Mediacheck

Castro Retired, Nader Aspired, 'DiscDrive' Expired

Tyee's fast rewind of February.

By Mark Leiren-Young, 3 Mar 2008, TheTyee.ca

Sporty Spice

Sporty Spice: Is she not tired?

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Super Tuesday and Superbowl Sunday featured super upsets as Barack Obama defeated the New England Patriots. Obama preached hope and seemed to inspire it in every American except Hillary Clinton and John McCain.

The TV writer's strike ended, but the TV viewers continued their walkout as ratings hit record lows.

Conrad Black was blue, West Broadway blew up and so did the Anglican Church.

The ReformaTories introduced Bill C-10, which would allow viewers to See-nothing

CBC's DiscDrive crashed as the Mother Corp looks to replace host Jurgen Goethe with Goth girls.

So let's spend our $100 tax rebate on that new Chuck Cadman biography and look back at a February that lasted too darn long.

Cambielot

A B.C. man shocked the world with the claim that he was the illegitimate son of John F. Kennedy. Peter Ladner then announced he was running for mayor of Vancouver.

NDP MLA Gregor Robertson also added some juice to the Vancouver mayoralty sweepstakes, announcing plans to run for mayor with Vision Vancouver. Shocking rumours continue to swirl that the other contenders for mayor will include dark horse candidate, Sam Sullivan.

Ethics omittee

Former "prime minister" Brian Mulroney claimed there was no reason he should appear before the Commons Ethics Committee to challenge accusations by "businessman" Karlheinz Schreiber, because the former lobbyist had already made plans to wash his hair that day.

The ReformaTories(TM) announced a bill that would allow them to withhold funds for "offensive" TV and film productions. A spokescensor from the Heritage Ministry explained that the Tories would define "offensive" as anything that contained violence, nudity, foul language or characters with IQs over 85.

A new book alleges that two Conservative party officials offered dying independent MP Chuck Cadman a million dollar life insurance policy to vote to topple the Liberal government in May 2005. Steve Harper says there was nothing improper about any offer to Cadman and the government was simply trying to get him a lobbying job with Karlheinz Schreiber.

Ralph's nadir

Formerly respected consumer advocate Ralph Nader announced plans to run for president of the United States. The 73-year-old activist explained that he wouldn't be running if only the Democrats were putting forward a truly progressive candidate like Al Gore.

Seventy-one year-old Republican presidential candidate John McCain denied New York Times allegations that he had a romantic relationship with a 40-year-old Washington lobbyist. Senator McCain claimed there was nothing improper about the relationship since he was strictly in it for the money.

McCain was forced to abandon his campaign theme song, John Mellencamp's "Our Country," after his campaign staff was warned that the rocker was a big supporter of John Edwards. McCain plans to choose a new theme song that was big with the kids back in his youth . . . likely something by Mozart.

The McCain campaign also suffered a setback at the Academy Awards when the biggest prize of the night went to No Country for Old Men.

Meanwhile, soon to be former Democratic frontrunner Hilary Clinton discovered that America's also no country for older women.

Raul rules

Fidel Castro stepped down as Cuba's leader after 49 years. U.S. President George Bush immediately broke out the cohibas and declared, "mission accomplished."

Formerly respected consumer advocate Ralph Nader announced plans to run for President of Cuba. The 73-year-old activist explained that this made at least as much sense as him running for president of the U.S. again.

Superbowl Stunday

Apparently the other football team in the Super Bowl that was playing the New England Patriots was known a the New York Giants -- something most people only discovered a few minutes after the Giants won.

Ratings for the Oscars fell to a record low. Critics blamed host John Stewart for honouring five Best Picture nominees that almost nobody bothered to see.

Hogtown spice

The Spice Girls reunion ended in Toronto. Sporty Spice says she won't be rejoining the group because she plans to work as a lobbyist for Karlheinz Schreiber.

Celine Dion was nominated for six Juno Awards. Meanwhile America announced its own Juno Awards for pregnant teens. The first winner is Britney's little sister, Jamie Lynn.

