Press

Wheatgrass, not beers…Cheers!
Something new is shakin' at APTN as
Health Nutz goes into production, August 11-14

VANCOUVER –  Métis culture, yoga and juice shake it up in the spirited new comedy, Health Nutz, as the pilot goes into production for APTN, Aug 11 -14 in Vancouver.

When an accidental injury forced Buzz Riel Jr. (KEVIN LORING) to retire from a career in professional hockey at the age of twenty-two, his life took a downward spiral.  More than a decade later, after squandering away his insurance money, the jobless, alcoholic gambler, Buzz Jr. discovers he has inherited everything from his estranged father, Buzz Sr. (PAUL STANLEY) including the successful Health Nutz Juice Bar and the patent to a lucrative energy drink, Buzz Berry Juice (not to mention his RV).

There's only one condition—Jr. has to get and stay sober. 

Now it's up to Buzz Jr. to run a business he knows nothing about, surrounded by his father's health nut and yogi friends, Native community members and the eccentric clientele of the Health Nutz Juice Bar. Think of Cheers with wheatgrass instead of beers.  

Working as a juice bartender in Toronto several years ago, series creator, Jason Friesen, had first-hand experience with natural health industry employees and clientele.

“Characters who came to the juice bar looking for a quick fix kept coming back for more then just a glass of juice or a bottle of vitamins. They came back for the sense of community the little juice bar offered,” says Friesen. “Sharing personal fears and hopes brought out their unique personalities and idiosyncrasies which is what inspired me to write Health Nutz.”

Included in the cast are: Lucie Guest, Ali Liebert, Chris Gauthier, Chad Krowchuk, Chief Byron-Moon, David Hamilton Lyle, Cyler Point, Sam Bob and Jim Shield, Ken Lawson, and Laura Mennell.

Health Nutz was written and created by Jason Friesen, and is produced by Dasha Dana Novak and Jason Friesen. The pilot is directed by Tony Dean Smith, and DOP is Pieter Stathis. Line producer is Larisa Andrews with production coordination by Lori Lozinski.

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