The 10 best Canadian TV shows of the past 25 years
To celebrate the big QC, the Gemini Awards (a.k.a. the Emmys without any famous people—oh, come on, you know you were thinking it) has launched an on-line poll to let Canuck couch potatoes determine the most beloved homegrown TV show from the past 25 years. The good news: The Littlest Hobo, Dear Aunt Agnes, The Edison Twins and Just Like Mom all ended in ’85 and ’86, which makes them just eligible. The bad news: you’re old. Here, in no particular order, our top 10 picks and memorable moments from the shows, plus a whole whack of worthy runners-up. View the slide show now >>
1. Degrassi Jr. High
All versions of the decades-spanning real-teen drama would make our top 25, but in the interest of whittling, we’re gonna go with Jr. High. It’s the classic Zit Remedy Era, back when Joey Jeremiah still had hair and Wheels had yet to lose his innocence in a hitchhiking episode gone wrong. (Is there any other kind?)
2. Today’s Special
What’s not to love about a show in which a gang of mismatched department store dwellers live in happy human/mannequin/puppet/mouse puppet harmony? Bonus points for Jodi’s pink jumpsuit (she’d fit right in with today’s onesie-obsessed Queen Street crowd), Jeff’s only-in-the-’80s mullet and a theme song that is—admit it—a little bit groovy. You know you’re singing it right now.
3. Road to Avonlea
The ebullient earnestness of Anne of Green Gables met the gossipy goodness of Coronation Street in this turn-of-the-century, P.E.I.-set drama that launched the career of a coltish young towhead named Sarah Polley. We only wish we’d thought of an RTA drinking game sooner. (Aunt Hetty disapproves of something, take a swig; trouble at the lighthouse, take two.)
4. Ready or Not
Busy and Amanda were BFFs before Paris Hilton put her skanky stamp on the term. If you can’t remember what was so embarrassingly, deliciously awesome about this show, may we suggest a re-watching of the “Busy’s Period” episode. Cringe!
5. Street Legal
Back in her pre-Stratford, pre–Peter Mansbridge days, Cynthia Dale was the kick-ass Olivia Novak, strutting around Old City Hall with sky-high heels and enough chutzpah to take on any Bay Street lawyer. The show ran for eight seasons and set the benchmark for the onslaught of legal dramas in the ’90s. Yeah, Law and Order, you owe us.
6. Beachcombers
Long before green was in, Nick Adonidas and his band of enviro-vigilantes were fighting the good planetary fight. And long before the burly beard descended on Queen Street and various other hipster communities, these guys were rocking facial hair that would make Paul Bunyan blush.
7. The Kids in the Hall
These five government-bankrolled cross-dressers weren’t afraid to crush heads, wear squirrel fur or orgasm in a mad puff of feathers. We love the Kids both because they were the natural inheritors of CODCO and SCTV, and even more because they were the last time the CBC did anything risky.
8. Due South
Paul Gross in a Mountie uniform. ’Nuff said.
9. Slings and Arrows
Paul Gross has never been better than he was as Geoffrey Tennant, the batcrap-crazy artistic director of the fictional New Burbage theatre festival. Throw in a ghost (hat tip, Hamlet!), an exigent prima donna (played by Gross’s real-life wife, Martha Burns), Kid in the Hall Mark McKinney as the fest’s general manager and pre–it girl performances by Rachel McAdams and Sarah Polley and it’s a drama nerd’s dream come true. Similarities to Stratford are purely intentional.
10. Being Erica
It’s rare that north-of-the-border TV gets much love from our pop culture–immersed American neighbours, but such are the immeasurable charms of Being Erica’s leading lady, Erin Karpluk, whom Entertainment Weekly called “ridiculously winning.” EW also dubbed last spring’s season finale “the best finale (involving time travel) you didn’t watch.” In yo’ face, Lost! (Because who watched that?)
