10 Things Fans Didn’t Know About Letterkenny

The unmistakably Canadian YouTube series turned critically-acclaimed sitcom Letterkenny is a show all it’s own. With its rapid-fire wit, unique sense of humor, and an entirely lovable cast of characters, Letterkenny exploded onto the scene to become one of Canada’s most beloved shows.

Here are ten things fans didn’t know about the smash hit TV show Letterkenny.

10 Brainchild Of Jared Keeso

Lead actor Jared Keeso, who plays Wayne, originally came up with the concept for Letterkenny. Taking inspiration from the culture and the people of his hometown, Jared conceived the idea of comedy based around life in a small Ontario town that would be relatable to all the hicks, skids, and hockey players from similar roots to his own.

9 Based On Listowel, Ontario

And the town that inspired Jared to bring attention to this setting is lovely Listowel. Smack-dab in the middle of southern Ontario and two hours west of Toronto, Listowel has a population of 7,500 and is about par for the course for what you’ll find in every southern Ontario community it’s size; hockey teams, a sizable St. Patrick’s day festival, and a strong sense of community.

8 Filmed In & Around Sudbury, Ontario

In order to keep the setting authentic, the crew opted to film the show in and around an Ontario town much like the one Letterkenny is based on.

And they found their authentic setting in Sudbury, Ontario. Four hours north of Toronto (sorry again, Ontarians), Sudbury is a large enough city to provide enough unique filming locations demanded by the show and the infrastructure necessary for regular filming, all while keeping a small-town vibe. Sudbury has also served as a filming location for dozens of Canadian shows and movies, and was even used in the first live-action X-Men movie.

7 Jacob Tierney Directs

Who knew Pastor Glen would be a talented director? Jacob Tierney developed the series along with Jared Keeso, writes most of the episodes with Jared, and has directed every single episode of Letterkenny so far.

He’s been in the Canadian film industry for years, even earning a couple Beavers (no joke, that’s the official name of the Canadian Comedy Awards) for writing and directing his feature film The Trotsky, and he won three more with Letterkenny.

6 K. Trevor Wilson’s Stand-Up Career

Squirrely Dan himself, K. Trevor Wilson is known less for acting, more for his stand-up career. As a child he appeared on the Goosebumps! television series, he’s seen success lately in his comedy tenure, performing at the Just For Laughs festival, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel, and his latest album Sorry! (A Canadian Album) reaching the top of iTunes charts. Fans love him as Squirrely Dan, and he couldn’t be a more perfect casting. And that’s what we appreciates about hims.

5 Episodes Written By Jonathan Torrens

While most of the series is written by Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney, they have occasionally left writing duties to others, including former Trailer Park Boys’ actor and talk show host Jonathan Torrens. He lent his comedic hand to writing some of the series’ most memorable episodes, including “Dyck’s Slip Out”, “Les Hiques”, “A Great Day For Thunder Bay”, and season 5 finale “Bock Et Biche.”

He also made recurring appearances as local Mennonite farmer Noah Dyck, watching over his modest clan of Dycks. And yes, that joke was completely necessary.

4 Puppers Lager

And why wouldn’t the beloved show have it’s own signature beer? The creators of Letterkenny teamed up with Sudbury’s own Stack Brewery to create Puppers Lager, Letterkenny’s official beer. Puppers serves as a marketing tool, and an on-screen prop, and a genuinely good microbrew. How many other shows can you name that have it’s own beer?

3 Letterkenny Live!

With a brand of comedy so unique, the makers of the show felt the need to take it further than just on-screen, and took the show on the road. Literally. The cast and crew compiled a series of skits, jokes, and stand-up sets that were better suited for a live setting, creating Letterkenny Live!, and touring across Canada. While much of the 2020 tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Letterkenny crew is still planning to bring the live show back in the future.

2 Littlekenny

Letterkenny’s first official spin-off, written and directed solely by Jared Keeso, is an animated tale of how the characters got to know each other as children. It flawlessly translates the show’s humor into a more child-centered (but definitely not child-friendly) setting. Featuring Jared, K. Trevor Wilson and Nathan Dales reprising their roles as the child Wayne, Dan, and Dale, it’s a lighthearted take on life as a child in Letterkenny.

1 Features Canadian Music

Jared Keeso takes great care in picking the music for the show, and as often as possible he uses music from independent Canadian artists. Fans of the show will recognize many of the unforgettable music used in the show, including “Okay Okay” by Girlfriend Material, “Pressure” by Milk & Bone, “Fuck The Pain Away” by Peaches, “Fineshrine” by Purity Ring, “Un Musicien Parmi Tant D’Autres” by Harmonium, and many more.