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October 5, 2025 8:26 am  #1


Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

The shows are starting to fade down south, where they've been a TV tradition since the 1950s. Canada's luck with late night has had a mixed track record. This Toronto Star article looks back over those who have tried to get Canadian audiences to tune in after the late news, and how few succeeded. 

Mike Bullard, Peter Gzowski and even a wise-cracking sock tried, so why doesn’t Canada have a late-night star?

 

October 5, 2025 8:42 am  #2


Re: Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

I think Mike Bullard had a good late night talk show and I watched it quite a bit. When he moved from CTV to Global I felt the end was near, as that’s how many tv personalities lose their shows for some reason. Maybe don’t jump ship!

Last edited by Shorty Wave (October 5, 2025 8:44 am)

 

October 5, 2025 9:05 am  #3


Re: Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

We don't have a late night tv star because the Canadian networks won't provide a budget that you need to do a show like this 

 

October 5, 2025 9:20 am  #4


Re: Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

As a CTV executive told me many years ago, “why should we do a Canadian version of (popular US reality show) when we can buy the the American version, get the same ratings with a lot less hassle.”

Same applies to late night talk shows.

 

October 5, 2025 10:10 am  #5


Re: Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

BowmanvilleBob wrote:

As a CTV executive told me many years ago, “why should we do a Canadian version of (popular US reality show) when we can buy the the American version, get the same ratings with a lot less hassle.”

Same applies to late night talk shows.

One factor is in the article.  The fact that a Canadian talk show (late night or daytime) has likely never had more than 3 writers.  This is compared to the 15-20+ writers on American late night talk shows.  And Mike Bullard or Ralph Benmurgui were also not paid $15 million per year.  

I wonder if that CTV executive is still with the network.  CTV has a long history of  producing their own franchise of international and US reality shows with good success.  Master Chef Canada, Amazing Race Canada, Canadian Idol, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Traitors.

In fact Canada is somewhat of a powerhouse producing reality TV.  Here is a list of some produced here, and many are shown around the world..https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?genres=reality-tv&countries=CA

Last edited by paterson1 (October 5, 2025 10:34 am)

 

October 5, 2025 11:37 am  #6


Re: Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

Strombo's show was pretty good. It might still be on if he hadn't left to host Hockey Night in Canada.

 

October 5, 2025 2:25 pm  #7


Re: Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

In the 70s the CBC went for a 90 minute late night show starring Peter Gzowski.
It was called 90 minutes Live.
Peter tried hard to make it work but the 90 minute length was just too hard to fill, not to mention a lack of really popular well known guests or subject matter.
Critics began to call it 90 Minutes Dead.
Years later David Duke founded CKVU TV flagshipped by a prime time talk and variety show called The Vancouver Show.
Again 90 minutes -- 7 days a week -- proved too unwieldy.
It's hosts were only moderately well known -- Clem Chapple and actress Pia Shandel.
It also featured acerbic columnist Alan Fotheringham and Quebecois darling of the intellectuals, Laurier LaPierre.
I worked part time on the show producing audio, which helped pay my way through UBC. 
Like the CBC effort it collapsed under its own weight after 2 years.
 

 

October 6, 2025 6:08 am  #8


Re: Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

Hansa wrote:

Strombo's show was pretty good. It might still be on if he hadn't left to host Hockey Night in Canada.

 
Big mistake. It really didn’t work and it wasn’t Strombo’s doing. Man, those were some cringeworthy broadcasts when Rogers first took over the NHL in Canada. Remember the in-studio game play reenactments? Not a good period for Sportsnet.

 

October 6, 2025 7:18 am  #9


Re: Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

paterson1 wrote:

BowmanvilleBob wrote:

As a CTV executive told me many years ago, “why should we do a Canadian version of (popular US reality show) when we can buy the the American version, get the same ratings with a lot less hassle.”

Same applies to late night talk shows.

One factor is in the article.  The fact that a Canadian talk show (late night or daytime) has likely never had more than 3 writers.  This is compared to the 15-20+ writers on American late night talk shows.  And Mike Bullard or Ralph Benmurgui were also not paid $15 million per year.  

I wonder if that CTV executive is still with the network.  CTV has a long history of  producing their own franchise of international and US reality shows with good success.  Master Chef Canada, Amazing Race Canada, Canadian Idol, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Traitors.

In fact Canada is somewhat of a powerhouse producing reality TV.  Here is a list of some produced here, and many are shown around the world..https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?genres=reality-tv&countries=CA

Yup, the CTV exec is still there. In fact, one of the shows you mention in your list was the one he was referring to when we spoke several years ago. I’ll let you guess which one.

As always, the keys to producing a Canadian TV show remain the same - can it cover its costs and can it be exported or recycled onto other platforms (cable specialty channels, streaming). As you point out, a good talk show costs a lot to produce (a lot more than a reality show) and if it’s topical, it has only a limited shelf life. A Canadian talk show that was on par with Kimmel, Fallon or the others wouldn’t clear these hurdles.

 

October 6, 2025 7:25 am  #10


Re: Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

Does the 'Sammy Maudlin Show' count?  It was pretty good.  I remember the time Bob Hope walked out unannounced, and stole the spotlight from Bobby Bittman, mid-shtick.  Classic late night TV.

 

October 6, 2025 9:56 am  #11


Re: Why Doesn't Canada Have A Late TV Night Star?

Shorty Wave wrote:

I think Mike Bullard had a good late night talk show and I watched it quite a bit. When he moved from CTV to Global I felt the end was near, as that’s how many tv personalities lose their shows for some reason. Maybe don’t jump ship!

I was about to say the same thing. Bullard seemed to have a very good thing going until he moved to Global. I would count his time at CTV quit successful.


- Not an industry person.  Just a guy with a love of Toronto radio.