Canadian

Think of the gifts we've received from the Canadians over the centuries. Much that is good, except for the occasional Alberta Clipper that swoops down and freezes our citrus crops and causes Chicago’s expressways to freeze up during rush hour.

I’m thinking HGTV programming. Did you notice that most of their programs come from Canadian funded public television? That’s because PBS doesn't invest much in American TV any more, just documentaries that can’t appear to be too controversial. Otherwise the conservatives and the republicans would object and threaten overall PBS funding; again. And then again. You know you just can’t be too careful. Can’t fund ungrateful slobs, don’t you know!

So Canada gets the research and development role for American TV programming. And they do a very good job at it.

We've watched HGTV for 10 years at least, now. Nearly everything they put on the air is excellent. When it takes in the American market then the production eventually bleeds over to Atlanta or Baltimore, and then on to DYI channel. And Cooking channel, too.

This is good because the fruitful minds of Canadian producers invent new programs faster than Americans can absorb them so there is always something fresh emerging.

Have only one complaint: The Property Brothers. Don’t like them.  Good concept for programming. But way too much of those two brothers. A little boring, too. Can’t they find someone else? Like maybe David Bronstad of Design Star? Or John Gooding?  Both wonderful to look at; and so much fun to watch do their brilliant, creative thing.

House Hunters and House Hunters International are staples of the genre. I now know how to buy a home, fix it up, even flip it, to say nothing about doing the same on a global basis. Then there is the intercultural aspect. Just think – Swedes speaking in Hispanic dialects, German Englishmen, Caribbean sunsets coupled with Greenland midnight sun! This is like living a practicum of National Geographic but with much more fun!

Had you noticed that the contests run by HGTV involve dream homes located in America?  Guess no one want to live through a Winnipeg winter, or Ottawa.

But then the excitement grows as we approach Toronto.  Mayor Rob Ford flashes the lights of public fascination and grossness! A druggie, out of control messianic who continues to redefine politics. One doesn’t expect this in Canada. No, I expect order, civility, and reasonableness. The direct opposite of what we find on American soil. Here we have incivility all sewed up. Perhaps Canadian public television should explore new program genres along this line?

Who knows? New vistas beckon. And it sure beats the Property Brothers!

May 5, 2014