a couple days to enter the “Slice of American Pie” contest. For you winners, check your in-box and email your mailing address to score the goods.

Author: Dave