AGT (Alex G. Tsakumis) is Back on Air

[jon]

ANNOUNCEMENT: Tsakumis, the New Host of ‘The Money and Wealth Show’
Alex Tsakumis, on his blog
ref. - http://alexgtsakumis.com/2011/07/09/ann ... alth-show/

In the fall of 2009, when I resigned from Sun Media’s 24 Hours, I immediately received three separate offers from different venues. I was excited, it seemed that my media career was still on the rise and that I was a wanted commodity. But after getting into the details of what was required, I found myself more disappointed in the laxity of the mainstream press and their viral inability to ONLY play to targeted advertisers and embrace few of the virtues of the press corps that as a young boy I grew to admire. I remember a conversation I once had with the Vancouver Sun’s star Marjorie Nichols, who would find little politically to agree with me on, when she gave me advice I’m glad I ignored but never forgot: “This (the media) is not a craft that will survive if the suits screw it all up. And it looks like that’s what’ll happen. Listen to your Dad, go to law school. You debate very well and have a big enough mouth.”

Even then, I lamented working so hard to get into Carleton and not attending (I went to Western and then completed my first degree at UBC). I wondered about being a writer. I always loved it. But it made more sense to me to, as the old man put it, “find a way to print money.”

It seems like those days were so long ago, and I suppose when I look at them through the prism of two dozen or so calendars, it was, but boy does it sure seem like yesterday.

Nevertheless, the more time I spent outside of “organized” media, and here with all of you, the more addicted I became to our discussions–even when we disagree, particularly when we disagree. I’ve learned more from all of you than you ever will from me and it’s not just because the mathematics sit in my favour. So, as the last two years passed, I didn’t want to do anything unless it was going to make perfect sense. My first love is radio (I certainly have the face for it, NW used to offer make-up!)), but in my heart, I’m a writer. As my hero Hitchens, the finest English language writer alive, so eloquently puts it, “being a writer is what I am, far more than what I do.” So when opportunities kept coming, they were good but not great for my personal circumstances being a young Dad, etc. There were only a few places I could go, and their budgets were killed (they still are) by the suits, that Marjorie so prophetically referred to.

But it’s a new day, and I’ve learned to respect the power of this thing called the internet. It’s really is the future in so many ways. It integrates radio, television and print like nothing else.

So, I’m taking the plunge.

It’s my privilege to announce that I have committed to a multi-year deal to host the Talk Digital Network’s ‘Money and Wealth Show’.

As many of you know, it’s a program that I have immensely enjoyed appearing on. One of the last things I could have ever imagined was becoming host, but as fate would have it, when owner Tom Allen called, we talked about different ideas and new directions–it was far from automatic. It all fell into place after some more discussions and I’m quite happy with the end result, as I’m assured is Mr. Allen–and my thanks to him for being so friendly, generous and accommodating.

My first interview airs tonight at 7pm on CHEK TV (as it will ever Saturday in in BC), Channel 6 on your dial. And my first guest is none other than B.C.’s 28th Premier, Bill VanderZalm, on to have a timely, and at times robust, discussion about the HST. I promise you’ll enjoy it. Those of you outside of British Columbia that follow this blog, may check with the Talk Digital Network website (linked above) for your local listings.

In closing, I’d like to pay tribute to my predecessor.

Stirling Faux is someone I admired well before we became acquainted and then friends. He is an institution in broadcasting and didn’t get blessed with that knockout voice to just sit around. It didn’t matter what he did in his career: Stirling was always, well, sterling. I should be so lucky…

I hope I can ably fill his sizable shoes and I wish him well and know that our paths will cross again. It won’t be easy replacing someone with such a successful career. My very best to him and his lovely family and my most heartfelt best wishes to him in his new endeavors. Very, very best of luck pal.

Well, enjoy the show, we’ll have a clip up soon. And, of course, all your feedback is much appreciated. And, ‘NO!’ it will not affect my blogging. I’m not going to leave you, although there are a couple of other new, high-profile media ventures I’ve been working on that begin through the summer and the fall that you will also be able to follow and hopefully enjoy.

Be well and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

And don’t forget to watch the show!!!

[Howaboutthat]

What a blowhard. And no I didn't read it.
He's already made it known what he thinks of this site.
Why promote the gasbag?

[Jack Bennest]

Why is Stirling finished?

[jon]

Love him or hate him, he's a Western Canada broadcaster. Station arrivals, departures and internal shufflings are News on sites such as this.

In some quarters, Jack Webster and/or Pat Burns were considered blowhards and/or gasbags in their day. It was actually considered a Requirement in the Job Description back in the '60s when Talk Shows were mostly in their infancy. Only exception that I can think of was Herb Jepko all night on KSL-1160 Salt Lake City, where it was the listeners who phoned in who did most of the talking.

[Howaboutthat]

IMO , to call the blowhard a broadcaster, is a disservice to those who work hard in the industry.
And to get an Internet TV gig, that they're probably paying CHEK to run... BFD.

[Roger Pedacter]

I read this guy's junk every once in a while on the other site and I've gotta say - he seems like an A-1 prick with a huge, over-inflated ego.

Not sure I have anything to add beyond that.

[cart_machine]

Jack Webster and/or Pat Burns were considered blowhards and/or gasbags in their day.

I have the same equipment as John Holmes. That doesn't make me a porn star.

cArtie.

[Jack Bennest]

me a porn star

If only I had known!