Following his roving-reporter stint on Canadian Idol, Ottawa-born comedian Jon Dore is working double duty as host and creator on a new skit, comedy and interview series for The Comedy Network, The Jon Television Dore Show. Inspired by the likes of Late Night with Conan O’Brien and featuring Toronto-based sketch comedy acts such as Knock Knock, Who’s There? Comedy!, the half-hour series will bow on the cable channel on Oct. 17 for a 13-episode run.

The series takes a look at some of Dore’s personal issues, exploring how to stop smoking via hypnosis, confronting his phobias, or ways to cure his boredom. In each episode, he interviews an official expert to gain insight into the topic at hand. (Looking to get in shape, he enlists the help of an army drill sergeant.)

‘And of course at the end of the episode, I learn nothing,’ Dore laughs.

Just over two years ago, Dore pitched the series to his friend, mentor and exec producer John Brunton (Canadian Idol, Falcon Beach) of Insight Productions, which picked up a pilot. Since then, Dore has fine-tuned the series.

He dipped into his pool of friends from the comedy circuit and former colleagues to get the ball rolling. Showrunner Ed MacDonald worked with Dore on the third phase of series development with friends such as Mark Forward and Steve Patterson, both writer/performers, and creative producer Jennifer Whalen. Heather Muir is coproducing.

Insight is leading the international sales and Comedy has asked the team to create webisodes for the channel’s website. Dore is still hammering out the details on how the show will leap from the TV to the monitor screen, but he suggests the webisodes will be produced independently and deal with more simple topics – such as his favorite color.

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This story has been corrected. The show will debut Oct. 17, not Oct. 18 as originally reported, and is now called The Jon Dore Television Show not The Jon Dore Show.