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SOWNY » Another CFRB newscast gaffe » July 28, 2025 4:11 pm

dieter
Replies: 11

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All of us newscasters have had bad days. But on her 4pm newscast, it sounded very much like Patricia said the Blue Jays are playing the Baltimore OILERS.

SOWNY » Another CFRB newscast gaffe » July 28, 2025 2:58 pm

dieter
Replies: 11

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On the 2 pm newscast today (Monday) on CFRB, Patricia Muhammad read a story quoting some news agency called ROOT-ers. Civilization continues to decline.

SOWNY » More Richard Southern biased reporting » July 5, 2025 1:50 am

dieter
Replies: 24

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Stefanie wrote:

Hi, I sent Richard Southern at 680 news any email about more of his bias reporting today. Here's what he said and how I responded.
Stefanie, 
 
I appreciate your feedback, but it's my job, and the job of every reporter covering Queen's Park, to hold the government to account, not to simply be a stenographer and read press releases. It's important that reports include both sides of an issue, and yes to cast a critical eye on what your government is doing. If you're able to point to anything I said that was incorrect I would gladly offer up correction, otherwise I think you may be confusing balance, and my job of holding a government to account, for bias. 
 
My response....

Richard, you are confusing reporting the facts and holding the government to account. 
 
I believe your job is a reporter not an interpreter.
 
I just need the media to report the facts and, with my voting, I'm able to interpret the facts and be in a position to hold any government to account. When I vote, if I disagree, I will hold them to account.
 
I have a graduate degree so I consider myself relatively smart. I don't need the media and you giving me your personal 'interpretation' of a situation in the government. I never read the editorial page of any newspaper...Why??.... Because if I know the facts from a story, I can make my own decision. Just give me the facts.

Your tonality in 98.7% of your reports on the Ontario government, obviously indicate your bias. I never hear anything against other parties.
 
You should be ashamed of yourself as a reporter........ Just give the facts and leave it to the listeners to make their own decision. 
 
Maybe Rogers/your superiors have told you to constantly criticize Ford's government. If that is so, and if you're that fragile,  Richard, quit the business or go to CBC.
 
Some of our greatest News reporters over the years just gave the facts.... Lloyd Robertson, Harvey Kirk, and even Peter Mansbridge at CBC.
 
Facts, facts,

SOWNY » An Update On The Life & Times Of Toronto Sportscaster Chris Mayberry » July 1, 2025 10:07 am

dieter
Replies: 7

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RadioActive wrote:

The former sportscaster is retired now, but has some great memories of his days in broadcasting. He goes over them with John Best, the former news director of CHCH-TV. (Don't let the article's headline fool you - this is more about the great Mayberry than Joe Bowen!) 

Chris Mayberry Is Alive & Well & Happy In Retirement

   I can't access this link, for whatever reason.
 

SOWNY » An Update On The Life & Times Of Toronto Sportscaster Chris Mayberry » June 30, 2025 11:38 pm

dieter
Replies: 7

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As another former co-worker of Chris at BN (and apparently of Tq345 also -- I remember what that refers to) I can vouch for Chris fully deserving all of these tributes and kind words.

SOWNY » Troy Reeb Out At Corus » June 9, 2025 12:13 am

dieter
Replies: 9

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Troy wasn't everyone's cup of tea as he worked his way up the greasy pole at BN before moving to the Global pole and climbing much higher.
   But he did a great report calling out a number of butt-kissing questions at a Madonna news conference. The worst offenders were apparently some entertainment reporters from Montreal and 680's Rudy Blair, who was really steamed that his butt-kissing question was in Troy's report. Tough luck, Rudy.

SOWNY » TV Commercials That Became Hit Records » May 9, 2025 11:08 pm

dieter
Replies: 19

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RadioActive wrote:

I didn't think it could still happen in this day of ad skipping, but a TV commercial airing in the U.S. has spawned a hit video. The company, called Total Wine & More, issued a catchy jingle almost two years ago as part of a TV ad, and it became very popular - so much so that it was released as a full music video called "Find What You Love." (You can see it here.)

