Funny Farm (TV series)

Funny Farm was a Canadian television series shown on CTV during the 1974–1975 season.

Funny Farm
Cast members on the set at CFTO-TV studios
Genrecomedy/variety
StarringBlake Emmons
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
Production
Running time30 min
Original release
NetworkCTV
Release12 September 1974 (1974-09-12) –
1975 (1975)

Blake Emmons was host of the half-hour series, which was derivative of the more successful American Hee Haw series.[1] The first episode was broadcast on 12 September 1974 and only one season was produced. The programme continued to be broadcast on CTV for at least two seasons and was still airing as late as 1976. The cast included Bruce Gordon (credited as Ben Gordon), John Evans, Monica Parker, Yank Azman (credited as Jank Zajfman), Jayne Eastwood, Valri Bromfield and Linda Rennhoffer.

The show was poorly received by critics, with one commenting, "in all my years of TV viewing I can't remember a worse show than Funny Farm. It's ugly and crude from every point of view; the concept is a straight steal from Hee Haw, but the writing, performances and production are straight out of the garbage dump."[2] and another writing, "I still don't quite believe it, but it's there, outhouse jokes, guitar and banjo, outhouse jokes, one-liners, outhouse jokes... It's a gas. But then again, so is chlorine."[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Excuse My French: Watch and Enjoy", by L. Ian MacDonald Montreal Gazette, September 12, 1974, p.D-18 ("advertised as a slick rural comedy, a cross between Hee Haw and Laugh-In")
  2. ^ "Joan Irwin's view", Montreal Star, September 12, 1974, p.52
  3. ^ "Mildewed cliches mar new series", by Frank Penn, Ottawa Citizen, September 13, 1974, p.31
  • "Today's Television". The Globe and Mail. 12 September 1974. p. 12.
  • Funny Farm at IMDb  
  • Canadian Communications Foundation: The Funny Farm
  • TVArchive.ca: The Funny Farm

External links edit