Ottawa's Own Tom Green Is Going Back to His Roots
Ottawa has produced a lot of characters over the years, but few are as internationally recognizable as Tom Green — the Pembroke-born comedian who once made the whole world uncomfortable with a camcorder and a lot of nerve. Now, decades after his MTV heyday, Green is returning to his roots in a very literal way: with a new show called The Tom Green Farm, set on his property near Ottawa.
Green recently sat down with CBC Ottawa's Hallie Cotnam to talk about the project, and what came through clearly is that this isn't a nostalgia play. It's something more personal.
What Is The Tom Green Farm?
The show centers on Green's actual farm property in the Ottawa Valley region — the same rolling, forested landscape that shaped him growing up in Pembroke. The premise is straightforward: Green wants to document rural Ontario life and share it with an audience that's largely disconnected from it.
For a guy who built his career on chaos and shock value, the turn toward quiet country living might seem surprising. But Green has spoken before about his deep attachment to the region, and the show seems to be an extension of that — part passion project, part love letter to a part of Ontario that rarely gets national airtime.
Putting Rural Ontario on the Map
One of Green's stated goals is to showcase what life looks like outside of Canada's major urban centres. The Ottawa Valley — stretching from the outskirts of the capital up through Pembroke and beyond — is home to tight-knit communities, incredible natural landscapes, and a pace of life that's worlds away from downtown Ottawa or Toronto.
It's the kind of place that locals fiercely love and outsiders rarely think about. Green clearly wants to change that.
"There's something real here," is the underlying message, and coming from someone with Green's platform, that kind of spotlight could genuinely shift perceptions of rural Ontario.
A Different Kind of Tom Green Show
Anyone expecting the anarchic stunts of early-2000s MTV is probably going to be surprised. By all accounts, The Tom Green Farm leans into authenticity over spectacle. Green appears to be genuinely invested in farming, rural community, and what it means to slow down.
That said, this is still Tom Green — wit and irreverence are almost certainly part of the package. The Ottawa Valley has a dry, deadpan humour all its own, and Green grew up steeped in it.
Why This Matters for Ottawa
For Ottawa residents, there's a dual pride at play here. Green is one of ours — or close enough — and seeing him champion the region on a public platform feels good. More importantly, the show could draw attention to the communities just an hour or two outside the city that often feel overlooked in broader Canadian conversations.
The Ottawa Valley is genuinely special: the Madawaska River, the Ottawa River, the small towns with big personalities. If Green's show captures even a fraction of that, it'll be worth watching.
The Tom Green Farm doesn't have a confirmed wide release date yet, but Green's interview with CBC Ottawa suggests it's coming soon. Keep an eye on his channels for updates.
Source: CBC Ottawa. Tom Green spoke with host Hallie Cotnam ahead of the launch of The Tom Green Farm.
