J. R. Digs: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Canadian television personality}} |
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<div style="float:right; padding:10px;"><!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:JRDigsonJRDIGS.png|JR Digs on "JR DIGS"]] --></div> |
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{{Infobox person |
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| image = JR Digs.jpg |
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| name = J. R. Digs |
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| occupation = Television personality, writer, producer |
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| yearsactive = 2001-Present |
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}} |
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'''J.R. Digs''' is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[television]] personality.<ref name=real>"JR Digs's show may not be 'reality' TV, but it is real". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', October 4, 2006.</ref> He is best known for his [[Gemini Award]]-nominated late night show ''JR Digs: Man with a Van'',<ref name=gazillion>"Of the gazillion Gemini noms, here's a deserving one". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', August 20, 2011.</ref> which aired on [[Global Television Network|Global]] from 2008 to 2014.<ref name=parking>[http://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/4474358-jr-digs-is-parking-the-van/ "JR Digs is parking the van"]. ''[[Hamilton Spectator]]'', April 21, 2014.</ref> |
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'''JR DiGS''' is a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[television]] personality that currently hosts "JR DiGS Late Night Television" that is still in post-production and will be airing nationally on [[Global TV]] in the fall of 2011. JR has been on the air since June [[2001 in television|2001]]. Since then he has been the host of multiple series that have aired nationally on Global TV, E!(Formerly CHCH) MenTV and TVtropolis. |
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==Background== |
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Digs, at the time a skateboard shop owner in [[Burlington, Ontario|Burlington]], [[Ontario]],<ref name=real/> first launched ''The JR Digs Show'' on [[CHCH-DT|CHCH]] in 2001.<ref name=real/> Originally a stunt comedy series based on ''[[Jackass (TV series)|Jackass]]'', Digs purchased the airtime himself and solicited his own advertising and sponsorships to recover his costs.<ref name=quest>"One man's quest to be a somebody: JR Digs has spent 10 years and thousands of dollars on his dream of being a talk-show host". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', September 4, 2011.</ref> In 2003, Global began airing the show, under the same production model.<ref name=quest/> |
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In 2006, Digs launched ''[[Be Real with JR Digs]]'', a comedy series in which he tried to make a compelling [[reality show]] out of ordinary people partaking in everyday activities,<ref name=real/> and ''In the Can with JR Digs'', a show in which he acted as mentor to young aspiring filmmakers, for [[TVtropolis]],<ref name=quest/> and ''Another Crappy Canadian Late Night Talk Show'' for CHCH.<ref name=parking/> In 2007, Digs launched ''What the Digs'', a mash-up style show which consisted of Digs' previous shows reedited in a surreal manner. Following this, Digs created ''Late Night Television with JR Digs'' which ran for one season. |
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In the summer of 2011, the "Man with a Van" series was nominated for the best talk show category in the 26th annual Gemini awards |
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''Man with a Van'', in which Digs travelled around Canada in a van, was launched in 2008. The show was cancelled by Global in 2014.<ref name=parking/> During this time, Digs also created ''Bands from a Van'', a spinoff of his Man with a Van show which focused on musicians. Digs would interview bands and have them perform - all inside his van. |
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In the fall of 2006 "Be Real with JR DIGS" aired and ran for 13 episodes on TVTropolis. The series earned JR his very first [[Gemini Award]] nomination in the category of "Best Host in a Lifestyle Series" |
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Digs continues to organize an annual Christmas charity benefit show in [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]].<ref name=spenny>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/spenny-of-kenny-vs-spenny-announced-for-jr-digs-christmas-show-1.3357214 "Spenny of 'Kenny vs Spenny' announced for JR Digs Christmas show"]. [[CBC Hamilton]], December 9, 2015.</ref> The 2015 show included [[Spencer Rice]] of ''[[Kenny vs. Spenny]]'', Max Kerman of [[Arkells]], [[Terra Lightfoot]], [[Tom Wilson (musician)|Tom Wilson]], Mike Trebilcock from [[Killjoys (Canadian band)|Killjoys]], [[Elliott Brood]] and [[The Trews]],<ref name=spenny/> while the 2016 show included Lightfoot, Kerman, Trebilcock and [[Wayne Petti]] of [[Cuff the Duke]].<ref>[http://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/7022175-rockingham-j-r-digs-ready-to-jingle-his-bells/ "J.R. Digs ready to jingle his bells"]. ''[[Hamilton Spectator]]'', December 16, 2016.</ref> In 2017, the 9th annual Christmas charity show included appearances from Max Kerman, Tom Wilson, [[The Dirty Nil]], and [[Monster Truck (band)|Monster Truck]]. The 2018 event is taking place on December 23, 2018 at New Vision United Church in Hamilton. |
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== List of aired Series created by JR DIGS == |
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"Man with a Van" (3 seasons) |
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"The JR DIGS Show" (5 Seasons) |
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"In the Can with JR DIGS" - Showcasing aspiring and unknown filmmakers (2 seasons) |
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"Another Crappy Canadian Latenight Talkshow (1 Season) |
