So during my visit to
On the Coast on Friday I whined at the host, Stephen Quinn, that in addition to meeting George Stroumboulopolous, I should also be entitled to tickets to see a taping of his
show, in light of my awesome tweetiness. Stephen was immediately apologetic and said that they hadn't been able to wrangle enough tickets to give one to me. But this morning, he phoned and said they'd found a couple, and could I be at CBC Studios by 3 p.m.? I said that I was disappointed he wasn't calling to offer me a job after my 15 seconds of fame, but I'd take the tickets as a consolation prize.
I asked my friend and neighbour Zoe, who writes the blog
Woodwardsmile, to come with me. As we approached CBC, Zoe glimpsed a huge line of people outside. We both groaned and decided we were
way too old to wait in lines anymore. "Don't worry," I said bravely. "We're on the VIP list," (I had no idea if we were), and marched past the line and into the building.
We were (Thanks, Quinn). We were then escorted by a red-jacketed CBC employee into an elevator and down into the basement, where we met another line. We were dismayed at how long the VIP line-up was, until Red Jacket then ushered us past that line (Zoe, to me, on VIP status: "I like hanging out with you"), and into a smaller studio. George came through and did a quick meet and greet, and then we were into the main studio, in the front section of seats, and the taping began.
First, the production manager taped the audience clapping at various levels of enthusiasm. Then a warm-up act, then George, who answered a few audience questions and cracked a few jokes prior to taping.
George interviewed Elizabeth May, Ice Cube, and Ian Hanomansing (after a quick wardrobe change, as that interview was for tomorrow's broadcast). At each commercial break he'd interact with the audience, taking questions, and telling funny anecdotes. We heard about his appearance in "Hobo with a Shotgun" (he dies), why the Randy Quaid interview for this week got cancelled (Quaid craziness), his views on hip-hop (dead), God (dead), his best interview ever (Woody Harrelson), who he would have liked to interview but didn't (George Carlin), his ringtone (NWA), and much more. During the taping we laughed and applauded on cue. After the show, George spent at least another half hour taking audience questions, and then held a meet-and-greet for the non-VIP guests. I mean, the man doesn't stop.
And I can tell you from briefly meeting him on Friday, he's exactly who and what you see on TV. "Strombo" is not a persona that disappears the moment the cameras are not rolling. He is warm and engaging, potty-mouthed, self-deprecating, and a weird combination of earnest/sarcastic. I'm pretty sure he's exhausting to hang out with for a sustained period of time, because he is so passionate and opinionated about, well, everything. But dammit, he makes for good TV. Long may he reign.
This is a macaroni and cheese baked with cauliflower and an herbed bread and pancetta topping, an endive and radicchio salad with a fresh basil dressing, and stewed fruit with vanilla bean ice cream - the ice cream is store bought, but everything else was made from scratch.
