If you've ever seen "The Red Green Show" then you'll know why it's so much fun.
For those who haven't had the chance to see "The Red Green Show" let us fill you in on some of the details, the characters, and the plot lines that made us laugh, even at ourselves sometimes.
This hilarious show was to outdoorsmen and women what "Home Improvement" was to handymen everywhere. After 300 episodes running from 1991 to 2006, the hit comedy show and Canadian television original series ended.
Smith initially created the character of Red Green for his 1979-1985 sketch comedy series "Smith & Smith," but it wasn't until 1991 that CHCH-TV in Hamilton, Ontario began to produce the show. It was later picked up by Global Television Network and its name was temporarily changed to "The New Red Green Show." The show was acquired by CBC Television in 1997 and stayed there until its end.
The title character is played by actor and producer Steve Smith, who calls himself a "handyman" and tries to find shortcuts to mundane, everyday projects. He trusts much of his work to duct tape, which he calls "The handyman's secret weapon."
Red Green is the president of the Possum Lodge, which is a fictional men's club in the small Canadian town of Possum Lake, near the fictional city of Port Asbestos. Red Green and his fellow lodge members produced their own television show in which they gave lessons and demonstrations in repair work, outdoor activities, and even lifestyle advice for men.
It was in the "Handyman Corner" segments where Red would attempt to demonstrate creative and often hilarious ways to tackle common everyday tasks, such as taking out the trash or repairing old used cars.
As an example of the comical things he did, here's his efforts to install a "toilet carburetor" on a SS Camaro:
As he always said, "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."
His other, perhaps more famous line was used at the end of the show, when he would pass on the sage advice to "Keep your stick on the ice."
"The Red Green Show" Main Characters
Red Green
As we mentioned, Red is the leader of the Possum Lodge and a self-proclaimed handyman extraordinaire. He is married to the fictitious Bernice Green, but they do not have any children. He is rarely seen without his trademark red-and-green suspenders and Canadian Military Forces cap that make up his signature look. Both can be purchased on the Red Green website.
Harold Green
Actor Patrick McKenna portrays Harold Green, Red's nephew, and is the fictional producer and director of "The Red Green Show." Harold is a bit of a nerdy fellow that has a big overbite, wears thick glasses, and is very eager to please. He can be sensitive, but the interactions between him and Red are some of the best parts of the show.
Dalton Humphrey
Dalton Humphrey, played by actor Bob Bainborough, is the owner of Humphrey's Everything Store and is one of Red's best friends. He is one of the few financially successful members of the group. For comedic effect, he's depicted as a big cheapskate and tries to penny-pinch money as much as possible, particularly by shortchanging and sometimes downright cheating people.
Ranger Gord
This character's full name is Gordon Ranger, but he would rather not to be called "Ranger Ranger." Ranger Gord is played by Peter Keleghan, and he's the local forest ranger who spends almost all of his time alone in Fire Watch Tower 13 and, towards the end of the series, Tower 3.
Winston Rothschild III
Winston, who is comically played by Jeff Lumby, is the owner and sole employee of Rothschild's Sewage and Septic Sucking Services. Like Dalton Humphrey, Winston is one of Red Green's friends who helps in the day-to-day operations of Possum Lodge. This fellow is always seen sporting a hard hat, an off-white button-down shirt with a bow tie, and hip waders.
Bill Smith
Bill, played by Rick Green, is the leading man of the "Adventures with Bill" segment, in which he and usually Red attempt to perform relatively simple tasks or sports and games in the clumsiest, most accident-prone way possible, and all while the segments are shown in black-and-white.
There are a number of other characters that have shown up on "The Red Green Show" including Mike Hamar (Wayne Robson), Edgar K.B. Montrose (the illustrious Graham Greene), Hap Shaughnessy (Gordon Pinsent), Ed Frid (Jerry Schaefer), Buzz Sherwood (Peter Wildman), Bob Stuyvestant (Bruce Hunter), Glen Brackston (Mark Wilson), Dwight Cardiff (George Buza), Dougie Franklin (Ian Thomas), Arnie Dogan (Albert Schultz), and Kevin Black (Paul Gross).
Why We're Still Laughing
Along with other segments such as the "Possum Lodge Word Game," "North of 40" given from behind Red's fly tying bench, "Buddy System," and "Mike's Teen Talk," "The Red Green Show" would go on to be one of public televisions best loved and most comical TV series to fly under the radar for many years.
Some of our favorite moments include the strange contraptions Red came up with, like a paddlewheel boat out of a van, a jet pack made from two propane tanks, and a kiddie ride made from a bar stool attached to the agitator of a washing machine.
Then there was the time that he made a jet-powered canoe using antacid medicine.
In any case, Smith was a master at portraying some of the absurd, down-home remedies and methods that we all wanted to try, but never had the courage for it. Then he put them on TV to make us all laugh.
Even if you haven't seen the show, you can watch it on DVD, or just try the RedGreenTV YouTube channel.
Looking for a little more or even hot lunch for your hunting blind? Follow my webpage, or on Facebook and Twitter.
NEXT: DEER HUNTERS READ FUNNY TWEETS
WATCH
