LOCAL TV GOING DOWN THE "TUBES?" CTV OUR CANADIAN CHANNEL WITH ALL THE REALITY SHOWS WANTS YOU TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL TV!!

If you watch Canadian Idol, you would have seen it was on haitus this year. Local TV is losing $$$. So you think you can dance, Canada's Next Top Model, American Idol and many more reality TV shows are coming from CTV Globemedia. This is a plight that we all need to support. Read this entire post pls.....Even if you don't live in Canada.

CTV Toronto is inviting its viewers to a public open house this Saturday, May 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in support of local television. The public is invited to tour CTV Toronto’s facilities and meet on-air personalities, including Ken Shaw and Christine Bentley. The Open House is part of a nation-wide day of action by CTV and ‘A’ stations from coast-to-coast to raise awareness on the crisis facing local TV in Canada.

What: CTV Open House When: Saturday, May 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: 9 Channel Nine Court, Toronto, M1S 4B5

Why: In Canada, the government allows cable and satellite companies to take network programming for free and then charge the consumer. Most TV subscribers in Canada hold the false belief that part of their basic monthly bills goes to their local TV stations. This isn't true. They get nothing. Television service providers, including cable and satellite companies, are reaping huge profits at the direct expense of local Canadian TV stations. Canadians are at risk of losing local television.

CTV Newsnet will broadcast highlights, interviews and testimonials from all 16 local open houses coast-to-coast in a live two-hour special beginning at 1 p.m. ET hosted by Ken Shaw.

CTV invites the public to go to SaveLocal.CTV.ca and sign the petition in support of cable and satellite companies paying for the signals they distribute. The site also features an online mechanism that allows viewers to write to their local member of parliament to ask them for their support of local television.
About CTV

CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LLOYD ROBERTSON, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.

There you have it. Come by and meet all the personalities and me too....

OH NO! CANADIAN IDOL PUT ON INDEFINITE HAITUS!!

"Canadian Idol" is being put on the shelf in 2009, CTV announced Tuesday.

The program hosted by Ben Mulroney finished its sixth season this fall and remained a Canadian TV ratings monster, scoring an average of 1.47 million viewers in September. However, it appears CTV has elected to not produce the costly reality show in a year when advertising revenues are expected to drop sharply.

The program change would preserve cash as the network braces for a recession.

"As a result of the current economic climate, production of Canadian Idol will rest for the 2009 broadcast year," said the statement.

CTV said in a statement that it isn't cancelling the popular show. It noted that versions of "Idol" in Russia, Germany and the Netherlands each took "rests" and returned for another season.

"Idol" staff were told of the decision on Monday after CTV informed the show's producer, Insight Productions, that the program was being put on hold.

The network is retaining the rights to the series.

CTV's announcement comes a week after the popular "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" wrapped up its first season.

MARIAH IS ON FIRE AND FIERY LAWSUIT COMING!

Mariah Carey wants her former record producer Damion 'Damizza' Young to quash parts of his explosive tell-all book. Young has claimed that his book will uncover details of his 'intense four-year personal relationship' with the singer, which they 'worked diligently to disguise from the world's press.'

He also said that the Carey's lawyer Sonya Guardo, has sent him a letter that reminds him of a confidentiality agreement to steer clear of blabbing any sensitive information about Carey in his upcoming book. Young's book is called 'Guilty by Association', which will hit the shelves soon, reports the New York Post.

Meanwhile, Guardo, who works with powerhouse celebrity attorney Allen Grubman, has no yet spoken on the issue.

Source: OneIndia via ANI

Meanwhile above are some pictures from Wednesday's Canadian Idol. Boy toy Nick was in town and this rumor that Mimi is preggo still awaits.

CANADIAN IDOL AT LAST--Theo Tams is your new Canadian Idol!!!

Yes! I did it!

On hearing his name, Theo was in shock!

His family and below his victory performance.

Theo Tams of Lethbridge, AB was crowned the season six Canadian Idol. Tams beat out Mitch MacDonald of Port Hood, N.S. by almost five million votes in a battle of contrasting musical styles. The winner’s big voice and big performances beat out MacDonald’s tender, mostly acoustic renderings. The season six finale was a star-studded affair.

