And starring Paul Martin as himself

Remember Paul Martin? Affable guy, was briefly prime minister? Yeah, you know who we mean, the one who deigned to talk to reporters without getting all huffy about it.

Anyway, Martin made a cameo appearance in the most improbable of places the other night -- U.S. cable network Showtime's critically acclaimed new political and crime drama, "Brotherhood," set in Providence, Rhode Island.

"Brotherhood," which airs in Canada on TMN, featured the former PM in a scene, where wheelchair-bound power broker Judson Fitzgerald is watching late-night television in his living room.

"Turn off that silly show," Fitzgerald's wife scolds him as she announces he has a visitor.

"I like that silly show," he says, referring to C-SPAN's broadcast of Question Period in the House of Commons.

As Thomas Caffey, the young Rhode Island politician, enters the living room the elder man flicks on the TV again.

"I love watching the parliamentary debates. All the hostility is out in the open. We couldn't get away with that here. We have to keep it all in the backroom, don't we?" muses Fitzgerald.

"When was the last time you watched a budget debate in the House of Reps? They practically throw ice cream sandwiches," replies Caffey.

And with that they ignore the Canadian Parliament and get down to business.