Expectations were high when Patrick Watson became chairman of the CBC in 1989. Many in the creative end of the television industry cheered that initial impression that the inmates were finally in charge of the asylum. Alas, Watson, who died at 92 on July 4 in Ontario, was as powerless to re-invent and reinvigorate Canada’s
Do you remember Party Game? The saucy little charades-fest aired out of Hamilton, Ont.’s CHCH from 1970 through 1981. “Captain” Jack Duffy, Dinah Christie and Billy Van were the Home Team, an almost unbeatable trio when it came to charades. Al Boliska was the original host, replaced a year later by Bill Walker. The series
Fifty years ago, one man on one TV show created eight vividly memorable TV characters in every episode: The Librarian; Grizelda, the Ghastly Gourmet; Bwana Clyde Batty, The Oracle, The Count, The Marharishi, the record-spinning Wolfman and Dr. Pet Vet. Then he’d pull on a gorilla suit and fall on his face. The show was
Anyone who still thinks Canada never had a “Golden Age” of television should have been at Sunday’s Canadian International Television closer. I had the great pleasure of hosting the Sunday afternoon “Out of the Vault” panels. Thanks to CITF organizer David Heath. Lindsey Vodarek and all at the Bell Lightbox for putting together 10 full days of