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May 25, 2012, 08:07:15 AM
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Badmovies.org Forum  |  Other Topics  |  Television  |  Top 100 Canadian TV Series « previous next »
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Author Topic: Top 100 Canadian TV Series  (Read 5191 times)
JaseSF
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« on: July 02, 2011, 12:34:28 AM »
Seems time to start yet another Top 100 list (yeah I know we often don't ever finish these) but this one is of personal interest to me as it features my home country...what were the best TV shows produced in Canada? I know there's several other Canadian posters on here and I'm sure they know as well as I do that many Canadian series have been far less than good over the years but there have been some I've found myself really enjoying and sometimes really surprised by...so here's where we get to list the best of the best (at least as far as our opinions here go)....

I'll start it off with...

# 1 - Night Heat (1985-1989) - great gritty cop show with a low budget but surprisingly gripping enough it had me watching it at all odd hours of the night. Actually set in the U.S., this featured a newswriter covering the exploits of a Mid-South Precint group of detectives. Starred Scott Hylands as Detective Kevin O' Brien, Allan Royal as the "Night Heat" news columnist Tom J. Kirkwood and Jeff Wincott as Detective Jeff Giambone.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dfqv_HIUZU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dfqv_HIUZU</a>

List so far:

1. Night Heat (1985-1989)
2. Lexx (1997-2002)
3. The Kids in the Hall (1988-1994)
4. You Can't Do That on Television (1979-1990)
5. Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)
6. Corner Gas (2004-2009)
7. The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985-1992)
8. The Red Green Show (1991-2006)
9. Degrassi Junoir High/Degrassi High (1987-1991)
10. So Weird (1999-2001)
11. Ready or Not (1993-1997)
12. Twitch City (1998-2000)
13. SCTV (1976-1981)
14. Survivorman (2004-2008)
15. King of Kensington (1975-1980)
16. Undergrads (2001)
17. The Littlest Hobo (1963-1965, 1979-1985)
18. The Hilarious House of Frightenstein (1971)
19. Ghostly Encounters (2005-now)
20. The Outer Limits (1995-2002)
21. Are You Afraid of the Dark (1990-2000)
22. The Beachcombers (1972-1990)
23. The Wonderful Grand Band (1980-1983)
24. Wayne and Shuster (1954-1985)
25. Mr. Dressup (1967-1996)
26. The Tom Green Show (1994-1996)
27. Codco (1986-1992)
28. Seeing Things (1981-1987)
29. Forever Knight (1992-1996)
30. RoboCop: The Series (1994-1995)
31. Due South (1994-1999)
32. E.N.G. (1989-1994)
33. The Edison Twins (1982-1986)
34. Prisoners of Gravity (1989-1994)
35. The Kids of Degrassi Street (1979-1986)
36. Degrassi: The Next Generation/Degrassi (2001-present)
37. Parlez Moi (1978-1979)
38. Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996-1999)
39. African Skies (1991-1994)
40. Sweating Bullets/Tropical Heat (1991-1993)
41. History Bites (1998-2003)
42. The Nature of Things (1960-present)
43. Instant Star (2004-2008)
44. The Twilight Zone (1985-1989)
45. Traders (1996-2000)
46. Friday the 13th: The Series (1987-1990)
47. The Sentinel (1996-1999)
48. Danger Bay (1984-1989)
49. Taking the Falls (1995)
50. The Odyssey (1992-1994)
51. Viper (1994, 1996-1999)
52. Highlander (1992-1998)
53. My Secret Identity (1988-1991)
54. Magic Shadows (1974-1987)
55. Beyond Reality (1991-1993)
56. The Swiss Family Robinson (1974-1976)
57. The Adventures of Sinbad (1996-1998)
58. Charlie Jade (2005)
59. Katts and Dog (1988-1993)
60. La Femme Nikita (1997-2001)
61. Counterstrike (1990-1993)
62. TekWar (1994-1996)
63. Earth: Final Conflict (1997-2002)
64. First Wave (1998-2001)
65. Street Cents (1989-2006)
66. Mr. Microchip (1983)
67. Adderly (1986-1989)
68. Calgary Stampede Wrestling (1957-1989)
69. F/X: The Series (1996-1998)
70. Hockey Night in Canada (1952-present)
71. The Tommy Hunter Show (1965-1992)
72. This Hour Has 22 Minutes (1992-present)
73. The Rick Mercer Report (2004-present)
74. The Friendly Giant (1958-1985)
75. Just For Laughs Gags (2002-present)
76. Strange Paradise (1969-1970)
77. Da Vinci's Inquest (1998-2005)
78. Hawkeye (1994-1995)
79. Rabbit Fall (2007-2008)
80. Road To Avonlea (1990-1996)
81. Wojeck (1966-1968)
82. Rocket Robin Hood (1966-1969)
83. The Starlost (1973-1974)
84. PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (1996-2000)
85. Royal Canadian Air Farce (1981, 1993-present)
86. The Frantics/Four on the Floor (1985-1986)
87. Haven (2010-present)
88. The Raccoons (1985-1992)
89. Bizarre (1980-1985)
90. Spider-Man (1967-1970)
91. The Shirley Show (1989-1995)
92. ReBoot (1994-2002)
93. The Fifth Estate (1975-present)
94. W5 (1966-present)
95. The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo (1974-1975)
96. Live It Up! (1978-1990)
97. Trailer Park Boys (2001-2008)
98. Andromeda (2000-2005)
99. Wonderfalls (2004)
100. Canadian Case Files (2005-2006)
« Last Edit: September 30, 2011, 01:01:02 PM by JaseSF » Logged
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« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2011, 07:16:10 AM »
2. Lexx
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« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2011, 10:16:27 AM »
3. Kids in the Hall

