The Fifth Estate looks at the uncertain future of elephants in zoos
Lucy the elephant is one enormous local media celebrity. The old girl is going national again this Friday at 9 p.m. on CBC-TV as the star of The Fifth Estate episode “The Elephant in the Room” that takes a hard look at the “bitter fight over the future of elephants in zoos.” The only thing [...]
With YouTube success comes responsibility for ‘goony’ local rapper
Video killed the radio star – only to be squeezed off the airwaves by vapid reality TV programming. The music video has only grown stronger since moving from MTV to the Internet, and it’s now more crucial than ever for unsigned talent. Young local rapper Jo Thrillz, a.k.a. Joel Vaillancourt, has mastered the art of [...]
Oilers hero sour on Lance Armstrong memorabilia
Georges Laraque owns three limited-edition replicas of the Trek bicycles that Lance Armstrong rode during his latter Tour de France victories, two of them autographed, one even decorated with 23-karat gold frame panels – and the former Edmonton Oiler can’t even stand to look at them anymore. “I got sick to my stomach because I [...]
Play me a memory: CBC’s Bosendorfer sold to the ESO
Some have called it Edmonton’s most-recorded piano, and as CBC Edmonton’s house keyboard for close to 30 years, the claim may have some merit. But when the broadcaster announced earlier this year that it was axing its local recording unit, it realized there wasn’t much point in keeping its magnificent seven-foot Bosendorfer that had been [...]
Nice guys finish first at Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo
First, let’s get something out of the way about the Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo this weekend: Steve Austin could kick Batman’s ass. OK, maybe not the Christian Bale or Michael Keaton Batmen, given that they seemed to know a whole lot of Jeet Kune Do or something. But with the same certainty that Lee [...]
Adam West forced to cancel Edmonton Expo appearance, Six Million Dollar Man to step in
Bad news, citizens: Adam West, the real Batman, has injured his back and cannot attend the Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo this weekend. Mayor Adam West – as he is also known to many fans of Family Guy – sent a personal message to his fans in Edmonton: “Adam West here…a crazy thing happened a [...]
EDMONTON COMEDY FESTIVAL: Stand-up harder than it looks
I have a new found respect for stand-up comedians after walking a mile in their shoes for the first time. It’s not as easy as it looks – and it looks hard enough to begin with. My three minutes of terror was part of the Edmonton Comedy Festival’s “Funniest Media Person” contest at the River [...]
CKUA begins big move with $5 million Alberta Culture boost
Not since Fort Edmonton picked up stakes has there been such a fuss over a simple change of address. CKUA’s big move has begun! Celebrating the station being transplanted six blocks East from the decrepit Alberta Block to the smashing new refurbished Alberta Hotel, a 1963 Lincoln convertible packed with dignitaries arrived with great fanfare [...]
EDMONTON RADIO: Marriage on the air
There is no longer any such thing as “too much information.” Just listen to the radio for proof. Most of the popular announcers are expected to share EVERY LITTLE DETAIL of their fabulous lives, because making human, personal connections is so important these days. For marketing. So in Edmonton, we learn about Terry Evans’ luxurious [...]
REVIEW: Big Time Rush works hard for every scream
Big Time Rush are not only a boy band, they are stars of a TV show of the same name. It’s very much like the Monkees, including the frenetic silliness, the fact that one of them always wears headgear (usually a helmet) and one is not entirely sure if the boys are actually singing the [...]
 and one is not entirely sure if the boys are actually singing the [...] "Pin It")
Edmonton Eskimos reality series to premiere on Citytv Sept. 15
“Hail Mary” is a new reality series following a group of football players trying out for the Edmonton Eskimos – but even if you think a convert is someone who changes religions, the producer says no prior knowledge of football is required. “One of the key things the broadcaster, Citytv, wanted us to do was [...]
Magazine on mission to mount monument to Melonville
We may drive down Mark Messier Trail, meet at the Wayne Gretzky statue and pause beside the Rollie Miles mural – so maybe it’s time we erected a Monument to Melonville. That’s what Avenue magazine is after in its determined campaign to pay sculptural tribute to the great Canadian comedy series SCTV, which has its [...]
