Results tagged “bbc”

To Sydney Newman, television drama was all about appealing to the common man. Described in an obituary as “brash and charmingly outrageous," Newman "shrewdly cast himself as the low-brow who punctures the pretensions of high-minded rivals.” In a film and television career that included major posts in Canada and Great Britain, the Toronto native used his hustling, straight-talking, frank approach to production to bring viewers down-to-earth dramas, time-travelling aliens, morale boosts during wartime, and even a hockey game or two.

Earlier this afternoon, Torontoist was explaining to an American friend the quirks of the process by which Torontonians are supposed to dispose of our coffee cups: pop the plastic lid off the paper cup and throw them both into the recycling bin—but don't chuck the entire contraption while the two pieces are attached, because that screws everything up. (We love public works.) The City, we said, is currently spending tens of thousands of dollars on consultants to find a way to simplify this, which ideally will result in the development of a paper lid. Yes, it might be easier to create an educational campaign touting the virtues of removing the lid, but legislating that companies produce such PSAs on their own dime would likely be an even trickier proposition. Besides, the less plastic the better. That said, it's hard to describe all this without laughing and using the words "fuckin' crazy," before finally admitting that the process the City is undertaking is actually not all that unreasonable.

It's Canadian Music Week and that means there's an unusually large number of hip hop shows going on. KRS-One will be teachin' at The Opera House on Saturday as he continues his Stop the Violence movement. RZA dons his Bobby Digital mask on Sunday at the Phoenix. There's also grimy New York hip-hop (M.O.P. on Friday), French rap (DJ Orgasmic and Cuizinier on Thursday), and a strong showcase of local talent (Friday's Exclaim! event).

Photo courtesy of WordFest. This Thursday the Toronto Reference Library will host a LongPen event with Margaret Atwood—inventor of the device—who will interview BBC personality and author Kate Mosse (not the model), who will be in Sussex, England. Conducted via video conferencing, Mosse will read from her newest work, Sepulchre, and answer audience questions, and will be able to sign books with the LongPen. Mosse's book will be available through Nicholas Hoare Books at...

How does a newly-opened shopping complex bring in shoppers? Hold a British-themed sale, featuring specials on fine UK products like Orange Julius and Gordon Lightfoot records! The Yonge-Eglinton Centre opened in October 1973 with Dominion and Horizon as its anchors. The short-lived Horizon chain was an attempt by Eaton's to enter the crowded discount department store field. This location was converted to an Eaton's store when the company pulled the plug on Horizon in...

CityPulse. The New Music. Baby Blue Movies. City Lights. Fashion Television. Speaker's Corner. These programs are among the innovative shows that have aired on CityTV since it officially launched way up the dial 35 years ago this evening.

No Film Friday again today, as we’re still too busy with the festival A few of the films that played at the festival are out already, with Neil Jordan’s The Brave One, David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises and Julie Taymor's Across the Universe all on general release. Not even new release Mr. Woodcock escapes a connection—it’s directed by Craig Gillespie, director of festival film Lars and the Real Girl.

The soldier killed Wednesday in Afghanistan has been confirmed as Master Cpl. Darrell Jason Priede. The 30-year-old grew up in Burlington, Ont. but lived in Grand Forks, B.C. until he left for Afghanistan a month ago. He was killed along with six others when a rocket flew into their Chinook helicopter.

That makes Dion look like a strong leader, all right.

Ah, convergence. It's a word fraught with different meanings, competing motives, and opinions up the proverbial wazoo. To some, convergence is a paradise of synergy, cross-promotion, and massive profits. To others, it's confirmation that more and more information is being disseminated by less and less people. Wherever you stand, however, the world of Toronto media overlords might be on the verge of becoming a whole lot smaller, as Alliance Atlantis confirmed today that one of the companies it is in exclusive talks to sell itself to is none other than Canadian broadcasting and publishing behemoth CanWest Global.

Hey there George Stroupo... George Stoppogrop... George Stroumboulopoulos (lordy, there's a candidate for taking your partner's name in marriage), in shocking us with your return to the Ceeb, you also proudly imply that you took out your nose ring and forced the damn thing through your... uh... Little George. What, The L.A. producers didn't think you were edgy enough? We here at Torontoist feel that getting your body modification was most likely paid for by the Canadian public by funds shunted though the CBC. You can keep Torontoist's share of the money if you promise to never, ever make that "Imma bad widdle boy" face again.

You know who's going to be upset about those Bikini Bandits? The Houston school system. Houstonist also reports on some redevelopment shenanigans over a landmark theater.

LAist has so much fun this week! They go to E3, where they overhear the timeless remark "Man, this is where nerdy girls get laid." Is that a promise? They also give us this week's best CDs and make us realize that LA is the best place to use Zillow.

The two Canadians and one British members of peace group Christian Peacemakers have been rescued after four months of captivity. One of them includes Toronto activist James Loney (pictured here). Their captivity also led to a number of peace rallies in the Toronto area. We're just glad to hear that the three men will be coming home soon and a little bit sad that the fourth hostage, American Tom Fox won't be joining them. He was found dead earlier this month.

Sometimes, on Torontoist’s laziest days, it will drag itself out of bed just long enough to flick on the BBC’s 6 music internet radio service, the BBC’s gift to the world’s fans of British indie music, to listen to the 6 music breakfast show, which for ages was almost always preceded by a Don Letts introduction, (if it wasn’t someone doing a bad impression of David Bowie doing the intro.) Which, to be honest, is probably the most exposure Torontoist has had to Don Letts.

The last time Torontoist set foot in the Ontario Science Centre, it was 3 a.m. and thousands of ravers were trashing the place. Glowstick juice smeared over slanted furniture in the Krazy Kitchen and candy kids gapped out to liquid nitrogen demonstrations in wide-pupiled awe.

not so much to like it as to feel it. It won't be a Sunday at the pool in Kigali, but TOist thinks the Don Cheadle/Nick Nolte helmed story of one small piece of the greater horror of the Rwandan Genocide is a worthy pick, though perhaps not on Friday night, right before you go out carousing with friends.

We're glad that the Globe's trying to get all young and hip on us, but it looks as if they're also vying for the grand prize in the 'World's Busiest Cover Competition.' Each week brings a new collage of close-cropped heads, excessive text and weirdly useless lines. Maybe they're trying to catch up to the Post, which has reefered its close-cropped heads since the Conrad era. Regardless, we're hoping they'll tone it down a bit. We get the idea - it's a TABLOID, it's DIFFERENT, it's LIVELY. And we generally like the section, though Liam Lacey in a new format is Liam Lacey just the same.