Freddie P's Blog

NFL fans in the GTA received great news yesterday when it was revealed that CTV had secured Canadian television rights for the next three years.

Until we actually see how CTV handles the feed we won't know the extent of the improvement, but there's no way it could be any worse.

It was brutal to watch an NFL game on Global.

More than anything else they used the NFL as a platform to promote their prime time programming, but what made it even worse was their technical screw-ups.

Coming back from commercials too late was common practice and it just added to the frustration of channel substitution.

You pay your satellite or cable bill expecting to get certain channels from the United States, but we're forced to watch the Canadian feed during corresponding programming.

You'd think Global would have realized some responsibility to the viewer, but instead they took the feed and absolutely murdered it.

Hopefully CTV will keep this in mind as they plan for the fall.

Category: Sports | Television

Tie Domi has given Global TV a "tell-all" interview that will air on the network tonight and tomorrow night.

I don't know about you, but I find it a little on the slimy side. Apparently he'll talk about his career, his marriage and Belinda Stronach.

To my mind it's a little early for something like this, and leaves the impression that he's anxious to rehabilitate to his reputation no matter what it takes.

I don't know if I'll even bother to watch.

However, if Global could cut the same deal with Leanne Domi, I'd be glued to the television set.

Category: Sports | Television

I'll be on CH Live at 5:30 again Monday. After the first long weekend of the season we'll talk about bad drivers.

I like this topic because like everyone else I have big time problems with a lot of drivers today, especially when it comes to cell phones and the improper use of the fast lane.

Of course my wife will find this rather ironic because as far as she's concerned I constantly break rules of the road without even knowing it.

CH Live at 5:30 - Monday night with Mark Hescher and Donna Skelly and me.

Category: Television

I'll be making another appearance on CH Live at 5:30 this afternoon, and I'm sorry to report there has been a lineup change. Erica Ehm will not be on the show to talk pop culture

Instead, Mark Hebscher, Donna Skelly and I will talk about the phenomenon that is the Toronto Maple Leafs and how the Leafs missing the playoffs has affected the Canadian economy and ruined the spring for a lot of people.

No kidding.

Category: Television

I can honestly say I've never watched "The View", but for some reason I'm thrilled that Rosie O'Donnell will no longer be on it.

How weird is that?

Since Rosie started her apparent melt down and unraveling on the show several weeks ago I've meant to watch it, but I can't even tell you what time it comes on.

I saw several clips of her bizarre ranting about the American government blowing up part of the World Trade Centre, and her sympathizing with terrorists and her battle with Donald Trump, but I've never seen the show that provided her platform.

But here I sit all happy that she won't be returning to "The View" past June.

What does it say about a person when you can build up a dislike for them through a few sound bites on newscasts?

Then again maybe it goes beyond that.

Maybe it's got something to do with the fact I never enjoyed her stand-up or any of the parts she played in movies or the fact that she always looks like she needs a good scrubbin'.

Category: Show Biz | Television

Yesterday I had the opportunity to catch Sunday's 60 Minutes segment called "Stop Snitchin."

How it's become unwritten law in a segment of black culture not to co-operate with police under any circumstances.

While watching it I felt so many emotions. I felt rage, disgust, disappointment, anger and sympathy. You've got to feel sorry for a group of people that could be so stupid.

I've got to be honest; I have a tough time swallowing the "police attitude" argument.

Sometimes you get the impression some members of the black community don't think they should be stopped for anything.

When I was a teenager I got stopped by the cops for many things, many reasons, sometimes I deserved to be, sometimes I didn't. None of it was very serious and I've got to admit that sometimes I got pissed off for being stopped, but I really had no line of defense.

One night I was selling hockey tickets in front of Maple Leaf Gardens and ended up spread eagle against the wall, handcuffed, thrown in a paddy wagon and taken to 52 division - and all I was doing was selling hockey tickets at face value.

I know, I know. Black people will argue that's no comparison and I have no idea what they go through and to appreciate the black experience you have to be black.

Well I counter with this. I don't for a moment believe the problem is as bad as they claim it is, and then I have to ask "where is not co-operating going to lead?".

