For the eighth time since the TV series Letterkenny went on air, die-hard fans of the Canadian comedy will be tuning in to the program on Christmas Day.
But, for this Dec. 25, the broadcast will be bittersweet as Season 12 is the last round to see the sitcom that features Coquitlam-raised Tyler Johnston, a Pinetree Secondary School graduate who has portrayed the skid leader Stewart since 2016.
Speaking from Toronto on Tuesday, Dec. 19, Johnston told the Tri-City News it’s been difficult to say goodbye to the eccentric character he’s played for so long.
"I could have done this show forever," Johnston said. "We had a lot of fun making it and I would have been happy doing it until the wheels fell off."
Johnston wasn’t able to reveal what happens in Season 12; however, he said the producers did a good job to bring back some of the fun themes.
"I think the fans are going to be very happy with these final six episodes," Johnston said, adding, "Stewart gets another chance to redeem himself."
The actor said he couldn’t keep Stewart’s signature outfit — the bowler hat, wig, overalls and jewelry — as they’re in storage should Letterkenny be revived.
But he did get a souvenir yearbook on the last day of filming in September 2022, a memento that was signed by his fellow castmates, crew and production staff.
"It was so emotional, just like high school," he recalled.
And last night, after a long day of press interviews to promote Season 12, Johnston met them for dinner followed by a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game.
Johnston, who has been in the industry for more than 20 years, said he’s pleased about the body of work he created on the Sudbury, Ont.-filmed series.
"A lot of time, we are facilitating American productions, so Vancouver is looking like Seattle and Toronto is looking like New York. For us to be able to do a purely Canadian show with our colourful Canadian money and silly Canadianisms and jokes, it’s something I’m incredibly proud of."
"I’ve always wanted to remain in Canada and continue my career here," he added.
"Hopefully, this show will allow more Canadian performers and writers and directors to stay in this wonderful country of ours and make quality shows like Letterkenny."
Still, Johnston won’t be in the country when the final season airs as he and his father, a Coquitlam resident, will be in Sweden for two weeks to catch the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
As for his next steps, Johnston hopes to produce a book that he has the rights for filming: Aaron Chapman’s The Last Gang in Town: The Epic Story of the Vancouver Police vs. the Clark Park Gang.
Johnston said he may also be in the audience when Letterkenny Presents: A Night of Stand-up comes to the Great Canadian Casino Vancouver in Coquitlam on March 22, 2024.
The last season of Letterkenny drops on the Bell Media streaming platform Crave on Monday, Dec. 25.
