Q is a Canadian radio show, which airs on CBC Radio One. Hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, the program is a national arts magazine show. The program is also now syndicated to public radio stations in the United States through Public Radio International.
The content features interviews with prominent cultural and entertainment figures. However, the show's subjects and interviewees also deal with broader cultural topics with their political and business aspects. For instance, the show has weekly panels on sports and media issues on Mondays and Fridays respectively. On Fridays, the show includes a theme called "Friday Live" where featured musicians are invited for an interview primarily as the opening segment with live performances throughout the program.
The program airs live Monday to Friday at 10:00 a.m. (10:30 NT), and an abbreviated edition of the morning show is then repeated at 10:00 p.m. (10:30 NT). The program runs for 90 minutes, except for Fridays which runs for two hours which includes the above "Friday Live" segment; the evening repeat runs for one hour, although due to lesser time restraints (such as less time lost to news breaks) it is able on most days to air all of the feature content from the 90 minute daytime edition with only minor editing.
It is broadcast mostly from CBC's Toronto studios, although the show will frequently spend several days in another city in connection with a major cultural event at which a large number of potential interview subjects will be concentrated, such as the 2010 Winter Olympics or the Sundance Film Festival.
Q first aired on April 16, 2007, replacing Freestyle in the network's afternoon programming block. It moved to its current time slot, replacing Sounds Like Canada, in fall 2008.
Weekly contributors include Elvira Kurt each Friday with her "Cultural Hall of Shame" segment, Mio Adilman each Wednesday with the "Download Down-low" segment, and Torquil Campbell with his "Rant or Rave" segment.
The Makings
editThe name 'Q' was chosen after many recommendations were given by CBC Radio One listeners. Enthusiastic suggestions came up, such as "State-of the- Arts in Canada", "Afternoon Delight", "Smells like Canada", "Full Duplex Repeater", "Ghomer's Pile" or one even closer to Jian Ghomeshi, the show host of Iranian decent, "Royal Canadian Air Farsi,"[1]
Although Ghomeshi admits "a couple of the listener suggestions came close," when the name 'Q' was brought up "there was a pause in the room and [the Q team] went 'yes, that's it.' It felt like the right name. It's an enigmatic letter [they] hope will become associated with the show."[2]
Many efforts were made to contribute to Q's success. From the taking over of "what was the [sic.] Sounds like Canada's 10 a.m. time slot," to the controversial Billy Bob Thornton interview (see below) that "went viral on the Internet," Q "has propelled [...] into the highest rated show in that 10 a.m. slot in all of CBC history, surpassing even the revered Peter Gzowski." [3]
Ghomeshi explains how he is "really [intending] on continuing to build on what [he's] doing with Q," and how "this is a really big year for [Q] considering all the growth [it has] had in the States. [He] really believe[s] in what [they]'ve created with that show and want[s] to see that through." [4]
Billy Bob Thornton interview
editOn April 8, 2009, Billy Bob Thornton and his musical group The Boxmasters made an appearance on Q that was widely criticized and received international attention after Thornton was persistently unintelligible and discourteous to host Jian Ghomeshi.[5][6] Thornton eventually explained he had "instructed" the show's producers to not ask questions about his movie career.[7][8] Ghomeshi had mentioned Thornton’s acting in the introduction. Thornton had also complained Canadian audiences were like “mashed potatoes without the gravy."[9][10] The following night, opening for Willie Nelson at Toronto's Massey Hall, Thornton said mid-set he liked Canadians but not Ghomeshi, which was greeted with boos and catcalls.[11] The Boxmasters did not continue the tour in Canada as, according to Thornton, some of the crew and band had the flu.[12]
Television series
editA television series called Q with Jian Ghomeshi, consisting of filmed footage of interviews and live musical performances from the radio program, airs on the CBC Television and on YouTube.
References
edit- ^ Cobb, C. (May 5, 2007). "CBC radio reconsiders its audience". Star. Pheonix.
- ^ Cobb, C. (May 5, 2007). "CBC radio reconsiders its audience". Star. Pheonix.
- ^ Zekas, R. (May 1, 2010). "Minding His Peace & Q's Artist in Residence Jian Ghomeshi, Host of CBC Radio's Q, Lives Quietly in a Victorian Loft in Old Cabbagetown". Toronto Star. Toronto.
- ^ Tessmer, C. (January 31, 2013). "Ghomeshi's Riding a Wave of Success; Q Host Brings His Teen Memoir 1982 to Regina". Leader Post. Regina.
- ^ "Billy Bob Thornton Gives Bizarre Interview On Canadian Radio". Huffington Post. April 8, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
- ^ "Billy Bob Thornton has a Joaquin Phoenix moment". The Sydney Morning Herald. April 10, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
- ^ "Thornton obnoxious in CBC interview". UPI. April 9, 2009.
- ^ "Thornton clashes with radio host". BBC. April 9, 2009.
- ^ Schmidt, Veronica (April 9, 2009). "Billy Bob Thornton does a Joaquin Phoenix on Canadian radio". The Times. London. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (April 8, 2009). "Billy Bob Thornton Attempts To Outdo Joaquin Phoenix In CBC Interview". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Wallace, Kenyon (April 10, 2009). "Billy Bob not done with the barbs". The Star. Toronto.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Marlow, Iain (April 10, 2009). "Billy Bob ends Canadian tour". The Star. Toronto.
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External links
edit- Q
- Q audio podcast
RSS - Q video podcast RSS
- Q TV at YouTube
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Category:2007 radio programme debuts
Category:CBC Radio One programs
Category:Public Radio International programs
Category:Canadian talk radio programs