And singer Amy Winehouse wasn't allowed to get a visa to sing at the Grammys. However, she will be allowed visas to attend NA meetings. [Tyee]

Mark Leiren-Young is a Vancouver screenwriter, playwright and journalist, and files his "Fast Rewind" summary of the news for The Tyee at the end of every month. His podcast interviews with notables about "Trees and Us" also appear on The Tyee.

4 Comments:

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  • City Person

    3 years ago

    DiskDrive

    I am for one very sad to DiskDrive go but I think that somebody, either Gothe or CBC turned to programme into something it was not. I have always really enjoyed the show but in the last few years more and more jazz has crept in. I, for one, hate jazz (fun the play, terrible to listen to). DiskDrive was a show to hear your favourite Bach or Mozart piece. I think that Gothe was getting increasingly unhappy with having having to play content he did not like and last year's shortening of his breaks.

  • D.Smyth

    3 years ago

    Disc Drive

    Aah, CBC plays right into the hands of those who would destroy it. They discard their distinctiveness and lower their quality in a vain attempt to compete with the commercial broadcasters, a battle they shouldn't be in and can't win. And when Stephen Harper and his philistines mount their attack --- which is certain if they gain a majority --- and they ask "Why do we need a CBC?" there will be no viable answer. What's more, they will have alienated the very people, like me, who would have sprung to their defence. I am (was) a big supporter of CBC. Since they trashed the excellent "Canada Now" supper hour newscast, eliminated outstanding programs such as "Opening Night" and foisted inane, glitz tainted, youth obsessed concepts such as the national IQ test and weak, American styled sitcoms, I'll tell Harper's inquisitors, "No. We don't need the CBC. It's a waste of money."
    I am distraught to hear of the demise of Disc Drive. Where else could you hear Beethoven and Billie Holiday back to back? And who else in Canadian radio has the wonky charm and deep musical knowledge of Jurgen Goethe. I've listened to him for years while driving in all parts of the country. If I'm in my car here at home in the afternoon, I lock onto him. It's madness to destroy such inspiring radio, just as it was insanity to tamper with the Saturday Opera broadcasts, replacing the smooth and knowledgeable Howard Dyck with lispingly amateurish script readers whose ineffectiveness is exceeded only by their anonymity. But alas, I no longer am in the 18-35 demographic. But who cares? Leave demographics to the advertising media. (Actually the 35 to 60 demographic is becoming vital. But that's another discussion.)
    CBC, both radio and TV, should speak to all Canadians of all ages. That means hockey. That means opera and ballet. That means serious drama and original comedy. It means children's shows and an eclectic mix of music. In those areas CBC can (and has) excelled. Their desparate policy of trying to beat CTV and Global at their own game is doomed to end badly for them and for us. And Jurgen, my friend (for that you have become), I shall miss you terribly.

  • Canis Latrans

    3 years ago

    Indeed, alas...

    I am a longtime listener of Jurgen and his DiscDrive, which I thoroughly enjoy. I actually enjoy the mix of European Classical-style or "art" music and jazz. I especially enjoy thirties and forties jazz for the childhood memories it evokes.

    I think there is a sophisticated musical underpinning and musicality relationship/sensibility between what might be called "European Art Music" and " Jazz".

    Sorry to hear the show will be gone. It is all, in my view, a part of the lowest common denominator, so-called free market Americanization process that has been going on at and undermining the CBC public broadcaster throughout the neoconazi period, still underway since the early 80s.

    Too bad, too sad, The country is steadily sliding south away from us who actually still remember a different and more unique Canada.

  • bob the cat

    3 years ago

    vacuum land

    I won`t miss Disc Drive though I wouldn`t wish it gone...I can see where others might like it.
    I just didn`t very often share Goethes tastes in his selection of music. Too much Baroque and tinkly tunes with the occasional gem. My wife called it "tweedley dee" music but I would call it more " Dicky Doo".
    I felt I should be wearing one of those powdered wigs and taking a pinch of snuff when listening to Jurgen.
    I thought he talked too much..he should have given "the cats" a bigger role.

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