For four hours last Sunday night CBC Radio 2 became something completely different. It became The Edge 102.1 FM, a loud litany of aimless frenetic noise.
Really just whatever popped into George’s head after a couple of hours of prep.
Within minutes of taking over the microphone, he made the CBC unlistenable.
Four hours of everything the CBC is not supposed to be, amateurs doing whatever they wanted to without any regard for the audience.
Since the beginning of time, teenagers everywhere have thought what a cool job it would be to sit all day and play records. And surely the world would be impressed by the outstanding choices being made and the exceptionally good taste in music being offered.
Yeah right.
Doing radio is not for everyone. Just ask David Lee Roth or Tod Maffin.
Doing any kind of radio requires a specific technical skill, but doing good radio is an art-form.
Anyone who has ever heard George on the radio when he was with Corus knows two things about him.
First, he can’t do a radio show by himself.
He can talk alright, just for the sake of talking. Anyone can. But he quickly runs dry of thoughts, and resorts to talking directly to someone, usually another person in the studio. They then respond on the air, and now we’re listening to someone else without knowing why their thoughts are so important in this situation. They aren’t, but they serve as a crutch for George who is deathly afraid of becoming boring. Usually, it’s much too late.
It becomes clear that, by himself, George has nothing to offer. There’s some personality there, but it’s the kind that are a dime a dozen.
Second, he has an exaggerated reverence for a friend of his who actually makes a living doing radio full time, and therefore is deeply insecure about his own ability to do so. Bob Mackowycz and George started their careers about the same time, but Bob was the only one who got it right. He knows how to fill air time. He’s calm, and sounds older than he really is. He can do a radio show blindfolded.
Of course, the radio Bob gives is exactly the same radio hundreds of other disc jockeys are giving across the country each and every day. It’s generic radio that means nothing, just a vehicle for advertising, and Bob is a professional. He could work in talk, country, rock or classical. It’s all the same to someone who is simply in the business of doing radio. You hear the same thing … everywhere music takes you.
Oddly, George’s friend Bob now suddenly has his own show on the CBC, a place that has a reputation for choosing radio hosts by virtue of their unusual character, background or artistic skill. Since Bob has neither, it’s kind of obvious that boss Denise Donlon puts very little thought or effort into her decisions about what warrants air time these days.
George’s debut was a mess. The signal strength coming from his basement was half that of the previous show, the one done by a real music authority, Randy Bachman.
Music selections were all over the place. Johnny Cash? That’s almost insulting, until you adjust to the fact that George has the maturity of a juvenile. Artistically, he’s closer to being a head-banging teenage girl than a badass motorcycle dude.
But everything he does on the air fails, and it fails immediately because all of it comes from a transparent, self-centered agenda.
George has no clue how to entertain. And the word “compelling” is not even in his vocabulary.
Instead, he relies on the misguided belief that his mission is to preach, to send out a message of peace and love subtly embedded in the lyrics of Nine Inch Nails. Apparently he can only understand a piece of music if it has lyrics. And those lyrics have to be aligned to his own obvious, immature religious beliefs. Drugs are bad, even if they played a large role in creating most of the music he’s promoting.
Someone really needs to help George produce that show. There’s no need at all for the show to be live, it could just as well be pre-recorded. It’s almost a trademark of George’s that when he says “so and so will be dropping by” or “so and so will be here in the studio”, that it usually means he’ll be playing a taped and edited piece of an earlier conversation. He’s even had the guests go along with the charade of pretending to be “live”.
It’s obvious too that he has no one writing his announcements, because George on his own can’t speak coherently for any length of time.
“we’re going to start the show off with a song that’s perfect for starting the show off with”.
He often speaks quickly, but other times slowly. He has no affinity for creating intimacy or attempting to connect with the listeners. He merely assumes that we are going to listen, and makes the biggest mistake of all, taking for granted that we’re impressed.
Like people who’ve never done radio, he simply believes that we’re going to tolerate, even like, anything he puts out. It’s a naive and conceited attitude.
When he decided to leave the Sunday night show he had with Corus, they apparently did not throw themselves at his feet and beg him to stay. In fact, indications are that George was responded to with a degree of ambivalence that a big TV star, such as he, is just not accustomed to.
He immediately went home and posted a simple message on his blog – “I’m thinking it’s time for Independent FM”. (all of his blog posts are simple. In fact, he really never has anything to say) Bitter much, George? A little pissed off that your contribution was considered so trivial that even doing it for free was of no interest to management?
He told everyone that the show had to end because it conflicted with his demanding schedule. Same schedule he’s had for five years.
A month later, problem all resolved, with a new but familiar employer who’ll give him anything he wants.
And though George is well on his way to becoming a Canadian millionaire, he doesn’t have the kahoonas or the ingenuity to go ahead and buy a radio station of his own, let alone start up an internet station or even a podcast by himself. Instead, so much easier just to take over a virtually unused time-slot on CBC Radio 2. How much duller could Sunday night radio already be?
A half hour or so into The Strombo Show he brings on Rich Terfry, another host on CBC Radio 2. George asks him to pick some music and tell us why those. But what is that? Doesn’t Terfry already host a show of his own every day? Why is he here? What is Terfry doing The Terfry Show on The Strombo Show for?
An hour into The Strombo Show, George brings on Mackowycz to pick some “grown-up” music and talk about it. Yeah, that’s novel. Now it’s The Bob Mackowycz Show! So what exactly is the point of The Strombo Show? Again, he’s given his radio show over to someone else.
Insecure much, George? At a complete loss, George?
Two other radio hosts are now doing The Strombo Show instead of George, who happens to be sitting right there and is not home sick with the flu or laryngitis. Is it that we just can’t get enough of them on their own shows that they have to be here too?
Is that any way to build an identity, or a brand? How does that showcase your talent, George?
Readers may think that people around here don’t like George much.
That’s not true. Everyone likes George. And George wants very much to be liked.
The fact is, if we really didn’t like George we would urge you to listen to his show.
We would encourage you, even plead with you, to listen to as much of The Strombo Show as you could possibly stomach. Because the show exposes George for the talentless, harmless hack that he is, and minute by minute erodes any credibility he may have.
An over-rated, over-exposed “presenter/facilitator” in the exact mould of Seacrest and Mulroney.
Famous for being famous, and little else.
195 Comments
After listening to three shows I couldn’t bear a fourth.
Did I miss anything?
More Terfry left-overs and Mackie sad songs. Really, utter boredom.
Peering into George’s mind and soul through his choices of music has limited value.
Now if he were to tell his life story, we might have something.
If he were to play piano, I’d listen again.
If he were to interview cool people like Raymi about her taste in music, I’d listen again.
Admit it, Poongirl, you could do a better radio show than he does.
