Corner Gas Watch

Harper's visit pumps the Corner Gas finale
By BILL HARRIS, SUN MEDIA

The chorus to the Corner Gas theme song begins, "You think there's not a lot goin' on . . ."

Well, there's plenty goin' on in the season-ending episode that airs on CTV on Monday. And we aren't talking merely about the guest appearance by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

So much is goin' on, in fact, that the basic premise of Corner Gas, if not its outright future, has been thrown into question.

Now, it would be going too far to conclude Corner Gas is finished. Loyal fans probably can quit hyperventilating, unless they're enjoying themselves. That said, when creator/star Brent Butt decides he's had enough, that'll be it.

For the time being, we're betting CTV is making it financially worthwhile for Butt to continue, given the fact Corner Gas is poised to deliver its 69th consecutive episode with a million-plus audience.

These are dire days in Dog River, though. Of the eight main characters on Corner Gas, seven on Monday's show will experience staggering changes, most of which relate to employment.

The one person whose situation doesn't really change -- Hank, as played by Fred Ewanuick -- is the unwitting cause of the turmoil.

Ultimately, Brent sells his gas station to the Pump N' Go conglomerate, and Lacey (Gabrielle Miller) moves back to Toronto. If this means Miller is leaving the show, maybe her character will get her own spinoff.

We suggested in a column last October that perhaps it was time to shake up the cast on Corner Gas.

This isn't just shaking, it's baking. Then again, maybe next season everything will be back to normal and one of the characters was merely having a dream.

Here's a serious plea, though: If next season begins with someone in the shower, a la Bobby Ewing in Dallas, please let it be Miller and not Butt. As for Harper's performance, heck, he fits right in. After all, part of the shtick on Corner Gas is that it's a little dry and a little stiff.

We will say this, however, without a hint of sarcasm: We are very glad to live in a country where our prime minister can go on a show like Corner Gas and poke fun at himself.

Corner Gas has miles to go
Butt denies show finished after four seasons

WINNIPEG - Rumours that Brent Butt is calling it quits with Corner Gas are all fumes, says his Vancouver agent.

Get Pumped About Corner Gas, Again
March 07, 2007

She was a little bit surprised to hear herself -- that CTV's hit series "Corner Gas" was all done... for good.

But, the executive producer of the show, Virginia Thompson, tells News Talk Radio that is not the case, for the next season any way. A report surfaced Tuesday afternoon, indicating that the Monday episode would be the last one. It is, actually, for the season -- and, Thompson does confirm that the surprising events reported will happen. That means "Brent" will be closing up his station, and "Lacy" will be selling The Ruby and moving back to Toronto to open another restaurant.

But, while the suspense builds for the coming season, Thompson stops just short of saying it will, for sure, be back beyond that.

Meantime, she says there will be some big announcements made next week in CTV's alate of production. But, just what they are, she can't say exactly at this point.

One thing is for sure, Saskatchewanians will miss the comedy if it ever did go the way of the dinosaur. An overwhelming majority of callers to John Gormley Live, Wednesday, said they would be saddened if the series ended.

Lara Fominoff/Cory Kolt reporting