This was an average quality show. I like Rick Roberts and Stewart Francis is a funny stand up comedian. This show just was missing something. The jokes weren't that funny and it just seemed like the same old jokes. But the talent lifted it up some. Average show and average grade from me, 5/10.
10 Reviews
Due South in reverse
phbalanced31 March 2004
Sad to see this series cancelled since it had a roaring start with a Gemini winning pilot episode followed by some very good episodes in the first season. Starring the very talented Rick Roberts best known from the Traders series as a displaced Arizona resident sent up to Alberta to work at a television station where he finds his co-workers a bit too "Canadian" for him. Having to adjust to the harsh climate and the dollar exchange rate, the American tries to find ways to go home. Though a network casualty, hopefully the series will find its way to a lesser network such as The Comedy Network or Showcase Television in Canada. Should be given a chance on a US network. American audiences embraced Due South a few years ago. They'd probably enjoy this one too.
"It was, as they say, a hoot."
psyop621 November 2007
I stumbled across this one as a surprise on my local PBS station; and fell in love with it immediately.
Jake's embittered by his situation and not the most likable person as a result. He falls in with a bunch of folks who, in his view, might well be escapees from the Twilight Zone. Conversely, his new co-workers regard his as a stereotype come to life...and an escapee from the Twilight Zone.
Watching the Yank and the Canucks learn first to tolerate than take a positive delight in one another is a riot. Judy, the news producer who is Jake's boss and foil, is a delight: Mary Richards as woman of (mostly) steel. Bill, the station manager is a continual laugh as a man who really believes he knows all about Americans but who really needs to get a clue or three.
This show is always fun for what is says about Canada and Canadians as much as what it says about us. Ultimately, no one escapes unscathed.
Jake's embittered by his situation and not the most likable person as a result. He falls in with a bunch of folks who, in his view, might well be escapees from the Twilight Zone. Conversely, his new co-workers regard his as a stereotype come to life...and an escapee from the Twilight Zone.
Watching the Yank and the Canucks learn first to tolerate than take a positive delight in one another is a riot. Judy, the news producer who is Jake's boss and foil, is a delight: Mary Richards as woman of (mostly) steel. Bill, the station manager is a continual laugh as a man who really believes he knows all about Americans but who really needs to get a clue or three.
This show is always fun for what is says about Canada and Canadians as much as what it says about us. Ultimately, no one escapes unscathed.
A wonderful discovery!
sjrenter12 June 2004
I have only recently come upon this series thanks to a PBS station. It is well written,deftly acted and paced perfectly. Such a welcome change from US situation-comedies which grow increasingly shrill as they become more and more predictable. While there are echoes of Northern Exposure and various news-room shows (The MTM Show,Sports Night,News Radio et al),An American in Canada manages to be fresh and interesting. The performers are just about perfect.
An unexpected delight.
I am not familiar with Canadian television and wonder what other worthwhile series there are. I was an original fan of SCTV and am addicted to Kids in the Hall.
An unexpected delight.
I am not familiar with Canadian television and wonder what other worthwhile series there are. I was an original fan of SCTV and am addicted to Kids in the Hall.
Shocked by the low ratings. I thought it was quite funny
AtariBaby18 June 2021
Shocked by the low ratings. I thought it was quite funny. The show was staffed by really funny writers and actors.
A disgraced news anchor gets a job at the lowest rated morning show in Canada. This shows humor lies in his struggles adjusting to Canadian culture. Which in my opinion is ripe for jokes. Canadians are almost exactly like us and yet different in many ways and I thought the show was quite funny. I recommend you take a look.
A disgraced news anchor gets a job at the lowest rated morning show in Canada. This shows humor lies in his struggles adjusting to Canadian culture. Which in my opinion is ripe for jokes. Canadians are almost exactly like us and yet different in many ways and I thought the show was quite funny. I recommend you take a look.
Old Joke But Otherwise Good
mmcloughlin16 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
As the title implies, an American moves up to Canada - and to his surprise, he discovers he's living in a foreign country! Amusing for me, since I grew up on the U.S. side of the Metro Detroit/Windsor area, as a fifth-generation American-born expatriot Canadian -- so, I have something of a different take on the joke about Americans knowing nothing about Canada (except maybe moose and Mounties, and Austin Powers); because, in Metro Detroit/Windsor/Toledo, we all grow up watching the CBC (avec l'exception des Michiganois(es), qui se grandisent à voir le SRC télévision).
Anyway, the gist of the series is that an American who knows nothing about Canada ends up learning a lot about Canada and, in the process, learns a lot about himself and the really important things in life.
As to the basic premise of American ignorance of Canada, I should say the matter is understated. Americans don't know much about ANYBODY, even other Americans. And it should be noted that Canadians do NOT know as much about Americans as they think they do. For example, Canadians often remark that one of the differences between the two countries is that Canada has two official languages whereas the United States has only one. In fact, the United States has NO official language, and the First and Tenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, together, probably forbid the U.S. Government from establishing one as power reserved to the several states. (In contrast to Canada, where all power not assigned to the provinces by the Canadian Constitution is reserved the federal government; all powers not assigned by the U.S. Constitution to the American federal government are reserved to the governments of the 50 states.) But I digress.
