J. R. Digs

J. R. Digs
Occupation Television personality, writer, producer
Years active 2001-Present

J.R. Digs is a Canadian television personality.[1] He is best known for his Gemini Award-nominated late night show JR Digs: Man with a Van,[2] which aired on Global from 2008 to 2014.[3]

Background

Digs, at the time a skateboard shop owner in Burlington, Ontario,[1] first launched The JR Digs Show on CHCH in 2001.[1] Originally a stunt comedy series based on Jackass, Digs purchased the airtime himself and solicited his own advertising and sponsorships to recover his costs.[4] In 2003, Global began airing the show, under the same production model.[4]

In 2006, Digs launched Be Real with JR Digs, a comedy series in which he tried to make a compelling reality show out of ordinary people partaking in everyday activities,[1] and In the Can with JR Digs, a show in which he acted as mentor to young aspiring filmmakers, for TVtropolis,[4] and Another Crappy Canadian Late Night Talk Show for CHCH.[3] In 2007, Digs launched What the Digs, a mash-up style show which consisted of Digs' previous showed mixed up, and edited in a surreal manner. Following this, Digs created Late Night Television with JR Digs which ran for one season.

Man with a Van, in which Digs travelled around Canada in a van, was launched in 2008. The show was cancelled by Global in 2014.[3] During this time, Digs also created Bands from a Van, a spinoff of his Man with a Van show which focused on musicians. Digs would interview bands and have them perform - all inside his van.

Digs continues to organize an annual Christmas charity benefit show in Hamilton.[5] The 2015 show included Spencer Rice of Kenny vs. Spenny, Max Kerman of Arkells, Terra Lightfoot, Tom Wilson, Mike Trebilcock from Killjoys, Elliott Brood and The Trews,[5] while the 2016 show included Lightfoot, Kerman, Trebilcock and Wayne Petti of Cuff the Duke.[6]

Awards and nominations

Digs received a Gemini Award nomination for Best Host in a Lifestyle Series in 2006 for Be Real, and Man with a Van was nominated for Best Talk Show in 2011.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "JR Digs's show may not be 'reality' TV, but it is real". Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2006.
  2. 1 2 "Of the gazillion Gemini noms, here's a deserving one". The Globe and Mail, August 20, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "JR Digs is parking the van". Hamilton Spectator, April 21, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "One man's quest to be a somebody: JR Digs has spent 10 years and thousands of dollars on his dream of being a talk-show host". Toronto Star, September 4, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Spenny of 'Kenny vs Spenny' announced for JR Digs Christmas show". CBC Hamilton, December 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ "J.R. Digs ready to jingle his bells". Hamilton Spectator, December 16, 2016.
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