Oct. 31 - Prime Minister Paul Martin made a cameo appearance on Monday night's episode of the hit CTV comedy series Corner Gas. The episode opened with the Prime Minister making an impromptu address to the nation, only to discover his timing was a little off. The Prime Minister's
appearance was taped earlier this summer in Regina.

The following is a transcript of the colourful exchange between the Prime Minister and Corner Gas star Brent Butt:

Brent: "Hello Mr. Prime Minister. Um... I'm just kind of wondering what you're doing?"

PM: "I'm speaking to the nation. I'm addressing Canada!"

Brent: "Um... is this something you have to do right now?"

PM: "Is now a bad time?"

Brent: "Sort of... For me, anyway. I kind of had the next 30 minutes planned out. This is really the only half-hour in the week they let me do anything. The rest is pretty much Canadian Idol."

PM: "But what about my message?"

Brent: "You can do a mass e-mailing. You can "cc" the nation."

PM: "You know I like the way you think."

Brent: "Really? You can make me Minister of something!"

PM: "I gotta go..."

Corner Gas continues to be Canada's most-watched comedy series and the most-watched original Canadian series on television. Now in its third season, the series has attracted more than one million viewers for 37 episodes in a row. Recently nominated for a 2005 Gemini Award for "Best Comedy Series," Corner Gas airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on CTV and Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The Comedy Network.