Yeah, I'm done with caution, too. I have to say, this is turning into some shameful shit.The explanation is outright, insultingly ludicrous. It doesn't hold up. Asked about his favourite shows, he didn't demur. Didn't explain that, as a top CRTC chap, he couldn't play favourites. Didn't say, “No comment.” Instead of being gracious, he chose to be churlish. He responded with a bald statement of naked hostility to TV drama and comedy.
Apparently we are to believe that of all the possible options open to him in order to avoid any awkwardness, he chose to tell an untruth and thereby heap scorn on the genre of television enjoyed by, you know, the regular folks at home on the couch. Never mind the fact that he just insulted all those Canadian writers, directors and producers who strive to tell Canadian stories to Canadians through television and, of course, through the good graces of the CRTC.
Even if we believe that Arpin's answer was a way to avoid awkwardness, the hostility, smugness and snobbery inherent in the answer bespeaks an appalling lack of judgment. As an explanation, Arpin's statement is hooey. Of course, there's no hint of apology in it.
I call on the CRTC, as a body, to give us a full and formal reassurance that its officers are obliged to be interested in “televised fiction” and known to be so when hired. And I call on the CRTC, as a body, to apologize to the creators of Canadian “televised fiction” for the distress caused by Arpin's remarks.
By the way, after last Thursday's column about Michael Arpin's remarks appeared, I heard from a veteran Canadian TV producer who warned me to “be cautious” in highlighting Arpin's remarks. The suggestion was made that it might be a mistake to embarrass the vice-chairman of the CRTC. I dunno what that could possibly mean.
I heard the same thing from a couple of people. "He will seek revenge."
Really? Wow. I guess the Do Not Call list debacle was round one?
I want Rick Mercer to interview this guy so bad...
Oh, and keep reading to the end. The National thing segment with the folks from Dragons' Den is ... just ... ugh.
...and then tonight, I'm watching Being Erica. (Because I'm an 18 to 49 year old woman, you know) and there's this fifth estate promo. And they're doing when Second Life online romance leads to real life cheating.
The Fifth Estate.
Really?
REALLY.
Michel, ZOS is ten times more informative about human nature, Slings & Arrows is a hundred times more cultured, and Flashpoint is a thousand times less sleazy than those "news and docs."
3 comments:
Haha...nice late addition to the post, D.
(this me being sincere, as opposed to trying to be funny or sarcastic)
You go DMC. The man is obviously an ass. (I concur with Jim Henshaw )
And I totally agree with you about "The Dragons" on The National - what the fuck was that?
The autoworkers have it hard enough right now without the sight of Buzz Hargrove having to go beg before "The Dragons". That was just sad and totally uncalled for. Who are these people and who fucking cares. They get to call him "Buzz" but he has to call them "The Dragons" !? Please.
I've got an idea - how about go and interview some real people who are actually losing their jobs. ( Wow. I'm a genius. I should get appointed to the CRTC. )
"The News" shouldn't be another occasion for cross promotion.
Shame.
And this is the thing. I'm not a gainsayer here.
I will say this right flat out -- I was one of the guys that totally understands that Radio 2 needs to cultivate a new audience. And I think the critiques against the programming change has been 80 percent driven by precious elitism.
I also think that a couple of years ago, when the CBC chose to move THE NATIONAL for THE ONE -- even though it failed, that it was not the stone tablets tumbling from the mountaintop others said it was. They move the news for Hockey. No one says the news has to be at 10pm. That is something else.
But...
The whole point of a public network in things like News is that you're supposed to be driven by the excellent. You are funded by us. you hire the best people, you do the best job you can. If people think you're biased, you work assiduously to prove to them you're not. You do not lower your standards and you do not chase bullshit.
You have the luxury of being the one place that doesn't have to pander to popular taste in your news. Just excellence.
That means no weather porn, no exploding trucks, and a bare minimum of bullshit, trumped up, infotainment light stuff.
I fully support the CBC trying to become populist and entertaining. I think there's a place for game shows and The Week The Women Went and Dragons' Den.
BUT YOU DON'T FUCK WITH THE NEWS.
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