While I haven't always been a viewer of them, there are some Canadian shows that have caught my attention over the years. Now George Stroumboulopoulos is tracking the movies and TV programs that have made the biggest impressions on Great White North viewers, in a series called "The Stories That Made Us."

It starts October 30th on CBC Gem and will be available for free. No word on whether it will be shown on the Corp.'s over-the-air network as well. Here's the description from the site:

"George Stroumboulopoulos embarks on a cross-Canada road trip in this 60-minute documentary, uncovering the films and TV shows that helped shape our national identity. Featuring a wide range of guests including Tantoo Cardinal, Ryan Reynolds and Jay Baruchel, Stories That Made Us traces the screen moments Canadians grew up with and asks what they reveal about who we are."

I may not always be a fan of Canadian TV output, but I've always been fascinated by shows about the inner workings of the medium. This sounds like it's at least worth sampling. 

Also on the Gem agenda is a show I definitely will like. The Corp. has bought the entire 6 seasons of NBC's "Community," an absolutely surreal and hilarious show about life at a community college, starring Joel McHale, Donald Glover and Chevy Chase. I absolutely loved this show in the too short a time it was on, and it appears the package the CBC bought includes the online only episodes that were on Crackle for a year. 

Can't wait to see this one again. Some of the episodes were absolute classics, including my favourite, where the simple roll of some dice created a myriad number of realities for the characters in a half hour you have to see to believe. 

GEM October schedule