If you are not a regular viewer of Eastlink Television (aka “Cable 10” in Charlottetown), you may have missed the fact that Kevin O’Brien has taken over from Elmer Williams as host of the Tuesday evening call-in programme Point of View.
I liked Elmer as host: he wasn’t pretentious, he ran the show well, and he was good at engaging his guests. Kevin’s equally up to the task, though, and this is especially impressive as, to the best of my knowledge, the sum total of his television experience before he assumed the host’s chair was, well, nothing. Of course he did play the lead in Brigadoon (or was it South Pacific?), and that must count for something ;-).
Be sure to tune in next Tuesday night if you’re around a cable outlet.
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Comments
Is this a permanent change? I
Is this a permanent change? I just happened to tune in tonight and was impressed with KJ.
‘FREEDOM” fries anyone???wow,
‘FREEDOM” fries anyone???
wow, this just adds more to the world opinion that the USA is outta bounds…
Elmer, my dad, has the
Elmer, my dad, has the advantage that he knows everybody (over the age of 30?) in PEI, especially Prince County. I think his favorite part of the show was when they didn’t know some fact about something, then later someone would call with that fact almost everytime.
I like Kevin’s approach to the show, I think he’s growing more comfortable each week in the role of host and is really starting to enjoy it.
My favourite episode of Point
My favourite episode of Point of View under Elmer’s watch was when he had Bobby Clow (from Clow’s General Store in Hampshire) on as a guest. Somehow it seemed that everyone on PEI called in that night, and everyone knew both Bobby and Elmer. It was a classic piece of television. Oddly, I’ve talked to many people since who, though they never watched Point of View before or after, saw that episode.
I gotta say, I miss Elmer.
I gotta say, I miss Elmer. His was a down-homey approach to the show. It felt like something unique. Now it feels like “Compass” lite. Actually, Compass feels like Compass lite.
We need a local Tom Green on
We need a local Tom Green on cable, or like a free range Boomer, roaming around PEI turning over rocks and getting in our faces. Now that would be must see TV.
Freedom fries! Ohhh, George
Freedom fries! Ohhh, George Dubya, that’s tellin’ ‘em! Your rapier wit and brilliant statesmanship has won me over. *swoon*.
To quote the great prophet, Dave Foley of ‘Kids in the Hall’: “Sorry about all that cancer, it’s my fault.” Freedom fries. OK… g’head. the French were about to ditch ‘em anyway… turns out they’re carcinogenic.
FWIW Dan, I loved Elmer’s POV
FWIW Dan, I loved Elmer’s POV for reasons akin to what you’ve suggested. I guess if there is anything common between the way he did the show and the way it’s being done now is that we both decided, Day One, to just be ourselves and let the audience decide if we should keep on. So far all comments have been positive (Islanders are very nice people I guess…).
Strangely, after thinking about it I agree with your “compass lite” comment… I can honestly say that I didn’t try for that; it just comes out that way.
My favourite show was the last one with Robert Ghiz because the only thing I had written down was the phone number — for every other show I put stuff down on paper and mostly felt clumsy when I tried to get it off the page. In fact I felt I let Alan B down a little because I was less focused than usual. Anyway, he seemed quite happy when I spoke with him afterward.
Elmer has been a huge support to the show since his leaving (they moved the show to Charlottetown and Elmer didn’t want to drive that distance in the winter — can’t blame him, a few times it was rough going half the dx he’d have traveled). He hand picked his replacement to some extent and has been generous with his advice and support since.
I’ve been trying to get him to agree to come back for a show at the end of the season. Perhaps we’ll split the show 50/50 where I host one half and he the other. What’cha’ think?
You’ll need to do a webcast
You’ll need to do a webcast for me now, Kejp!
Thanks for the webmail option (corporate plug) on the ISN, by the way. Makes the transition no probs and I am likely going to keep the service.
I don’t have cable (said
I don’t have cable (said snobbishly). However, sounds like Kevin should have a Catherine Hennesey Engine Reinvented weblog with post announcing the content of each episode, with room for discussion.
Good idea, steve.
Good idea, steve.
Peter has been asked to
Peter has been asked to “reinvent” the Train as the Apple. I know that’s a lot to ask (he’s not a magician) but when that happens we’ll have a whole lot of stuff in there.
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