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May 9, 2020 9:42 pm  #1


Former CTV Talk Show Host Succumbs To COVID-19

I noticed this almost in passing in the Star's Saturday's obit section and was surprised it didn't make the news. 

Joyce Davidson passed on May 7th. If you're of a certain age, that name may ring a bell. She hosted a major afternoon talk show for CTV for a year or so (and I distinctly recall the theme song was a George Benson tune called "Breezin'.) The obit indicates she also appeared on the very early incarnations of the Today Show, another program with Mike Wallace and even (and I can't quite figure this one out) The Jack Benny Show. 

Oddly, while the obit lists her name as "Joyce Inez Davidson-Susskind," there is no mention of the fact she was married to U.S. talk show pioneer and producer David Susskind. They separated and the marriage officially ended in 1986.

She was in one of the long term care homes that had been ravaged by COVID-19 and she sadly became one of its latest victims. She was 89.  

Joyce Davidson Obit 

 

May 10, 2020 8:27 am  #2


Re: Former CTV Talk Show Host Succumbs To COVID-19

She made headlines in Canada 60 years ago.  From Wikipedia:

Davidson caused controversy while the Canadian media were reporting the upcoming visit of 
Queen Elizabeth II in 1959. Davidson was on a trip to New York City when she was interviewed by Dave Garroway on NBC's Today show on 18 June 1959. She said on-camera, "Like most Canadians, I am indifferent to the visit of the Queen."[3][/url][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Davidson#cite_note-4][4][/url] Davidson was lambasted in the Canadian press and by many indignant Canadians for her comment. Within a few days, she resigned from CBC's Tabloid series.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Davidson#cite_note-5][5][/url] A subsequent Gallup poll showed that 64% of Canadians disagreed with her, although only 48% of respondents considered themselves significantly interested in the royal visit.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Davidson#cite_note-CEmpire-2][2]

 

May 10, 2020 6:06 pm  #3


Re: Former CTV Talk Show Host Succumbs To COVID-19

Was the afternoon show on CTV called 'Passages' Or perhaps that was the title of the episode I watched as a teen which had William Shatner as guest for the full hour. They got into all kinds of talk around religion and personal growth stuff. I wondered "is this how adults talk to each other when no kids are around?" At the same time I  recognised a 'psuedo-intellectual' tone around the whole conversation. It was a match of equals - although Bill did seem to ... expound more.


The Joyce Davidson Show is also noteworthy for having Sandra Faire as a Producer.

 

May 11, 2020 9:20 am  #4


Re: Former CTV Talk Show Host Succumbs To COVID-19

Maclean's, September 10, 1960: The glamorous television interviewer may not be able to clown, dance, sing or act, but she's as far from being a dumb blonde as she is from being the plain girl next door

https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1960/9/10/joyce-davidson

 

 

May 11, 2020 10:46 am  #5


Re: Former CTV Talk Show Host Succumbs To COVID-19

Following her show on CFTO/CTV, Joyce returned to CBC in the early 80s to host the series "Authors".


 

 

May 11, 2020 12:59 pm  #6


Re: Former CTV Talk Show Host Succumbs To COVID-19


 

May 11, 2020 1:44 pm  #7


Re: Former CTV Talk Show Host Succumbs To COVID-19

So that's what Sonny did before he latched onto Cher?! 🤯

 

May 11, 2020 1:46 pm  #8


Re: Former CTV Talk Show Host Succumbs To COVID-19

Tickle Trunk wrote:

So that's what Sonny did before he latched onto Cher?! 🤯

I thought he looked a lot more like Doug Henning, the late magician.

     Thread Starter