Ron James strikes comedy gold in Niagara-on-the-Lake with season two of “1 Man’s Treasure.”
Set to release in the spring of 2024, James and his crew began filming in Niagara in early October.
“Last year I had to carry the entire series myself, save for a couple of guest spots from people who live in Nova Scotia,” James told The Lake Report.
The show “1 Man’s Treasure” stars James as himself, a long-time comedian, who gives up his life of making people laugh on stage in search of a long-lost treasure.
“The main premise of the show is that I’m Ron James – the comedian that everyone knows – and I’ve hit the wall of midlife while being on the road. It’s tiring and exhausting and I’ve caught the treasure hunting bug,” he said.
Moving film production to southern Ontario for the second season opened up the doors to a wider talent pool and more opportunity, he said.
With a background in history too, Niagara proved the perfect place for James to explore.
“So I’m looking for what I believe is a legend that has some legs: the Golden Grail of Niagara. Two British soldiers deserted in 1813, stole the gold, buried it, were caught and before they were hanged gave out some clues about it,” James said.
When it comes to filming in the region, NOTL is important to the season’s main storyline.
“This treasure is unique to the War of 1812 and the Niagara Region so we couldn’t shoot it anywhere else,” James said.
While in town, James and the crew filmed around the area of Fort George and at Brock’s Monument, but one stop in particular stands out to him.
“The Angel Inn, I think that was the best meatloaf I’ve ever had in Canada and I’ve been travelling the country for 25 years,” he said.
Food aside, the beauty of NOTL caught his eye while filming.
“The view from Brock’s Monument is absolutely spectacular. I mean, it’s got to be one of the best views in Canada,” he said.
James added his admiration for the Niagara Parks Commission and all the work they have done at both preserving history and honouring Indigenous people in Canada.
Viewers can look forward to an excellent second season of the mini-series, featuring laughs and a good dose of history, James said, thanks to the help of a dedicated team including writer Thomas Conway, executive producer Lynn Harvey and director Mike Sycora.
“We’re able to be funny in the way that we want to be funny. Networks — sometimes in their efforts to please all the chefs in the kitchen, some spirit is gone from the funny,” James said.
Instead, James said, their spirit has not been reigned in: he compared the show to American comedy shows such as “Veep” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Season two of “1 Man’s Treasure” will be available to stream on Fibe TV in spring of 2024.
