Name:Buford McGraw

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Oh, the inanity!

For the three of you who actually read this self-indulgent wankfest, err...'blog,' you may have noticed I like to discuss CBC Radio, because being a long-time listener, first-time blogger, I do care so much about what I hear on the corp.

That said, here is a link to an article I noticed a couple days ago in the Hopeless Flail, but it slipped my mind temporarily, what with the outbreak of World War Three, I mean, the release of Gomery Part One, which has received media coverage equal to I don't know, armageddon, I guess?

Now, I've never been a huge fan of Radio One's Roundup, even back in the Bill Richardson era, as I've always found it to be a little too quaint. A little too 'fluffy' for me, a grizzled, quart-quaffing, sweat stained-armpit hard news man. Not really my cup of tea. Well, it turns out the CBC's afternoon programming can get worse, apparently. You think we were fluffy before? You want inanity? Oh we'll give you inanity!

Alas, the Roundup is being replaced with Freestyle, (how hip is that name, eh kids?) which, will make the Roundup look like This Hour has Seven Days, from the sounds of the Globe article.

First, this from co-host Kelly Ryan, sounding like a very enthusiastic soccer mom:

"What we found is that people . . . need a recess from all that information that CBC Radio gives them in the morning and on their local noon shows."

Oh yes, all that 'information' gives me tired brain! Soothe me, Christina Aguilera! Mellow me, Nickelback! I need relief! Hey, maybe we can get Luba Goy from the Air Farce on to share her marvellous new recipe for blueberry muffins!

And then, this from Ms. Ryan, former CBC news reporter previously known for covering 'hard' news:

"we're playing lots of music. Music that doesn't normally make it on the CBC," such as Madonna, Elton John and Top 40, Ryan added. "This is the kind of show you can have on in the background at work, in the dentist office, moms at home. We're really hoping we can move into the work market, the office market, retail..."

Now, I'm going to try to be measured here. OK, the thing is, uhm, there's a reason this music "doesn't normally make it on the CBC,", my dear madam. It's because, erm, this "music" of which you speak fucking sucks ass! If I wanted to listen to top 40 dreck, with its corresponding vacuous blather from vapid on-air radio personalities, there are about 20 options already available in my media market. Why is the CBC again simply trying to emulate what private media already does, and does in such an irritating manner, I might add? In the words of Nancy Kerrigan, "whyyyyy?"

How in God's name is this mediocrity, this lame and transparnent pandering to 'youth culture' and adult contemporary-listening office temps fulfilling CBC's mandate as a national public broadcaster?

Oh uh, and by the way, it's good to see that Jian Ghomeshi, the CBC's in-house second banana, has finally got a steady gig again. Sure beats doling out soup at the CBC cafeteria, which is what he's been doing the last few months, evidently.

2 Comments:

aaron said...

Just wanted to say that you're echoing my sentiments exactly. CBC listening has never made my blood boil like this.

2:44 PM  
Brodie said...

Thank God there is some one else that feels this way. I have currently listen to my fill of crap for the day. You know if i wanted to talk by the water cooler it wouldn't be about how i use Horse Shampoo to tighten my skin. GRRRRR. I used to like the CBC. Freestyle seems to me like something they thought might save some money. Trust me the "younger" generations like myself don't appreciate this drivel.

2:49 PM  

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