Does George still have a soul? I thought he sold it doing “The One”.
Yes I probably could. And, my jokes would be funnier as well.
I do like his taste in music but he also plays a lot of the same songs over and over again – kind of like using the same playlist every week.
george is hot hot hot
Hi George!
43 00ps 42
44
Strombo sucks and so does this thread!
What a pithy remark! I didn’t know you could be so tersely cogent.
45
C’mon people! 46 more until 200.
Wake me when this Eddie Munster/Fred Savage looking douche’s 15 minutes are up…….
Now it’s decayed to discussions on height? Ho;y sh@t we’re doomed!
You thought George Strombolopopotamus was worthy of intellectual discussion ?
HOLY SH*T WE’RE DOOMED!!!!!!!!!!
Poon misses me
Midget in black, you are so rude. He is 5’10. That isn’t a midget.
I’ve met George and I’m 5’9” and he was at least 3 or 4 inches shorter than me which would make him about 5’5” or 5’6”.
Poongirl is as fake as the day is long. She is the most recent incarnation of a defender of George (possibly George himself) who frequents boards where George is mentioned and does the same “George is nice to his fans”, “Why do you say mean things about George? George does not say mean things about you..” routine whenever George is spoken of in less than glowing terms.
The way “Poongirl” speaks for George makes you wonder if the ‘Midget In Black’ is doing the typing ~~~ “For those who say that George is an ego-maniac, he is not. He aways says that it’™s just TV, not like he is saying lives. He doesn’™ t have a false sense of what he does and he is always so nice to everyone. Including Allan who rarely has anything nice to say about him. Isn’™t that true Allan ?” ~~~
George is a nice guy…agreed. But he is not interesting or entertaining to watch or listen to – which is his job. What usually happens to someone who can’t do their job?
My photos are real, how dare you accuse me that. Umm, do you see me writing my friends on there ? Ask Jeff Marek, he is my friend. I may not be a model but I do not need a bag over my head either.
Anyways, thanks for the compliment Allan but George is a nice guy and I don’t feel right ripping him to shreds.
P.S. A camera with a timer, a Jessica Rabbit halloween custome, not exactly so far out there.
allan i dont talk bad about strombo and i do shw my face on my twitter, maybe you saw it when i wrote u and u ignored me ?
I suspect that your face had something to do with that (him ignoring you )…..
May I suggest a paper bag?
Can I use yours … asshole ?
how inadvertently rude of me. thought rrsexy was spam. your “picture” is about as real as SpittinVenom, but nevertheless i like it. Beautiful young woman. Daring individuality, kindness and personality plus. Agree, nobody could put that girl in a corner. YOU would do a better job than Strombo.
Ouimet too.
could you be ANY more rude Johnny.
easy to talk about people when you dont have to show ur face
and you recognized the flaw in that statement when?
How does a sawed-off, pudgy, raccoon eyed, lisping dork with an embarrassing “I learned to be cool from watching ‘The Fonz’ on Happy Days” persona get on TV in the first place?
Is the talent pool really shallow in this country or what?
Could the CBC be intimidated by truly intelligent, strong, talented, rebellious visionaries? Do they just want lackeys & hacks?
a jug of wine and um…..no poongirl
No to what Dread ?
…to add to your list of people that could do a more entertaining job hosting. I’ll add a loaf of bread.
It doesn’t remind me of that at all,not at all….
Hey Poon enuf with the Dirty Dancing references we get it….
Allan and his gang vs. Strombo reminds me of this: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/gaffe_prone_biden_embarrasses
there is only ONE video that says Strombo and Tea Makers – http://www.theteamakers.com/2006/11/28/george-in-the-dragons-den/
Yeah, gotta go with the onion video on this one. Hilarious.
There’s just no pleasing some people!
No, NOBODY puts poongirl in a corner
And, you can’t say Rick Mercer, the unwritten rules are that you can’t say anyone who already has their own show.
Allan could. I could. That’s two, Poon Girl in a corner.
Ally … I mean Allan.
What are the 10 other people that can do a better job than George ?
You ?
Ms. Lang ? (Well, let’ hope is Ms. and not Mrs. for your sake).
P.S. Nobody puts poongirl in a corner.
Well, yes, but I would put myself closer to the bottom of the list.
My schedule is pretty tight.
Rick Mercer
Mary Walsh
Matthew Good
there’s a guy and a girl team in Vancouver
Brent Bambury
Ann Murray
Bubbles
Tom Green
myself
Jesse Hirsh
George’s charity work is not enough for me .
Oh my god Allan, you are relentless. For a second I thougt you were impressed by George’s music choices, then it turns in to (suprise) another critism !
Is George’s charity work not enough for you ?
Charity.
A good thing, and it’s everywhere you look.
Charitable acts are more common than uncommon. You’d be hard pressed to find celebrities who are NOT charitable as compared to those who are
Which leads to wondering, what has George ever really stood up for?
You know, other than “badass music”, and “kickass interviews on The Hour”. Really, poongirl … let’s get awesome.
Relentless?
How long does the CBC intend to keep up the relentless ad campaign for the selling of George? Another five years?, trying to convince us that he delivers something unique, something that’s even marginally relevant?
Noted culture figures, as framed by George.
It’s all fluff, poongirl, and billed as … the most dangerous and genuine thing the CBC does.
Was it only yesterday that George was holding his fist up the lens and defiantly saying “bring it on”. Bring what on? Everyone who’s brought on The Hour wants to be liked and gets very comfortable treatment.
And in that situation, a gay guy would be more macho and seriously aggressive than George is doing that job.
The bullshit glorification, and pretensions of being anything more than a fanboy MC, that, has truly been unrelenting.
Look at his ratings. They’ve been the same every month, every year.
Where is the sense of that?
He’s mediocre, and he’s been shoved down our throats, to use a phrase.
We can all think of ten people who could do a better job!
But the CBC insists that this is our Canadian Idol, whether we like it or not.
Had enough of Mansbridge too.
as though youth were his invention …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnXCAo5yaUw&feature=related
in pictures
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN66pF90Ddk&feature=related
greatest CD you will ever own …
http://www.amchitka-concert.com/
(the world is better today because of you, Irving Stowe, my friend)
… George played two tracks from this new 2 CD release tonight, and it brought me back to that night, that time, and to sitting in Irving’s home as we listened to the reel-to-reel recording the sound engineer had made of the concert. Doing so was actually a no no, but thank God he did, in stereo no less! The entire sound system and the crew had donated their time, along with the performers, which I seem to remember included Chilliwack. Originally it was simply Joni who had agreed to perform, but when she got off the plane she had brought a friend, some guy who just happened to have the #1 record at the time, “Fire And Rain”. An amazing night as you now have a chance to hear.
