sowny.net | The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum


You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

January 1, 2025 7:50 am  #1


20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

I can't really disagree with anything on this list, but I wonder: what moments in Canada would make a similar list? The Jays winning their first World Series? The Prime Minister's address to the nation on the 1970 FLQ crisis and the implementation of the War Measures Act? Something else? 

20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

 

January 1, 2025 9:36 am  #2


Re: 20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

I must admit I'm surprised to see no mention of 9/11 or the January 6th riots on the U.S. list. For the sake of charity, I'll assume these omissions weren't deliberate. As for Canada, I can think of a few live moments that will stand the test of time. They are (in no particular order):

- Paul Henderson's goal to beat the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series
- Sidney Crosby's "golden goal" at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics
- The 1980 and 1995 Quebec sovereignty referendums - final results coverage
- As mentioned above, the October crisis and the declaration of the War Measures Act
- Canadian 4X100 men's relay team victories at the 1996 and 2024 Olympics

I'm sure others can come up with many more. Happy New Year everyone!

 

January 1, 2025 10:01 am  #3


Re: 20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

All those are very good and I can't believe I forgot about the Henderson goal. One of the most iconic moments of Canadian broadcast history, for sure. I still remember the next day, when the Toronto Sun briefly renamed itself in his honour.

     Thread Starter
 

January 1, 2025 11:19 am  #4


Re: 20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

For this "senior" millennial, Sid's Golden Goal (Chris Cuthbert with the call) is definitely one of those great live moments, along with the '95 QC referendum and the 4x100 men's relay victories. 9/11 I certainly won't ever forget.

On a more local level, the Barrie tornado of May 31st, 1985 might be another... we were living in Stayner at the time, and my older brother totally freaked out when the weather warning crawled across the screen on CKVR that afternoon. The coverage immediately after was excellent, with channel 3's Sharon Burkhart anchoring a special report, which included a memorable reporter package from Kevin Frankish and photog Steve Miller... I'll always remember the quick interview with the kids who were playing outside when the tornado tore through Barrie's south end, dangerously close to 'VR's studios and transmission facilities.

 

January 1, 2025 1:59 pm  #5


Re: 20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

Here's a few Canadian ones
Didn't happen in Canada, but Ben Johnson raising his hand as he scorched to the finish in the 100 metres in Seoul.  Then he burned to the ground in the aftermath.
Pierre Trudeau's famous "just watch me" line before he announced the War Measures Act.
Several scenes from the Oka crisis.
Brian Mulroney ending John Turner's career with his "you had a choice, sir" comeback line in the election debate.
Jean Chretien grabs a protester round the neck when the man got in his face during a protest.  Chretien later told reporters," I had to go, so I'm walking, I don't know what happened."
Dave Winfield tosses a ball into the stands and accidentally kills a seagull, (he later gets arrested and spends an hour in jail.)

Any more?






 

 

January 1, 2025 9:05 pm  #6


Re: 20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

RadioActive wrote:

All those are very good and I can't believe I forgot about the Henderson goal. One of the most iconic moments of Canadian broadcast history, for sure. I still remember the next day, when the Toronto Sun briefly renamed itself in his honour.

Still gives me chills all these years later and I'm not even a hockey fan. But of course, we all know this was about far more than just hockey. 

I think I saw this at my parent's house. It was such a big deal that we were dismissed from school early that day to go home and watch it, which I did with some friends who came over to see the final game. Unforgettable, even 52 years later.

Which brings up the age-old question: why isn't Henderson in the Hockey Hall Of Fame just for this one shining sports moment alone?

     Thread Starter
 

January 1, 2025 9:55 pm  #7


Re: 20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

RadioActive wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

All those are very good and I can't believe I forgot about the Henderson goal. One of the most iconic moments of Canadian broadcast history, for sure. I still remember the next day, when the Toronto Sun briefly renamed itself in his honour.

Still gives me chills all these years later and I'm not even a hockey fan. But of course, we all know this was about far more than just hockey. 

I think I saw this at my parent's house. It was such a big deal that we were dismissed from school early that day to go home and watch it, which I did with some friends who came over to see the final game. Unforgettable, even 52 years later.

Which brings up the age-old question: why isn't Henderson in the Hockey Hall Of Fame just for this one shining sports moment alone?

Paul Henderson should have his own room in the HHOF.  Most electrifying, and unifying sports moment in Canadian history, and don't forget the game winning goals he scored leading up to the final game.
 

 

January 1, 2025 10:12 pm  #8


Re: 20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

Ben Johnson's Gold medal and then the aftermath when the truth came out
Touch 'em all Joe, the 2nd World Series
The Signing of the Constitution with the Queen, Jean Chretien and Trudeau in 1982 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-ZumNz2raA


Also, sadly the Bernardo case being solved, that story still bothers me.

Let's hope for better days in Canada for us all this year ahead.




 


The world would be so good if it weren't for some people...
 

January 1, 2025 11:36 pm  #9


Re: 20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

Forward Power wrote:

For this "senior" millennial, Sid's Golden Goal (Chris Cuthbert with the call) is definitely one of those great live moments, along with the '95 QC referendum and the 4x100 men's relay victories. 9/11 I certainly won't ever forget.

On a more local level, the Barrie tornado of May 31st, 1985 might be another... we were living in Stayner at the time, and my older brother totally freaked out when the weather warning crawled across the screen on CKVR that afternoon. The coverage immediately after was excellent, with channel 3's Sharon Burkhart anchoring a special report, which included a memorable reporter package from Kevin Frankish and photog Steve Miller... I'll always remember the quick interview with the kids who were playing outside when the tornado tore through Barrie's south end, dangerously close to 'VR's studios and transmission facilities.

I lived in Orangeville at the time. I was in my early teens; we had family friends who lived north of town and the tornado missed their house by the width of a farmer’s field.

I remember being in downtown Oville with my mother at the time, and how dark the sky turned. We got home and I turned on the radio to CFTR (my station of choice) and heard Larry Silver doing a special report.

 

January 2, 2025 7:43 am  #10


Re: 20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

Here’s one I’d long forgotten about. It certainly isn’t as consequential as some of the others cited here, but it happened during a live press conference in Ottawa in 2002, with then P.M. Jean Chretien answering questions about whether it could be verified that Saddam Hussein of Iraq possessed chemical weapons, a pretext for the U.S. war in that country, which Canada refused to join.
 
When reporters pressed him as to what would be enough proof to convince him for Canada to join the battle, he uttered these now immortal 8 secs. of complete and utter nonsense.


 
And with that, he turned on his heels and walked away, refusing to answer any more questions. We’d call it a mic drop moment today.
 
I remember this presser well. It was close to 6 PM and we were getting ready to do the night’s TV newscast. I remember listening to that answer, then running up to the producer and asking “Did you hear that?”
 
His response: “Yes, I heard it. And we’re going to lead the show with it!”
 
I’d call that “proof” positive!

     Thread Starter
 

January 2, 2025 3:03 pm  #11


Re: 20 Of The Most Indelible Live TV Moments

One of my favourite other Chretien moments was when he was asked about the constitution and he replied, "I'm not a lawyer."
Chretien is a lawyer.
Apparently he meant to say he wasn't a constitutional lawyer but the end result was hilarious.