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Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2006 33 Newest role is `every guy's dream' Gemini-nominated Oakville actor has written his own dream role By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The slogan for Christian Potenza's latest project says it all: `Boys become men. But some men will always be boys.' The Oakville actor and his Phodeo Productions team have created a show that represents what he calls "every guy's dream," and it's currently in the works with CTV. It's about a group of irresponsible 30-somethings who strike it rich off videogames. "It's Animal House meets Silver Spoons meets Jack Ass," said Potenza, 33. "It's a total guy fantasy." The show has a name ­ and it's funny ­ but it won't be public until development is further along with CTV. They're hoping to start shooting next summer or fall, and Potenza is slated to play the lead role. "The lead character represents every guy's dream, because why can't you have it all? He does," said Potenza, smiling. "He has what most guys want. He's got the perfect job, he makes a lot of money, and most importantly, he's having a great time doing it. "His world involves being a kid. He's 34 years old and completely irresponsible." The Phodeo team, which is working on the project with production company Smith and Smith, came up with outlines for six episodes and showed those to CTV. Usually, one is selected for a pilot. CTV chose all six. "It's going to be very funny, and we're really excited about it. So is CTV and the Comedy Network," said Potenza. "It's such a treat to work on something like this because we have the best time writing this show. It's all about the jack-ass shenanigans that make being a guy, a guy." After breaking into acting a decade ago, Potenza, who has a number of TV and movie credits under his belt, became known as `That guy' in TV commercials endorsing everything from Tostitos and beer to Halls lozenges LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER READY TO SHOOT (HIS SHOW): Gemini-nominated actor Christian Potenza has written a show that's under development with CTV about a group of irresponsible guys in their 30s who strike it rich off videogames. As the 33-year-old actor says, "It's a total guy fantasy." and mouth wash. Most recently, he played "the drunk guy with the fat kid on the team," Doug, in CBC's The Tournament, a show about crazy Canadian hockey parents. It earned the cast a second Gemini nomination for as many years, but was cancelled after last season. After he heard The Tournament was cancelled, Potenza says, "I just decided that I was going to go back on TV. And I wasn't going to get dressed up in a yellow tooth brush costume to do it," he added, referring to his stint as a giant, gingivitis-fighting toothbrush in Listerine commercials. "I basically wrote a show for myself, about myself. That's the only way to do it in this country." After pitching a few ideas, CTV told Potenza and his Phodeo team ­ Mark Coster, Millan CurrySharples and Jess Van der Schaaf ­ that they were looking for a show to strike a chord with the 18-34 year-old male audience, and an idea came up right away. "We went and brainstormed for five minutes at Jack Astor's," said Potenza. "We were thinking, what do guys like? And I said, guys like to play videogames." And that was that. A week and a half later, CTV signed the idea for development. With a new show in the works, a role in a movie that recently premiered, a Gemini nomination for ing it." In his third season as the voice of Jude in Teletoon's top ranked show, 6Teen, Potenza is also doing voice work for a new cartoon called Total Drama Island. "It's an animated version of survivor for kids," he said. "The best part is, I'm the host, so at least I know I've got a job. I can't get voted off." He also recently attended the premiere of Run Robot Run at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Potenza plays "the funny guy," Garth, in the Canadian-made movie. "The premiere went very well. We had a full house," said Potenza, who was sporting a Run Robot Run t-shirt he had made especially for last month's opening. Potenza is headed to Vancouver again today for the Geminis, which will be announced tomorrow. "Whether The Tournament wins or not, it doesn't matter because it's just an honour and a privilege to be nominated, especially twice," he said. "It was the little show that could. We did a good job, even though we were cancelled." Potenza calls his role as Doug "a gift as an actor." "We were given so much room for creativity. Being able to flesh out my own character instead of being handed it, that was a gift." Even though, he says, "everything was cold, dark and in French" because they were shooting in freezing cold hockey rinks in Montreal in the middle of the night. "Never in my career, and probably never again in my career, have I worked on a show like that. It was a great time." The cast is up against Royal Canadian Air Farce, Corner Gas, The Red Green Show and This Hour has 22 Minutes for Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series. Potenza has an idea The Tournament might just win it this year. "It's the Canadian curse," he said, smiling. "All the shows that get cancelled win Geminis." -- Krissie Rutherford can be reached at krutherford@oakvillebeaver.com "I basically wrote a show for myself, about myself. That's the only way to do it in this country." Actor Christian Potenza commenting on his new show in development for CTV The Tournament ­ the cast will find out tomorrow if they won ­ and voice work as regular characters in two different cartoons, Potenza will still tell you he hasn't `made it' in showbiz. "I'm Canadian," he said, smiling. "But really, there's no job security. Not that there is anywhere. But I feel like the photographer trying to get that perfect picture of a sunset. I'll just keep chas-