Even though the recording existed for all these years, there was no assurance that it would ever be allowed to be released. Phil Ochs died a year not long after, and of course royalties and such are always an issue. All the more what an achievement to have it out now, capturing Joni and James in their prime. Too bad we can’t all just head down to HMV to pick it up right now.
It was all Irving’s idea from the start, when no one else cared. And from that, he changed the world.
Sitting and listening to George do his show tonight, I think …
you know, George, your show is probably the last place we’ll ever hear an Ann Murray song. Did you think about that?
You have all these minutes to do something with, to change the world, to change one life, for the better.
Christmas is coming, once again. How about going out on the street and talking to Bay Street financiers, crack heads on George Street, teenagers at Yonge & Dundas, women in shelters for the abused and homeless, John Irving in Rosedale, Sky Gilbert on Wellesley, the kid or senior citizen flipping burgers at Wendy’s, joe clark brooding at home, a child with a parent in Afghanistan, and so many more, and asking them what this time of year means to them and what music evokes it best of all.
Yeah, I know, it’s work, time. But at least it would have meaning, purpose, and say to people, if you care enough to give me these minutes of your life, I’m going to give you back something that will touch your soul, and give you hope, for all of us.
Let’s forget for a second that going out on the street and asking fananciers, crack heads, teenagers, abused women, John Irving, Sky Gilbert, Wendy’s employees, an internet user and a child what Christmas means to them would be the most maudlin program of all time. Why on earth should a radio show about music have to change the world or one life? Should the drive-home show? Should sit-coms?
There is much to criticize about the CBC. But when you go after programs for not fulfilling a mandate that hasn’t been set for it, you only undermine your arguments.
There’s only one mandate in public broadcasting.
To matter.
George is afraid of the public. I saw him shopping at Umbra once. I smiled in greeting, he winced & shrivelled away. He should hire a personal shopper. Or get a wife.
Maybe he thought you were hitting on him and he is not gay. Therefore, he looked away as to not give you the wrong impression.
Possibly Cas Ob go for it!
Can this thread make it to 200 comments?
Marisa and Poongirl (separated at birth?)
You never told me how hot you think Amanda Lang is.
How does Allan know if Ann has listened to George’s current or previous radio show before ? Maybe Ann listened to Edge ? You know a lot of rockers actually like Ann’s music, and maybe she likes theirs.
Once again Allan goes presuming again.
George is a musical guru?
Did you read
http://www.miss604.com/2009/09/a-conversation-with-george-stroumboulopoulos.html
where he says that DOA and Skinny Puppy were “the best bands to ever come out of the West”?
Sure, George, lay that out there and rush your butt as far away from Vancouver as fast as you can.
Would love to be there when he makes that statement in front of Tommy Chong.
Or someone brings up Terry Jacks and then a little song called “Fly At Night” by Chilliwack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXC1Zfupeaw
Now THAT’S a talented rock band. Just not “cool” enough for Anne Murray’s rock tutor.
Yeah, like the world didn’t start until your punk boyfriend was born, poongirl.
Correction – John and Wellington.
Anyways, whatever the intersection, that man’s pants are too tight.
It is perfectly valid to comment on George’s ‘fashion sense’. Come down to the Starbucks at John and Simcoe any morning around 9:30 to see him waddle his way into the coffee line, with feet aligned even more ironically than ‘pump it up’ era Elvis Costello.
Remember the SCTV episode with hockey players walking down the sidewalk as if they were still on skates? Nuff said.
You never anwered my question about not makin fun of George’s appearance Allan !
Isn’t THAT pretensiousness to the extreme ? Making fun of the way his dresses, his style ? Like Allan’s old man sweaters with patches on the elbows are so much better !
wonder if we can make this into a course in Strombology at Humber …
And another thing … !
Have you noticed the “disconnect” (as Mark Kelley is going to be saying for the rest of his career!) between the numerous portrait photographs of George and his actual performance – Mr. Cutesy.
Every picture is of a brooding, defiant tough guy – even to the extent of a fist thrust at the lens. But in the show he’s all Mr. Giggles.
The most recent picture being used is of George sitting in a diner.
And this is supposed to convey what? Man of the people? Streetwise? Someone not the least interested in Hollywood glamour?
Yet what is the George Show all about? Chasing fame and celebrity!
The minimum-wage people we see out of focus in the background are the very ones George shows to have no interest in whatsoever. They’re not worthy, just props in an illusory world that the George and the photographer thinks is cool. But what does it have to do with the Fame game that The Hour is essentially built on?
It’s pretentious to the extreme.
Allen, you say that like it’s relevant. What does that have to do with the Strombo Show? This passage from your own article applies more to you than Strombo.
“Artistically, … closer to being a head-banging teenage girl …
But everything he does on the air (/page) fails, and it fails immediately because all of it comes from a transparent, self-centered agenda.”
Somebody in here said …”it is not I (in this case not Strombo) who is diminished”
“Hi, this is Ann Murray, and you’re listening to the Strombo Show.”
Is that not the most inappropriate gimmick from the days of AM Top 40 radio?
“Q” has also been guilty of using this stunt. What is that doing on the CBC?!!!
It takes a genuine pinhead to use such a bit to try and lend credibility to his “work”.
You can picture him going up to Ann after her promotional appearance on The Hour and asking her to say that blurb into a tape recorder. Just so juvenile, and completely the wrong direction for the CBC.
Again with the personal slams! to …? Strombo, Ann Murray, common radio promo practice …
Face it, Allen. At this point I think you’d sound ALOT more intelligent if you shut your keyboard off. Take your 100+ comments and go home.
My work here is done.
I’m going dancing.
I may not always get the damn name of the club right, but at least when I get there, I don’t do an easy waltz to a hot salsa.
If you don’t ‘get’ the relevance …-like I said…
Anne Murray endorses a radio show she’s never heard, and would be revolted by if she ever did. That’s George corrupting the culture of the CBC that we pay big bucks to protect. Stunts like that are phoney and crass and only suited to KISS FM.
Shout it out loud, Allan! George is a poser…the emperor has no clothes (literally, he is a clothing-optional radio personality). He is a sycophant for every Hollywood celebrity passing through Toronto & his tough-guy persona is transparently fake.
Also for Allan who calls Geoge a Butterball in Black and a well groomed goth. George is always polite to people so even if we are going to critsize his work shouldn’t we extend the gothic cowboy the same courtesy of not making fun of his apperance.
P.S. Nobody puts poongirl in a corner.
Instead of a corner, I think someone should put Poongirl in rehab from Strombo-sitis
and put Mimi in a muzzle from Allen ass-kissing and sucking -upisitis.
Mimi you make some good points. They wanted to see what George could really bring to the table and that is what he does. No writers and no large staff etc.
