This might not mean much to anyone who doesn't follow Canadian TV or the SUN newspaper chain's CANOE site, but Bill Brioux, long time Sun TV critic, was one of 16 people laid off yesterday in the Toronto newsroom.
Brioux was cantankerous. I thought he was sometimes unfair to the CBC (and if I'M saying that, well, you see what I'm saying) but he was a good writer and his stuff wasn't pablum. I'm going to miss his articles. I hope he turns up somewhere else on the TV beat. At least he said what he really thought. We're going to need some good TV critics with context and experience if we're to rebuild this industry.
11 comments:
I will admit I haven't always agreed with him (recent case in point, he loved Rumors), but he's a mensch. Sad to see him tossed like that because his aim was true and he does truly try to cheerlead for the homegrown stuff (even when it isn't warranted).
I love Bill Brioux. One of the few Sun columnists I would seek out. His honesty is rare, especially in the current landscape where Canadian print, broadcast and online outlets are all owned by the same three companies.
Let's face it. He really wasn't very good. I don't think the Canadian TV landscape will mourn this loss.
"At least he said what he really thought."
Boy, that sure is hard to find these days. Especially on the internet.
I take your point, Ouimet, but you and I both know that the opinion leaders that really matter still -- STILL -- are not taking cues from "the internet".
Imperfect as he was, Brioux had more influence than many you would point to -- or have you finally started showing up in the collation from the clipping service?
I used to get them too.
Yes, that he had influence is undeniable.
Which is part of the reason he won't be missed.
I mean are you going to tell me that you, or I, couldn't take over his job in a second?
And yes, the CBC clipping service still ignores me. And you, for that matter. Out of spite, I'm sure.
Now there's a post topic for you ... the spiteful nature of the tv business here, because there is one.
But I don't think that's peculiar to the TV business in this country. It's like that everywhere.
And, nope, I don't think I could do his job. Moreover, I wouldn't want to.
In any case -- he was a damn sight better than a past critic who shant be named who was pitching shows at the same time he was reviewing others...
I was just kidding about the spite thing. The clipping service ignores the internet probably because, well, it's the internet.
I could easily do his job in my spare time. Easily, and I'm not even a writer.
I'm confused......why do I keep seeing Brioux articles in the Sun? Two in the past few days.
Has he been switched to freelance? I wonder.
Could be banked stories. Or it could be that the thing hasn't worked its way through the union process yet. Lead times on articles could mean they were written a while back.
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