The Radio Show
| Genre | Talk show |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Home station | CBC Radio |
| Hosted by | Jack Farr |
| Recording studio | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Original release | April 23, 1983 – June 27, 1992 |
The Radio Show was a Canadian radio show, which aired on CBC Radio from 1983 to 1992. The show incorporated some aspects of a conventional radio talk show, filtered through the warped comedic sensibilities of host Jack Farr.[1] The program, described by some critics as an "electronic pub" or a "radio chautauqua", had as its core philosophy the provision of light entertainment for people who suffered from "information overload" during the week.[2]
Premiering on April 23, 1983 as a summer replacement for the network's Metropolitan Opera broadcasts,[2] the show aired on Saturday afternoons. By its third season, the program was airing throughout the year.
Content[edit]
The show was noted particularly for Farr's irreverent and surreal humour. He billed himself as "Captain Radio"[2] and "The Prairie Groovemaster",[1] regularly claimed that his program was being "pirated by a prestigious New York-based show" which he never named, and made exaggerated claims about the size of his radio audience; the number increased each week throughout the show's run, and by the time the show ended in 1992, he was claiming to have two billion listeners worldwide.[3]
Guests were interviewed on offbeat topics, such as champion pumpkin growers,[2] doormen to royalty,[4] people reporting attacks by wild cows,[5] and inventors of new gadgets of varying usability. Ongoing stories included claimed attempts to locate the stolen brain of Albert Einstein and the missing Last Spike,[1] and coverage of the cancellation of Christmas because Santa Claus was on strike.[6]
Regular contributors to the show included Allan Fotheringham as a political commentator, Bill Casselman as a columnist on words and language, Danny Finkleman as a financial correspondent, Joy Fielding as a book reviewer, Mary Ambrose as a television critic, Peter Jordan as a "know-it-all", Stan Fischler as a hockey commentator,[7] and Jon Ljungberg (billed as Elvis Presley) as a travel and Olympics correspondent.[8] Impressionists Bob Robertson and Linda Cullen, who would later be given their own CBC Radio show as Double Exposure, got their start as contributors of comedic sketches to the program;[9] comedy musical group The Arrogant Worms also gained their first national exposure as contributors of comedic songs to The Radio Show.
In a column upon the show's cancellation, The Globe and Mail critic John Doyle lauded Farr's "haute hoser" aesthetic, singling out "dog-bark operas, dust-bunny sculptures and impassioned debates about whether curling is really a sport",[3] and called Farr "a sort of Peter Gzowski from hell" — which he meant as a compliment.[3] Debates on issues "of no consequence" were a recurring feature of the show; another famous debate was on the resolution that being green (in the environmental sense) "is pointless because it's too hard".[1]
Cancellation[edit]
The program's cancellation was announced in 1992;[10] the final program aired on June 27 that year. Farr went on to host the new Canada Live in the fall, but lasted only a few weeks before announcing his departure from the show, which he deemed "not a good fit".[11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d John Doyle, "The Radio Show is surreal and addictive". The Globe and Mail, April 13, 1991.
- ^ a b c d "Saturday fun on CBC Radio". Brandon Sun, January 16, 1988.
- ^ a b c John Doyle, "Cross current". The Globe and Mail, March 11, 1992.
- ^ "'Electronic pub' to close doors". Canadian Press, February 8, 1992.
- ^ "Farr-out! Radio Show beaming from city park". Calgary Herald, June 30, 1989.
- ^ "The Farr side: CBC says wacky Radio Show's days are numbered". The Gazette, February 10, 1992.
- ^ "CBC Radio's Inside Track Is Off Track". The Gazette, December 10, 1994.
- ^ "CBC stings Saturday radio fans". Edmonton Journal, June 25, 1992.
- ^ "Master mimic Robertson thankful for his Exposure". Edmonton Journal, April 16, 1995.
- ^ "Canada Live to replace The Radio Show". The Globe and Mail, May 9, 1992.
- ^ "Farr from the madding crowd". The Globe and Mail, October 17, 1992.