Now that is not good enough either. Ha.
Even though some people think the show isn’t good enough, I still like it. It it better, and plays better music then the other radio station – Kiss 92.5, Chum 104.5 etc
Also, they have better conversations about the music as well (him and Bob).
For those who say that George is an ego-maniac, he is not. He aways says that it’s just TV, not like he is saying lives. He doesn’ t have a false sense of what he does and he is always so nice to everyone. Including Allan who rarely has anything nice to say about him. Isn’t that true Allan ?
P.S Nobody puts poongirl in a corner.
Poongirl, I think you mean Marisa. -and SHE’s better reading than ALL of this. she makes excellent points!
Wow! thank you.
btw … lol … nice use of CAPS…
Why do you have to call him names like a Butterball in black ( he isn’t fat)
or a well-groomed goth ? While funny, are they necessary ?
Why cant he just have a talk show ?
LOL average, great, bad – it’s all subjective.
P.S. Nobody puts Poongirl in a corner.
poongirl, do you want to know what happens to commenters who get personally involved with a blog?
They become contributors.
You asked what could self-infatuated George do differently, or in addition to digging a deeper hole for himself.
But the problem with George is that he’s never really demonstrated a capacity to go beyond the easy and the obvious.
And yes, there’s a case to be made that it’s not entirely his fault. He’s a good technician in the role he’s been given. A very good presenter, well suited for The Home Shopping Network. Almost as good as the real Steve Anthony.
The way the CBC uses him, which is also to say the way he allows himself to be used, is a waste of potential. It doesn’t play to his … (cough) … strengths.
On the face of it, you could easily see him as the host of “The Rock Trivia Game Show”, with Jann Arden, Bubbles, Bruce Allen and Amy Sky as contestants. This is where his passions seems to lie. And no one would blink an eye to find that program on the CBC schedule these days.
But public broadcasting has the opportunity to aim higher, go further.
We choose to fund it, to such a generous extent!, that it need not simply be dependent on pandering to a mass audience. We give it a chance to do more.
Is not The Hour the cheapest thrill? Doesn’t it make you wonder what on earth the Producer gets paid to do?
But ok. You asked what could “your boyfriend” do that might just bring around the hordes of haters, let alone the larger mass of people who are completely ambivalent to anything he does.
This is a suggestion. A different use for the Butterball In Black.
Change the context. Change the circumstances and the motivation.
Make George a regular character on Heartland – the new stranger in town that rides a motorcycle instead of a horse, and turns out to be a vampire, which ultimately turns out to be a dream sequence in poongirl’s head.
Just kidding, but another way to exploit the brooding, matinee-idol good looks that George is purported to have and be promoted for incessantly.
No. Seriously. Put George where he actually becomes interesting.
Replace celebrities with real people. Have him primarily involved with Canadians.
Put him out on the street (with pay!) and involve him with the people of this country themselves. Send a message, in appearance and in deed, that George and the CBC are interested in, find value in, are fascinated by, the very people young and old who make up this thing that is Canada.
That would be changing the context, and reflecting us, all of us, to ourselves. Remember, he’s a real charmer, and so polite.
And too, change the motivation. Instead of having George do the trivial and easily glamorized chores, let him be self-directed, go where his interests lead, while insisting that he has a duty, a responsibility, to honour the full dimension of human existence.
Were we not originally sold a bill of goods that this well-groomed Goth was in some way symbolic or the embodiment of a generation?
Five and a half words.
Stop insulting us and prove it!
To imply that George’s pre-occupations as presented by the CBC are representative of the breadth and imagination of a generation, ANY generation, is selling all of us short.
In other words, bring the billboard superstar down to earth and urge him to find the intrinsic value in and of his fellow human beings. The good in every one, as well as some of the confusing parts. Give us our fellow citizens, as they exist in their evolving understanding of the world around them, bonding together, deeply and caringly amidst the shared experience and sheer hell of being alive in 2009.
Rather that in the CBC Archives that an interview with Vivica A. Fox.
So change the parameters of how he’s used. Make him work for a living, instead of giving into him like a spoiled child.
Which incidentally is how he got the CBC gig in the first place.
I wish you ran the CBC, Allan. I would watch & listen to it incessantly.
P.S. George isn’t good looking & he is more interested in riding his motorcycle off into the distance than anything else…if could marry his bike, he would.
Where the hell was all this in the article? … What are YOU getting paid for?
As much as I don’t agree with alot of it, it does show so much MORE relevance than all the personal attacks on everything from the way he talks, how he spends his money, his maturity, his choice of music and how he dresses. And the reference to it being the same show as the edge? The Edge was ALL rock ALL the time, did you miss the part where there was (supposed to be) a full range of musical experience in ‘this’ show?
I was NOT a fan of Stompin Tom Connors til THE WAY I heard him praised by Daniel Richler as a personal favourite, after The New Music, and gave him an objective listen. Would that be a waste of CBC air-time?
I think the CBC is being realistic in setting George up to prove he can convert his street-boy smarts to cultural significance. …dispite his speech, his clothes, his demeaner and his promo schtick -sounds to me like that’s what you want, and that’s what you ‘got’: No celebrities, no writers, no huge staff, no huge production entourage and nothing but what HE brings to the table.
Now, are there flaws IN THE SHOW, yes.
He might have actually benefitted by commercials to inject some compelling “musical teases”, the signal could be stronger, he needs a side kick, more emotional sentiment around the sad-off, and I would personally like to see more emphasis on Canadian content …
But I don’t understand the fuss around the pre-taping … I kinda thought it as a given … the studio is in his home! … who the hell works on Sunday if they don’t have to.
Bravo, Allen. Excellent reply to your article … btw … maybe you can correct my spelling for me.
George has average taste in music.
Poongirl drinks the koolaid.
Poongirl is mad.
God forbid Allen would like a little more bang for his buck. God forbid he would like to walk away from something with a tidbit of knowledge he didn’t know before. People who resort to ‘he must be jealous’ have the intelligence of sponge toffee. The fact is the CBC is partially run with tax dollars and the people they have chosen to pander to pay the least amount of tax because they are too busy trying to figure out why Paris Hilton is so darn cool to get a job. Not everyone in this country finds it endearing to turn on the TV and find nothing but flashy graphics and bite size information bits all rapped up in the phrase ‘for reals man’. Strombo is not at fault for this, but he does make the criticism easy.
All the shit the CBC has been given since their make-over, people are tuning out in huge numbers because frankly, stupid is on its way out. Not everyone has the IQ of a gnat. People want more. It’s that simple, but I guess CBC thinks that if you keep your audience stupid, they won’t ask questions, they won’t expect anything. Well bananas man, soon the only person watching is going to be poongirl.
