TODAY'S TWD: KIEFER GETS "GAS"

'Corner Gas' is a Canadian production that just aired its fifth season finale. It takes place in Dog River, Saskatchewan, and centers around the Corner Gas station. From the descriptions I've been reading, it sounds like visitors from Cicely, Alaska, Fernwood, Ohio, and maybe even from Hooterville might find themselves right at home there in Dog River.

With the fifth season finale, 'Corner Gas' offered up a League of Themselves appearance by Kiefer Sutherland as himself. Although he didn't identify himself, his mother called him by name at the end - and she was played by his actual mother, Shirley Douglas.

I don't think 'Corner Gas' has ever made it down into the States, at least not much farther beyond the "Borderlands", but it sounds like the kind of show that might work well on a PBS station. (Hey, Brent! Let me know if I'm mistaken in any of this.)

Since it's unlikely that most of my Toobworld audience will ever get the chance to see this show, Jam! Television, a Canadian site, has published that scene with Sutherland and which I'm reprinting here. (Check out Jam! - you'll find the link to the left.)

Wanda (Nancy Robertson) was planning a fireworks display for midnight, when Brent (series creator Brent Butt) was going to turn 40. But local policeman Davis (Lorne Cardinal) thought the display would be a fire hazard and wanted to stop it.

After being thwarted in his attempts to mobilize a field team (i.e., the local field hockey team and the local football team), a frustrated Davis blurted to the mayor, "Fine, if you won't help me, I'll find someone else who will."

Davis slammed down the phone, then picked it up and dialed another number.

Cut to Kiefer, who since 2001 has played Jack Bauer on the groundbreaking action series 24. In this instance, Kiefer was dressed in a bathrobe, seated in a dimly lit room, staring intently at a computer.

Kiefer: "Hello."
Davis: "We have a problem. We need to set up a perimeter."
Kiefer: "Who is this?"
Davis: "Isn't this the coach of the baseball team?"
Kiefer: "No, you have the wrong number. This is Shirley Douglas' residence."
Davis: "Really?"
Kiefer: (slightly impatient): "Yes, I should know, she's my mother."
Davis (mocking): "Your mother? You still live with your mother? How old are ya?"
Kiefer: "I'm hanging up now."

At which point, the light in Kiefer's room changed as a door opened.

Douglas' voice: "Kiefer, who was that?"
Kiefer (exploding in anger): "Dammit, Mom, I told you to knock before you come in!"

[Thanks to Bill Harris of Sun Media]

Kiefer Sutherland has also appeared as himself in fictional series "American Misfits", "Free Radio", and "Made In Canada". So he's upped the ante for his eventual inclusion into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame as a member of the League of Themselves.

And that exchange between him and his mother helps seal the deal. Bwahahahaha!

BCnU!

Toby OB