The Emmy-nominated comedy, Corner Gas, has enjoyed more than its share of laugh-out-loud moments. Whether audiences are laughing at Lacey looking for her lost "F 'n' E," Oscar suffering from the symptoms of eating a thirty-year-old Dingle Puff, or Hank trying to master the art of being a crossing guard, fans of this Canadian sitcom have fallen in love with the characters of Dog River and their unusual antics.
If a regular viewer was asked to create a list of their top ten episodes, they'd likely have problems narrowing it down to a mere ten. Thankfully, IMDb has managed to rank the top ten based on user scores, and these are the episodes that stand out for their hilarious jokes and small-town appeal of its characters.
"Jail House" (S4, E6) - 8
When Davis agrees to stay in jail as part of a fundraising campaign, he has no idea how big his sacrifice will be. What could be worse than having to languish in a prison cell with only Hank Yarbo there?. While Davis tries to lose Hank, Emma and Oscar quickly regret hiring Wanda to do what should have been a simple bathroom repair.
Watching Hank unknowingly turn Davis' tea-sipping, book-reading, jailhouse mini-break into a voyage to the deepest depths of hell is enough to land this episode in the top ten. But choosing to have expert contractor (of HGTV fame) Mike Holmes step into the role of Wanda's lovelorn admirer is brilliant.
"Physical Credit" (S3, E16) - 8.1
Davis hires Oscar to help him train for his physical fitness test and a trip down the Great White North's memory lane ensues with the 1970's Canada Fitness Guide and the ParticipACTION theme song. Oscar's incessant nagging does little to inspire Davis. Instead, it is saving his beloved Hardy Boys books from destruction that brings out Davis's physically fit side.
This episode is full of humorous moments including Wanda finding out she was denied a credit card because she failed to return a video to Corner Gas, her employer, and Davis landing a minuscule 3-foot jump during his track and field training. Plus, viewers can sing along to the words "Don't just think about it. Do it, do it, do it..."
"Block Party" (S3, E15) - 8.1
This hilarious episode joins the residents of Dog River as they celebrate their town's centennial. Like some of the best LEGO Masters teams, Hank surprisingly builds an exact replica of the entire town using all of the town's LEGOs. And in true Corner Gas style, just as Hank is about to reveal his building block masterpiece, Karen decides to display her breath-holding prowess, rendering Hank's efforts moot.
One of the funniest aspects of this episode is the backstory regarding Dog River's Main Street. The inhabitants have decided to rename the road "Centennial Street" as every town has a Main Street. It is soon revealed, however, that the town's founder was actually a Mr. Main.
"Rock On!" (S2, E15) - 8.3
"Rock on plays on the appeal of cheesy 1980s rock when the cast decides to form a band, Thunderforce. Thankfully, the star of this episode isn't the music of the amateur band. Rather, it is the terms used to describe it such as a "weasel in a fan belt" or a "gopher caught in a chainsaw" and the dismayed reaction of the unfortunate listeners to Thunderface's latest opus. Fake bands making awful music always score with TV viewers, with the equally bad Mouserat appearing in some of Parks & Rec's favorite storylines, which is probably why this episode is ranked so highly.
"An American in Saskatchewan" (S2, E12) - 8.4
When an American tourist accidentally finds himself in Dog River, Fitzy is overjoyed that his plan to attract visitors is working. Naturally, he appoints Hank the town's goodwill ambassador and tells him to show the American, Bill, around. Hank, unfortunately, draws on his vast knowledge of American stereotypes and proceeds to insult the poor man in every possible way.
With everyone hanging out at the new "money machine" that has been installed in Wes's liquor and insurance store, there is no one to keep Hank in check. As an added bonus, Oscar finds himself at the center of attention at the ATM and is soon pleased to experience a new sensation - having people listen to him. Between Hank's nonsensical barbs and Oscar's newfound audience, this clever episode stands out among the rest.
"Security Cam" (S2, E8) - 8.5
Brent installs a security camera to lower his insurance rates and hilarity ensues as he captures Karen and Wanda insulting him on video. The threat of being surveilled causes an uproar among the community. Davis, on the other hand, feels left out and longs to star in one of Brent's "movies." In the meantime, Davis purchases a stun gun, and Hank follows him around, begging to be stunned.
It is Davis's character that truly makes this episode. His suggestion that they buy bullet-resistant vests instead of bulletproof ones to save money, his "auditions" for the security camera, and the moment when he accidentally stuns himself are unforgettably hilarious.
"Face Off" (S1, E12) - 8.5
As the goaltender for the less-than-stellar Dog River Riverdogs hockey team, Brent faces 110 shots on goal. When his rival, Rocket Ronnie, tries to lure him over to his team, Brent refuses and becomes more driven to defeat the opposition. There is one major problem: they do not have a coach. It turns out Lacey knows quite a bit about the game - but she's a woman, which threatens Brent's fragile ego.
This episode is filled with strange and comical lines such as Oscar and his "loud clapping gloves?" In addition, Oscar frets that someone could steal a squeegee and the great debate over the meaning of the word "Bruin" rages on. Like other noteworthy Canadian shows such as Schitt's Creek, Corner Gas combines outrageous storylines with realistic characters that produce a memorable episode for fans.
"I Love Lacey" (S1, E13) - 8.4
In this uproariously fun episode, the characters find themselves split up into pairs as they make their way to the Grey Cup game. Of course, nothing goes as planned as Emma is falsely accused of stealing from a dollar store, Davis erroneously gets arrested for soliciting a prostitute, and Oscar tries to lay claim to a dead man's belt.
"I Love Lacey" is special in that it hints at the possibility of Brent and Lacey becoming more than just friends. It also places each character in a bizarre situation that prevents everyone from attending the Grey Cup. And nothing beats the line uttered by Hank when they look through Russell's window, "Does your friend, Russell, like to lie on the kitchen floor with a phone in his hand?"
"Hook, Line, and Sinker" (S1, E11) - 8.6
During day-to-day Dog River life, Hank is not exactly a suave and sexy smooth talker. During a fishing trip, Karen finds herself overcome by the urge to kiss him - a move which she later regrets. Back at Corner Gas, Lacey and Brent find themselves in a battle of words, flinging insults at one another on an advertising sign.
This episode is noteworthy as it has more guest stars appear on it than usual. When Brent dreams of starring in Canadian Idol, the audience meets judges Jake Gold, Sass Jordan, Farley Flex, and Zach Werner. And Pamela Wallin finds herself unable to get service at an abandoned Corner Gas.
"Grad '68" (S1, E5) -
Dog River's water tower has been sporting the words "Grad '68" for years, but no one knows who put it there. When Karen decides to solve the mystery, everyone is placed under her scrutiny and mayhem ensues. Meanwhile, Lacy has everyone puzzled over the new bathroom signs at the gas station bearing the ancient symbols for males and females. Subsequently, the men discover how much nicer the women's facilities are and Brent is forced to take action. Sort of.
This episode cleverly showcases several of the characters' quirks and flaws such as Karen's desire to solve a cold case that no one cares about, Hank's lower than average I.Q., and Lacey's endless quest to infuse a little big city flare into her small-town surroundings. And as a bonus, viewers can catch a glimpse of Hank's high school yearbook photo.