Behind the Scenes on CTV’s JANN: Song Swaps, Lip-Syncing, and a Mythical Exit Song
For more than 20 years, Executive Quartets has had the privilege of sharing our music in some truly unique and unforgettable settings. Over the decades, our singers have hit incredible milestones, including:
Entertaining crowds along the historic 2010 Olympic Torch Relay route.
Recording custom on-air musical bumpers to help promote a new Edmonton radio station.
Appearing on the national stage of Canada’s Got Talent, where we even had the distinct honour of meeting comedy icon Martin Short.
Performing live on multiple local television broadcasts.
While we've been fortunate to be featured in several high-profile projects, our entertainment journey took an exciting turn in 2018 when we had the incredible opportunity to step onto the set of a nationally televised sitcom: Jann.
About JANN
For those who haven't seen the series, JANN was a critically acclaimed, half-hour Canadian comedy series that premiered on CTV in 2019. The show starred music icon Jann Arden playing a hilarious, self-deprecating, and highly fictionalized version of herself.
On screen, "TV Jann" is a singer-songwriter of a "certain age" who is forced to confront the harsh reality that her former pop stardom is sliding into obscurity. While desperately plotting a social media-driven comeback to reclaim her fame, her personal life is total chaos. She is newly single, dealing with a rocky relationship with her sister, and trying to support her aging mother.
Season 1, Episode 3: "Weekend At Charley's"
Our national television debut came in the Season 1 episode titled "Weekend At Charley's". In this specific storyline, Jann’s new no-nonsense, cutthroat social media advisor, Cale (played by Elena Juatco), tries to force Jann's long-term manager, Todd (played by Jason Blicker), into retirement with the delivery of a mocking singing telegram.
After being cast and signing our contracts—complete with strict non-disclosure agreements—we spent weeks meticulously preparing the specific song and lyrics requested by the show's producers. We were polished, practiced, and ready to roll.
But just days before the scheduled shoot, we were thrown a major curveball.
A Race Against the Clock: The Last-Minute Song Swap
72 hours before our scheduled performance, the producers contacted us with a massive hurdle: they hadn't received the legal rights clearance for the original song they had selected. With the shoot fast approaching, they asked for our immediate help to save the segment.
We jumped into action. Our team quickly tracked down an appropriate song in the public domain, created a brand-new musical arrangement from scratch, and adapted the lyrics to fit the script—all in a matter of days so it could be cleared for a national television broadcast. It was an intense, high-pressure process, but it proved just how adaptable and agile our ensemble can be when plans change on a dime! It’s the exact same level of professionalism and flexibility we bring to all of our live Performance Packages.
How Many People Are in Your Quartet?
While we are normally a four-part harmony group, television magic required a temporary expansion. For this episode taping, we welcomed a "fifth member" to the group: Canadian actor Brian Martell!
Because JANN is a fast-paced comedy, there were plenty of scripted speaking roles and comedic beats to hit. Brian stepped in to handle all of the heavy lifting on the dialogue side. As for the singing? Let’s just say Brian masterfully executed the art of the lip-sync!
While he flawlessly mouthed the words, the actual four-part harmony you heard on the broadcast was the 100% authentic, custom-arranged sound of Executive Quartets. Working with Brian was an absolute blast. His acting and comedic timing really brought the scene together, and we're very proud of the final product.
Improv, Giggles, and a Mythical Exit Song
Originally, our contract only called for us to sing a single piece. But once we got on set and nailed the initial shots, the comedic momentum was going so strong that the director turned to us and asked if we could sing "something else" as our characters walked out of the scene.
Again, we had to think fast. According to the script, our quartet was rushing off to another gig—specifically, a traditional Jewish bris (a circumcision ceremony). We quickly pitched a hilarious concept to the director: What if our quartet actually only knew one single song, so we clumsily adapted the lyrics to fit every single occasion we were hired for?
The director loved it, and right then and there, our impromptu exit song—fittingly titled "Farewell Foreskin"—was born.
When the cameras started rolling for that final scene, the result was pure, unadulterated chaos. The very first take will never see the light of day because the moment we struck up a chord and sang those improvised lines, everyone on set collapsed into hysterical laughter. The director, the crew, the background extras, and the main actors all completely broke character. It is a memory we will cherish forever, and it perfectly encapsulates the comedic fun of working on a show like JANN.
Bring our TV-Ready Experience to Your Next Event
From handling last-minute musical emergencies to improvising side-splitting comedy on live sets, Executive Quartets brings ultimate professionalism, adaptability, and elite-tier entertainment wherever we go.
The best part? You don't need a network television budget to treat your guests to the same high-quality performances. Whether you are planning a corporate holiday gala, welcoming delegates to a high-profile conference, or trying to create a memorable experience for a local public event, we bring the exact same passion, professionalism, and television-ready sound to every stage.
Want to experience the music live? Contact Us to request a booking quote for your upcoming event today!
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