Thanks, Blunt. I’m in complete agreement.
“ctually, it’™s a desire to have our tax dollars used effectively. If the CBC can’™t spend the money wisely, the health care system could use it. So could the educational system (maybe even college radio!) Cut the budget!”
And while we’re at it let’s cut the budget to every messy, humanistic, beautiful enterprise we can’t justify with a business model….
CBC Radio Type 2 must not have visited any hospitals recently, or been involved with the desperately underfunded health system in any way…
There will always be some more practical way to spend money!
And as someone who lived in the US without health insurance I can tell you I understand the goods and bads of our health care system.
I think Allan may be a bit jealous too.
Actually, it’s a desire to have our tax dollars used effectively. If the CBC can’t spend the money wisely, the health care system could use it. So could the educational system (maybe even college radio!) Cut the budget!
I agree! If Bob and George want to scratch each others asses get off the CBC.
You know what they say? When they talk about you, you’re an ‘it boy/girl”. When they stop talking about you, the abyss may not be too far off . 77 comments speaks volumes. Let’s face it kids, we contribute to the hype. We make George an “it boy” simply by writing about him.
Poongirl, it not a man-crush. It is jealousy.
Allan, is George your guy crush ? MmmMMmmm he’s so manly.
I like puppets!
The show is pre-taped. None of it is live. 100% fact.
Why are you mad that the fact that Bob and George are doing a show together ? They made a pact years ago that they would always try and work together.
Did Bob ever work on The Hour producing ? I know he did/does work on Off The Record for Landsberg.
To turn this upside down a bit Allan … is there anything George does well ? Any part of his persona that you like ? I mean, we could say, we hate his show, but it’s not going anywhere, but, if he gets a lot of good feedback on one or two things he is doing maybe he can expeand on those and make the show a bit more bearable to listen to for the people who hate him.
We want to be enthralled, we want edge, we want to expect the unexpected.
And simply be, entertained, perhaps, by fluke, enlightened.
Give us an authentic experience, that reflects this very moment in time.
Oh, and puppets.
George has good taste in music. What else would you love for his show to have that it doesn’t have now ?
an interesting host.
Too much to ask…unless the show is about motorcycles.
Is not what Strombo hands out just more of the same pap we get in every direction?
The show is a scam, by Donlon and by Strombo, and it includes Mackowycz who just happens to be a business partner and lifelong friend of George’s.
This is about people serving themselves, more than serving the public.
This is about getting away with beginner radio, wasting our time, the same pap as always, rather than using public airwaves for quality programs that merit your time and attention.
The Strombo show is utter crap compared to what the CBC could be used for.
Look around you.
Mondoville, Raymi, Amber McArthur, Matthew Good, Jesse Hirsh, the Littlest Hobo Twitterer, … even the people we don’t like!!! … there’s so much more to the world around us than this drone-clone-crap radio that CBC 2 has become.
And, that Strombo so typifies.
That radio is dead, died a long time ago. It’s muzak for dullards, killing time, and of course it’s going to create a little clubhouse effect of listeners. ANYONE CAN DO IT!
We deserve better. Better than something just anybody can do.
Better than someone who does it so badly.
Yes!! Let’s get Matthew Good to replace Strombo! Please, please, please! Thanks for confirming my suspicions, Allan. The CBC has become an elitist clique, where talent, intelligence & ability aren’t as important as hanging out with the right people at the right parties. Is that why the budget gets cut?
Raymi? Seriously? Wow, you are a weird old perv.
Thanks for reading me right.
Did I read the title correctly? “Fair and Balanced” oh please. Rush Limbaugh on a see-saw across from an infant would be more “fair and balanced” than this article. I’m reading nothing more than a hissy-fit personal attack on the flavour-du-jour.
“Radio Girl” , “Anon#1,200,00o”,” inside…”, “cbc radio 2 type” and Allen himself were aptly referred to as “stodgy enviots” attacking too many personal aspects of Mr.Strombo from the choice of his music (and format) to how he should spend his money and his wardrobe (or implied lack of) … the only relatively valid comment being that Strombo DOES require a sidekick, a sounding board or straight man/person. Radio talent isn’t always so much about having their own strong personality, but to bring out the personalities of their guests, issues, or mucical offerings. And he lacks a measure of vocal presence probably from habit of too much visual exposure on TV. Speak up George! You’ve made your choice of musical offerings. Play it up or shut-up and go home …-oh wait, … and if it’s pretaped or not, that’s the beauty of radio, in all the pre-press I never heard a word about taking on air requests or even about being live at all… just that the studio is in his home
Yes, we need to “sharpen our listening skills” this is an important offering to our collective musical experience. Yes, he could use more backbone in his on-air presence and an element of sentiment or heart behind his ‘sad-off’ segment to round out or perhaps contrast his uber-dudeness -if he figures it out in time he will be successful, if not he will have maintained his “integrity of personal taste” and take the blows as they come … even if only from “part tart chicks”
Canadian media is ripe for a ‘runaway’ star to hit the airwaves al a Stern. With ALL the product randomly available on the internet it will be the role of radio talent to distinguish themselves in offering something listeners can’t get on their own through talk and/or music. He’s not quite there yet, but moreso than a Richie Favolero. … d’aint no whitebread on Strombo.
“He’™s not quite there yet, but moreso than a Richie Favolero. ’¦ d’™aint no whitebread on Strombo”.
He’s been in radio since 1993! How long is it gonna take this guy to catch the right train to ‘do your job properly town’??
I think to filter this whole thread down:
Apparently he’s a friendly guy.
He is an example of the Peter Principle at work: he fails (hour show ratings, edge radio show) yet is given more opportunities.
He’s similar in some ways to Ben Mulroney, in that he’s more popular with his bosses than viewers/listeners. To be fair, Ben Mulroney has no talent, George has a medium amount.
His radio show appeals to women who had crushes on him when he was at much, and can now listen to his show with their kids to hear older music.
He’s a straight man that needs a sidekick with a personality.
He’s not really to blame. The higher-ups keep pushing him on CBC viewers/listeners.
You seem to have read the comments and not the article.
In it a radio show based on every kind of music was trashed for EVERYthing BUT music.
Replies which proved to be more savvy and relevant than the origional article got attacked (and adroitly defended) on a personal basis because they appreciate the breadth of musical scope and not the bullshit of media politics.
And a guy who has managed to cultivate a dedicated following of both men and women, won a handful of awards, and apparently doesn’t know what he’s doing … got ALL this attention
I think that’s proof that it’s the article that SUCKs “moreso” than the show dispite Strombo’s weaknesses.
