Why I hate Strombo

"The Hour" represents all that's wrong with the CBC TV these days.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not a fifty-something nostalgia junkie who's convinced that everything after "This Hour Has Seven Days" isn't worth my attention. In fact, I imagine I'm not completely outside the demographic they're trying to attract. (I'm only 31, after all).

But just because I'm young(ish) doesn't mean I have ADD. For some reason, CBC is convinced that, if they don't bend over backwards to appeal to the twenty-something crowd, they won't have any viewers at all.

Am I the only one who finds this constant sycophancy to the elusive cooler-than-thou Net Gen incredibly annoying? CBC TV seems to be, to gently paraphrase my lovely broadcasting teacher Peter McNelly, several identities in search of a focus.

Are they a testing ground for achingly non-edgy, badly acted sitcoms? CBC is deservedly proud of its political satire, but any efforts at actual plot-driven shows seem to follow the same, predictable, unfunny pattern, of which Little Mosque is only the latest attempt.

Or are they the new television home for young 'uns who have neither the time nor the attention span to watch traditional newscasts? Well, no, if the ratings for "The Hour" are any indication.

Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if CBC's highest ratings are from 5 to 5:30 on weekdays, which is when they run "Simpsons" reruns. Depressing. Why can't they do better?

I'm puzzled as to why CBC's television department can't take its cue from CBC radio - which, although I have my own issues with the distressingly ubiquitous Jian Ghomeshi, seems to be treading the line between coolness and quality a little more elegantly. Their emphasis on world and indie music and genuinely interesting radio features is a whole lot more appealing to this particular young gal than anything for offer on the television side of things.

Why doesn't CBC realize that, just because 20-somethings aren't watching now, doesn't mean they'll never watch. I neither watched nor listened to CBC five years ago, but I do now. CBC needs to figure out what it does well and stay consistent, rather than constantly re-inventing itself for some elusive new target demographic.

Phew.

Spring, dammit!

Oh, how I hate winter. This time of year is almost worse than the darkest days of the deepfreeze - there's this aching tease of what springtime glories lie ahead, but they're not quite here yet.

March is like having one of those agonizing adoloescent crushes on someone who doesn't know you exist - you're constantly looking for signs, interpreting the smallest signs of hope...and nothing ever happens. I feel like that now, as the snow starts to melt but heady days of wearing sandals and tank tops are far, far away.

For anyone who's looking to listen to something new, check out Regina Spektor's website at www.reginaspektor.com. Click on "Music," and if you want to hear my (and Dad's, I think) current fave click on the "Begin to hope" tape picture. Honestly, I have no idea where Dad finds this stuff, but it's great.

Blog within a blog

Well, the title may be a bit misleading. I'm sitting in class, listening to a lecture about blogs as I write in my blog. Positively post modern, with a whiff of Shakespeare. I should be paying attention, and I am, sort of, but I haven't written anything in so long I felt this was an opportune time.

This particular post is not a trip down my personal musical memory lane. I've gotten to the point in my schooling (almost finished first year, planning for specializing next year) where I'm desperately needing a change of pace. Fortunately, I've lined up a lovely summer internship at Key Porter books, indulging in the heady and elemental stimulus-response joy of copy editing. It's not a media job, per se, and I'm feeling a little out of step with my classmates as they angle for jobs at newspapers and magazines. Oh well - I've spent much of my life being slightly not-with-it - why change now?

Hmmmm - chap at the front of the class says blogs are a great way to get noticed.

I don't think he's referring to my little corner of Google Blogger.