Iconic Canadian Comedy Series to Receive Special Gemini Tributes

    
    Corner Gas, Royal Canadian Air Farce and Trailer Park Boys Recognized
                  On-Stage at the 24th Annual Gemini Awards

       Gala Presenters to Include Star of the Hit Global TV Show GLEE -
                               Cory Monteith,
        Rick Mercer, Hugh Dillon, Jessica Lucas, Erin Karpluk, George
                       Stroumboulopoulos and many more

              Broadcast live to air on Global and Showcase this
               Saturday, November 14th - 9pm ET/PT from Calgary

      (xx)Tickets to the 2009 Gemini Awards are available for $10.50 at
                           www.ticketmaster.ca(xx)

          For additional photography and press kit materials visit:
                           www.canwesttvmedia.com
    

TORONTO , Nov. 10 /CNW/ - Canwest and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television will proudly pay tribute to three Canadian comedic television gems at the 24th Annual Gemini Awards.

This Saturday, November 14 - 9pm ET /PT on Global and Showcase (please check local listings), the Gemini Awards will salute Corner Gas, Royal Canadian Air Farce and Trailer Park Boys for their outstanding and enduring contributions to the Canadian television industry. Having recently wrapped their final seasons, the Academy will honour these influential comedies with a special look back at their funniest moments on-air. Cast members from each show will be on hand to accept their award.

"Each of these series has had an incredible impact on Canadian entertainment, delighting audiences across the country and around the world," said Sara Morton , CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. "Daring and original, these shows will be remembered for their memorable characters and distinctly Canadian brand of humour for years to come."

"Canadians have always had their fingers on the pulse of great humour, and we're delighted to collaborate with the Academy on this important tribute to these three exemplary comedies," said Christine Shipton , SVP of Drama and Factual Content, Canwest Broadcasting. "They have carved out a special place in the hearts of so many Canadians and it's with great pride we pay them their due."

Adding to the list of previously announced Gemini presenters, such as Cory Monteith (Glee), Rick Mercer (The Rick Mercer Report), Hugh Dillon (FlashPoint), Jessica Lucas (Melrose Place), Erin Karpluk (Being Erica), George Stroumboulopoulos (The Hour), Amber Marshall & Graham Wardle (Heartland) and Mark McKinney (Less Than Kind), the Academy is thrilled to announce another round of celebrities presenting at this year's gala, including Arlene Dickinson and W. Brett Wilson (Dragon's Den), Brandon Firla and Zaib Shaikh (Little Mosque on the Prairie), Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas) and Alex Lifeson of Rush.

About the Honourees:

Deriving its name from the roadside gas station in the fictional town of Dog River, Saskatchewan, the first episode of Corner Gas aired on January 22, 2004 on CTV and attracted 1.5 million viewers. Seen in over 26 countries around the world, Corner Gas has received a total of six Gemini Awards and Season 1 of the hit comedy garnered an International Emmy nomination. Notable guest stars include Prime Ministers Paul Martin and Stephen Harper , Adrienne Clarkson , Colin Mochrie, Lloyd Robertson , The Tragically Hip, Jann Arden , Shirley Douglas , Mike Holmes , Dog the Bounty Hunter, Kiefer Sutherland and Michael Buble.

Beginning in 1970 as an improv group, Royal Canadian Air Farce has made audiences laugh for almost 40-years. Air Farce has established several television benchmarks in its 300-episode run on CBC, including being the first Canadian comedy series to notch over a million viewers in ratings. As impressive in ratings as in guest stars, Air Farce has welcomed a gamut of Canadian celebrities onto the show, including Prime Ministers, Premiers, party leaders and cabinet ministers, Olympians, NHL and CFL champions, recording artists, actors and sex experts. Air Farce honours have included the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, a star on Canada's Walk of Fame, two Viewers' Choice Gemini Awards, and the Earle Grey Gemini for Lifetime Achievement.

Trailer Park Boys follows the story of Ricky, Julian and Bubbles - three guys whose view of the world has been shaped by their experiences growing up in Sunnyvale Trailer Park. First introduced to Showcase viewers in 2001, it quickly grew into a ratings success and pop culture phenomenon. The series became the highest-rated Canadian show on specialty television in 2004* and won Gemini Awards for Best Comedy Series (2004) and Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Series (2005). Several famous recording artists have appeared on the show, including Alex Lifeson of Rush, singer Rita MacNeil, Brian Vollmer of Helix, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row and singer/songwriter Denny Doherty .

Launched by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television in 1986, The Gemini Awards honour outstanding achievements in the Canadian English-language television industry. The Gemini Awards bring together over 2,500 of Canada's most gifted craftspeople, producers and decision-makers over several evenings of special events.

Tickets to the 2009 Gemini Awards are available for $10.50 at www.ticketmaster.ca. For a complete list of nominations, please visit www.geminiawards.ca.

*Source: Nielsen Media Research (NMR) (08//31/98-05/30/04) AMA Mo-Su 6a-6a. Analysis includes all non-news, non-sports programming based on a single airing.

Global Television is a Canwest Broadcasting network.

About Canwest Broadcasting:

Canwest Broadcasting operates Global Television and eighteen of the country's most popular specialty channels, including HGTV, Mystery TV, National Geographic Channel, Showcase, History Television, Food Network and TVtropolis. Canwest Broadcasting is a division of Canwest Media Inc.

About the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television:

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is a national, non-profit, professional association dedicated to the promotion, recognition and celebration of exceptional achievements in the Canadian film and television industries. Created in 1979, and today unifying industry professionals across Canada , the Academy is a vital and integral force in the industry.

For further information: For media inquiries, please contact: Jacqueline Kendall, Publicist, Canwest Broadcasting, [phone], [email protected]; Jessica Gold, Publicist, Canwest Broadcasting, [phone], [email protected]; Judy Lung, Communications Manager, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, [phone] ext. 238, [email protected]