Most of the series after the first couple of episodes focuses on Jake Crew's burgeoning journey of self-discovery (to the extent one can pursue self-discovery in a sitcom - or in this case, a "Can-com"), and his slowly developing relationship with Judy.
Not great or rip-roaring fun, but a nice "Sunday-ish" bit of low comedy.
Anyway, the gist of the series is that an American who knows nothing about Canada ends up learning a lot about Canada and, in the process, learns a lot about himself and the really important things in life.
As to the basic premise of American ignorance of Canada, I should say the matter is understated. Americans don't know much about ANYBODY, even other Americans. And it should be noted that Canadians do NOT know as much about Americans as they think they do. For example, Canadians often remark that one of the differences between the two countries is that Canada has two official languages whereas the United States has only one. In fact, the United States has NO official language, and the First and Tenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, together, probably forbid the U.S. Government from establishing one as power reserved to the several states. (In contrast to Canada, where all power not assigned to the provinces by the Canadian Constitution is reserved the federal government; all powers not assigned by the U.S. Constitution to the American federal government are reserved to the governments of the 50 states.) But I digress.
Most of the series after the first couple of episodes focuses on Jake Crew's burgeoning journey of self-discovery (to the extent one can pursue self-discovery in a sitcom - or in this case, a "Can-com"), and his slowly developing relationship with Judy.
Not great or rip-roaring fun, but a nice "Sunday-ish" bit of low comedy.
Terrible.
shrek200419 September 2003
An American in Canada is really very boring and the jokes are something Canadians have all seen before. This might work if it was recast and on a bigger American network like CBS or something, but this show is too long. Plus a few other CBC shows, like Royal Canadian Air Farce and This Hour Has 22 Minutes, do skits based on the premise of "an american in canada" and they are a lot funnier. CBC needs some better shows......fast!
Pretty funny and too short-lived
dragongrrrllll5 July 2003
I was sorry to see that this series didn't get renewed, as it was really just starting to find its feet. I'm an American living in Canada, and I really enjoyed it even though it was about a guy who wasn't here by his own choice and was constantly looking for ways to get "back home". At the end of the season (in what now seems to have been the final episode) we saw that Jake was finally getting past the stage of looking at Canada as a temporary annoyance, and was starting to think of it more as his new home and was finding many things about it that he enjoyed; now he's not even sure he'll take the job back in the States that he thought he wanted so badly. A highlight was Jake's frequent conversations with the wise, inscrutable middle-eastern owner of the doughnut shop; rather a more sophisticated version of the relationship between Tim the Tool Man Taylor and his over-the-fence neighbor Wilson, it also allowed us to watch our hapless American grow from selfishly considering him just someone to dispense his coffee and listen to his whining, into realization that he (and everyone else he knew in Canada) was a real person with life experience, and had something to teach him if he would shut up and listen.
It's really a shame that so many clever satiric Canadian programs don't have the big budget that American cookie-cutter schlock has. The writing is better and the ideas are fresher because they aren't simply trying to copy what worked on another show. If they ever got a chance, American audiences would probably enjoy "Made in Canada" or "An American in Canada"; instead they keep getting force-fed the same stuff over & over (whether it's called "Friends", "Will and Grace", or whatever) and they'll never know what they're missing.
It's really a shame that so many clever satiric Canadian programs don't have the big budget that American cookie-cutter schlock has. The writing is better and the ideas are fresher because they aren't simply trying to copy what worked on another show. If they ever got a chance, American audiences would probably enjoy "Made in Canada" or "An American in Canada"; instead they keep getting force-fed the same stuff over & over (whether it's called "Friends", "Will and Grace", or whatever) and they'll never know what they're missing.
Great... Message
Media_guru2 March 2003
It's hard for me to admit, but, because of lack of technology and equipment, Canadian produced shows are less good then (Uhhh!) American shows. But it had a good message and the concept was funny but it moved too slow.
Being Canadian, I have a bias which makes the bottom line, it's speed was it's only fault because Canada rocks!
P.S Not for some Americans.
Being Canadian, I have a bias which makes the bottom line, it's speed was it's only fault because Canada rocks!
P.S Not for some Americans.
I don't want to be too harsh...
francodomenico24 July 2004
...but, I think this show has a great potential. In fact, Ms. Joy does a nice job, as do most of the cast. I think the writers have to do away with some of the hokey lines--and stop making the American the knit-wit and the Canadians the Slick ones! Usually Americans do play a "heavy-hand" when it comes to Canada; but not in this interpersonal way. In fact, it has been my experience Canadians have a bit more of a insecurity regarding Identity than Americans do. And Canadians and Americans are really great to one another. There are great Canadians comedians, and fine writers that can draw some niceties that exist between our two GREAT countries, without the silly, churlish put-downs. We Americans have ENOUGH of this on our Primetime; it is not necessary that CANADA follow that trend. In fact, NOW is the time for Canada to show it's INDEPENDENCE- from
Silly, Dumb, putdown American Sit-Coms!
Don't give it up. It has potential. And the actors are pretty good.
Francesco Domenico Lisanti Hollywood, Florida
Silly, Dumb, putdown American Sit-Coms!
Don't give it up. It has potential. And the actors are pretty good.
Francesco Domenico Lisanti Hollywood, Florida
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