User Reviews

I love this show! I didn't discover it until last year (which was its fourth season) but I am a card carrying fan, now. Jonny Harris, a b'y from Newfoundland with a corny sense of humour visits small towns all over Canada, and introduces us to their zest for life that defies hard times and celebrates good times. He combines stand-up and light-hearted interviews and leads us all to laugh at ourselves. If you want to know what is at the heart of a Canadian, this show is for you. I give this series an 8 (great) out of 10 and encourage you to find it and watch it. {Comedy from Life}. Available on CBC Gem, a free streaming service.

Found this on Amazon in the UK, a thoroughly enjoyable and nice reality TV show.

Many reviews have mentioned this, and I have to agree that it makes you want to travel across Canada and visit all of these small towns. Charming show.

This show is brilliant. I see people rate it either 10/10 or 1/10. nothing in between. Seems odd to me. Great insight into small town Canada. I learn so much about my country and its history. All with a great sense of Newfie humour. Excellent.

Every time I watch this show I learn something new about the small towns struggling to survive across Canada and I walk away with a smile. Somewhat corny and the corn often fits the scenerio Harris is trying to create. If you are looking for cynical sophisicated comedy this is not your show. If you are looking for stories about real people living in real towns this just might be perfect.

Jonny does an awesome job showing off small town Canada with humor, grace and a bit of sass along the way. A magical mix of history, often tragedy or catastrophe, and the power of the human spirit...comedian Jonny Harris (whom we LOVE from Murdoch Mysteries) shows what the strength of community and the power of laughter can do to turn the fortunes of hard-up and often forgotten small towns and villages around. The townsfolk are characterful, the locations are often breathtaking (we started a bucket list of places to visit) and Jonny is a hoot! That man will give anything a try...from trick riding to gymnastics and bull riding to belly dancing. And his stand up routine is hilarious while still showcasing the town in the best possible way. Go on Jonny!

I binge watched this show recently, thanks to Amazon.

20 minute episodes -- each a jewel. It becomes addictive. I couldn't stop watching them: "Just one more, please, sir!" There's not a single episode I didn't enjoy.

Firstly, just let me state that watching this made me realize that I don't smile much in my life, much less laugh. Life is hard. And it is often way too serious and unfunny. "SAD!" as the man who I shall not name says. But it is true, if pathetic.

In many ways and forms, this show deals with serious and very scary subjects: the loss of small towns, and small town life, across Canada and (if I may add) the United States. Due to economic, social, civil and other pressures, these tiny little places are disappearing and as we are informed (over and over again) this is not a good thing. It is not good for the people who live in these towns, and it very likely is not good for our society as a whole. In the process other topics such as racism, gender inequality, and slavery are touched upon. It's not like being hit on the head, but there is an undercurrent of morality in these shows, and it is good. Very good.

The show is informative and in each episode there is some history to be discovered. You learn things and that is always good as well. It is too tempting to live in our little caves, knowing only what we want to know and seeing only what we want to see.

But what really shines out brightly in this show are all the people living in these small towns. The people we meet thanks to the wonderful, marvelous, funny (not in a mean way but funny in a safe way, thank goodness) Jonny Harris.

Jonny Harris is a national treasure and in fact, after careful consideration, may be the most wonderful man on the planet. He is sweet in the true sense of the word: kind, funny, caring, charming, charismatic. He seems self-effacing and humble. His presence doesn't overwhelm you in this show. He treads lightly and lets others talk while he listens. Maybe this sweetness is his shtick as a stand-up comedian, but I want desperately to believe he is as he comes across.

I want to hit again on something I wrote earlier -- this is not mean, insulting and nasty comedy. I am so tired of people being mean to each other. You see it in a lot of current comedies and I do not find it funny at all. In fact, I don't tolerate it. Jonny Harris does not, I think, have a mean bone in his body. While his humor can be a bit cutting, it is clearly based in love and respect.

Jonny is also very generous, and he gives over much of each episode to other people... some of these people are funny, some of them are grumpy. They are old and young, smart, eloquent and often very, very thoughtful. They can be quirky. Some are artists. Some are hunters Some are entrepreneurs. They all are survivors. They are people caught in a vice of Change (Change with a capital C). Their way of life is disappearing and sadly, as most of them seem to understand all too well, that's pretty much set in stone. You can't fight progress. We all know that to be true.

We get to meet some amazing characters and it gives me hope that people like that still exist. They are living their lives as best they can, and we are able to share just a tiny bit of it with them as we watch Jonny talk (and listen).

The real reason to watch this, though, is Jonny Harris. He is simply brilliant. I first noticed him in the Murdoch Mysteries. What a wonderful piece of casting! I think he started out as comic relief but he is now an integral part of that series. What a joy it has been to discover this side of him. People are just so talented, aren't they? He does stand-up. He obviously can act. He plays musical instruments. He sings. He dances.