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJUgu9qr8wI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJUgu9qr8wI</a>
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JaseSF
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« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2011, 01:48:34 PM »
4) You Can't Do That on Television (1979-1990): This was a can't miss show for me for many years in my youth. It features many sketch style comedy skits with several memorable characters played by Les Lye (very memorable as burger-serving Barth and handyman Ross) and Abby Hagyard (who together with Lye played all the adult characters on the show). The show was aimed primarily at kids and featured teens/kids usually in the lead including Christine McGlade, Lisa Ruddy and Alasdair Gillis. Of course there was also the added gimmick of water dropping on someone's head should they absent-mindedly mention it and slop dropping sometimes when other key words (I Don't Know) were mentioned.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-KVz3eqbnA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-KVz3eqbnA</a>
« Last Edit: July 02, 2011, 01:51:53 PM by JaseSF » Logged
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« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2011, 02:26:27 PM »
5)  Stargate SG-1
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« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2011, 02:43:31 PM »
Does half american half canadian productions count? A lot of shows are from america but filmed in canada.

6.)Corner Gas One of the better shows of the decade. Funny characters & has a small town feel, just my style.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Re8xqDb6sE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Re8xqDb6sE</a>
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JaseSF
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« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2011, 03:35:06 PM »
Quote from: Nightowl on July 02, 2011, 02:43:31 PM
Does half american half canadian productions count? A lot of shows are from america but filmed in canada.

6.)Corner Gas One of the better shows of the decade. Funny characters & has a small town feel, just my style.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Re8xqDb6sE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Re8xqDb6sE</a>

As long as Canada is listed at IMDB as a country of origin, I guess it's O.K.. Night Heat is listed as a combined Canada-U.S. show but to me it feels and looks far more Canadian...anyway continuing...

