An American in Canada

An American in Canada is a Canadian television sitcom that aired on CBC Television in 2003 and 2004.

An American in Canada
Created byHoward Busgang
Jebb Fink
StarringRick Roberts
Hélène Joy
Stewart Francis
Timm Zemanek
Matthew Ferguson
Robin Brûlé
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16
Production
Running timeapprox. 30 minutes
DistributorS&S Productions
Release
Original networkCBC
Original releaseFebruary 28, 2003 –
January 30, 2004

The show starred Rick Roberts as Jake Crewe, an American television news host who was forced, after beating up his station manager, to accept a job in Calgary, Alberta as co-host of the lowest-rated morning news program in the city.[1] The show found its comedy in Crewe's attempts to adapt to Canadian culture, as well as his interactions with coworkers such as producer and love interest Judy Surgick (Hélène Joy) and egotistical host Dennis McIlvane (Stewart Francis).[1]

An American in Canada was loosely based on the real-life experiences of Jebb Fink, an American comedian who moved to Canada after marrying a Canadian woman, and did become a morning television host on CKAL-TV, Calgary's A-Channel station.[2] It was created by Fink and Howard Busgang.

The show's pilot aired as a special in January 2002 as part of the CBC's early-2000s strategy of airing comedy pilots to test viewer reaction before ordering the production of a full series.[3] Viewer reaction was overwhelmingly positive, and the series went into production and premiered in 2003.[4] The show produced 16 episodes over two seasons before being cancelled in 2004.[5]

The program won the Gemini Award for Best Comedy Program or Series at the 17th Gemini Awards.[6]

It has also aired on Australia's The Comedy Channel with the title Frostbite, and in syndication on Showcase in Canada and HDNet in the USA.

Cast

Episode list

Season 1
# Airdate Prod. Code Title
1 1 - 1February 28, 2003101The Bare Naked Lady
2 1 - 2March 7, 2003102The Order of Canada
3 1 - 3March 14, 2003103Dirty Kwebeck
4 1 - 4March 28, 2003104Call Me Dr. Ken
5 1 - 5April 4, 2003105True North Strong and Almost Free
6 1 - 6April 4, 2003106To the Good Ol' USA

Season 2
# Airdate Prod. Code Title
7 2 - 1October 24, 2003201A Kiss is Just a Kiss
8 2 - 2October 31, 2003202Jake and the Fat Men
9 2 - 3November 7, 2003203Love Notes From the Edge
10 2 - 4November 21, 2003204Citizen Jake
11 2 - 5November 28, 2003Some Like It Hot Zone
12 2 - 6December 5, 2003Play Misty For Me
13 2 - 7January 9, 2004Dennis Anyone?
14 2 - 8January 16, 2004Frisky Business
15 2 - 9January 23, 2004A Non-Date to Remember
16 2 - 10January 30, 2004I Dream of Judy

References
  1. "Only in Canada? Pity: An American pokes some gentle fun at us". Calgary Herald, January 17, 2002.
  2. "The American in him is always trying to break out: Calgary TV host Jebb Fink lets his ambition show in a CBC sitcom". National Post, January 18, 2002.
  3. "Please pick An American In Canada ; CBC really wants your input on new comedy output". Toronto Star, January 17, 2002.
  4. "He's American, eh?: Jebb Fink's life as a transplanted Yank basis for new TV series". Calgary Herald, February 6, 2003.
  5. "Jebb Fink goes live and unleashed". Calgary Herald, April 22, 2004.
  6. "Trudeaumania alive at Gemini Awards". Kingston Whig-Standard, November 5, 2002.
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