We're lucky to have him and this show. Watch it if you need to laugh.

As a final note, I find myself wondering about these towns we visit and the people we meet. Here it is, four years later and I can't help but be curious. How are they doing? Are things better or worse? Does optimism still thrive? Are they still smiling? I sincerely hope they are doing okay.

People are sweet, scenery is beautiful, Johnny Harris is funny without being vulgar or insulting and you learn a little something about each town. Refreshing show.

We are absolutely enjoying this brilliant comedy show that is educating us about townsfolk and their towns all across Canada. Jonny Harris, if you conceived this idea, my hats off to you. One of the best shows we have ever had the pleasure to watch. Please come to America and do the same sometime. Your ability to create empathetic humor from the stories and lives of these people is heartwarming, original and laugh out loud funny. Awesome! More! More! More!

Jonny Harris's new television series "Still Standing" is such a wonderful weekly piece of proud and true Canadiana from small towns across Canada that it will make a terrific Christmas gift for family members when the first season's DVD is released at a later date. Jonny drops into various small towns across the great Canadian provinces that have population sizes somewhere between 100 and up to 2,000 and he spends a week or so talking to the various towns people about what makes their own small Canadian town so special.

From the stories he hears from the residents about their towns long history, their lifestyles and their jobs and about their friends in these small towns during his stay Johnny then invites the whole town to a comedy show at the local town hall where he reiterates the stories he has heard from the towns folk about their hardships and work ethic.

But Jonny tells the towns stories with an insightful and humorous personal touch that not only has the entire town laughing in stitches about themselves, but Jonny Harris also has that unique ability to deliver his lines in such a manner that he has his entire television audience laughing heartily as well. His natural smile and quick wit will light up your inner child. The townsfolk willingly open up and tell Jonny why they choose to stay in small towns across Canada because Jonny is so warm, trustworthy and darned if he isn't the friendliest guy you will ever meet having come from a small town in Newfoundland himself. With tongue in cheek Jonny's jokes about the town make us the audience want to just get on a plane to support the town, the country Canada and its proud people.

CBC should be praised for producing such a down to earth family focused television series about small town Canada and to have chosen the perfect host as Newfoundland's Jonny Harris. It is so refreshing to see a family oriented television show that combines comedy and proud Canadians and their heritage. If you do catch this show and enjoy Jonny Harris he can also be seen as a regular on the CBC crime show Murdoch Mysteries circa 1900 as the witty and charming Constable George Crabtree of the Toronto Constabulary. Another great CBC series.

I give the series STILL STANDING and CBC productions a perfect 10 out of 10.

If you're not Canadian, you probably won't enjoy this series, or at least not understand it so well. If you are a city boy or girl, you probably won't enjoy this series, or at least not understand it so well. And, if you think this is strictly some type of comedy show, it will be the same for you! This show is not about the comedy, but it is about seeing some pretty cool, unknown and interesting places in Canada, the struggle they may have had and what they are trying to do about it. It is about travelling through our great and scenic country and learning a bit more about these places, and that Canada does exist beyond the 3 major cities and the smaller ones. The comedy by Jonny Harris is not so bad, and you can see the town folk who understand where he is coming from, they quite enjoy it and that he is helping to put them back on the map. If you still don't get it, then go back to watching your lame American reality shows!

... so I just had to comment. I personally find this comedian lol funny, so when I saw scores of 1/10, I was truly surprised. I suppose, like many other things, humour is subjective. Perhaps the demographic is key ... a 20 yr old may find the humour not to be worthy of even a smile, whereas a 35-and-up crowd will probably enjoy the Canadiana-brand of humour. .. I certainly did!

The host of this show seems harmless. He's the guy from Murdoch Mysteries (the Newfoundlander policeman) and CBC has brought him over to host this show too.

In the show he goes to a small town, meets some of the people and then does a stand-up comedy show for them with shots of them all laughing their heads off.

The problem is this show is not actually funny and I'm sure to these people he really is a cut-up and the jokes (about them and their town) are super hilarious to them but to everyone else it's just basic inside jokes.

Plus the obligatory jokes about Ottawa and how the Toronto Maple Leafs suck and all the other basic jokes we've all heard a million times before. Nothing special here.

The people all seem nice and CBC is definitely following its mandate to show different people in different parts of the country but I wish they would also have a mandate to actually give us funny jokes. After years of lame shows like Air Farce they seem to just be continuing their efforts to make unfunny throwaway garbage like this. Whatever happened to actually trying to make funny shows, like Kids in the Hall?

