Broadcasting Canada

Kevin Caners does a podcast called Broadcasting Canada.

Kevin interviews CBC broadcasters about their career, their life, how they see things and how they react to things. He has featured Rick Mercer, Jian Ghomeshi and George Stroumboulopoulos among others. You can subscribe on iTunes and go to the website Broadcasting Canada, Voices of the CBC

The webpage says; Celebrating the role the CBC plays in the social fabric of Canada through in-depth conversations with the voices and personalities who bring us together from coast to coast to coast.

- I listened to a couple of the podcast episodes and recommend it to those like myself, who enjoy long form interviews, the CBC and any of her hosts.  

Barbara

Meli's Take ...

on the new feel for Season 9.

Well folks the first week of the season is all wrapped up for George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight and I am wondering what you’re all thinking of the changes so far?

The new set and layout of the studio took me a bit to get used to.  At first I felt it lacked a bit of edge to it with the sleek white backdrop and then found the video display a bit distracting. However, I do love that when the camera is focused on George himself, the back drop is bleu blanc et rouge (Habs reference). Hoping that over time more of “punk G” finds its way back to the set. Please don’t take your “Carlsberg years” too literally ;)

As a viewer I still lament the loss of the “Mile-a-Minute” and now even, “The Debrief” is gone.  I understand the new 7pm time slot follows the news and people are trying to unwind after a long day … but I still think there’s room for a quick, "George’s take on the news of the day" segment. May I formally suggest/request to the powers that be at CBC that it returns at some point, perhaps when you go back to making the show an hour?!

The Panel … Wasn’t a fan of this new segment, the first couple of episodes.  For me, it doesn’t really work.  It is a comedy segment; I get that, but too short and not really giving us any beneficial information, when the show is known for its depth and not just light-hearted humour. It feels like it’s trying too hard at times.  After seeing it taped in-studio, I would personally love to see Fridays go from being “Best ofs” to The Panel episode.  Eventually as funding improves again and GST, hopefully, returns to an hour long format Fridays could be music/comedy nights.  What an excellent way for George and the show to bring us into the weekend!

The Panel

I think the first week of guests had a nice well-rounded appeal with cancon, CBC Personalities, celebs, and of course the amazing Jane Goodall.  Jane, David Suzuki and James Appurathai are my all time fave guests and I am hoping the show keeps this type of guest in the forefront.  I sincerely look forward to some of the conversations that I know are coming up this season.  One thing hasn’t changed … George is still brilliant at the art of conversation.  J

Season 9 Week 1

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight
has a new set, a new time and a new look to the website!
The new season starts Monday September 17 and airs at 7pm and repeats at 11:30 pm.


That is just a few of the changes. The show is half an hour long and ends with a comedic panel discussion of  some choice issues.
There are of course great guests and interviews as always. There is more content offered online such as extended interviews and current issues and information of interest to all of us.

The Stroumboulopouli plan to pay close attention to the panel discussions and comment or contribute if occasion warrants right here on this blog.

Sunday September 16
The Strombo Show on CBC Radio 2 on your radio. It can also be found on CBC Music. 
Sunday Service is back and school is in session on this premiere episode of The Strombo Show's third season. We make up for those repeats by rifling through some of the best tracks that dropped throughout the summer season. Darby Wheeler nods to the return of the greats in 'Old is the new Young' and Alex 'The Can-Con Don' Narvaez drops in to discuss a few of his favourite hip-hop jams. As always, we offer up the Magnificent Seven to count down the hottest songs of the week that includes Frank Ocean, The XX and Propaghandi. Also, DJ Carisma of Power 106 delivers her LA-kissed sound in the blend. There is no doubt that the spirit of radio is alive and well.

Contributed by 
Colton Eddy of The Strombo Show

Monday September 17
Special guest Rick Mercer of the Rick Mercer Report (begins it's10th season)

Panel guest Colin Mochrie debates with the panel regulars

Tuesday September 18
Special guest actor/singer/director and stuntman Jackie Chan 

Panel guest Ron James

Wednesday September 19
Chimpanzee expert and activist Jane Goodall is back in the red chair.

Panel guest chef Chuck Hughes

Thursday September 20
Actor Joshua Jackson has a new film out  Inescapable

Panel guest Amanda Lang

Friday September 21
Features the best of this week. 

Enjoy the show!

Gemini Awards Tonight

Rehearsals are going on as I write this according to the tweets of Rick Mercer and George Stroumboulopoulos ... and the parties have already started!

The Gemini Awards are Live from Calgary tonight!

Here is a list of presenters for tonight's Broadcast Gala.

