Still Standing
GenreComedy/Reality
Written byJonny Harris
Fraser Young
Graham Chittenden
Steve Dylan
Directed bySebastian Cluer
StarringJonny Harris
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons9
No. of episodes105 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJeff Peeler, Catherine Legge, Jamie Brown
ProducersJonny Harris and Sebastian Cluer
Running time22 minutes
Production companyFrantic Films
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
ReleaseJune 23, 2015 (2015-06-23) –
present

Still Standing is a Canadian television series, which premiered on CBC Television in summer 2015.[1] The show's tagline slogan is "towns that are against the ropes but still hanging in there",[2] reflecting the show's premise to tell the "story of small towns in Canada and how they overcome struggles".[3] It is based on the Danish television series Gintberg på kanten (Gintberg on the edge).[4]

A hybrid comedy and reality series, the program features actor and comedian Jonny Harris. In each episode, Harris travels to small Canadian communities which are financially struggling but "still standing" and spends time getting to know the residents and their lifestyles. At the end of the trip, Harris performs a stand-up comedy show for the town's residents, into which he integrates some of his newfound insights about life in their community.[1] In the television format, however, clips from the comedy show are interspersed throughout the episode rather than occurring specifically at the end. The show is produced by Frantic Films.[5]

The show premiered on June 23, 2015, with an episode set in Bamfield, British Columbia.[1]

Filming

To be considered for a show, a community must submit a proposal to the show's producers, who then select a subset of those proposals for inclusion in that season's programming.[6] The order of filming is independent of the order of episode broadcasting.[a] Filming occurs during the three hiatuses in the filming of Murdoch Mysteries, in which Harris is part of the main cast.[7]

A producer visits the town before the filming crew arrives to become familiar with the community.[7] The crew then spends five days in the community, the first four of which are spent filming scenery and conducting interviews.[8] Most of the segments are planned in advance, including Harris interviewing local individuals.[9] The filming schedule is flexible to allow the crew to film events "on the fly".[9] The crew consists of 10 to 16 members who are billeted during the filming.[10][8]

Comedy show

The visit culminates in a comedy performance by Harris at a local venue on the fifth day.[11][8] The event is free to attend on a first come, first served basis, and features performances by other stand-up comics.[11][10] In the show, Harris discusses the residents, and the community's difficulties and response to those difficulties.[1] Harris said he was "worried that they (local residents) might be apprehensive" about the show and its subject, but found that instead "they were laid back".[1] He stated that "people are not overly sensitive, and are just up for the laugh".[1]

The stand-up routine typically includes inside jokes that may not be included in the episode that is broadcast.[10]

Episodes

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
11323 June 2015 (2015-06-23)29 September 2015 (2015-09-29)CBC
21315 June 2016 (2016-06-15)20 September 2016 (2016-09-20)
31327 June 2017 (2017-06-27)12 September 2017 (2017-09-12)
41318 September 2018 (2018-09-18)11 December 2018 (2018-12-11)
51317 September 2019 (2019-09-17)10 December 2019 (2019-12-10)
6106 October 2020 (2020-10-06)8 December 2020 (2020-12-08)
7105 January 2022 (2022-01-05)30 March 2022 (2022-03-30)
8104 January 2023 (2023-01-04)8 March 2023 (2023-03-08)
91026 September 2023 (2023-09-26)28 November 2023 (2023-11-28)

Season 1 (2015)

No.
overall		No. in
season		LocationOriginal air date
11Bamfield, British Columbia23 June 2015 (2015-06-23)
22Coleman, Alberta30 June 2015 (2015-06-30)
33Souris, Prince Edward Island7 July 2015 (2015-07-07)
44Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan28 July 2015 (2015-07-28)
55Berwick, Nova Scotia4 August 2015 (2015-08-04)
66Oil Springs, Ontario11 August 2015 (2015-08-11)
77Lytton, British Columbia18 August 2015 (2015-08-18)
88Manitou, Manitoba25 August 2015 (2015-08-25)
99Wawa, Ontario1 September 2015 (2015-09-01)
1010Teeswater, Ontario8 September 2015 (2015-09-08)
1111Rowley, Alberta15 September 2015 (2015-09-15)
1212North Buxton, Ontario and South Buxton, Ontario22 September 2015 (2015-09-22)
1313Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador29 September 2015 (2015-09-29)

Season 2 (2016)