The runners-up
Mr. Dressup, Wok With Yan!, Babar, Trailer Park Boys, Edison Twins, The Tudors, Just Like Mom, North of 60, ENG, Flashpoint, Friendly Giant, My Secret Identity, Da Vinci’s Inquest, The Newsroom, You Can’t Do That on Television, Danger Bay, Traders, Fraggle Rock, Catwalk, Dear Aunt Agnes, Hammy the Hamster, The Littlest Hobo, Passe Partout, Polka Dot Door, The Green Forrest
great call on the smoggies!!
realize these are all “production” orientated shows, but canada’s best tv export in a long time is no other than Mr. Les Stroud aka Survivorman. even Mantracker has been able to make it in europe along with the states, if its one thing Canucks are doing right, its the fact that we have real men on our shows
An awful lot of childrens shows on list – well they’ve always said we in Canadian TV do kids the best…erm, that came out wrong.
Here again, “Canadian” when applied to cultural products gets re-defined as “Anglo-Canadian”…
They totally left out McElroy & LaFleur, eh. A tale of two mounties, one good, one slighly psychologically damaged, on their quest to foil would-be litter bugs and jay walkers.
Hmmm,
The kids shows were fine; but I’d leave them to a dedicated category for that type of product.
I would add North of 60; and Godivas to the list, the latter of which I preferred to Being Erica.
I would also bump something else their in favour of ‘Intelligence’. It may not have caught on, but it was undeniably good.
What a tragedy… The Newsroom should have made this list!
What? No King of Kensington? I know this is a best of the last 25 years list and this was on a bit before that, but this show is timeless. It should be number one in perpetuity.
I’m crestfallen that Train 48 didn’t make it either. There’s nothing I loved more after a day of taking the train to commute to work than to watch a daily show about people taking the train to commute to work. Oh, what a fantasy world of escapism.
Wow. What a pathetically lame list. And this after 25 years?? Despite the hours of crap produced south of the border, I still think most U.S. networks would have a stronger list than this based on a single season.
One notable, long-running omission. The Friendly Giant must be rolling over in his grave.
Canadian? You mean anglo-canadian.
Looks like all my favs went into the runner-up category. Loved Traders (which a friend taped and sent to me, as I live in the States) and E.N.G.
I disagree with the inclusion of The Beachcombers only because ‘past 25 years’ would indicate its lingering post-Molly seasons. Nor have I seen any rebroadcasts of the first 13 or 14 seasons since probably around 1985. Chances are they might not even exist any more, otherwise…
seriously… how can have Danger Bay/Littlest Hobo listed in the Runners Up yet completely miss “Rick Mercer”/”Corner Gas”. By itself, the Littlest Hobo parody on Corner Gas was arguably some of the best Canadian tv of last 25 years.
Thrilled to be part of a series that rated #2 on this list. Hard to believe since Slings and Arrows is a favourite of mine but… still – WOW! N.Keogh aka Muffy Mouse
Love…love…love TRAILER PARK BOYS!! Can’t believe it didn’t make the list…
What about The Newsroom? Trailer Park Boys? Traders? Less Than Kind? Intelligence?
Sounds like my crotchety gramma made your list.
You forgot Rick Mercer’s Made in Canada which was a scathing look at TV production.
Your list? Fail.
Not even an honorable mention for The Red Green Show? Yeah, it was kinda corny at times, but it’s still a damn funny show.
One day, Cock’d Gunns will be included in these lists. And where’s TPB?
what about “la soiree du hockey” and no I don’t mean the one with foster hewitt; or “la petite vie” or the irrepressible “elvis gratton” or juste pour rire….maybe even just for laughts too…oops if it doesn’t get made in Ontario, its tough to make it.
I’d include Dark Oracle and Zixx: Level One/Two/Three over Trailer Park Boys and The Beachcomber. Bother were innovative, intelligent fun.
Dark Oracle combined live-action and traditional animation in a tale of parallel worlds in which the lives if siblings Cally and Lance are mirrored [and influenced] by those of the animated Violet and Blaze – the two realities linked by a comic that writes and illustrates itself as events unfold.
Zixx: Level One/Two/Three dealt with carious kids, over three seasons, as they met and became allied with Zixx, a kind of policewoman whose beat was the world inside a living computer/video game. One of the first TV series to combine Live action and CG worlds, and one of the smartest.