7) The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985-1992): anthology series based on the short stories and novel works of the one and only Ray Bradbury. The show was actually filmed in several different countries but I still feel it has that Canadian production feel. Some of the episodes are terrific adaptations of Bradbury's works albeit mostly done on a low budget or a budget which likely was mostly spent on the stars involved. The likes of Drew Barrymore, Jeff Goldblum, William Shatner, Jennifer Dale, Patrick MacNee, Nick Mancuso and many other notable stars over its run. Sometimes the show wasn't quite as good as other times but more often than not, it felt true to the spirit of Bradbury's work. Sometimes it was I'd argue brilliantly done for a low budget series. Well worth seeking out if you haven't already...

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z8HhW_OMVM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z8HhW_OMVM</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA1ridJ3dTc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA1ridJ3dTc</a>
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« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2011, 06:15:39 PM »
8.)The Red Green Show. A funny parody of home improvement shows.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlS-hN6EmIA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlS-hN6EmIA</a>
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« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2011, 07:37:36 PM »
9) Degrassi Jr. High/Degrassi High (1987-1991): This one kind of goes without saying, about teens in a Canadian High School setting and their real everyday lives, it was surprisingly gritty and dealt with realistic, important, significant issues of the day. It kind of felt like I grew up in a way with Joey Jeremiah, Snake, Wheels, Spike, Shane, Caitlin, Melanie, Yick and the rest. It perfecty captured the often awkward painfulness of teenage life.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsYIe6TSkzg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsYIe6TSkzg</a>
« Last Edit: July 02, 2011, 07:42:21 PM by JaseSF » Logged
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« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2011, 08:39:33 PM »
10.) So Weird
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8frXzn2pDc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8frXzn2pDc</a>
A show produced by Henry Winkler, and produced in Canada for Disney Channel.  About a girl, her dad died, and her mom is a musician.  They travel around on a bus, and encounter all sorts of supernatural phenomena. 
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JaseSF
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« Reply #10 on: July 02, 2011, 09:00:45 PM »
11) Ready or Not (1993-1997): show about two preteen girls, who are also friends, and what they go through very realistically captures all the important issues they face as they move into puberty brilliantly. Also dealt with many other important issues such as racism, eating disorders, peer pressure, poverty and much more. Starred Laura Bertram as Amanda Zimm and Lani Billard as Busy Ramone. Great show for young girls in particular. It was suprisingly good and well done for what it was.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUAi7Xej4lg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUAi7Xej4lg</a>
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« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2011, 03:15:58 PM »
12) Twitch City (1998-2000): one of the most original, intriguing shows ever stars Don McKellar as shut-in Curtis, Molly Parker as girlfriend Hope, Callum Keith Rennie as friend and grocery shop attendant Newbie plus Mark McKinney as talk show host Rex Reilly. Really, truly something different and uniquely funny and entertaining. Great stuff! Thumbup

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDble5hkrtg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDble5hkrtg</a>
« Last Edit: July 03, 2011, 03:30:05 PM by JaseSF » Logged
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« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2011, 01:17:02 AM »
13)  SCTV (Second City Television) (1976-1981)

Great Canadian sketch series that gave us Bob and Doug Mackenzie! And also started the careers of many great Canadian comedians that are still acting to this day.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96I1GiHmNG4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96I1GiHmNG4</a>
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« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2011, 03:27:13 AM »
Even as a kid in the 80s renting video tapes was more important to me than watching TV.
I did however watch a few series. The Little Vampire (1986) was a Canadian co-production, and so was Forever Knight (1989) but I wouldn't really nominate them.
One series I enjoyed the most is the one I can't remember the name  Lookingup Probably made in the early 80s taking place in some small coastal town. It was a family/kids adventure show and it read made in Canada during the speedy end credits. I'd include that in the top 100 if I could remember the title.
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« Reply #14 on: July 04, 2011, 09:55:14 AM »
14.)Survivorman (2004-2008) The show consist of Les Stroud being dropped off in deserted areas and trying to survive,live off the land & make due what he has for a week. The show is entertaining and also can be helpful if you ever get lost in the middle of no where.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljEJ8B4OWe4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljEJ8B4OWe4</a>
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