The more I read the output from contributors here, the more I understand William Shakespear’s attitude:
“Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
Push your self away from the keyboard as I will now and go to the last real deli in your neighbourhood. I hope there are real people for you to engage face to face with and those pickled smells to remind you of the good old days before the keyboard replaced conversation.
yeah, you’re right … when people could actually go to pubs and drink and smoke and yack and vent … now they are all stuck behind their screens …
kewl
so wuz I …
Dear MT (empty? now I get it) I wuz referring to the Peter Principal ,not Peter Mansbridge. Geeez….
“My” spelling is easily corrected by any idiot who has nothing better to say.
I made NO insinuation that I, my education OR my kids (and their spelling) are perfect, because I was sticking to the issue at hand. I made the point that they benefited from exposure to a variety of music which is what the Strombo show does.
And btw … the word is ‘fucking’; your attempts at politeness were rather undermined by your personal attack on irrelevant points.
I don’t like opera, but that doesn’t mean it sucks and Peter may still serve a greater purpose than you give him credit for.
Marisa T get a “frigging” sic spell check installed . I am so glad you are educated and your kids are perfect. Maybe they can spell?
Anyway as per George S. it’s the tired old Peter Principle (look it up people).
I live 200 klics from T.O. I dig the CBC but it has gone so far downhill I can’t believe it. BUT Jian G. is a great interviewer (and I hated Moxy Fruvous). A ray of hope…
I’m sure George is a nice guy. It’s not his fault he’s in over his head!. I blame Radio 2 management. George is only taking the opportunities he’s being offered!
Please stop bashing him and concentrate on what’s happening to Radio in general.
Strombo isn’t egotistical. If anything, I think he thinks less of himself than he puts on. He’s always making little criticisms of himself. Have you noticed the number of times he jokes about being unhealthy and out of shape? Every time he gets a compliment he shrugs it off.
Egotistical people carry themselves like they own the place and are top shit. I don’t know where you’re getting the impression the dude has an ego.
As for deleting his negative criticisms… be honest, wouldn’t you do the same? A lot of criticisms people make are rude and downright petty. Why should he put up with that? I’m sure if someone gave a polite and honest criticism, he’d leave it up.
someones jealous…
frankly, i don’t think laurie brown is worth saving. there used to be actual vital and vibrant programming in that slot – it was called brave new waves.
what she does is flaky droopy adult contemporary. yawn and yawn.
My point IS, that the Mona Lisa remains unscathed and yet accessed by a whole other audience who would not have otherwise appreciated her beauty and significance for what it is. That’s just the “fun factor” of our times, I don’t like it, I HATE it. But there it is. … what’s YOUR point? …Pop culture is irrelevant? how very 50’s… The media has bastardized the importance of current events to fill the copious venus for commercial gains? yeah. big surprise. Are you in NEWS at the CBC?
There’s a big difference between a “funkafied” frame and a bastardized framework with which to present the priorities of current affairs.
I work for the CBC and let me tell you GS is really starting to piss me off. Common sense might dictate that at a time when we cannot open the newspaper without someone writing about how we have insulted their intelligence with the ‘news’, that perhaps, one who also works for the CBC would not say half the shit he does. Some of you might think its harmless, but I see it as yet another nail in the coffin, and a lot of people here seem to agree.
I’m so glad that he has funkafied then Mona Lisa for you, cause that’s exactly what we want done with art history. Ugh.
Completely agree…why is the lowest common denominator always winning?
I am not a person for whom attempted insults, from someone hiding behind anonymity, succeed to offend.
If your “anyway …” is the best you can do to stick to the issue, it is not “I” who is diminshed.
sorry, the “new audience exposure” thing was supposed to be “Ray Charles to Alex Cuba”.
Y’know, this is the second time I read through all this and the 100th time I hear the same thing. The only valid exception being a sporatic coment or two about technical issues which are totally ‘fixable’: he needs a stronger signal. – you have a volume control, use it. … his personality needs a sidekick, -so does EVERY other host in the business, when he finds one strong enough to tether his skills he’ll use it until then, he’s giving exposure to other radio talent, most of whom I hadn’t heard of til his show. Most of everything else that’s written seems 100 versions of the same stodgy enviots who just don’t ‘get’ true cool.
I’m as educated and cultured as CBC gets and I like that he can put a funky frame around the Mona Lisa without drawing a mustache on it. When my kids were little, I made it my personal mission, as a musicita/affisionata, to be a source of music history for them. While in the car they were exposed to everything from Beatles, Beach Boys, Motown, Sinatra, Mathis, Ella, Rap, Springsteen, Sting, BNL, Snow, Blue Rodeo, Amanda Marshall, Mozzart, Straus and Tchaikofsky. All the other stuff they got enough of on the pop/commercial drivel stations across the dial.
And these days there isn’t a musical reference in the world they can’t relate to -and ain’t they just the better for it.
It’s called the STROMBO show, people 8 – midnight … I think you need to shapren your listening skills … you sound like were expecting another Don Danard maybe, playing all the same sappy, poppy stuff that’s already getting enough air play or maybe 4hrs hours of all the same stuff you can parcel neatly into a pigeon hole for the ease and limitations of your previous experiences. The “psycho-flavoured part tart chicks” are bringing with them a whole new audience who would never had been exposed to Ray Charles and Neil Young on the same program, it’s not like their parents will do that for them … like radio did it for the parents back in the day. It’s old- school cool meets fresh new talent and he maintains integrity of personal taste … it’s not MY taste, but at the end of it you feel like you’ve been visited by somebody who brought you something you would not have otherwise found on your own in your “homes, offices and lives”.
As for the pants thing, it’s a harmless enough promo schtick, (didn’t you get it) they made the same reference to Mansbridge about the change on the set – and besides even Gene Simmons said “George, you have nice legs, why don’t you take off your pants?”
Well at least you are as educated AS CBC, which might be why you find Georges ‘sad-offs’ educational. The fact that you think its okay for George to state he will be doing his show half naked because Gene Simmons said so, explains a lot too (I smell pop tarts). Anyway, the mans almost 40 and its time to grow up, and based on his bad press, the rest of the people think so as well.
yet, as George’s show appears to indicate … what’s to know?
and … you’re not THE “larry” … are you?
Since i am not a bitter hack…
I will leave this you cowards who hide on the
internet who “THINK” they know radio.
Haven’t heard the strombo show, but since we’re also hating radio 2 on this thread, just wanted to say that with the exception of a show here and a host there, I think CBC Radio 2 is great.
It’s not about age. It’s not about Brent! It’s about quality!
CBC used to be like a smart, thoughtful friend who spent the day with you… now it’s like the people you hear talking loudly over the band trying to establish their coolness! What happened to the long view? What happened to our radio friend?
