TORONTO STAR: 
LIVING IN YOUR CAR REVS ENGINE AGAIN 

By Vinay Menon 

What else can possibly go wrong for Steve Unger? During the first season of HBO Canada’s Living in Your Car, the fallen CEO lost his company, his dignity, his home, his wife, his friends, his associates and his reputation. Unger was drifting through the fallout triggered by fraud, racketeering and obstruction of justice charges. 
A deal with prosecutors had freed him from prison. But the deal did nothing in the court of public opinion, where Unger seemed destined to serve a life sentence for being a scoundrel.
Created by the writing team of George F. Walker, Dani Romain and Joseph Kay, Living in Your Car returns for its second season on Monday at 8:30 p.m. And it returns against the real-life backdrop of the Occupy Wall Street movement, of ongoing stories about corporate greed and executives run amok. 
All of this gives the half-hour dramedy a certain resonance and grip on the zeitgeist. But once again, in the new season, the goal is to chortle instead of chastise.
“It’s a lighter take on things,” says actor John Ralston, who plays lead character Steve Unger. “We’re not exploring the dark rooms of Corporate Canada or Corporate America.”
As such, Ralston has managed to make Unger sympathetic and even likeable. Even when Unger is doing something reprehensible — stealing money from his teenage daughter Kate (Mariah Horner), tampering with mail during a short-lived career as a courier, pushing a former worm picker into the porn industry — he is at once cocksure but vulnerable, scheming but endearing.
“He’s kind of pathetic in many ways but we end up rooting for this guy to get back on top,” says Ralston. “There is kind of a child-like optimism that I think is really infectious.”
In the first season, which picked up 10 Gemini nominations, Unger left prison only to discover he was a pariah on the outside. Embarrassed and humiliated, his wife Lori (Ingrid Kavelaars) kicked him out of their stately home and changed the locks.
His lawyer Neil Stiles (Colin Cunningham) was too busy starring in a cable-access TV show to really give a damn about his friend’s predicament.
Even Unger’s parents wanted nothing to do with their son, shooing him into the night from their driveway and forcing him to take up residence in his last worldly possession, a luxury sedan.
Season 2 will wisely address the question viewers probably asked several times last year: “Why doesn’t this poor bastard just sell that Rolls-Royce Phantom and buy a condo or something?”
Shot on location in Hamilton and Toronto — in office buildings, street corners, golf courses, hospital rooms, school gyms, warehouses — the show is character-driven and punctuated by rapid-fire dialogue, a hallmark of Walker’s oeuvre.
Ralston, who read a number of times before getting the part, has collaborated with Walker before. He had a recurring role on This is Wonderland (CBC) and appeared in two of Walker’s plays from the acclaimed series, Suburban Motel.
“His characters occupy a world that, you know, they are really striving for something or the world is at a point where it’s going to crumble,” says Ralston, who was born in Chatham, N.B.
“I’ve never mentioned this to him. But I’m from the Maritimes and I’ve always thought, I don’t know how to put my finger on it, but there is kind of a Maritime tone and rhythm to his writing.”
David Steinberg also has great influence on the tone and rhythm of Living in Your Car. The legendary sitcom director was approached by HBO Canada and only came aboard after meeting with the writers.
“He knew exactly what he wanted to film,” says Ralston. “He’s so efficient, I guess from all those years of Mad About You, Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He would just let the camera run.”
As for the new season, Unger’s ongoing quest to clear his name and find the true fraudsters will, inevitably, lead to many misadventures, including selling knives on the street, crossing paths with Polish mobsters and getting mixed up with anarchists at a vegan restaurant.
“The hilarity doesn’t stop,” says Ralston, laughing at what’s to come. “This guy is on a journey.” © 2011 Torstar Corporation 

VANCOUVER SUN:
POSTMEDIA NEWS
By Alex Strachan
In TV, timing is everything. Living in Your Car, playwright George F. Walker’s breezy homegrown satire starring John Ralston as a downsized corporate executive, returns for a second season with the Occupy Wall Street protest ablaze in the headlines… [continue]

NATIONAL POST: 

GIVE ME A BRAKE
By Scott Stinson 

Speaking of cars …
… Steve Unger is no longer living in one, which means the title of Living in Your Car is also now a bit suspect. The HBO Canada comedy is back for Season 2, with corporate criminal Unger (John Ralston) under house arrest after he was framed for hiding money from his former company… [continue] 

TV GUIDE:
BACK SEAT ‘LIVING’
By Greg David 

When we last left Living in Your Car’s Steve Unger (John Ralston), the shamed corporate executive had everything in his life taken away, save for one thing. As the title of The Movie Network/Movie Central sitcom suggests, he was left his Rolls Royce, which served as his office and living quarters… [continue]

We are thrilled with the 10 Gemini Nominations that were received and wanted to say thanks to all of you. We are so proud of all the nominees but know that their success would never have been possible had it not been for the hard work of every single member of our wonderful team.