No.
overall		No. in
season		LocationOriginal air date
141Skidegate, British Columbia15 June 2016 (2016-06-15)
152Vanastra, Ontario21 June 2016 (2016-06-21)
163Georgetown, Prince Edward Island28 June 2016 (2016-06-28)
174Fort Coulonge, Quebec5 July 2016 (2016-07-05)
185Telkwa, British Columbia12 July 2016 (2016-07-12)
196Eganville, Ontario19 July 2016 (2016-07-19)
207McAdam, New Brunswick26 July 2016 (2016-07-26)
218Inuvik, Northwest Territories2 August 2016 (2016-08-02)
229Omemee, Ontario24 August 2016 (2016-08-24)
2310Stanstead, Quebec30 August 2016 (2016-08-30)
2411Mabou, Nova Scotia8 September 2016 (2016-09-08)
2512Pilot Mound, Manitoba13 September 2016 (2016-09-13)
2613Maple Creek, Saskatchewan20 September 2016 (2016-09-20)

Season 3 (2017)

No.
overall		No. in
season		LocationOriginal air date
271Fort McMurray, Alberta27 June 2017 (2017-06-27)
282Bell Island, Newfoundland and Labrador27 June 2017 (2017-06-27)
293Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan4 July 2017 (2017-07-04)
304Mattawa, Ontario11 July 2017 (2017-07-11)
315Edgerton, Alberta18 July 2017 (2017-07-18)
326Avondale, Newfoundland and Labrador25 July 2017 (2017-07-25)
337Lake Cowichan, British Columbia1 August 2017 (2017-08-01)
348Reston, Manitoba8 August 2017 (2017-08-08)
359Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia15 August 2017 (2017-08-15)
3610Norwood, Ontario22 August 2017 (2017-08-22)
3711Vulcan, Alberta29 August 2017 (2017-08-29)
3812Gilbert Plains, Manitoba5 September 2017 (2017-09-05)
3913South River, Ontario12 September 2017 (2017-09-12)

Season 4 (2018)

No.
overall		No. in
season		LocationOriginal air date
401Tignish, Prince Edward Island18 September 2018 (2018-09-18)
412Carcross, Yukon25 September 2018 (2018-09-25)
423Rogersville, New Brunswick2 October 2018 (2018-10-02)
434Fraser Lake, British Columbia9 September 2018 (2018-09-09)
445Cobalt, Ontario16 October 2018 (2018-10-16)
456New Denmark, New Brunswick23 October 2018 (2018-10-23)
467Wilberforce, Ontario30 October 2018 (2018-10-30)
478Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ontario6 November 2018 (2018-11-06)
489Huntingdon, Quebec13 November 2018 (2018-11-13)
4910Radisson, Saskatchewan20 November 2018 (2018-11-20)
5011Canso, Nova Scotia27 November 2018 (2018-11-27)
5112Minto, Manitoba4 December 2018 (2018-12-04)
5213Wells, British Columbia11 December 2018 (2018-12-11)

Season 5 (2019)

No.
overall		No. in
season		LocationOriginal air date
531Campobello Island, New Brunswick17 September 2019 (2019-09-17)
542Schreiber, Ontario24 September 2019 (2019-09-24)
553Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia1 October 2019 (2019-10-01)
564East Preston, Nova Scotia8 October 2019 (2019-10-08)
575Churchill, Manitoba15 October 2019 (2019-10-15)
586Fortune, Newfoundland and Labrador22 October 2019 (2019-10-22)
597Nipigon, Ontario29 October 2019 (2019-10-29)
608Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador5 November 2019 (2019-11-05)
619Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan12 November 2019 (2019-11-12)
6210Bristol, Quebec19 November 2019 (2019-11-19)
6311Lumby, British Columbia26 November 2019 (2019-11-26)
6412Calabogie, Ontario3 December 2019 (2019-12-03)
6513Siksika Nation, Alberta10 December 2019 (2019-12-10)

Season 6 (2020)

No.
overall		No. in
season		LocationOriginal air date
661Pelee Island, Ontario6 October 2020 (2020-10-06)
672Bear River, Nova Scotia13 October 2020 (2020-10-13)
683Lillooet, British Columbia[8]20 October 2020 (2020-10-20)
694Vittoria, Ontario[12]27 October 2020 (2020-10-27)
705Woody Point, Newfoundland and Labrador10 November 2020 (2020-11-10)
716Pinawa, Manitoba17 November 2020 (2020-11-17)
727Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick24 November 2020 (2020-11-24)
738Botwood, Newfoundland and Labrador1 December 2020 (2020-12-01)
749Turner Valley, Alberta8 December 2020 (2020-12-08)
7510Rankin Inlet, Nunavut[13]8 December 2020 (2020-12-08)

