billie joins the edge

As predicted a few months back, Billie Holiday has replaced Todd Shapiro on the Edge morning show. The former teeny pop jock who teamed up with Madd Dogg to front moring shows on CHFI and Kiss 92.5, officially joined the team this week. She thanked the listeners via Twitter,  this morning  by tweeting, "Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome ! I am thrilled to be the new cohost and look forward to many mornings with you! xoxo"

Meanwhile, Sharpiro appeared on the Humble and Fred Show yesterday. You can listen to it here. 

the camp gyno

I never thought I'd post a tampon TV spot on any of my blogs. But this one made the cut. It's a breakthrough in tampon advertising. Check out this little girl who gets her first period at camp and then turns into the Camp Gyno. Her mouth might mutter some words you'd never htink a 12 year old would know, but it just proves why this ad is so good. Brilliant.

bell gets astral

After rejecting their initial bid of $3.4 billion, CRTC have given the nod to Bell to take over Astral Media. In its second bid, Bell has promised to sell some of Astral's speciality TV channels and radio stations (ie locally,  Boom 97.3). This is to satisfy CRTC concerns that the deal would make Bell too dominant in the Canadian market.

Here's more of the complicated mumbo-jumbo from the big boys:

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, June 27, 2013 — Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved an application by Astral Media Inc. to sell its pay and specialty television channels, conventional television stations and radio stations to BCE Inc. The CRTC’s approval comes with a number of conditions that are necessary to uphold the public interest.

“Astral’s application put forward a different approach and responded to many of our concerns” said Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman of the CRTC. “Yet there remained a significant risk that BCE could exert its market power to limit choice and competition. To ensure the public interest is served, we are requiring BCE to invest in new Canadian programming and sell more than a dozen services, and we are putting in place a number of competitive safeguards. This will maintain a healthy and competitive broadcasting system that offers more programming choices to Canadian consumers and citizens and more opportunities for Canadian creators.”

happy birthday, maurice sendak

If you noticed the Google Doodle today, you'd know it would've been Maurice Sendek's 83rd Birthday.
Originally, I was going to post an interview or a classic reading of Sendek's landmark creation, Where the Wild Things Are. However, I found this. Christopher Walken reading the popular children's book. This will be your best laugh of the day. Or maybe, even week.

"And now", cried Max, "Let he wild rumpus start!".

happy 20th anniversary 680news

...And I thought 680 was just doing a really long 68-second news break. 20 years ago today, my life changed. I learned about that my love was a business. I learned that music wasn't working on the AM dial. The top 40 music leader in the city flipped to all-news. The format has been highly successful with the station only making a few tweaks over the years.

There isn't a day that I tune into 680 without doing a boisterous, 680 C-F-T-R call thinking I'm introducing a Duran Duran or Madonna tune. Happy 20th, 680 News. You've done well.

citynews fades to black

After only 20 months on-air, Rogers has axed CityNews Channel. They were granted the licence in December 2008 and three years after, CityNews Channel was finally launched.

 The station thanked all their viewers over the years and to urged them to continue to watch CITY-TV and to  listen to 680 News to keep informed with the latest news, weather and traffic. The channel  will carry a 680News feed till the end of June when it officially fades to black.

rest well, jeanne cooper

jay and dan leaving tsn

Local sports heads might not like this too much. The popular TSN team of Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole are heading to Los Angeles to join Fox Sports.

“It is with mixed emotions that all of us at TSN and Bell Media bid farewell to Jay and Dan.  They have made remarkable contributions to TSN and have helped solidify Sportscenter as Canada’s clear choice for sports news,” noted Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports in the official station presser. “I’ve been working with Jay and Dan since the beginning, and their success is a testament to the exceptional talent and original productions that have become a hallmark of Bell Media. I’m sure Jay and Dan will thrive on U.S. television and endear themselves to a whole new legion of fans.”

The team will be sticking around TSN till late June.

george strombo heading to cnn

CBC's George Stromboulopoulos is heading south. The cool guy of Canadian media will be fronting a chat show on CNN this summer. George has gone form doing wrestling shows on Toronto sports radio to being the a VJ on Much Music during its heyday to hosting a nightly interview show on CBC TV. Originally called The Hour, the show was repackaged as George Stromboulopoulos Tonight.

His CNN run is for 10 episodes that will air Friday nights for an hour. CBC's Kristen Stewart affirmed everyone that George will be back by tweeting today, "Don't Worry, Canada's best BF not going too far for too long".

Congrats to Stormbo on this new venture. Show 'em How its done down South, George. Canada will be Watching.

ad flack #2

Superbowl is just days away. I first saw this first Super Bowl TV Spot when my sister posted it on Facebook. Heard it's getting a bunch of flack. Is it racist? Are we being just way too PC? Personally, I find the joke tired, and wish creative would come up with something more creative. But that's just me.

 Thoughts?

ad flack

ING is getting some flack for doing this TV spot. Are they making fun of Depression? Thoughts welcomed.

rip conrad bain

mad high on mad men

While I have a comfortable amount of shows to cure my itch for escapism, I miss the quality shows. The shows with good writing, acting and just all around great entertainment. Man Men tops the list. Missing my favorite show, I tried to find out when Season six will begin, to only find that they'll be doing a few episodes from Hawaii in 2013. Production on a hush-hush vibe, I dug into the crates to find this classic scene from Season 5.

If you haven't gotten a chance to watch Mad Men, do yourself a favor and do so. Put aside a weekend this holiday season and catch up by watching the previous seasons. It'll feed your entertainment itch while also being captivated by top notch television.

rip larry hagman

happy birthday, mr ritter

If there was one actor that I learned the most from as a child, it was defiantly John Ritter. Slaspstick genius. Comedic timing down to the second. He was a great entertainer and a wonderful actor. Today Ritter would've turned 65. Here's a clip from an episode of The Cosby Show where Ritter and his real-life wife, Amy Yasbeck play a couple expecting for the first time, and of course, Dr. Huxtable is there to help 'em out. The episode is full of John Ritter genius. Enjoy...

 

rip sherman hemsley

Most will remember him as the crazy Judge from Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I remember his as the racist working class man and the head of the Jefferson household. Great times. Great laughs as a young impressionable kid learning his first racist jokes on prime time TV. Material that would never see airtime nowadays.

the newsroom

A couple of years ago, I got into Mad Men. This year, The Newsroom has become my Mad Men for 2012. Three episodes in and I'm hooked. If you haven't watched this new HBO drama yet, make some time to do so. Pop popcorn, have a few drinks by your side, and curl up on the old sofa and enjoy some of the best television that's been on in a long while. The opening five minutes of the first episode and the last five minutes of last nights episode are two reasons why I love this series already. Everything in the middle is a great story told about three dimensional characters holding hands with great writing. The Newsroom. Hopefully it'll be your top story, too.

rip andy griffith

marvin magazine ads

The creative behind this Ad campaign deserve an award. Amazingly funny while being relevant and cute. Pushing Marvin Magazine, the spots look at when happens when listening to music during pregnancy featuring Kanye, Animal Nation, Radiohead and Nivana.

Here's a couple of them. For the whole set Go Here.

seat for one.

I can safely say that most of my weight gain (yes, I did gain a bit) directly has to do with me spending time watching videos about food on the interweb. And watching shows like The Layover and this one. No Reservations. Chef man Anthony Bourdain tours to distant lands to eat food. Amazing gig, huh? In this episode, He travels to a place close to my heart.