Global Hits Town! And Other Stuff

Hi folks, back for a quick one with my pal/editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!)

I was excited when I first heard that Global Television bought Palooka's Gym on Gottinghen St. and was going to turn it into their Maritime headquaters and studio.

Wha? Produce something? Glowball, that's not how it works, to compete with CTV, you have to buy American!

So I guess I wasn't totally surprised when I heard later that the main production is going to be a breakfast show which will compete with CTV's Breakfast Television. (ed. whoa, that's still on?)

I'm sure there will be talented people working on the show (ed. Have a drink everytime a host wears a sou'wester!) but really is this any way to showcase talent. The only people watching TV at that hour are toddlers who can't change the channel, plopped down in front of the TV while Mom and Dad get ready for another day of shipbuilding. (ed. Ships start here!)

From a business point of view it makes sense; When Shaw bought Global they agreed (ed. kicking and screaming agreed.) to spend a bucket load of money on CANADIAN productions. CTV had to do this when they bought CTV (ed. the first time). They financed a sitcom 100%, no CTF, to burn off the cash and then return to your regularly schduled CSI. But they erred because they didn't pay attention and Corner Gas became a hit (ed. canadian stylin', know what I'm saying?). It was kind of embarrassing because they had wanted another Blackfly so they could point out how fruitless it was trying to do homegrown TV. They did their best to knock it out moving it around the schedule and doing little promotion but gosh darn it kept chugging along and people liked it. (ed. you like it, you really - )

Anyway, now they'll spend a bunch of money on a breakfast show, the highlight will be watching the Grade 6 class of Upper Kenctisowaken singing Jingle Bells at Christmas. (ed. There's cousin LuAnn!.) It'll be spent "in the community", (ed. In the gritty, real streets, no less) and they can brag about ratings when they beat the tired Breakfast TV. (ed. 3 Toddlers vs 2 Toddlers is a 50% bushwackin!)

Wonder if the retired-to-Chester jim Shaw will be up and watching.