After watching each show you want to go and visit that small community. These are towns across Canada that were in their heyday at one time and things changed due to various reasons. His research into the town and its history, along with awesome local stories from old time residents, and those residents that are important to the town, is extremely interesting. Jonny's humour and his relating of the town's history and stories not only picks up the spirit of the town and its people but educates fellow Canadians about the rich history and human capital that these communities hold. Those that give Still Standing a low rating obviously are not interested in our history, our culture, or the Canadian humour that sometimes only most Canadians can understand. I can't wait until the end of June when Season 3 starts!

Jonny Harris deserves the Order of Canada. A true Canadian, heart and soul.

I found this winter SO long waiting for "Still Standing" to start again. I watched it all last season. I watch Murdock Mystery's and find I like all the actor's in it but I would look extra special for Jonny's thoughtful insights in the cases. So when I heard he was doing a CBC special last year I checked it off on my calendar.

Jonny has this knack of drawing you in and listening to what he's going to say because with his deer-eyed look you think he will say something really smart and then catch you with a joke so you belly laugh and learn about these great small towns.

I want to visit them all, I feel like they are all my friends and if I would show up and say, "I saw you all on "Still Standing" they would greet me like family that's the impression Jonny Harris leaves you with. I love to travel and if I could afford to put enough gas in my car I'd follow right behind him.

An interesting journey across small town Canada featuring interesting people, places and local history hosted by a folksy comedian. Each feel-good episode leaves you wanting more. Highly recommended.

Very good, interesting show. I really appreciate the wonderful way Mr. Harris portrays the small towns and people opposed to how rural people and towns are portrayed. And, yes, the show is also very funny.

Jonny Harris hosts a nice, small, low-key and quite humorous program. The show, STILL STANDING, has Mr. Harris traveling about Canada and finding small, nearly forgotten due to progress, towns. He meets, greets (and gently ribs) the people as he explores the history of the towns. STILL STANDING is both genuinely funny and informative.

I guess you have to have interest in landscapes, unusual towns, people, and the way things used to be in those towns. I find Johnny caring and funny. Almost like a Mike Rowe of Canada. I cannot understand the negative reviews, but maybe you have to be in the mood to find the good in people to watch this show.

I just love seeing the beauty of Canada. Being from the Midwest of the US, we live in a beautiful area like many that are featured. I have appreciation for those towns that stood still. I like seeing parts of our world that haven't been ruined by commercialism. It's sad to hear about farmers and other occupations that are losing the culture and livelihood. Johnny tries to bring to light and make a lighter note and positive spin on what could be perceived as hard times.

The mixture of the interviews, the scenery, and the stand up comedy is outstanding.

I don't know what the CBC's fascination with east coaster "comedians" over the years, and even worse the just generally bad "dad jokes" that are common in their comedy programs, but it takes me a lot of effort just to get through most of their programs like this. Maybe other people (and by that I think I mean older people) watching CBC really love this kind of show and have been demanding it for years and years, but I just can't stand it.

We've already been stuck with (and paying for, through tax dollars, as the CBC is a publicly funded institution) Royal Canadian Air Farce, about 25 years of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Ron James Show... the list goes on and on... Do we really need more jokes about donuts, and how cold it can get here, and how we like to drink beer, and how the Toronto Maple Leafs haven't won a championship in years and years and years?

Please give it a rest and give us something new, CBC, because this show is not funny at all. It is just retreads of the same jokes we've all heard a million times before.

I wasn't planning on writing a review - until I started reading what folks had to say about this show. I am a proud Canadian, but living in the US. I grew up with bad TV (sorry CBC) so I was pleasantly surprised watching Jonny Harris from Murdoch Mysteries fame, visiting small Canadian towns/hamlets that have risen from the ashes by reinventing themselves. Jonny's brand of stand-up, in my opinion, is more about pulling together the pieces of his visit and what he has learned about the townspeople he has interacted with, with a bit of humour. It isn't meant to poke fun at his audience but to show them they can laugh at themselves in spite of what they've gone through and have survived.

The places he has visited has already inspired me to start a bucket list of places I want to visit once this pandemic is over. There are so many beautiful places in Canada that many of us didn't know about if it wasn't for Jonny Harris. There is so much rich Native culture and culture which was brought over generations ago that this series celebrates.

Would something like this work in the US, especially right now? They could use it, but I don't know if it would work.

This series is incredibly sweet. I tuned in as a fan of Murdoch Mysteries. But, I so enjoyed learning about life in small town Canada. It was positive and sweet and funny. Such a fantastic way to produce a documentary type series. I am it is clear the love Jonny has for these towns and this is such a fantastic body of work.

Jonny does a terrific job in the realm of - get this - reality TV. His witty style and personable character makes this program fun and easy to watch. It's family safe, hilarious, and I hope he continues this for a long, long, time.

There isn't much on TV better than this!