What?!?! No Trailer Park Boys?!?!?
Today’s Special was a fantastic and timeless show that was successful across Canada, the U.S. and around the world. What is more astonishing is that despite such widspread popularity and a massive still loyal following of millions, it has never been released on DVD. What a missed opportunity!!!
Seriously! If “Today’s Special” can make the #2 spot on a best-of list like this … why can we not have DVDs??? Grr!
Corner Gas?
Little Mosque on the Praire?
Rick Mercer Show?
This Hour?
Air Farce?
Any show from the 21st century???
twitch city
What about Prisoners of Gravity? Where’s the love for commander rick?
Commander Rick was CLASSIC.
Really? No one?
TWITCH CITY
What??!! No “Da Vinci’s Inquest”? I’m still watching re-runs of this gem nightly on Showcase. fantastic acting. great writing, and ‘well shot’ is not a back-handed compliment in this show’s case. Puts 90% of American cop show drivel to shame.
KING OF KENSINGTON!?
Where’s THE KING OF KENSINGTON!? Best CDN Sitcom ever!
hello, what about corner gas, robsin arms, little mosc on the prari.
what happened to the red green show?!
Trailer Park Boys all the way… “You know what I’m sayin”
I wish they made some more TPB though.
So if your name is Mike Clattenburg give us some more of Lahey and his s**t analogies, Rickyisms, and get the cast back together.
Kenny V Spenny is awesome too!
here are the actual best canadian shows:
http://flamingphoenixofflames.blogspot.com/2011/05/top-ten-canadian-television-shows-of.html
Made in Canada. It was The Office before The Office (even in the UK) and mixed in a healthy smattering of behind the scenes TV production. It was also Rick Mercer at his finest.
Murdoch Mysteries should make this list, love the 19th Century era shows like this. Road to Avonlea and the like are family favorites, littlest Hobo was my kids fav and still is..A new one this year was Combat Hospital, real good production although not kid friendly .Let’s keep supporting our Canadian TV shows and create family friendly shows.
having spurned Trailer Park Boys, I declare this list to be inaccurate and completely ineffectual.
hello there \ does anyone remember a Tv show, I think it was called “Fire Rangers” It’s an older show based in northern canada and the fire rangers always had a fire to put out ,,, it was a neat show Thank you
no trailer park boys? that show is genius! keep making shows like that and getting them into the u.s.!
cheers
What about some additions from Québec, if I may :
La Petite Vie
Passe-Partout
Virginie
Canadian, I guess, doesn’t mean Canadien anymore. I have to concede that there were some shows that I didn’t know and that looks very cool!
I really should think that we out to make a real ”Canadiean” show, that would be hilarious. How many mis-understanding we have between us, shouldn’t it be the best base for major comedy! I mean outrageous comedy! I mean come-on think about it!
HAHAHAHAHA I laugh about the unlimited possibilities!
The ‘’Two solitude’’ face to face on TV hahahahahahaha!
Nicolas
Nha Trang, Vietnam
I cant believe heartland isn’t even mentioned! Amazing!
Best of the past 25 years? That is slim pickings considering A. it is the “supposed” best of the best, and B. how much money is thrown into the bastion of Canadian culture, the CBC, each year. For some reason Canada has a very poor track record with producing high quality scripted drama. Has all the best Canadian talent left this country for greener pastures? Almost 3 million Canadians live abroad, with about 1 million in California alone.
The most telling aspect of Canadian scripted television, is that within the first 30 seconds of viewing, it’s Canadian origin is obvious. Dour, boring, amateurish, uncreative, screaming “Made In Canada” long before the first commercial break.
Canada can be proud of some of the excellence that we have contributed in TV viewing. FlashPoint is second to none in writing, producing, editing and acting.
Toronto based, Toronto actors, and top notch. Kudoos FlashPoint, for showing the humanity of police drama that has attracted International audiences. Second to none, in my opinion.