Good luck to all the nominees and a big congrats again to all.

Best,

Debbie Nightingale & The Nightingale Company

GEMINI NOMINATIONS — 2011

BEST COMEDY PROGRAM OR SERIES
Living in Your Car
TMN/ Movie Central (Astral) (The Nightingale Company, Walker/Romain) Debbie Nightingale, Dani Romain, David Steinberg, George F. Walker

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Living in Your Car — Chapter 12

TMN/ Movie Central (Astral) Michael Harris

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY IN A COMEDY PROGRAM OR SERIES

Living in Your Car — Chapter 1

TMN & Movie Central (Astral) Stephen Reizes

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CASTING

Living in Your Car — Chapter 2

TMN & Movie Central (Astral) Marsha Chesley

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A CONTINUING LEADING COMEDIC ROLE

Living in Your Car — Chapter 10

TMN & Movie Central (Astral) John Ralston

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED SUPPORTING ROLE OR GUEST ROLE IN A COMEDIC SERIES

Living in Your Car — Chapter 12

TMN & Movie Central (Astral) Joe Cobden

Living in Your Car — Chapter 13

TMN & Movie Central (Astral) Colin Cunningham

Living in Your Car — Chapter 9

TMN & Movie Central (Astral) Peter Donaldson

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED SUPPORTING ROLE OR GUEST ROLE IN A COMEDIC SERIES

Living in Your Car — Chapter 13

TMN & Movie Central (Astral) Ingrid Kavelaars

Living in Your Car — Chapter 12

TMN & Movie Central (Astral) Kathryn Winslow

We are excited to announce that Living In Your Car has recently been renewed for a second season.

With the unstable economy as a backdrop, Living In Your Car follows the winding karmic adventures of Steve Unger (John Ralston), a fallen corporate executive whose rule of the financial world comes to an abrupt halt when he is arrested and charged with fraud, obstruction and racketeering.

After cutting a deal to get out of prison, Steve quickly realizes his old life no longer exists: his former colleagues shun him, his wife and daughter don’t want to live with him, and even his own parents refuse to help him. As he clings desperately to the last vestige of his former self — a luxury sedan — Steve finds himself under court order to teach an ethics class, forbidden from working in any position that involves other people’s money, and making a new home for himself in his car.

The Nightingale Company is pleased to announce that Living In Your Car has been nominated for best drama or mini series in the Rose d’Or Festival held each year in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The Rose d’Or festival is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. Their goal has always been to reward originality, quality and creativity in entertainment programming, and to encourage excellence in television and new media . Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40 countries take part.

LIVING IN YOUR CAR chronicles the unpredictable, often hilarious and occasionally endearing riches to rags adventures of former corporate high flyer Steve Unger played by John Ralston (SOUTH OF THE MOON, LIFE WITH DEREK). Once viewed as the embodiment of success, Steve was caught cooking the books and is now legally forbidden from working in any position that involves other people’s money. Clinging desperately to the last vestige of his previous life—his luxury sedan—Steve hopes to begin anew. Shunned by family and friends and under a court order to teach an ethics class to other “fallen angels,” Steve now makes his home in his luxury sedan.
“Inspired by the Enron and Madoff scandals, LIVING IN YOUR CAR is a satirical look at financial misconduct with the help of some of the best writers and producers in Canadian television,” said John Pollak, Executive Vice President at Shine International. “This scripted series deals with universal themes of ethics, redemption and starting fresh, which should resonate with international buyers.” “This is a terrific fusion of talent with David directing the fresh, smart series created by George, Dani and Joseph. The essence of this story captures the zeitgeist of what’s going on in the financial world, at the same time as offering up a satisfying sense of ‘revenge’ catharsis,” said Debbie Nightingale, President of The Nightingale Company.
Shine International will debut the format and 13 episodes of the half-hour series at MIPTV. LIVING IN YOUR CAR is created and written by George F. Walker, Dani Romain, the duo behind the critically acclaimed series This is Wonderland, and the recent, thrilling cop drama The Line (The Movie Network/Movie Central) and Joseph Kay. Walker and Romain are also Executive Producers on this series along with David Steinberg and Debbie Nightingale. Joseph Kay and Alyson Richards will serves as Co-Producers. Courtney Jane Walker is also on the writing team. LIVING IN YOUR CAR is developed and produced with the financial participation of the Canadian Television Fund, Rogers Cable Fund, The Movie Network and Movie Central in association with BeActive.