CBC Radio changed my life when I was a teenager living out on the edge of the country! It has been a daily part of my experience for almost 30 years… For God sake abandon the search for what’s trendy and return to what matters! It doesn’t have to be string quartets it can be rock bands but it has to be extraordinary! It has to be about more than selling shit and passing fads it has to be about everything beyond the sales pitch and the billboard and the ratings numbers. Somewhere out there up North or down East or in the far flung suburbs some kid is waiting to tune in a revelation, an epiphany, a moment of transcendence! Radio is that direct connection, that direct current, into the ear, into the heart, into the soul….
CBC Radio’s audience LOVES us!
The only show worth listening to is Laurie Brown’s. She is the only radio personality on CBC with any integrity & authenticity, and the only one isn’t desperately trying to be cool or hip. Luv her, her show & the music. Heaven help the CBC if they lose her.
Will Arcade Fire be doing gigs in 30 years? (30 weeks? ) I’m not sure there is a CBC2 demographic that is ripe for the plucking any more. It’s shattered.(loveandhopeandsexanddreamsarestillsurvivingonthestreetlookatmeimintatters)
um. brent is great and everything. but he’s coming up on 50.
also. he also didn’t pick the music at brave new waves.
that said. he deserves a real radio gig. he’s a really great interviewer.
I think we should launch a give Brent Banbury a real Radio 2 show campaign!
I’m in! West Coast…represent!
Brave New Waves taught me about Chuck D and Public Enemy. Give Brent a real show again. CBC is becoming the Chinese Broads Corporation, has anybody noticed??
Just wondering… if radio-girl wants to claim to be one of the people good at their job, shouldn’t she say who she is?
You guys and Allan are all pathetic. Allan is a typical perv writing about hottie Amy Lang and how’s she pretty then writes two articles on George in a week.
don’t be discouraged, poongirl, your views are valued & we’re in this together.
A comment in another thread asked “where’s YOUR accountability?”
The only answer that came to mind is … right here in the comments section. One thoughtful comment can turn any post on its head.
I have nothing against George, even though The Hour drives me nuts. I’m also fine with “personalities” being given air time, provided they have something interesting to say. What I’d like to know is if Stombo will be micromanaged to death the way all the other Radio 2 music hosts have been; unlike Tom Allen or Rich Terfry, maybe Strombo could actually benefit from it.
Mostly, however, I lament the fact that Radio 2’s new mandate–which I wholeheartedly supported in the beginning–has been pissed away entirely by second-guessing boomer management. There’s nothing exciting about the music or the way it’s presented on shows like “Morning” (whose title demonstrates the show’s imagination) or The Signal; Drive is tolerable, but again, so much wasted opportunity. And hiring Strombo to duplicate his private radio show smacks of desperation.
Lastly, I wish the above article on Strombo didn’t sound so petty and poorly written. There’s stronger, more concise criticism to be made of the show; if I were management, I wouldn’t take the above attack very seriously at all.
“Like.”
No, 9 plus 20
Wow, poongirl are you nine??
LOL at George takes down his bad press people post to his myspace/facebook page, that is so true.
But, I guess that is his choice.
He can’t stop people from writing about him in news/blog articles.
To be honest, it is his myspace/facebook page and he doesn’t have to leave things he finds offensive up. Also, many people say he is a nice guy I don’t think he has a huge ego. When he meets people he takes time to talk with them and make them feel like they are the only ones there. It’s not like he walks around like an egomaniac and is mean to people. I’m no celeb but when people write things I find to be embarressing I take it down too. Wouldn’t most people take things down that are said that are mean about them ?
It’s not like he walks around with his head stuck up in the air .. also, don’t know if he is on his way to being a millionaire, lol.
George is tweeting “live” while on the air, even though the song was played in the Atlantic time zone an hour ago. At least he is listening!
Let’s just say it, Strombo is bad for business and CBC radio made a huge mistake. There are a lot of radio guys who don’t like him and it’s not because of his tastes in music, or the fact that he has no depth or real understanding of music (because lets face it, those days are gone). Yes, he talks too fast and ass rapes the English language on a daily basis. All of this I can live with. What makes him bad for business is his ego, which is huge. He hangs up on callers when he doesn’t like what they have to say, gets rid of his bad press by deleting it or taking the comments section down and the vast majority of his good press, comes from the inside (psycho-flavored pop tart chicks excluded- shit he can have those), and if he doesn’t get his way he stomps his feet and walks away, that’s why he’s had so many ‘gigs’. At a time when CBC is getting their collective ass’s handed to them, this was a bad move. Wake-up CBC! Strombo has no balls what-so-ever and this move is gonna hurt.
Sure I remember Brave New Waves and The Great Eastern and This is Art … different programming philosophy, different notion of the engagement of the listeners.
This conversation should not be about poor little George. I haven’t heard his radio show but I think the Hour is by times very good. George is as much a victim as the poor long suffering CBC Radio 2 listener. Where is a up and coming CBC host to learn the art and craft of radio. The Corp has relied on and abused “casual” and “contract” people for so long there is no farm team to draw upon when it’s time to call someone up to the pros! It’s the same in every area of the CBC. The old guard in now very old and near retirement and there are NO apprentices waiting to step up and become master craftsmen. Top level management has no desire or plan to carry to pass down CBC’s culture down to the next generation. They would rather put on air professional musicians who sound like amateur broadcasters or as the previous poster said “grab castaways from Queen and John”.
They are killing 70 years worth of corporate culture and experience and putting in it’s place blogging/podcasting/ hipster wanna be types.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not a classical / jazz snob type. I ‘ in my 40s and grew up on rock’ n’ roll and the CBC. Remember Brave New Wave? Why is Brent Banbury locked in the Go playpen? Give him the Strombo timeslot!
Great Idea!!! It’s time that “Go” went away…Brent can replace George anyday. I think George is interested in getting back into radio because he is losing his boyish charm & good looks, which is all that television wants from him.
Part of the reason Bambury was great was the good vibe and the great people working on the show back then. Back in the day I hosted on private radio and on American public radio (where producers actually get creative control of their shows). (I know, incredible, non?) The best hosts are both kind and appreciative to the people who make them look good, and, if they have any sense, they effusively thank their producers, both on-air and off. I was lucky enough to learn this from the pros in the states, and to witness it here in canada before that stopped happening.
What this discussion doesn’t address is why is it that George is the only one allowed to play good music (ie: music that people who aren’t boomers buying the same 10 albums they listened to in college over and over)?! You can all trash indie rock all you want (you’re obviously a boomer) but the Terfry show has played only the most bloodless, shite version of indie rock. There’s a lot more out there: NPR has several shows (even hosted by old people!) to prove it.
Newsflash, Boomers: independent music is where the original ideas are these days, and its enormous success reflects one thing: it’s what the people want. Even fifty-something me and most of my forty-something friends know that.
