CRTC investigating lack of Canadian Content during Tragically Hip concert

 not my photo*


Numbers show 11.7 Million Canadians watched The Tragically Hip perform their final ‘Man Machine Poem’ tour stop, in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario. However, according to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) the concert, broadcast across all CBC platforms on August 20th, wasn’t Canadian enough**. 

“Essentially, Canadians attending the show in person at Kingston’s K-Rock Centre, watching and listening across the country, and coming together gathering in countless communities coast to coast to coast, were Tragically Rip-ped off” asserts CRTC spokesperson John A Canuck. Adding “In the eyes of the CRTC, this event did not achieve Canadian Content (Can-Con) requirements to satisfy our mandate". Even with the Prime Minister in attendance, the CRTC sights the broadcast being well below their acceptable level of over 100% Canadian Content. 

Case in point, a highlight of various Tragically Hip song lyrics including ‘America’ & ‘Elvis’. The CRTC tracking those, and other words, not ‘born of Canada’ throughout the broadcast. The CRTC’s investigation also extends to the band itself. Although all members are Canadian, the Commission finds their current line up featuring just 2 members named Gord unacceptable. The recommendation is a minimum of 3 Gords –ideally 4 or more- in the Tragically Hip line up. The CRTC does offer flexibility in allowing for ‘Gord’ ‘Gordie’ and ‘Gordon’ as the registered legal name. 

Lead singer Gord Downie’s concert appearance is also of concern, says John A. “Aside from Don Cherry, your average Canadian does not dress like that. The CRTC would have preferred more subdued colours, perhaps a plaid jacket….personally I did like the hat, though, it should have been a toque” 

Ironically, the most Canadian Content compliant event of the night didn’t even come from the Kingston concert, or Canada. In Chicago, American group Pearl Jam also performed August 20th, and, during their set paid tribute to The Tragically Hip and it's lead singer. “Having a band with the clout and recognizability as Pearl Jam referencing something Canadian is always a boon for our country, and sits well with our CRTC mandate” explains John A. 

 

Pearl Jam’s comments also highlight the direction the CRTC has for Canadian Content. New documents show minimum requirements outside of Canada, with 15-20% Canadian Content expected by CRTC from fellow Commonwealth Nations, and due to geographic proximity, 35% for the United States. From the documents: “Moving forward, we feel America fulfilling a 35% Canadian Content requirement is appropriate. Their current non-compliance is troubling.” 

His thoughts on the event, “Watching the concert, live and uninterrupted on CBC, this supposed ‘Canada’s Band’ on stage, frankly, the whole event did nothing but snub the CRTC and our strict content guidelines, all for the Nation’s joy and celebration” John A quickly adding “it was a slap in the face, how quickly we were replaced” -John A’s paraphrase of Alanis Morrisette lyrics purposeful, as he confirms, all CRTC communication must also adhere to can-con guidelines. 

In recommendations, the Commission seeks accountability at all levels for the decision to air an uninterrupted, enjoyable, public broadcast to the Nation. Suggestions include upping Can-Con levels with Canadian Tire Commercials, or, if anything, a Tim Horton’s banner scroll “We are sure they have a new tasteless breakfast item they’d love to push, with back to school time, and fall approaching” states the Commission. 

John A Canuck also underlines easy ways the show could have been more ‘Canadian’ for the Millions together for the event. “The lack of Canadian Content from The Tragically Hip was insulting, from beginning through to all the goodbyes, how hard is it to add an ‘eh’ to one of the thank yous?, you know, something like ‘Thank you, eh, for keeping me pushing and keeping me pushing.’ How hard is that?!” 

The investigation continues. 

-Gilmore 


--* Photo by Mike Homer, found via Toronto Star in this article: https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2016/08/20/tragically-hip-get-hometown-heroes-welcome-in-kingston.html 

**-- Yes this is a joke. You enjoyed reading it I hope. Please share, thanks :-)

Why John Scott matters: The human story

Today: Today - Monday, February 1st, 2016.

John Scott and the NHL All-Star weekend. What a great story!

What a disappointment many in the sports media are today, though. It’s surprising following the success of the weekend, and John Scott standing out so positively, how so many who spoke out against him going to the All-Star game are today championing him and pointing a finger at everything, but, themselves. Admittedly, many have stated in hindsight they were wrong to think he shouldn’t have been involved with the All-Star Weekend. OK, fair enough, and appreciated. 