About The Nightingale Company

The Nightingale Company is a Toronto-based television and interactive content production company launched by company president Debbie Nightingale in 2000. It is a busy boutique-style firm that focuses on scripted entertainment of all genres. Recent credits include: The Line (Television Series), The Last New Year (feature film), Do You Believe Me (Online interactive teen series), Chicks With Sticks (MOW), Mob Princess (MOW), Get Outta Town, ZIXX: Levels One, Two & Three (Tween Series), and Lipstick & Dynamite, (feature documentary).

About Shine International

Shine International is the sales and distribution arm of the Shine Group, a leading independent production and distribution company focused on exploiting worldwide intellectual property rights through scripted and alternative television formats. Shine International distributes programming from the growing library of programming of the Shine Group, including Reveille, Kudos, Dragonfly, Princess Productions and Metronome, along with a broad array of programming acquired from independent producers and U.S. networks, to more than 150 countries worldwide.

TORONTO — John Ralston, Ingrid Kavelaars and Colin Cunningham are to top-line the Canadian pay TV sitcom “Living In Your Car,” executive produced and directed by David Steinberg (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) for indie producer The Nightingale Co.

The 13-part comedy, created and written by George F. Walker, Joseph Kay and Dani Romain, is shooting in Toronto and nearby Hamilton to Nov. 24 and will bow on Canada pay TV networks Movie Central and the Movie Network in 2010.

The Canadian comedy portrays Ralston in the lead role of Steve Unger, a fallen corporate executive-turned-grifter who clings to his lost empire by making his home in a luxury sedan. Kavelaars plays Lori Unger, while Cunningham is Steve Unger’s slippery lawyer.

Steinberg, Walker and Romain share the executive producer credits with Debbie Nightingale, with Joseph Kay and Alyson Richards producing.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Daniel Kash
The Line
Episode 102

Ron White
The Line
Episode 102

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series
Wes Williams
The Line
Episode 106 / Episode 107

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series
Tasha Lawrence
The Line
Episode 104 / Episode 106

Best Achievement in Casting
Marsha Chesley
The Line
Episode 107

by Gariné Tcholakian

David Steinberg, the exec producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Weeds has signed on to a new 15-part, half-hour series developed and licensed by Astral Media’s The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central.

An original series by Toronto-based The Nightingale Company, Living in Your Car follows a failed corporate exec who clings to the life he once had by living in his luxury sedan. The show is scheduled to air on The Movie Network and Movie Central next year, with filming set to begin this September.

Joining Steinberg in the role are the show’s writers and creators, George F. Walker and Dani Romain, whose credits as a duo include This is Wonderland (CBC) and The Line (The Movie Network and Movie Central). The new series is also created and written by Joseph Kay.

Steinberg is also attached to a second Canadian project, Single White Spenny, a comedy pilot for Canwest and Breakthrough Film & Television starring a newly divorced Spencer Rice (Kenny vs. Spenny).

With files from Playback Daily

The Nightingale Company today announced that producer and director David Steinberg, whose credits include such major hits as CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, WEEDS and MAD ABOUT YOU, has signed on as an Executive Producer and Director of its upcoming original comedy series LIVING IN YOUR CAR.

The 15-part, half-hour series is created and written by George F. Walker, Dani Romain and Joseph Kay and developed and licensed by Astral Media’s THE MOVIE NETWORK (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment’s MOVIE CENTRAL (Western Canada). Walker and Romain, who are the duo behind the critically acclaimed series This is Wonderland (CBC) and the recent, thrilling cop drama The Line (THE MOVIE NETWORK/MOVIE CENTRAL) are also executive producers on this series.

Living In Your Car follows the winding karmic adventures of Steve Unger, a fallen corporate executive who clings to the last vestige of his former existence by making his home inside his luxury sedan. Propelled ahead by his needs and whims, trying to simultaneously help and exploit everyone he meets, Steve attempts to survive in the land of the have-nots and at the same time somehow resurrect the charmed life he once had.

“To have someone of David’s talent and experience with comedy is a testament to the quality of George and Dani’s writing. I’m very excited about the potential of this show and working with the terrific team we’ve assembled,” said Debbie Nightingale, President of The Nightingale Company.

Filming is set to begin in September and is scheduled to debut in 2010 on The Movie Network and Movie Central.

About David Steinberg

The New York Times has included David Steinberg among a handful of the best and most creative directors working in television. He has directed many episodes of Friends, Newhart, Seinfeld, Mad About You, Designing Women, which he also executive produced and most recently the hit series Weeds and HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. His work on Seinfeld and Mad About You and Curb Your Enthusiasm earned him several DGA and Emmy Awards and nominations.