CBC's Living Vancouver: What A Mess

[Glen Livingstone]

This afternoon, I tuned in to watch the debut of Living Vancouver, CBC's new lifestyle show hosted by Jennifer Burke, the former CKNW talkshow host-cum-California Girl who changes surnames more often than some people change their underwear.

I wasn't expecting much, and, as it turns out, I wasn't disappointed because there wasn't much on offer.

For starters, the sound was out-of-sync with the video, producing a somewhat jarring viewing experience that continued throughout the show.

As for the show itself?

The first story featured Jennifer wandering around a hiking trail in North Vancouver. "Don't look at my butt" she tittered, less than two minutes into the program.

Look at your butt? Christ, I was too busy trying to find the remote control to change the channel.

I never did find the damn thing ( the remote control - not Jennifer's butt), which is how I wound up sitting through the whole sorry mess.

To the accompaniment of music you would expect to hear in a low-budget porn flick, Jennifer and some guy named Mark (I believe he is also the show's producer - double dipping on the public teat?) visit various Vancouver businesses including a spa, coffee house, gourmet food outlet and Costco (?), make fools of themselves, and leave.

Each of the stories is followed by a list of businesses that offer the services that the story featured. I assume these businesses are paying for the mentions.

Living Vancouver is insipid, boring, and a waste of time.

If some half-naked fat guy getting a massage or a bunch of freeloaders stuffing their faces at Costco is supposed to hold my attention, it's not working.

Which begs the question: Who exactly is Living Vancouver aimed at?

Is it stay-at-home moms, unemployed people, the bedridden, the dead ... who knows?

This show has no reason to exist that I can see, with the possible exception of keeping about thirty CBC employees off the dole for at least twelve more weeks.

For an example of how a lifestyle show should be done, check out Seattle's long-running Evening Magazine on KING-TV. It's a quality production.

CBC does some things right. Sadly, Living Vancouver isn't one of them.

[XFM]

What a lovely bit of writing!

[Mike Cleaver]

Maybe Pluto could write the show!

[Glen Livingstone]

Hey, thank you XFM.

And Mike, my duties here at RadioWest keep me far too busy to consider writing for Living Vancouver, however, I could spare a couple of hours a week consulting for them at my usual inflated hourly rate!

[Russ_Byth]

Didn't see it... (lucky me).... but it sounds like it's a far cry from the old Vancouver Show on CKVU.... now THERE was a great program about a great city... and it was LIVE!

[Heard It On The X]

Didn't see it... (lucky me).... but it sounds like it's a far cry from the old Vancouver Show on CKVU.... now THERE was a great program about a great city... and it was LIVE!

I'll second that. Sadly, the tapes for those are likely long gone. I went down to the old CKVU a few years back asking about the show (my cousin and his air band were guests back in 1981) and the person at the desk told me since it was live TV those shows were probably recorded and then promptly erased.

But since your pals with Wayne, I hope you can prove me wrong on this one, Russ.

[tuned]

You have such a short memory Pluto. Let me explain it to you in a way you can understand.
Why did the talent challenged Jennifer land a gig on the dead dog as a talkshow host? To pull in massive ratings? No it was to THROW A BONE to her hubby to keep the Canucks on the Dog at a bargoon rate for another few seasons. Which TV network is presently trying to hang onto the rights for hockey? Couldn't hurt to THROW A BONE to one of the more influential GM's in the league could it? Jenn must be such a box of chocolates that Burkie will sell his soul to anyone that gets her out of the house or better yet out of the country! Advantage CBC.

[Cliff Bashly Kinkade]

Nice work Pluto! That was a fun read.

Did anyone else notice that all the hosts across Canada for this show are female? AND not one of them is named Ralph Benmurgi?

Well?

Did ja?

Huh?

I didn't think so!

[johnsykes]

Her move to CBC certainly isn't to give the CBC a boost to keep Hockey Night In Canada. It's already a done deal.....gonzo to TSN after next season. Signed, sealed and delivered. No more Bob Cole boo-hoo :rolleyes:

[Glen Livingstone]

Apparently the city of Edmonton was spared its own version of Living.

Lucky them.

[Cliff Bashly Kinkade]

Well that might be because Edmonton is one of the few major cities in Canukastan that understands what their civic culture is, and where to find it without being led there by a trite, formulatic, pander-a-poluza.

[XFM]

Hit the nail on the head, BCK.

http://www.gbkphoto.com/pages/alberta/edmonton.htm

[Stn Brk]

Can't be bothered to watch the show, but I did check out the Living Vancouver website.

In her bio, Jennifer Burke (formerly Mather) is described as a 'proud Vancouverite.'

Interesting description of someone who lives in southern California!

[tuned]

I had a chance to catch the show today but I only lasted about ten minutes. It makes Urban Rush look like great television. I see the multi-talented Mrs. Burke is also shilling for BC Childrens Hospital lottery tickets, pro bono I'm sure.