Where is Stargate? Battlestar Galatica?
this list doesn’t take consideration for the 2000-2010 tv shows…
The Red Green Show,Rick Mercer, Corner Gas, and Daily Planet half of which should have made the list don’t even get a mention. Trailer park boys didnt even make the list and should have been top 5. But random shows I’ve never heard of make the list. I don’t know what criteria this list had but it definitly needs to be improved or totally taken down.
how is Kenny vs. Spenny and the Trailer Park Boys not on this list???
This is bull shit trailer park boys is the number 1 show in canada
this list can fuck right off
@splitting heirs
know wonder Canadians leave to find work else wear,95% of the time they look for work in America,they learn to speak like the Americans and why because the ones controlling the tv industry in Canada do not support Canada but rather support the Americans,oh and attitudes like your OWN about canadian tv is another reason
FLASHPOINT FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!!!
I recently started to watch Da Vincis Inquest, and now I am addicted…La Femme Nikita comes on right after so I HAVE to watch that too…lol..I loved The Commish, Seeing Things, North of 60, Corner Gas,The Edison Twins, I watched the Beachcombers, littlest Hobo, King Of Kensington and Degrassi..fraggle rock, todays special and live it up….miss a lot of those shows..they were good…not filled with sex and drugs and needless cursing…good shows all of them….I have to say that that the Commish and Seeing things were my favorites.
I think the most funny. Comedy was. Don’t know what its called. A Fort. Nutty British. French. Craziest nativeS. Golf Luiv it.
Slideshow. Seriously? To list ten items that would fit on one page? Thanks, but this kind of click-baiting crap is not the way to cultivate a readership.
I’m with Rom no Trailer Park Boys for number 1 what a joke Toronto Life sucks half of these shows people only watched because there was no satalite and they only got one station living outside of a city Street Legal are you serious my dick has more taste
The Green Forest was Japanese.
North of 60?
The Peter Hill Show?
Trailer Park Boys should easily be in the top 10 if not top 5.
Northern Exposure?
NFB Animations on saturday morning?
What the….no mention of Red Green?
No red green show?
I am not only an American, but I am of the FIRST generation of “kids for whom the television played babysitter” . . . FLASHPOINT is one of THE BEST programs EVER – everything! Actors, scripts, Toronto. . .I LOVE Flashpoint and its entire crew – in front of and behind the cameras!
I’m not sure what programs you’re writing about – I only see the programs we get in the U.S. – – – and I’ve been watching since the days of “Silk Stalkings.” I really think the programs (at least the ones I’ve seen here) are top notch! I LOVE seeing Toronto. . .I am now committed to visiting. I just I didn’t have to go through the whole passport process now. . .but I’m sure it’ll be worth it.
You’ve got good television! Maybe not all of it, but hey – – – have you ever see crap American television? I didn’t even OWN a television for TEN YEARS it had become so incredibly bad…
LOVED IT!! I am SO glad we got that one…
SagWriter the American
My favorite show is Davinci’s Inquest. I liked Davinici City hall too, but not as much as Inquest. These shows had great writing and acting and were interesting.
horrible list which makes me question the authors mental state
You apparently are going back more than 25 years if Hobo is on there. In that case SCTV must be considered one the best shows period.
There’s an option to view as one page.
“Canada” and “Great” = Trailer Park Boys. Most of these shows are just that – shows – that aired in Canada in the last twenty-five years, nothing great about most of these (except Kids In The Hall maybe), Corner Gas’ rhythm and timing has it all over these shows.Trailer Park Boys was ahead of the curve in TV mockumentary, if not the first before the trend in American TV. Not to mention slyer than its surface and having outright hilarious moments. And Corner Gas (though I don’t really watch it all that much) was ahead of the curve in the rhythmatic fast-paced dialogue so popular now in American Television. These shows represent quality and Canada in my opinion.
What a BS list you fuckgoofs. The only canadian tv series ever worth watching is Trailer Park Boys. The rest can fuck right off
Horrible list!
I think it was called Forest Rangers. Gordon Pinsnt was a Mountie on the show. I watched the show when I got home from school. Early 60’s show.