It made me wonder about other television spots that morphed into actual hit records. The first one I recall came from a one-hit wonder called The T-Bones, who released an instrumental called "No Matter What Shape Your Stomach's In" in 1966. It was based on the background music from an Alka Seltzer commercial that was running at the time. (The T-Bones, by the way, were actually members of the legendary Wrecking Crew, who appeared on hundreds of hit records over the years.)

Maybe the most famous was a song by the New Seekers, who turned a commercial about buying the world a Coke into a huge smash called I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing in 1971. 

Not sure how many people know that the Carpenters' smash "We've Only Just Begun" started life as a commercial for an American bank in 1971. It reached #2 on Billboard and became one of the brother-and-sister group's biggest hits. 

I'm not sure if there were others that went from pitch to hits, but this latest example shows it can still happen. 

The lyrics for "We've Only Just Begun" were by Paul Williams. That helped launch his long writing career, which included an Oscar and "Phantom of the Paradise."

SOWNY » Dian Cohen » May 7, 2025 8:06 am

dieter
Replies: 0

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https://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-330515/COHEN_DIAN

   Some of you may remember Dian Cohen.  Although this notice doesn't mention it, she was a business and economics expert for CBC and other media back in the 70s and 80s.

SOWNY » Ruth Buzzi From Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In Dies At 88 » May 3, 2025 2:23 pm

dieter
Replies: 15

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RadioActive wrote:

Binson Echorec wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

Another of those cultural touchstone shows that spawned a plethora of catchphrases. 

"It's sock it to me time."
"Look that up in your Funk & Wagnalls."
"Very interesting."
"You bet your sweet bippy."
"Is that a chicken joke?"
"Beautiful downtown Burbank."
"And that's the truth."
"Have I reached the party to whom I am speaking?"
"I wonder if you might like to hear something my aunt once said to me?"
"Here come da judge!"
"I'll drink to that."
"Go to your room, Alan."
"One ringy dingy, Two ringy dingys."
"Blow in my ear and I'll follow you anywhere."
"By Henry Gibson."

Use any one of these catchphrases on a sub-50 year old and they might make a note to lock you up lol.

It was definitely a show of its time and I doubt there could be any catchphrases from TV programs today - the audience is too fragmented for anything to really catch on now. 

But Laugh-In was a pioneer that presaged the coming of MTV or MuchMusic videos - quick cuts throughout the entire show, inventing something entirely new. It was a game changer and the very first show where you didn't dare leave the screen to go to the bathroom or the fridge because you'd miss 10 jokes, and where the comedy continued after the end credits. Nobody had ever done that before. 

Monty Python's jokes also continued after the credits. Not sure if they did it before Laugh-In.

   Ruth Buzzi had a long career with Sesame Street, voiceover work and other jobs.

   Tyrone: "Do you believe in the hereafter?"
   Gladys: "Of course I do."
   Tyrone: "Then you know what I'm here after."

SOWNY » AM 640's Greg Brady Loses His Bid For A Seat In Ottawa » April 29, 2025 10:30 pm

dieter
Replies: 32

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RadioAaron wrote:

BowmanvilleBob wrote:

For those who missed it, Jivani used an interview with the CBC (gasp) to slam Doug Ford, calling him an "opportunist" who doesn't "do anything particularly well.", adding that Ford's "goons" stopped his efforts to get results at the federal level. Hmmm...given Doug's kindly and forgiving nature, I'm sure this will go over well at Queen's Park.

   Apparently, Poilievre also doesn't get along with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston. The federal party quickly blamed Houston for some seat losses there.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6739918

That clip is wild! Jivani is just awful. No wonder he's friends with JD.

I'm not a fan of Ford policy-wise, but all politicians are "opportunist." I prefer to call it pragmatic. He's shown the ability to swim upstream and say/do the right thing when it really matters. I don't really care what his motivations are, I'm just glad to have him looking out for us (to the limit of his abilities) at pivotal moments. 

Never thought I'd say that.

SOWNY » AM 640's Greg Brady Loses His Bid For A Seat In Ottawa » April 29, 2025 10:26 pm

dieter
Replies: 32

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Hansa wrote:

mace wrote:

mace wrote:

Historically, has this ever happened before? Two party leaders losing their seat in the same federal election.