Pop diva Mariah Carey gave a glitzy performance of her hit I’m That Chick from her new album EMC2. Asked what advice she had for each of the Idol finalists, Carey said “keep believing in yourself.” John Legend sang his single Green Light from his soon-to-be released album Evolver.

Canadian pop-punk band Hedley — whose lead singer Jacob Hoggard was a Canadian Idol season two finalist — gave an energized performance of their hit Old School. Last year’s winner, indie rocker Brian Melo made an appearance, performing a track from his album Livin’ It. The Top 10 season six finalists, often hailed by the judges as the best the show has seen, gave several ensemble performances.

As Canadian Idol, Tams will record an album with Sony BMG to be released in spring 2009. The top three Canadian Idols — Tams, MacDonald and Collingwood, Ont.’s Drew Wright will tour across Canada this year. As Tams embarks on his Canadian Idol journey, he will surely heed Jacob Hoggard’s advice from last week’s workshop.

“The most important thing you can remember and never let go of is a solid work ethic and that will take you from here to wherever you want to go.”

That second song "We belong Together" by Mimi was performed so dull like she was dreaming about Nick or something. You could tell Carey was in another planet. They were all great though.

Source: National Post

CANADIAN IDOL 2008 FINALE: THEO TAMS WINS!!!


CANADIAN IDOL 2008 FINALE: MITCH AND THEO'S FINAL SONGS.


CANADIAN IDOL FINALE 2008: JULLY BLACK PERFORMS.


CANADIAN IDOL 2008 FINALE: JOHN LEGEND PERFORMS.


CANADIAN IDOL 2008 FINALE: MARIAH CAREY PERFORMS 9/10/08.

TOMMOROW IS THE CANADIAN IDOL FINALE!!

Will it be Mitch or Theo? Mariah Carey and John Legend's in town along with former Idol Brian Melo and other Canadian artists. I remember the initial auditions which I covered. Time flies and of course another year goes by with no urban finalist. C'mon guys, try hard and lets put someone in R&B there next year!

IT'S HERE: Canadian Idol debuts TONITE!

Yes, it's Idol season in Canada and today debuts the beginning of Juno award R&B singer Jully Black as a Judge. Tune in on CTV for the start of Season 6. For all happenings with our own "Ryan Seacrestish" host Ben Mulroney seen with me above, click here....

BREAKING NEWS: Last Chance Canadian Idol opportunity to still audition ONLINE!

If you missed the auditions over the weekend for Canadian Idol, you do have the opportunity to send your audition online to the Judges. It's only the second time in the history of the Idol franchise that competitors have had the opportunity to audition online, marking yet another North American first for Canadian Idol. Wanna try it, Click here and get your camcorder batteries charged!

CANADIAN IDOL AUDITIONS: The whole truth and nothing but the truth....

Contestant Nellie Clyke aka Lil Crip 4Life showing her gang color!

Ray Robinson and Nellie Clyke

Yonge-Dundas Square, downtown Toronto

Canadian Idol host, CTV's Ben Mulroney

Kym Ferguson sang a hip-hop song by Lupe Fiasco

Michelle Gifford is disabled and is not letting that stop her!

Young and old, black and white, one woman was disabled and even Crips and Bloods were all in the house to audition. Isn't it nice if gang members can actually start doing something positive! They came from all over Canada to the "Hollywood" known as Toronto! I got to Young Dundas square at 8.30am, no breakfast no makeup where Brian Melo performed. He's the reigning Canadian Idol who was formerly a construction worker. Hell you can be anything you wanna these days. I want to host a show on Much More Music (wink! wink!) some day in this Canada! After Melo got off stage, I went to the press area and you could see everyone over there from the "planet papers" (Toronto Star and Sun. LOL!) to the TV shows E-Talk, ET Canada, Hello and Goodbye magazines etc as well as Radio stations. Of course I was the only blogger in the house. Even though I am a freelance Journalist in real life, I was working for Keminications that day and you know we bloggers are "for real." I'll tell you about that phrase later (hint: Natasha Bedingfield)

