Imagine that you were given the task of creating the most bland and boring sitcom setting in history. Where would you put it? What would be its premise?

Here’s one possibility: You set the show in the completely flat plains of midwest Canada, in a very small town with no notable features whatsoever, at the town’s one and only gas station/cafe. Then you have it star a balding middle-aged guy who mostly just reads comic books and eats chili dogs. That right there would be Corner Gas.

While this seems like a non-starter, Corner Gas’ unassuming nature is a cover for a warm, funny, and wildly likable show. As the theme song says, “You think that there’s not a lot going on / look closer, baby, you’re so wrong!”

Debuting in 2004, Corner Gas was the brainchild of comedian Brent Butt who wanted to portray the happenings of small-town life in Saskatchewan, where he grew up. Butt plays Brent, the owner of Dog River’s gas station, where he largely hangs out with the other seven cast members: his best friend and lunkhead Hank, café owner and small town transplant Lacey, his smart but slightly evil employee Wanda, his extremely argumentative father Oscar, his sarcastic mother Emma, dopey police chief Davis, and stickler constable Karen.

There’s very little in the way of ongoing storylines or character development in Corner Gas. Rather, every episode features one or two small stories about things that might seem like nothing but mean a lot to these people — like getting an ATM in town (which becomes a party hangout spot), or a couple trying out the RV life (but never leaving town), or Brent taking a vacation about 50 feet away from where he works.

Through these small stories come some big laughs derived from clever writing, deadpan snark, and these very funny actors. Everyone in this show is a little bit dense and a little bit flawed, which offers everyone else an opportunity to mock them or point out how dumb they’re being.

It is, overall, a positive, easy viewing show with lots of great quips. I spent a few months going through the six seasons and finding them almost uniformly enjoyable and comforting. This isn’t cringe humor or a show where season 6 is radically different than season 1 due to tonal or cast changes. It’s just a group of relatable weirdos going about their lives in a place most people drive or fly right past.

About the only criticism I have of Corner Gas is its poor use of cameos. Occasionally, the series would throw some politician, athlete, or celebrity into an episode (almost always as a very quick bit), and it never seemed to work for it. Just a little dash of awkwardness, and now we’re back to your regularly scheduled program.

Corner Gas became a huge hit in Canada, racking up lots of awards and nominations over its six-season run. The good news for anyone discovering this show is that it all didn’t end after the 107-episode series concluded. In 2014, a movie was made and released, which was then followed by four seasons of Corner Gas Animated (which features all of the original stars save for Emma’s Janet Wright, who passed away in 2016). All in all, Corner Gas spanned from 2004 to 2021, a very respectable run for a show with “not a lot going on.”