Well to answer my own question. The last Conservative leader to lose her seat was Kim Campbell in 1993. As for the NDP, this election seems to be the first time this has happened.

Tommy Douglas lost his seat in 1968 (he returned to the House by moving to BC and running in a byelection)

David Lewis also lost his York South seat in 1974.

Tommy was already in BC. He lost in Vancouver, then moved to Vancouver Island.

SOWNY » AM 640's Greg Brady Loses His Bid For A Seat In Ottawa » April 29, 2025 10:19 pm

dieter
Replies: 32

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mace wrote:

mace wrote:

Historically, has this ever happened before? Two party leaders losing their seat in the same federal election.

Well to answer my own question. The last Conservative leader to lose her seat was Kim Campbell in 1993. As for the NDP, this election seems to be the first time this has happened.

Tommy Douglas lost his Vancouver seat in 1968, then ran successfully a few months later on Vancouver Island.

SOWNY » CFRB Traffic Reporter Mangles Well Known Toronto Street » April 11, 2025 9:17 am

dieter
Replies: 22

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mace wrote:

Skywave wrote:

Just how does a local pronounce Balliol? The right way, or the oily way?

I have never heard of this street. What is the correct pronunciation? My favourite is Queens Quay. I have also had people ask me for directions to "yun-gee" street. Oh you mean Yonge Street? Yes, but why is it spelt incorrectly? is how the conversation usually goes.

I remember reading awhile ago that no one knows if we're pronouncing Yonge the way it's namesake did.

SOWNY » CFRB Traffic Reporter Mangles Well Known Toronto Street » April 10, 2025 10:54 pm

dieter
Replies: 22

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   Adwoa Nsiah-Yeboah is a very good traffc reporter during the day on CFRB.  But it was painful today to hear repeatedly pronounce Gloucester Avenue as Glow-Chester.  

SOWNY » The One Weather Cliché That All Forecasters Should Stop Using » March 24, 2025 11:59 pm

dieter
Replies: 5

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Jessica Smith is horrible. She still talks far too fast. 

SOWNY » Sunday radio coverage » March 22, 2025 10:16 am

dieter
Replies: 18

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Walter wrote:

In the brief news breaks, between the disability law shilling and lame 'trivia for idiots' show, they might mention it. Or not.

Since you're so brilliant, call in and win a prize yourself.
 

SOWNY » Jim Richards on Donald Trump » March 13, 2025 7:18 pm

dieter
Replies: 16

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newsguy1 wrote:

By contrast Agar played clips of himself being interviewed on a Chicago radio station on Wednesday.
In his appearance he readily played clips of himself telling the Chicago radio host how he (Agar) would have voted for Trump if he were an American, praised Trump for just about everything he's done in his new term, except for punishing Canada with tariffs.
He also agreed with the Chicago host that Justin Trudeau is a "putz" -- a Yiddish slang for a dick, and also called Trudeau's entire Liberal government years a "disaster."
Perhaps 1010 can set up a debate between Richards and Agar regarding their differing views on Trump.
 

I'm very happy I missed that. Typical Agar.

SOWNY » Jim Richards on Donald Trump » March 13, 2025 5:32 pm

dieter
Replies: 16

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   I know Jim Richards is an acquired taste for some or many on this board.  But I enjoyed his bit today on CFRB as he fact-checked various Donald Trump statements on Canada.  I don't know if he gave credit to CNN's Daniel Dale, but he was clearly using Dale's piece this week which rebuts nine Trump lies about Canada.  It was particularly funny to hear Richards repeatedly run clips of 3 immortal Canadian expressions -- "A hard no,"  "Take off, hoser" and "Fuddle duddle, or something like that." 

SOWNY » Deb Hutton Filling In For Jerry Agar This Week (Mostly) » March 10, 2025 12:29 am

dieter
Replies: 6

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  I guess we'll be hearing Jerry's evidence that Mark Carney is a communist.