However, I’m still reading, hearing, watching, them quickly jump to reasons why others made the weekend, and John Scott’s story, a success. Not once, yet, have I observed an examination of their reasons why he shouldn’t have been involved. Have anyone yet looked at why they essentially sided with the NHL, and touted their personal hockey 'knowledge' being more important then the passion of fans, or, the mutual respect fellow players were sending to John Scott leading up to the event, telling him he should go to All-Star weekend. 

And, why did the other players rally around him, have fun with him, enjoy all the moments with him? Cause he’s an NHL hockey player; just like them. It would be nice if the sports media could recognize John Scott is one of many, many, players in dressing rooms all across the NHL, all across hockey, who are just as important, to their team, their fans, the sport. The other players embraced him because he represents all those players on their team, who, well not deemed ‘All-Stars’, are just as important to their season success. It’s a team sport, and –outside a few huge egos- you support your teammates, no matter where they sit on the roster. 

Perhaps in a few days, after a bit of time, the sports media can digest what they experienced this weekend, compare it to their preconceived notions, and realize perhaps why they sided with, and defended the NHLs side of the story. A little self reflection would help many of them. By the way, if I hear any more media personalities, who were slagging John Scott before All Star weekend, now comment about he ‘of course having such a high skill level, he’s an NHL player’ and similar comments, I’m gonna puke. 

The real story though -one I'm not hearing about, hence this post-, the real reason the weekend was a success is because NHL players, NHL fans, the casual viewer hearing about the story, are all human. John Scott having a fantastic All-Star weekend was just the icing on the cake. The core of the story, the human element was already there, and it was right for him to be embraced. John Scott’s story is one we’ve all faced. This is a human story about a guy getting jerked around by his bosses, and his peers, the players, backing him up. They recognized the position he was in, and it doesn’t matter what you do, (think about your job/career, what you do as a profession) you’re going to back up your peers, especially when it’s the top brass trying to push you around. Strength in numbers. 

As for the fans. Yes, many started initially voting for John Scott as a joke, however, the human element, the human story took them over. And I bet, given a bit of time, fans will be much more apt than the sports media to realize their fault, and appreciate what they witnessed this weekend. 

This weekend was a huge human moment in the NHL, and more positively impactful than anything the NHL could ever dream up. True, the NHL will change the fan vote rules next year. You know that's happening. Let’s hope though, looking beyond the fan vote to what the All-Star weekend became, and the human story the fans, the players, and John Scott experienced, the NHL will pay attention. The fans were really cheering, players were having a blast, ratings are up, John Scott was trending on twitter in US for god sakes. 

Switch out John Scott with Sidney Crosby, would anyone, aside from the sports media, really be talking about All-Star weekend today? 

-Gilmore

Elmo in hot water again!...Sesame Street stock plunging. Here's why:

More bad news on the Sesame Street this week. First news of the death of Animal. Now this!

Layoffs pending, and lawsuit threatened as 'Choke Out' Elmo fails to be sales success marketers hoped for:

crazy bastard giggles the whole time doing it too!

- Gilmore

The time I predicted the plot of Star Wars: The Force Awakens…Well, part of it

Good news, this is a NO SPOILER ALERT, ALERT.

Finally went to see the new Star Wars movie last night. And I'm sure as I am writing this it is making movie history to surpass Avatar as the top Box Office money maker. 

Anywho, I predicted the plot! 
When it first opened December 18th I posted a number of tweets predicting silly plot reveals. Well, watching the movie last, turns out, I was right. If you are among the 10 people who haven't seen the movie yet I won't wreck it for you. Instead will just say at least 1 of my predictions was right, and leave it at that. 

Here they are for your review. If you've seen it you know. If you haven't, give them a look anyway. Get a taste of what might be in-store for you in 'The Force Awakens':

Is it Jar Jar's return? 'What the Force' indeed!:

Or Perhaps a chubby Jedi was the surprise:

A confusing family tree it is --Insert Yoda laugh--:

Seriously, bonus points on the Takodana reference. Look it up:

What about a Han Yolo plot twist?

Or is it Stormtroopers all colours of the rainbow?!:

Silly prediction tweets aside, the movie was pretty good. A solid modernization of the franchise too. If you haven't and are a Star Wars fan, you should definitely go see it!

-Gilmore


-- Oh P.S.  The guy who plays Finn, John Boyega. He is totally a young Denzel Washington. They should play Father & Son in a movie. Or a character at different ages. That is all.