Adding to the list of previously announced Gemini presenters, such as Cory Monteith (Glee), (The Rick Mercer Report), Rick MercerHugh Dillon (FlashPoint), Jessica Lucas (Melrose Place), Erin Karpluk (Being Erica), George Stroumboulopoulos (The Hour), Amber Marshall & Graham Wardle (Heartland) and Mark McKinney (Less Than Kind), the Academy is thrilled to announce another round of celebrities presenting at this year’s gala, including Arlene Dickinson and W. Brett Wilson (Dragon’s Den), Brandon Firla and Zaib Shaikh (Little Mosque on the Prairie), Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas) and Alex Lifeson of Rush.


Not only is George a presenter at the Geminis, he is up for an award against these four men for Best Host or interviewer in a general/human interest or talk program or series.


1) George Kourounis
Angry Planet, Island Caving

2) Austin Stevens
Austin Stevens Adventures in the Shadow of Armoured Giants

3) Les Stroud (has been a guest on The Hour)
Survivorman Third Season

4) Matt Wells
Where You At Baby? Huey Lewis

Maybe this will be the picture again later tonight...
May the best Host win!

in this picture from The Hour's blog, George and Exec Producer Jennifer Dettman just won the Gemini for Best Talk Series earlier this year.
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Good luck to all the nominees!
This just in
And the Gemini goes to.... George Stroumboulopoulos!!
Oh and one for Rick Mercer too!

Let George be the judge!

Battle of the Blades has a new Judge this Sunday!

CBC's latest hit show has some of CBC's other hit shows featuring it, including The Mercer Report this week where Rick skates with Tie Domi... Tuesday night 8 pm.
On The Hour, George's promotion of 'Blades' includes listing the betting odds and having the losers show up to talk about the whole experience.

There are no tickets left to see this taping in Maple Leaf Gardens for Sundays show. Mondays results show offers a rush line at this point.

Here is what George has to say about his promotion to guest judge.

Hour Books: Rick Mercer Report, The Book

One of the best parts of the Mercer Report are the rants. So I was tickled when Mercer released a book filled with some of his best rants. I've read it a few times since its release, so much so it's become one of those books that I pick up and reread when I can't get into anything new. Everyone rants, we all come across people or events that just set us off, so hearing Mercer rant is kind of an extension of what everyone is thinking but may not want to openly admit.

This book of rants is an interesting glimpse into the affairs that captivated Canada (or held Canada hostage) over the past few years. From election after election after election, to Conrad Black's antics, to the latest Parliamentary hijinks (or hijacks, depending on how you look at it) to just plain weird Canadian behaviour (like Torontonians and winter weather), Mercer has somehow captured the essence of what Canada is. Speaking of Conrad Black, one of my all time favourite rants comes from the time is when Conrad Black wanted his citizenship back.

The first edition of the book came out in 2007 but was updated for the 2008 paperback release.

Mercer's been on The Hour a few times over the years: Book Interview, Interview - Part One, Interview - Part Two, Mercer at the Book Stand. Make sure you check them out.

Bags and boxes of books?

If you follow George Stroumboulopoulos on Twitter or are a facebook friend of his, you may have noticed his recent tweet/status.

George Stroumboulopoulos "Where's the best place to donate a bunch of books in Toronto? Wide variety. Never done this before. Thoughts? #freebooks #springcleaning"

This question elicited a flurry of responses. Library, Books for Charity, Hospitals, Shelters, Schools, Prisons, Churches, Freecycle, Goodwill and other charities.
Even Rick Mercer made a comment of George's status:

Rick Mercer at 9:57pm May 17

Why must you encourage reading. Do you want TV to fail?

It's open for discussion.

What do you do when you read your book, and want to pass it forward?

My thoughts... There is no shame in selling it to a second hand book store. It offers other readers a reduced price book, keeps the shopkeeper employed and you get a little lunch money. Win win! One other idea that is popular in my circles is to put your initials in the book once you read it and put it a bag and everyone brings a bag of books to the friends house when they gather and offer it up for everyone. Like a pot luck reading feast!

I think all these suggestions can work for communities across the country. People replied very quickly to George's initial inquiry with a lot of great ideas and this got me thinking. If we all know where to give our used books to, why are they still in boxes in our storage room? Or maybe that's just me...?
----------------
Here is an inspirational story about going big with the idea of donating books.
One man donated 30,000 books
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Do you think George's main source for books might be from the Authors that he has researched and interviewed over the years? Probably many books from many authors he is never going to interview... what are you keeping George, and what are you giving away?
---
On the topic of great authors on The Hour. The Hour's own forum has a lively discussion about them in the Offical Booklist here.

What's up? What's goin' on?

