Summary:
During his days of stage touring with his wife, and on the briefly-lived sketch comedy they performed him, Steve Smith created the rough draft for a character: The embodiment of the male ego. He named the character Red Green, after Canadian hunter and fisherman, Red Fisher, and usually appeared in a cluttered room, wearing a rubber duck on his hat, sitting on a picnic table, and speaking in a somewhat throaty voice. He would comment on countless stereotypical Canadian activities and incorporate them into the stereotypical male activities. The character proved popular with audiences.
In 1991, CHCH, a television network in Hamilton, offered him an opportunity for a series. Smith decided to take the offer, but concluded that if this show flopped, he would leave television altogether (he had previous efforts, such as his role as the father of his real sons, "Me and Max", his sons Max and Dave playing themselves and Morag playing the wife/mother, as well as multiple roles; among them was Steve's character "Uncle Red). He collaborated with his friend, Rick Green, about it. They decided to make a show about "being outdoors", when it occurred to them Red Green was just such a character. With a little character fleshing and a backdrop, this show just might make it. Rick would direct, Steve would write, and they would both produce. And who would Rick play? A certain character he had performed on radio and television named Bill, a wacky, slapstick character, almost a living cartoon who never stopped talking. As a twist, on the show, his voice was almost never heard. He only appeared in black and white segments titled "Adventures with Bill." And his last name? In a moment of irony- Smith.
The "plot" (or lack thereof) was that Red Green was the leader of Possum Lodge, a men-only resort where they could generally goof off and be themselves. They were veritable stereotypes, yet with a certain flair and charm, which added to their wit. Red was the only remotely sensible one, but perhaps not much more competent. He was a true craftsman, and had a portion called "Handyman Corner" where he would take ordinary objects and, with the help of power tools and duct tape, would turn them into a unique variation of something already established. Rarely did they work. He also had countless monolouges where he would talk to "all you middle-aged" viewers. Among the regular residents at the Lodge were Dalton Humphries (Bob Bainborough), the owner of...