It’s so lame that the good people left in radio can’t convince their coldplay-and-john-mayer loving masters of this. I’m guessing they’ll have to spend another $100-thou on another focus group.
This is so true. There’s a little bit creeping in to commercial radio with some of the more interesting Triple-A offerings. CBC is hit and miss, though they’ve restricted themselves with their Canadian music only mandate.
You’re kidding, right?? Canadian only mandate? I hear the same Jack Johnson song every time I turn it on!!!! No, sorry!! sometimes they play Stevie Wonder. Or that Canadian band that broke up two years ago. Or that guy in a coma.
sorry, missed the 3 after CBC.
I’m not sure what all the fuss is about really. Some people like George and some people dislike George – there is no denying that. But, the same can be said for most of the hosts on any radio network really. What I think the fuss should be about is how CBC Radio has taken a show that was aired on a private network and now airs it on the public broadcaster. Has the CBC lost all its ability to come up with original ideas? I agree that top 40 radio is very crappy right now, and so it’s nice to have something different to turn on, but does CBC have to take the same ol’ host and the same ol’ show from the Edge and air it on CBC Radio 2? I am wondering how much this trash is costing taxpayers? Why not take a normal person who is naturally engaging and has a great deal of music knowledge and let them host a radio show? There are other great personalities out there you know – just waiting to be discovered. But, instead, CBC runs up to the corner of Queen and John and grabs any castaways that are now too old to work there. Is this what public radio is all about? I don’t think so – not in other countries anyways.
And, I doubt very much if the show is done ‘live’. Why you ask? Well, there are very few shows on CBC Radio that are aired ‘live’ – even if they are made to sound like they are ‘live’. Most hosts at the CBC want to work Mon to Fri from 9 am to 5 pm and still pretend that they care about radio and the arts. Just ask Molly Johnson how many shows she has done ‘live’ on Saturday and/or Sunday mornings. I think her answer is ‘zero’! And, I’d bet the farm on the fact that George’s show is not done ‘live’ either! There is no way that George is sitting anywhere (in his basement or in a radio 2 studio) on Sunday nights working. George doesn’t work Sunday nights unless there are photogs around to capture him hanging out with the other phonies (err, I mean celebs).
I didn’t find the show all that bad, but I lean towards “music… what’s the big fucking deal”? As long as there are no commercials and no Rob Thomas songs on CBC2 then I’m not going to get my boxers into a knot.
Strombo annoys me, tv, radio, whatever. Surely there’s someone else kicking around who’s more engaging… right? What were\are the options? What is Strombo getting paid for his tv\radio work?
I wonder if Allan sits in his basement with his pants off?
Well even if he did, he wouldn’t inform the entire country about it.
I have been working in radio for 17 years now and I’m still here! Let me start by saying I don’t work in Toronto and I don’t work for CBC radio, although my respect for CBC radio is deep. When I found out that George was going to Radio 2 my heart sank. Seventeen of us ‘radio’ people had to go out for a beer (several) to discuss this matter. Now this is not Strombo hate, nor have I ever bashed a fellow member, but this is all jut too much now.
What George fails to understand is that radio is an art form and that the listeners are like no others in the world. They let us into their homes, offices and lives and when you’ve been around as long as I have, they become family. They love you and hate you, but they always come back, because you are apart of their day-everyday.
What pissed me off the most was when George gave one of his first interviews for his ‘new’ show, he told the reported he would be doing the show without pants on! Now, i’m not a prude, but who the hell does he think his audience is? Let me clarify for you G, the listeners at CBC radio are educated, cultured in every art in the world, and have been apart of that family most of their lives! These are not little girls lining up to suck you off! Get over yourself! As someone in radio, frankly I’m embarrassed!!! We all went into radio for the love of music and the love our of city. You seem to do it because you want to get laid, sorry George but I can’t say it any other way. Trust me when I say educated people don’t want to know your sitting in your basement without pants on. As for his lack of talent on the radio, Allen said it all. George I give you this piece of advice… if you want to embarrass yourself, fine. You are doing a great job of that…boyfriend, but DON’T embarrass your listener, don’t embarrass the CBC anymore, and don’t embarrass us (the people who are good at their job). The big boys welcome you G, and we’ve all placed out bets.
George is on the prowl…ewww.
“nobody cares what’™s on Radio 2 anymore, that battle is lost”
I’m afraid this may be true.. if so it’s very sad.
Radio 2 is where personality goes to die.
nobody cares what’s on Radio 2 anymore, that battle is lost.
Radio 2 has been taken over by enthusiastic amateurs. The few older classical producers are at a loss to understand what constitutes good pop music and the younger “producers” and “hosts” are all about fandom and the scene. I have worked with “music producers” who could not cut a simple 4 bar phrase out of a promo not because they could not make and edit on a workstation but because they couldn’t identify what constitutes 4 bars!
The quality of our live concert presentations has taken a nose dive! We’re wasting money and credibility recording and presenting bands that do not meet even the most minimum musical standard: play in tune and in time.
But hey if they’re from Toronto or Montreal, have 14 members, a sousaphone and a glockenspiel they MUST be good!
And don’t get me started about “Radio3” which sounds every bit like campus radio.
Press:
CBC hipster George Stroumboulopoulos won for best host, beating out Survivorman Les Stroud, among others.
He credited the off-the-cuff nature of The Hour for its success.
’œNow we’™re finding that there are people who don’™t want to come on, because they know there’™s no rules,’ Stroumboulopoulos said. ’œThere’™s no pre-scripted questions, because I don’™t know what the questions are going to be. And there are some people who aren’™t comfortable with that.’
Yeah, that’s why people don’t want to come on – because you’re so dangerous and liable to ask the tough questions, and not suck up to whatever guest comes on.
George is as dangerous as a lapdog.
This is the best analysis of the Strombo phenomenon I’ve seen. The Ben Mulroney comparison is apt.
Ditto.
And even smarmy Jian sounds better, but then he has a large sycophantic engineering crew (David Letterman??) trying to keep their pop culture jobs.
Someone find a job elsewhere for Denise Donlon. The nest G-G?
Just looked at the playlist – sophomoric, bland shite. Sounds like a stinker program. Yet another shitty choice from the dumb asses in Radio that purged just about anyone who knew or had a genuine interest in music. Let’s not get into any tired genre battles here. Just call it what it is – another Stursbergian coffin nail for the ‘Senior Service’.
And by the way Allan, I used to diss you quite bit in the comments section, but your comeback to TM has actually been pretty good. Don’t fuck it up!
It’s not built content but a disk spin in the wee hours. It’s irrelevent. It doesn’t merit criticism.
yawn
Allan Cros is that you? To quote Ian Mackaye, “At least I’m trying. WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE? “