Canada’s favourite “tube-side” attraction is back. And like triple-digit gas prices, Season Three of Corner Gas is out of this world. Featuring special guest stars Jann Arden, Ben Mulroney, Shirley Douglas, Vicki Gabereau and Ralph Goodale as well as its first-ever Christmas episode, Corner Gas premieres Monday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET (check local listings) with the first of 19 all-new episodes on CTV.

In addition to its CTV timeslot, the new season of Corner Gas will air Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, beginning October 1 on The Comedy Network. Building on the award-winning marketing campaign that cemented its success, the Corner Gas premiere will be supported by a cross-country comedy tour, an hour-long documentary and the DVD release of Season Two.

In January, 2004, Corner Gas burst out of the starting gates to capture the hearts of millions of Canadians with its delightful brand of prairie charm. Last season, the multiple award-winning CTV series flirted with two million viewers and finished its sophomore year with the distinction of being the most-watched Canadian program in any genre, as well as television’s Number One comedy series.*

To celebrate the upcoming season premiere, Corner Gas fans can top up their tanks with laughs when Canada’s favourite television show goes on the road. Viewers will be able to see stand-up star Brent Butt and fellow cast members up close and personal in a live, national comedy tour called CTV Presents Corner Gas Live! that will visit six Canadian cities starting Sept. 25 in Vancouver. The theatre-style comedy tour also visits Calgary (Sept. 26), Winnipeg (Sept. 27), Edmonton (Sept. 28), Ottawa-Gatineau (Sept. 30) and Toronto (October 1).

Also available that week is the highly anticipated Corner Gas Season Two DVD, set for release Sept. 27 by CTV and Video Service Corporation. The three-disc DVD package includes all 18 original episodes from Season Two as well as special features including a behind-the-scenes sneak peak at Season Three, a hilarious blooper reel, interviews with cast and crew, eTalk Daily interviews and a music video from Dog River’s favourite band, Thunderface. Named “Best Canadian DVD-English” at the Canadian Entertainment Network Awards, the Corner Gas Season One DVD sold out in stores across Canada.

And if that isn’t enough, the official Corner Gas documentary, BEYOND CORNER GAS: Tales From Dog River will make its debut Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV (check local listings). Produced by 90th Parallel Productions Ltd. in association with CTV, the one-hour documentary explores the Corner Gas phenomenon and the lives affected by it, including: a local Rouleau, SK woman who starts up her very own “Ruby” café; a couple who moved to Climax, Saskatchewan from Quebec after winning a free land contest at www.cornergas.com; a community brought together because of its love for Corner Gas; and finally the people across Canada who bring the show to life.

The entire Corner Gas ensemble cast returns for Season Three, which was filmed at Regina’s Canada/Saskatchewan Production Studios and on location in neighbouring Rouleau. Brent Butt returns in his popular role as gas station proprietor, Brent Leroy. Butt also makes his directing debut this season, adding to his impressive list of credits including star, writer and executive producer. Also returning are: Saskatchewan natives and Gemini Award winners Eric Peterson and Janet Wright as his parents Oscar and Emma; Gabrielle Miller as coffee shop owner Lacey Burrows; Fred Ewanuick as best friend Hank Yarbo; Lorne Cardinal and Tara Spencer-Nairn as police officers Davis Quinton and Karen Pelly; and Nancy Robertson as retail assistant Wanda Dollard.

In the Season Three premiere, the laughter continues as Hank’s premonitions freak Wanda out while Lacey learns how not to fix a pothole. Also coming up this season:

• Brent’s inheritance takes a turn for the worse when he tries talking Oscar and Emma into a will.
• Wanda thinks Brent is putty in her hands after she wears a skirt to Corner Gas.
• Brent quits coffee and Emma quits knitting in a battle of vice-kicking wills.
• No trick is too dirty in Brent and Hank’s battle to take back their childhood tree house.
• Hank stages a sting operation to show Lacey that an old friend of hers from college is rude.
• A jar of jellybeans turns Dog River’s play park from local hazard into full-blown scandal.
• Brent’s annual trip to exotic locales stirs jealousy and resentment back in Dog River.

Corner Gas’ success in 2004/2005 was marked by an International Emmy Award nomination, five Gemini Award nominations, three Canadian Comedy Award wins (for Writing, Direction and Male Television Performance), a Director’s Guild of Canada Award (for Outstanding Team Achievement In a Television Series – Comedy), a Canadian Screen Writing Award (for Best Comedy/Variety) and an impressive four 2005 Leo Awards including “Best Music, Comedy or Variety Program or Series.” Meanwhile, the official Dog River merchandise line was launched on www.cornergas.com and can now be found at over 100 retailers.

Boasting an award-winning creative team, Corner Gas features directors David Storey (Blackfly, The Seán Cullen Show), Mark Farrell (Made in Canada, The Newsroom, This Hour Has 22 Minutes), Robert de Lint (Incredible Story Studio), Jeff Beesley (Borderline Normal) and Brent Butt. Paul Mather (Rick Mercer’s Monday Report) is Supervising Producer and Writer. Mark Farrell is Producer and Writer. Kevin White (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) is Senior Story Editor and Writer and Andrew Carr (Comics) is Story Editor and Writer. Executive Producers are Brent Butt, David Storey and Virginia Thompson.