Today it seems like the race card is being used way too often but it's got to such a point that you're even afraid to have an opinion on it in case somebody accuses you of something.

But then you give yourself a shake and realize you have every right to an opinion.

The 60 Minutes segment was American based but we're just fooling ourselves if we think it's any different in Toronto.

Toronto Police are having a huge problem right now with unreported crime and witnesses, who won't come forward, and it's not unfair to state the obvious - it's mostly within the black community.

If you didn't catch the segment on 60 Minutes here it is. In two parts. But be prepared to come away with a feeling of hopelessness.

Category: Television

I've gotta be honest with you, by the end of his run on American Idol I felt sorry for Sanjaya.

There's no question he was horrible, but it wasn't his fault he hung on so long. His survival actually made him a victim.

By having every 12 year old in the United States falls in love with him, regardless of his talent, and having votefortheworst.com jump on the bandwagon wasn't his fault.

I'm sure he knew he wasn't worthy, he knew he was an example of a flawed system, but what was the kid supposed to do. Quit?

As fun as it was to keep coming back every week, and as lucrative as this attention may turn out to be, it must have been difficult to stand on that stage every week when most of America considered you a laughing stock.

It's a good thing Sanjaya is gone. It's fair to all the other contestants who obviously have more talent, it's a fair assessment of Sanjaya's talent, but more than anything else, it releases the kid from an embarrassing situation.

Category: Show Biz | Television

Indian Shores, FLA - Yesterday while passing time while it rained, I got to appreciate the shit storm that's developed around the Don Imus situation.

I really don't know who to blame. Al Sharpton for making a mountain out of a molehill while making excuses for the double standard in America, or the networks perpetuating this thing to create programming.

I'm very reluctant to blame Imus because he's not responsible for what this has become.

He said something that he probably shouldn't have, but when called on it, he readily apologized and took the appropriate measures to make things better.

But when it comes to racism and those who like to use it as a platform, that isn't enough.

Sharpton and his ilk are like a dog on a steak bone when it comes to this stuff; to the point where you wonder who really is the racist. Al Sharpton seems to be the intolerant one here.

Not only that, but the double standard is fascinating. When asked why black people continuously use the "N" word, and why the words "hoe" and "nappy" are so popular in rap and hip hop music, Sharpton stammers and stutters and claims he's "workin' on it."

This morning when I woke up I laid in bed and spun the radio dial and I hit upon a station called 98.7 Wild. I was listening a something called the "Orlando and the Freak Show" and they were doing a bit called "Characters"

They would give the contestant the name of a TV character and they'd have to identify the show they were from.

At one point a woman got stumped by "Mrs, Roper", and Orlando became so mystified that the contestant could be so stupid, he stopped down and said. "This is crazy everybody, we got to stop down right now for a hoe break."

It really didn't make a lot of sense because Orlando isn't very good at what he does, but I know what he was getting at. This was a shot at what he perceived as the woman's stupidity.

But that's OK because Orlando is a black guy.

Category: Radio | Television

I'll be on CH Live at 5:30 with Mark and Donna this afternoon. The subject is women umpires in professional baseball.

Today in Mesa, Arizona, Ria Cortesio will work the pre-season game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs. She will be the first woman to umpire a major league exhibition game since 1989.

Pam Postema kicked around the minors for a couple of seasons back then before getting released.

This afternoon we'll discuss whether having woman umpires in the Major Leagues is a good idea, and I'll tell you right now I'm inclined to say no.

But before you go ape-shit ladies, tune in and hear me out. CH Live at 5:30

Category: Television

All television shows eventually lose their steam and hit the wall and it's happened to American Idol, but in a different way.

Idol still gets unbelievable ratings, but the nonsense surrounding the results has now become a bigger story than the show itself, and it all surrounds one contestant named Sanjaya.

His survival after Tuesday night's performance has rendered American Idol pointless.

It's not a singing contest and it's not a talent contest. It's a popularity contest. And it could be even worse than that.

If "votefortheworst.com" has taken a grip on the show to that extent, then this should definitely be the last season.

Category: Television