SOWNY » Dead From New York, It's The SNL 50th Anniversary Special » February 17, 2025 4:42 pm

dieter
Replies: 50

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Unlike the Debbie Downers here, I mostly enjoyed the show. It was nice to see Garrett Morris and Lorraine Newman. Too bad there were only brief glimpses of the other living originals, but there must have been reasons for that.
   I wish it had been more like the Monty Python farewell, with more old clips. And I hoped for more of Stefan, Wayne's World, Opera Man, Roseanne and Emily. But I enjoyed it.

SOWNY » Will you watch the 4 Nations Face-Off?? » February 12, 2025 11:26 pm

dieter
Replies: 16

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Shorty Wave wrote:

Not too excited about this one for some reason, and I’m a hockey fan, just hope we’re done with the booing of national anthems.

The Bell Centre crowd booed most of the opposing players, especially Nylander and Matthews.

SOWNY » Crosby's Golden Goal - video rights » February 12, 2025 11:23 pm

dieter
Replies: 9

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Yes, the Henderson goal was in there. The Lemieux winner from 1987. The Sittler winner from 1976.

SOWNY » Crosby's Golden Goal - video rights » February 12, 2025 10:23 pm

dieter
Replies: 9

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I know there were plenty of other goals which could have made that montage. No goals from the 2002 Olympic final were included, including the Paul Kariya goal which came after Mario let the puck go through his legs, and the final one by Joe Sakic. Those games were on CBC. So maybe this was an IOC issue.

SOWNY » Crosby's Golden Goal - video rights » February 12, 2025 9:33 pm

dieter
Replies: 9

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I have a question for this distinguished panel of TV sports legal experts. The Four Nations Faceoff opening game started with a terrific montage of iconic Canadian goals over the past 50 years. But there was only audio -- no video -- of Sidney Crosby's Golden Goal from 2010 in Vancouver. Obviously, they couldn't secure the video rights. Who would own  those rights? The IOC? Bell/CTV?

SOWNY » Tim's Ad -- The Football Song? » February 8, 2025 11:57 pm

dieter
Replies: 11

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I admit to being old-fashioned and generally preferring the original versions of songs to remakes. But IMHO, Tim Horton's goes far over the line with their ad which turns Stompin' Tom's Hockey Song into a FOOTBALL song for the Super Bowl. "It's football night tonight?" No. Just no.

SOWNY » TV veterans bid adieu » January 28, 2025 8:40 pm

dieter
Replies: 0

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   Since putting veteran journalists out to pasture is a recurring topic on this forum, here's a look at 2 veteran Indiana broadcasters announcing their farewells after 40 and 37 years respectively...

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1131339571751285

SOWNY » CFTO News - Subtitles - Freudian Slip? » January 23, 2025 12:39 am

dieter
Replies: 4

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   I should have called it closed captioning.  When they repeated the item at 11:30, Johm Musselman's name was not in the closed captioms, so I guess someone there noticed.

SOWNY » CFTO News - Subtitles - Freudian Slip? » January 22, 2025 9:42 pm

dieter
Replies: 4

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RadioActive wrote:

I can't say for sure what might have happened here, but as someone who once did graphics for TV news, I can make a guess.

We used to have generic reporter name templates for every on air person, represented in the system by a number. So "Ron Burgundy" might be #503 in the queue, and you could all it up whenever you needed it. After all, there was no point in typing in the same name day after day after day. 

Is it possible this was an old version of that and they slipped in the wrong number, leading to what showed up on the screen? Again, can't say because I was doing it in the 80s and 90s and technology has changed a lot. But that could be one explanation - although why they would not have taken his name out of the system when he's been gone so long is beyond me. 

 I'm not a TV guy so I may have the terminology wrong.  But this was not the name plate posted on the screen when the reporter or anchor is on air. This was in the subtitles for those of us who want/need every word on the screen.  

SOWNY » CFTO News - Subtitles - Freudian Slip? » January 22, 2025 7:21 pm

dieter
Replies: 4

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   I thought some of the oldtime CFTO viewers here might enjoy this one.  On Wednesday's 6 pm newscast, CTV had a John Musselman item on a Toronto police demonstration on ice safety and rescues. Nothing wrong with the item.  But the person doing the subtitles wrote in "Jim Junkin."  Must have been a station veteran doing the subtitles. I wonder if anyone there will catch and fix that mistake for the 11:30 edition.

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