What would Canadian Idol be without the genial, excitable, preternaturally tanned Ben Mulroney as host? Would the CTV karaoke juggernaut be any different with another host, perhaps one wearing a black tee, a nose ring and an equally expensive, but far more tousled, haircut? What if George Stroumboulopoulos was running the show?
In an interview with fan site The Stroumboulopouli, the host of The Hour and CBC poster boy Stroumboulopoulos reflected on his career and some of the paths not taken: "I mean I took that show in the States and it bombed, and it was an amazing experience, and I was offered a show that's a huge show here now and I turned it down. And people said to me 'that's the biggest show in Canadian history, why don't you do that show? Because I wouldn't have felt right, you know?" See the clip for yourself.
Was Stroumbo offered the job of hosting Canadian Idol, or perhaps the role of Hank on Corner Gas? In a subsequent interview with insidethecbc.com, he denies that Idol was on the table but says he did talk to the network about some other shows.
His gig is hosting, so what else could it be? Should Lloyd Robertson be looking over his shoulder? Was there a recurring role on Degrassi available, perhaps as the hip, young art teacher? Perhaps we’ll never know.
Thanks to Allan Sorensen for the tip. Photo by Photojunkie.
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I preferred George when he was serving coffee at Just Desserts.
agreed. he needs to be in the food services industry.
I've wondered what the real George is like. He seems to be a fabricated character made up of bits and pieces of what CBC think will sell.
The pretence of him is breathtaking.
Was our pretentiously unpretensious host really a server at Just Desserts?
George is in fact our best hope for some good broadcasting.
Like in maybe ten years.
I've watched him slowly but clearly compromise his ideals as the current season progressed. (although one could not really use the word progress in relation to today's CBC).
He's still a real human being though, and I would offer that the accurate description
"a fabricated character made up of bits and pieces of what CBC think will sell."
applies more fairly to The Hour than to the man.
maybe the CBC should be in the food services industry, betcha they could make a mean hot dog soup
If George was in fact offered Canadian Idol...thank goodness he isn't stupid enough to have taken it. I mean...okay he did accept "The One" maybe hoping that it would up his profile in the US....or for the money...or whatever...it was a chance he took. So the show sucked, but he didn't leave a bad taste in the viewing publics mouths. Ben Mulroney on the other hand...he is painful to watch. His jokes on the show lately consist of him 'joking' about how great it must be for the Canadian Idol hopefuls to be sitting on stage with him. It clearly is a joke...but doesn't come off funny since...well the audience doesn't laugh because they probably belive that there is some truth in it. Brutal. George needs to get a show where he has even more free rein...true. I'm sure he's got a lot of freedom now, but he needs to be completely unleashed. More music...less Darfur. I mean I'm getting tired of hearing his less then thought provoking questions. He isn't exactly Peter Mansbridge...or maybe he goes through his garbage and steals his notes but rewrites them with words like ... 'totally' 'awesome' 'shit' and 'cool dude'.