Go to main content

RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH AWARD-WINNING COMEDIAN RON JAMES IN HIS LATEST CBC SPECIAL, RON JAMES: TRUE NORTH

Friday, December 30 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC

Look back and laugh at the year that was on Friday, December 30 at 9 p.m. (9:30 p.m. NT) with award-winning comedian Ron James in his ninth one-hour comedy special, RON JAMES: TRUE NORTH, filmed in one of James’ favourite towns, Kingston, Ontario. An encore broadcast of the much-anticipated special will air on Sunday, January 1 at 9 p.m. (9:30 p.m. NT) on CBC.

TRUE NORTH finds Ron James and his poetically charged brand of funny searching for slivers of sanity in a year so categorically ‘cuckoo’ that he watched dumbstruck as just about every nation on earth but Canada went “to hell in a hand cart.”  James sends up Britain and their ‘Brexit’ decision and also shares his comedically-candid views on the results of the US presidential election.

As Canada approaches its ‘sesquicentennial,’ James examines why the country’s international reputation has never been more stellar with particular focus on Mr. Sunny Ways himself, Justin Trudeau.

Looking at the year in review, James weighs in on an eclectic tableau of subjects from the legalization of marijuana to Pokemon Go; ridiculous bathroom laws in North Carolina to indigenous water rights; the Rio Olympics as well as the role certain figures in Canadian history have played in forging Canada’s national identity.

James also addresses what he considers the ‘elephant in the room’ for 2016 – the ascension of Donald Trump to the most powerful office in the world – sparing no mercy as only Ron James can.

Ultimately, TRUE NORTH is a rollicking, impassioned and sometimes ribald celebration of Canada at its 150th year.

CBC: cbc.ca/mediacentre
Facebook: facebook.com/RonJamesComedy
Twitter: @theronjamesshow
Instagram: @ronjamescomedy

-30-

For further information, interviews or a screener:
Jill Spitz, Publicist (416) 482-1370 [email protected]
Simon Bassett, Publicist, CBC (416) 205-8533 [email protected]

Discover

3 hours ago

The Tragically Hip to release live album and CBC to air The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration Concert in full

Relive the night Canada stood still for the live broadcast of The Tragically Hip’s 2016 Man Machine Poem Kingston show, re-broadcasting and streaming commercial-free on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 7 p.m. local time on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio and CBC Music’s YouTube page.
May 4th at 11:05

Son of a Critch Gets Ready to Graduate as Cameras Roll on the Final Season of the Coming-of-Age Comedy

As production begins on Season 5 of Son of a Critch (12x30), co-creator, executive producer and star Mark Critch announced today that the upcoming season will be the series’ last.
April 23rd at 11:29

CBC and BBC Northern Ireland Greenlight New Romantic Comedy Series Committed, Starring Dustin Milligan and Diona Doherty

CBC and BBC Northern Ireland today announced the greenlight of new original comedy series Committed (10x30), starring Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek, Hot Frosty) and Diona Doherty (Derry Girls, Blue Lights).
April 21st at 10:40

New to CBC Gem in May 2026

Highlights of programs new to CBC Gem this May include the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, hosted by Andrew Phung on May 31; the Asian Heritage Month Collection featuring documentary series Our Ocean Table (May 1) with journalist Hannah Sung and marine biologist and filmmaker Sonya Lee; and new CBC Kids original series Tralala (May 19), following the musical adventures of a seven-year-old frog and her dad. 
April 14th at 5:55

CBC Launches New Spring/Summer 2026 Podcast Slate

CBC, the #1 Canadian podcaster, is launching a new spring/summer slate of original podcasts, including in-depth investigations, candid personal revelations, and lighthearted comedy.