Besides being just the blogger, I had the best seat in the house where CTV's Allie Page hooked me up with my "media Idol" fave Rudy Blair of all news station 680news. I sat in Rudy's live interviews with Brian Melo and Natasha Bedingfield. I said "live" over the phone! What a blast! Bedingfield's record company didn't want photos without advance media permission because of copyright so no cameras which we all probably had in the bags for other shots. She came in saw my boring hat and said "nice hat! Great idea to have that today" as it was rainy and cold outside. After the interview, she shook me and asked my name which I told her then I also told her I read in wires that Beyonce serenaded one of her songs to Jay during the alleged wedding.

She was thrilled and hinted she heard something but wasn't sure. After I told her I was a blogger, she was thrilled and said to me........"I love bloggers!" OMG! No celebrity says that! What a down to earth lady. Later I read in her Wikipedia profile that she was a Humanitarian.

"Bedingfield is often characterized by her "girl next door" appearance. However, she does enjoy glamming up for photoshoots and music videos in order for people to see a different side to her. Bedingfield has also posed for Arena Magazine, agreeing to the shoot Arena Homme Plus because the magazine allowed her to wear "lovely dresses".

Man! She made my day! Natasha said she was balancing pop and R&B music in her latest projects and was thrilled to perform in an Idol concert for the first time. Asked advice for the contestants, she said they should get their head into that song. Her next challenge is to try her hands onacting and do an American tour. Natasha wanted me to plug her good on the blog and she'll get that here! Nice young lady. Check her out at www.natashabedingfieldusa.com and www.natashabedingfield.com.

Brian Melo's interview was a great person. He couldn't help stop smiling. As you know he is dating another famous Idol contestant during his season, Tara who he told us is performing in Nashville soon was with him that day. He says he will be touring in June and hitting the Portuguese festival. He also told us he still takes vocal lessons. His advice to hopefuls out there is to be yourself, have a good attitude, have fun and let yourself go.

Contestants Daniel Sparks and Alicia Resendes

Daniel Sparks and supportive mom Debra

I met two contestants Daniel Sparks and Alicia Resendes who were so positive about everything They went into the pickle Barrell restaurant and bumped into Brian Melo who said his number was 20 away from Daniel's 7750. Turned out that was Alicia's 7730. Sadly she didn't make it thru BUT she is going places with that R&B voice. Remember Jennifer Hudson and Frenchie of American Idol?

Here are some of Toronto's finest who couldn't tell me where the media area was? There was peace and order thruout the day. Not a problem and nobody cut the lines.

Finally here I am holding some luck. Brian Melo's Idol number last year that ended up Alicia Resendes'.

Canadian Idol Toronto Auditions 2008.

Canadian Idol Toronto Auditions 2008
Video sent by KeminicationsMedia

The Canadian Idol Toronto auditions on Saturday April 12th 2008. This is our own "Hollywood." Contestants from all areas show up with British pop star Natasha Bedingfield and Brian Melo, current Canadian Idol performing.

Canadian Idol is Coming! Hot New Cast Member Helps Kick Off Canadian Idol Audition Weekend in Toronto.

My media colleague Ali Page of CTV sent this to me yesterday. Forget Simon and Paula! This is the "Idol" show to be at. It's called Canadian Idol!!!

The search for the next Canadian Idol culminates when the nationwide audition tour rolls into Toronto next weekend and debuts the fresh new face of its all-star cast --

What: Canadian Idol has crossed the country and is back in Toronto for the final city stop and a free concert at Yonge-Dundas Square. Catch all the action as the Idol hopefuls try out for a shot at stardom in the heart of downtown Toronto.

Who: Live performances by international superstar Natasha Bedingfield and reigning Canadian Idol champ Brian Melo on Saturday, April 12.

When: Concert: Morning of Saturday, April 12

Auditions: Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Where: Yonge-Dundas Square. Toronto, ON