Barenaked in Labrador

Reality TV lands Barenaked Ladies guitarist in Labrador

Wednesday, July 26, 2006
www.cbc.ca

Ed Robertson of the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies will be in Labrador this week to record several episodes of a reality TV show that will debut this fall on the Outdoor Life Network.

The show, Ed's Up, will follow the adventures of singer-guitarist Robertson as he travels to rural parts of Canada to work at unusual jobs.

So far, Robertson has changed railroad ties in northern Ontario and worked as a ranch hand in Alberta.

Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies will be working at a sawmill and building a bridge in Labrador for his reality TV show.
In Labrador, Robertson will experience two jobs. First, he will work at a sawmill in the small community of Northwest River. Then, he will help to build a bridge across the Churchill River.
Ed's Up producer Craig Fleming said that although the show focuses on unusual jobs, nothing is fictionalized.

"We're not inventing jobs, or cheating, or faking anything," said Fleming.

"These are jobs that real people really do across Canada and we want to see Ed do them."

Fleming said that working on the show has been exciting for everyone involved, including Robertson.

"He is a real Canadian in love with Canada and, like all of us on this job, this is a dream come true," said Fleming.

"Going across Canada and meeting these people that do these real salt-of-the-earth jobs is really inspiring for all of us."

Labrador's inclusion in the show is welcome news to Leander Baikie, who works for the Central Labrador Economic Development Board.

He hopes the show's viewers will want to experience Labrador for themselves.

"In times of scarce resources for marketing and advertising our tourism initiatives of Labrador, this sort of becomes essentially free advertising for Labrador," said Baikie.

Ed's Up is expected to film 13 episodes this summer. It will premiere on the Outdoor Life Network this November.