Season 7 (2022)

Filming for the seventh season was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[14] As a result of the ongoing pandemic, filming followed screening tests and other protocols, and during the show guests were seated in physically separated cohorts.[14] After the show, Harris did not meet with the guests as he had done in previous seasons.[14]

Ten episodes were made for season 7.[15]

No.
overall		No. in
season		LocationOriginal air date
761Hope, British Columbia5 January 2022 (2022-01-05)
772Port Stanley, Ontario12 January 2022 (2022-01-12)
783Wakefield, Quebec19 January 2022 (2022-01-19)
794Chemainus, British Columbia26 January 2022 (2022-01-26)
805Minden, Ontario23 February 2022 (2022-02-23)
816Middleton, Nova Scotia2 March 2022 (2022-03-02)
827Warkworth, Ontario9 March 2022 (2022-03-09)
838Oxford, Nova Scotia16 March 2022 (2022-03-16)
849St. Laurent, Manitoba23 March 2022 (2022-03-23)
8510Fenelon Falls, Ontario30 March 2022 (2022-03-30)

Season 8 (2023)

The eighth season of the show consisted of 10 episodes broadcast during winter 2023.[16]



No.
overall		No. in
season		LocationOriginal air date
861Gibsons, British Columbia4 January 2023 (2023-01-04)
872Oneida, Ontario11 January 2023 (2023-01-11)
883Morden, Manitoba18 January 2023 (2023-01-18)
894Lac La Biche, Alberta25 January 2023 (2023-01-25)
905Goderich, Ontario1 February 2023 (2023-02-01)
916Ucluelet, British Columbia8 February 2023 (2023-02-08)
927Markdale, Ontario15 February 2023 (2023-02-15)
938Okanagan Falls, British Columbia22 February 2023 (2023-02-22)
949Wabush, Newfoundland1 March 2023 (2023-03-01)
9510New Richmond Gaspé, Quebec8 March 2023 (2023-03-08)

Season 9 (2023)

The ninth season of Still Standing will consist of ten episodes broadcast starting in late 2023.[17] Harris stated that he had been interested in featuring Dawson City on the show, but the city never "fit the bill as a struggling town" until the decline of tourism to the city following the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

No.
overall		No. in
season		LocationOriginal air date
961Amherstburg, Ontario26 September 2023 (2023-09-26)
972Gracefield, Quebec3 October 2023 (2023-10-03)
983Southport, Manitoba10 October 2023 (2023-10-10)
994Slave Lake, Alberta17 October 2023 (2023-10-17)
1005Dawson City, Yukon24 October 2023 (2023-10-24)
1016Temagami, Ontario31 October 2023 (2023-10-31)
1027High River, Alberta7 November 2023 (2023-11-07)
1038M'Chigeeng First Nation14 November 2023 (2023-11-14)
1049Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador21 November 2023 (2023-11-21)
10510Membertou First Nation28 November 2023 (2023-11-28)

Broadcast

The series is available on Tubi, Amazon Prime, and The Roku Channel in the US. Seasons 6 and 7 were released exclusively on Tubi in April 2022. The series is also available on Pluto TV in the US.

Reception

Television critic John Doyle, writing in The Globe and Mail, stated that Harris is "extremely good at connecting with the local people".[2]

