In a sign that we are facing either a pending election or maybe the apocalypse, Liberal MP Shaboom Coady and Liberal friendly Jane Taber co-hosted Power Play on CTV on Friday. Seeing them introduced as hosts made me laugh, because I remember so many of Sun TV's detractors decrying how destructive it is to have partisans hosting opinion shows on Canadian television. To Don Newman such a thing destroys the fabric of our culture, or at least I suppose, when it is right wing. God forbid Jason Kenney ever guest host the Adler Show on Sun TV, but Coady and Taber, well that's just good television....(insert sarcasm)
The moment I saw the Liberal MP hosting a politics program on a major news channel, I knew that I would be writing a blog post about it. Normally I reach for the mute button when Coady pops up on TV, but I watched the first two segments. It was a disaster. You basically had a fierce Liberal partisan (and an MP) hosting a show that had Conservative MPs on as guests. You have to respect Shelly Glover for agreeing to appear on that program, and she handled herself marvelously. When you watch Taber host any politics show, she has a look on her face like she thinks its funny she even has that job.
Should members of parliament be hosting political shows on 24 hours news networks? Personally I don't care if politicians guest host politics programs, but this situation feels a lot like what many pundits were saying was bad about the idea of Sun TV.
The opposition could be hosting and starring in their own shows. It is called biggest losers.
ReplyDeleteI watched a clip regarding the seal industry and found it odd she did not rip into the activist nutter in Kitchener for attacking the Quebec-NFLD who earn income from this activity.
The programs was trying to present a balanced panel but I found it rather light on specific detail how things will change or new information.
N.B.
ReplyDeleteOn the Thursday show, thie first fill-in co-host, subbing for the 'vacationing' Don Martin, was none other than Conservative Minister Lisa Raitt.
Don't know how long this subbing is to continue, but it make for interesting gruel. Interesting, but certainly not too fair.
Lisa wasn't free to be engaged in any segments of a 'political' nature. Her main feature was sort of a 'Women in Pollitics' segment.
TangoJuliette
i am not sure how anyone can watch these people.
ReplyDeletelots of gravol & Glenfiddich . . .?
ReplyDeleteworks for me.
TangoJuliette
You're correct about Janey "Giggles" Taber. She has a perpetual look of bewilderment on her face.
ReplyDeleteWhat's your opinion, then, of Labour Minister Lisa Raitt co-hosting on Thursday?
ReplyDeleteYou thought the Coady-Taber show was bad, try putting a sitting member of cabinet on. That entire show on Thursday had to be reformatted to discuss more soft, or tranquil issues so Minister Raitt could avoid having to make comments that would violate cabinet solidarity or secrecy.
I hope that Raitt and Coady came on as some kind of female awareness thing, because at least that way it would make sense.
I think CTV's politics show is in real trouble. First by appointing Don Martin as permanent host and now this controversial pairing of Coady and Taber. The cackling Taber is insufferable at the best of times and then bringing in one of the most partisan MPs to guest host is beyond the pale. It smacks of desperation and perhaps tells us that Martin is not long for this hosting gig.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know Rait co-hosted the show. I don't agree with any politician coming on a politics broadcast as a host. I thought these programs were to discuss issues of the day and to provide insight to Canadians. Having partisan politicos pretending they are not partisan is too much.
ReplyDeleteTaber was a bit put off when the conservative was mocking her,but how can you not mock her she is such a dipstick,and seems to be so unsure of herself.
ReplyDelete