From 24Th to the 28Th

The Hour will feature the following guests and more

Monday

Canadian Mixed Martial Arts fighter Georges St-Pierre battles it out with Ranter extraordinaire Rick Mercer. Rick thought it was just an interview to promote his new book... and he would be right. I don't think there will be any conflict between the two guests.

Tuesday

The Emmy Award winning, radical and scintillating Phil Donahue

Wednesday

Foo Fighters have something to say

as does Dr Jane Goodall and she says"We have the choice to use the gift of our lives to make the world a better place"

Thursday

Your favourite, Kevin Smith writer, actor, director, popular speaker and smodcaster.

You may have heard on The Hour that George will be hosting the Geminis this year but did you know he is also an Executive Producer for the show?

A night at The Hour

If you have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at The Hour.
Let me tell you a bit about my experiences tonight in the studios of the CBC building in Toronto.

I am Barbara W., a confessed blogger for The Hour and for George Stroumboulopoulos.
I invited along a 4th year journalism student from Ryerson University to come with me to see The Hour tonight. Joe Rayment writes for Ryerson Review Of Journalism . he is doing a story for the magazine about The Hour and George S. and contacted our blog to get some background for his story.

He had been to two tapings just last week, and was kind enough to come to this one with me to get the story from a stroumboulopouli blogger. All seven 'stroumbi' across Canada are answering his questions to us about blogging for The Hour, and how we see the changes that The Hour has been going through.

We met in the lobby and chatted before being admitted upstairs via elevator into the maze that is that is The Hour's studio. We were chatting at the studio doors when George wandered into the small group. He said hi to everyone, posed for pictures, answered questions, accepted compliments and thanked people for coming. The perfect host.

If you followed the MySpace drama this past Sunday re: The Strombo Show.... I had a conversation with George all about that at that point in the evening. Not to bore the rest of you, I will blog about that on MySpace.

George had to leave us and go into the studio to rehearse and we were soon admitted.

Joe and I sat on the left hand side second row. Too far left to see in the audience shots. Don't bother looking for us.
Before the show started taping, George was talking to us all and taking questions.
I had a few for him.
Re: that Gemini skit, I told him how funny I thought it was and how I think The Hour could do one skit like that a week.
He said they were kicking around that idea this morning.
George talked about how wearing that pink shirt made him feel dirty...
We all laughed. One other question I had was about why they rolled no credits. He said, there was no time for credits. It's not something a news show on CBC Newsworld usually runs in any case, and most of the crews family knew they were working at The Hour.
We laughed again, and throughout the hour of The Hour, had a very entertaining time.
When he had time to talk to us Mr. Stroumboulopoulos opened up about his love of his job as Host of The Hour.
He also talked about his days at Much Music. How he would interview bands he loved and bands he hated. Some of the bands he hated made the best interviews. He interviewed musicians at the start of their Career, after the first record contract, when they started to go down hill with drugs and hopefully interviewed them after rehab.... words to that effect.
Speaking of effective words, George would be very good at doing those 'don't do drugs' talks with High School students.

The Show tonight featured an interview with Tom Cochrane. It was wonderful to see Tom in the lobby before the show just standing there like any other Canadian guy. It was great to hear him in conversation, talking about his music, his daughter, and Saddam Hussein of all things.
The other treat we witnessed tonight was George taking Rick Mercer to the Newsstand.
Of course we watched it on tape like you did. But that's our laughter you hear added for your viewing experience. I blame Rick Mercer for my laughter lines!


The audience, as always, got a change to get more pictures, ask more questions, and get an autograph with the man himself after the show was finished taping. I waited for George to finish with the people after he said 'wait' and gave me a wink.
When he was done with the last few fans, I talked with him for a bit and at one point asked him where Bob was. He asked his 'God' Correction his Producer(in this case David) over his microphone. Where Bob was? Bob was busy...
He was getting instructions from David in his ear piece about stuff they were preparing to shoot in a few moments time. That's all the time we had. I gave George un petit cadeau for Bob (Strombo Show related) and I got a high five and I left the studio.

As I was waiting for escort to the Elevator

I spotted the piano that George was playing in the Fear Episode.
Doh! I did not get a picture with George.
Mostly because there was no one left
to take a picture, but a nice woman
(CBC employee?) was willing to take
a picture of me and the piano....

I did get to talk to our friend Siobhan, who takes all the reservations for The Hour, and I chatted with Amanda, a long time fan of Georges.

That's all I can process at this point about my evening at The Hour.
Some of it stays unsaid, some things I will recall at 4am I'm sure...
All I can do is recommend you try this experience for yourself.

Barbara W.
Yes that is me wearing a Canadiens sweatshirt. It was the sexiest thing I could think of to wear to The Hour.
George liked it.
:-)