Awards

Canadian Screen Awards

Year Category Nominee Result Reference
2016 Best factual program or series Still Standing Won [19]
Best host in a lifestyle, talk or entertainment news program or series Jonny Harris Nominated
Best editing in a factual program or series Jorge Parra, Robert Kew and Tony Coleman
(episode: Buxton)
Best writing in a factual program or series Jonny Harris, Chuck Byrn and Nile Séguin
(episode: Buxton)
2017 Best factual program or series Still Standing Won [20]
Best host in a lifestyle, talk or entertainment news program or series Jonny Harris
Best direction in a documentary or factual series Sebastian Cluer
(episode: Vanastra)		 Nominated
Best writing in a factual program or series Jonny Harris, Fraser Young and Steve Dylan
(episode: Vanastra)		 Won
2018 Best editing in a factual program or series Jorge Parra
(episode: Manitou Beach)		 Nominated
Best writing in a factual program or series Jonny Harris, Fraser Young, Steve Dylan and Graham Chittenden
(episode: Fort McMurray)		 Won [19]
2019 Best factual program or series Still Standing Nominated
Best host in a program or series Jonny Harris Won
Best editorial research Maya Bilbao
(episode: Carcross)		 Nominated
Best writing in a factual program or series Jonny Harris, Fraser Young, Steve Dylan and Graham Chittenden
(episode: Carcross)		 Won
2020 Best host in a factual series or reality competition Jonny Harris Nominated
Best editorial research Shayla Howell, Maya Bilbao and Arden Wray
(episode: "East Preston")		 Nominated
Best photography in a documentary or factual program or series Jeff Cole
(episode: "Churchill")		 Nominated
Best editing in a factual program or series Jorge Parra
(episode: "Churchill")		 Nominated
Best direction in a factual program or series Sebastian Cluer
(episode: "Siksika Nation")		 Nominated
Best writing in a factual program or series Jonny Harris, Fraser Young, Steve Dylan and Graham Chittenden
(episode: "Churchill")		 Won
2021 Best host or presenter, factual or reality/competition series Jonny Harris Nominated
Best editing in a factual program or series Jorge Parra
(episode: "Pelee Island")		 Nominated
Best writing for factual program or series Jonny Harris, Fraser Young, Graham Chittenden and Steve Dylan
(episode: "Rankin Inlet")		 Won
2023 Best host or presenter, factual or reality/competition series Jonny Harris Nominated
Best directing in a factual program or series Sebastien Cluer
(episode: "St. Laurent")		 Nominated
Andrew Murray
(episode: "Wakefield")		 Nominated
Best writing in a factual program or series Jonny Harris, Fraser Young, Steve Dylan and Graham Chittenden
(episode: "Oxford")		 Won

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Hank, Melissa (2015-07-22). "Murdoch Mysteries' Jonny Harris hosts new show Still Standing". Postmedia News. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  2. ^ a b Doyle, John (2015-07-07). "CBC's Still Standing gets laughs in small-town Canada". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  3. ^ "CBC showcasing Tignish Tuesday". The Journal Pioneer. 2018-09-15. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  4. ^ Signe Haahr Lindegaard (2014-04-01). ""Gintberg på kanten" solgt til Canada". Jyllandsposten (in Danish).
  5. ^ Grignon, Denis (2015-09-28). "Jonny Harris juggles acting and standup in CBC shows". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  6. ^ a b Law, Melanie (2018-12-06). "Wells, B.C. features in CBC series Still Standing". Quesnel Observer. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  7. ^ a b Arsenault, Tim (2018-09-17). "Comedy show Still Standing visits Tignish P.E.I. and Canso". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  8. ^ a b c d "Still Standing coming to Lillooet". Bridge River Lillooet News. 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  9. ^ a b "Lumby featured on CBC show Still Standing". 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  10. ^ a b c "Radisson 'still standing' as CBC film crew rolls into town". Clark's Crossing Gazette. 2018-01-12. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  11. ^ a b Smith, Jennifer (2019-01-14). "CBC filming in Lumby this week". Vernon Morningstar. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  12. ^ "CBC's Still Standing to be filmed in Vittoria". Norfolk Today. 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  13. ^ Harris, Jonny (2019-09-17). "5 true things about Canada that Jonny Harris has learned from making Still Standing". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  14. ^ a b c Peters, Jessica (28 December 2021). "Hope episode kicks off 7th season of CBC's Still Standing". Abbotsford News. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Where we're going in Season 7 of Still Standing". CBC Television. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  16. ^ "CBC unveils 2022-23 programming slate featuring over 40 original series and specials from Canadian storytellers" (Press release). CBC. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  17. ^ "CBC unveils 2023-24 programming slate featuring over 40 original series from Canadian storytellers and more than 4000 hours of new programming" (Press release). Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  18. ^ Bianchini, Elisabette (26 September 2023). "Jonny Harris 'Still Standing' hits milestone 100th episode with new Season 9". Yahoo! News Canada. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  19. ^ a b Jackson, Lura (2018-08-22). "Award-Winning CBC comedy show to film in Campobello". The Calais Advertiser. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  20. ^ Furdyk, Brent (2017-03-12). "2017 Canadian Screen Awards: And the winners are..." ET Canada. Archived from the original on March 13, 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-15.

Notes

  1. ^ For example, the town of Wells, British Columbia was the first community filmed for Season 4, but was the last broadcast of that season.[6]

External links

CBC Television programming
Categories