When I was a kid, Halloween was just for us kids. A chance to dress up as somebody else, score some free candy and play a few tricks on people. Even if you went so far as to egg somebody's front door or tip over their outhouse, nobody got too upset. But all that's changed. Everywhere I went today, there were people in costume and somebody else who thought their dressing up wasn't appropriate. And I'm not talking about schools...

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Somewhere around 2004, the Internet spawned a new form of media known as the podcast. It's unofficially defined as a digital audio or video file that is episodic; downloadable; program-driven, and has a host or theme or both. For almost as long as most people have been using the Internet, there have been streamed webcasts, radio or TV broadcasts and digital files you could download. But this was something different, the...

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Szell: Is it safe? Babe: Yes, it's safe, it's very safe, it's so safe you wouldn't believe it. Szell: Is it safe? Babe: No. It's not safe, it's... very dangerous, be careful. There’s been a lot of talk over the last few weeks (driven mostly by the dismal Fall ratings at the CBC) about when might be the better (or best) time to release Canadian content. Some believe these series should have debuted in late October or...

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It's actually quite easy...Enjoy Your Sunday.Obsession x Voice (Failed Writer #6) from Yuvi Zalkow on Vimeo.More here.And the lecture it's all based on -- he...

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On a fairly regular basis, somebody looks at a show with promise that fell on its face, a newly released set of statistics or the complaints of some frustrated artist and wonders if television would be better if more (or fewer) of a particular gender were involved in its creation. Such was the case recently with a Globe and Mail feature by Kate Taylor entitled "You've Come A Long Way -- Maybe". Which you should read because...

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Country Superstar Toby Keith describes "Red Solo Cup" as, "The stupidest fricken song I've ever recorded!". It's also turning into one of his biggest hits, as well as the audience participation highpoint of his live shows. And he's right. It truly is a stupid song. But it's also fun and catchy and hard to get out of your head -- although I don't think you can really dance to it. But it also resonates...

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Every time politicians vote themselves a salary increase or new job perks, the argument is always: "If we don't, we won't get the best and brightest running for office." My response to this rationale has always been: "How come that hasn't worked so far?". No matter which side or sidestreet on the political divide you've chosen to park, you're either openly or secretly aware that it's not just the "other guys" who consistently...

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Like a lot of Canadians, I’ll spend much of this weekend in the kitchen, putting together a kick-ass Thanksgiving dinner. Not to toot my own horn too loudly, but I’m a pretty darn good cook. And it wasn’t a skill I picked up from Mom or special classes or concentrated effort. I learned from watching TV. When I was a kid, there was a British guy on Canadian TV named Graham Kerr aka “The Galloping Gourmet”. Kerr’s shtick was...

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Famous last words, but by the end of the weekend, Life should be pretty much back to normal. Once all systems undergo the final pre-launch check, regular blogging will resume next week.  Lots of thoughts about the new TV season, the apparent seismic shift at the CRTC, Copyright, new production models and where it all might be leading us.Let's hope some of it will be in creative directions...

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