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== History Of JR DiGS == |
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JR's grandfather made his living as a professional photographer and at some point, he got his hands on one of his 8mm movie cameras. It was very expensive to get the two minute reels of film developed and it still is to this day; however, the late 80s brought along video cameras. Which, JR quickly began to utilize. One of his first recordings can be viewed [http://www.jrdigs.com/showhistoryvids/backin89.html here] |
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As of spring 2008, ''JR DIGS Man with a Van'' has been airing nationally Saturday nights on Global TV and Sunday nights on E! with such guests as Dane Cook and Canadian rock band [[Mobile (band)|Mobile]]. |
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''JR DIGS Man with a Van'' follows JR Digs as he buys an old 1990 [[Ford Econoline]] van to drive out to [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] to the [[Gemini Awards]] for his nomination for Best Host in a Lifestyle Series. Unfortunately the van broke down on the way out there and he didn't end up winning his Gemini Nomination. But now with no budget, no crew and some [[JVC]] cameras, JR has found a use for this good old van by turning it into a talk show set on wheels. The van is a mobile studio that JR drives around Ontario and other parts of Canada, interviewing interesting (often bizarre) people and famous celebrities. He can just drive to meet the guest(s) wherever they happen to be. |
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Digs received a [[Gemini Award]] nomination for Best Host in a Lifestyle Series in 2006 for ''Be Real'', and ''Man with a Van'' was nominated for Best Talk Show in 2011.<ref name=gazillion/> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www. |
* [http://www.jrdigs.com/ JR Digs] |
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* [http://www.jrdigs.com/ JR Digs] - Official site, includes the show history. |
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* [http://www.berealtv.ca/ BeRealTV.ca] - official site of BeReal with JR DIGS |
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* [http://www.viewmag.com/viewstory.php?storyid=1641 JR DIGS: Flying Under The Radar... For Now] - article from [[Hamilton, Ontario]]'s ''View Magazine''. |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT: |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Digs, JR}} |
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[[Category:Canadian television talk |
[[Category:Canadian television talk show hosts]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Canadian male comedians]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Mass media people from Hamilton, Ontario]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:21st-century Canadian comedians]] |
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[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] |
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[[Category:Comedians from Ontario]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:48, 27 December 2023
J. R. Digs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Occupation(s) | Television personality, writer, producer |
| Years active | 2001-Present |
J.R. Digs is a Canadian television personality.[1] He is best known for his Gemini Award-nominated late night show JR Digs: Man with a Van,[2] which aired on Global from 2008 to 2014.[3]
Background
[edit]Digs, at the time a skateboard shop owner in Burlington, Ontario,[1] first launched The JR Digs Show on CHCH in 2001.[1] Originally a stunt comedy series based on Jackass, Digs purchased the airtime himself and solicited his own advertising and sponsorships to recover his costs.[4] In 2003, Global began airing the show, under the same production model.[4]
In 2006, Digs launched Be Real with JR Digs, a comedy series in which he tried to make a compelling reality show out of ordinary people partaking in everyday activities,[1] and In the Can with JR Digs, a show in which he acted as mentor to young aspiring filmmakers, for TVtropolis,[4] and Another Crappy Canadian Late Night Talk Show for CHCH.[3] In 2007, Digs launched What the Digs, a mash-up style show which consisted of Digs' previous shows reedited in a surreal manner. Following this, Digs created Late Night Television with JR Digs which ran for one season.
Man with a Van, in which Digs travelled around Canada in a van, was launched in 2008. The show was cancelled by Global in 2014.[3] During this time, Digs also created Bands from a Van, a spinoff of his Man with a Van show which focused on musicians. Digs would interview bands and have them perform - all inside his van.
Digs continues to organize an annual Christmas charity benefit show in Hamilton.[5] The 2015 show included Spencer Rice of Kenny vs. Spenny, Max Kerman of Arkells, Terra Lightfoot, Tom Wilson, Mike Trebilcock from Killjoys, Elliott Brood and The Trews,[5] while the 2016 show included Lightfoot, Kerman, Trebilcock and Wayne Petti of Cuff the Duke.[6] In 2017, the 9th annual Christmas charity show included appearances from Max Kerman, Tom Wilson, The Dirty Nil, and Monster Truck. The 2018 event is taking place on December 23, 2018 at New Vision United Church in Hamilton.
Awards and nominations
[edit]Digs received a Gemini Award nomination for Best Host in a Lifestyle Series in 2006 for Be Real, and Man with a Van was nominated for Best Talk Show in 2011.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "JR Digs's show may not be 'reality' TV, but it is real". Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 2006.
- ^ a b "Of the gazillion Gemini noms, here's a deserving one". The Globe and Mail, August 20, 2011.
- ^ a b c "JR Digs is parking the van". Hamilton Spectator, April 21, 2014.
- ^ a b c "One man's quest to be a somebody: JR Digs has spent 10 years and thousands of dollars on his dream of being a talk-show host". Toronto Star, September 4, 2011.
- ^ a b "Spenny of 'Kenny vs Spenny' announced for JR Digs Christmas show". CBC Hamilton, December 9, 2015.
- ^ "J.R. Digs ready to jingle his bells". Hamilton Spectator, December 16, 2016.