Telemiracle
| Telemiracle | |
|---|---|
 Logo for Telemiracle 33 held on March 7 & 8, 2009 in Saskatoon, SK |
|
| Presented by | Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation |
| Opening theme | You are the Miracle by Brad Johner and Donny Parenteau |
| Ending theme | O Canada |
| Country of origin |  Canada |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 35 |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | Saskatoon or Regina (alternating) |
| Running time | 20 hours (with 30 minute break for national news) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | CTV Saskatchewan (1977-present) CBC Saskatchewan (1977-?) |
| Original run | 1977 – Present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Telemiracle is a telethon organized by the Kinsmen and Kinettes in Saskatchewan, Canada for the benefit of the Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation. Initially broadcast on both CTV and CBC affiliates in Saskatchewan, it is now broadcast, commercial-free, exclusively on the province's CTV affiliates. Generally broadcast the first weekend of March, the 35th edition took place March 5 and 6, 2011.
Contents |
[edit] History
In 1977, the first telethon raised more than CAD $1 million, which at the time was considered a record for per capita telethon fund-raising in a 20-hour period (the province had a population of only about 1 million people at the time). The telethon passed the $2 million mark for the first time in 1983, and the $3 million mark in 2001. Telemiracle has exceeded the $4 million mark three times, most recently in 2011.
Originally, the Kinsmen had the idea to have a car raffle to raise funds to help with all the requests for assistance they received but the government wouldn't allow it. So instead, they came up with the idea for a telethon.
Early broadcasts of the telethon featured a mix of national and international celebrities such as the late John Allan Cameron, Gloria Loring, Alan Thicke, the Irish Rovers, Arte Johnson of Laugh-In, Bob McGrath of Sesame Street, game show personality Jim Perry, his daughter Erin Perry, singer and TV host Blake Emmons (who was the telethon's de facto host during the first few years, a post later taken over by Thicke in the 1980s), pianist Frank Mills and Saskatchewan-born motivational speaker Alvin Law. In recent years, the event has mostly attracted Canadian talent. Traditionally, the telethon alternates between the two major Saskatchewan cities of Saskatoon and Regina.
Showing incredible Saskatchewan spirit and generosity, and bolstered by several large bequests, Telemiracle 31 (2007) broke all previous records. The official final total announced by the Kinsmen Foundation was $5,604,682 - smashing the previous record set in 2004.
Bob McGrath, a regular fixture on Telemiracle for over 30 years, was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan for this work by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Lynda Haverstock, on March 3, 2006.[1]
A scheduling mixup resulted in Telemiracle 32 being relocated to Saskatoon in 2008. A convention was booked in Regina for the days leading up to the telethon, meaning that Telemiracle was held in Saskatoon for 3 consecutive years. Telemiracle returned to Regina in 2010.[2]
Telemiracle 35 was held on March 5 and 6, 2011 in Saskatoon at TCU Place (the former Centennial Auditorium). It raised a grand total of $4,635,768 (second only to the 2007 total) and was the second Telemiracle to be streamed online on CTV's website (the first being the previous year).
[edit] Format
Shown annually on CTV affiliates, the broadcast kicks off at 9PM local time on the first Saturday in March (though for the first half of its history, it was scheduled in February). The broadcast goes live to the host auditorium, where members of the national cast are introduced.
The previous theme was Mike + The Mechanics' 1986 hit "All I Need is a Miracle," it was replaced in 2011 with You are the Miracle by Brad Johner and Donny Parenteau.
At 11PM local time, the broadcast takes its only break, a 30 minute break to allow for the CTV affiliates to broadcast the CTV National News. From 11:30PM local time on Saturday night to 5PM local time Sunday afternoon, the broadcast is uninterrupted. The broadcast always concludes with O Canada and a balloon and confetti drop during which time some of the volunteers take to the stage to celebrate; up through 2010, a rendition of With a Little Help from My Friends was included with the closing festivities.
For the first time in 2009 the show went to other various locations in Saskatchewan outside of Saskatoon or Regina. They went to many of the smaller towns and cities across the province showcasing what the local residents have done to raise money. The practice continued in 2010.
[edit] Annual Totals
Telemiracle's website doesn't display the annual totals and they don't set annual goals, but their FAQ notes that the telethon has raised over $81 million [3] since its inception in 1977 through Telemiracle 33 in 2009, an amount that includes the record-setting $5,604,682 raised by Telemiracle 31 in 2007.
Telemiracle 32 and all odd-numbered Telemiracles were held in Saskatoon. All even-numbered Telemiracles, except for 32, were held in Regina.
| Year | Telemiracle | Total |
|---|---|---|
| All-Time Total | $90,617,751 | |
| 2011 | 35 | $4,635,768 [4] |
| 2010 | 34 | $4,010,314[5] |
| 2009 | 33 | $3,802,308 |
| 2008 | 32 | $3,648,310 |
| 2007 | 31 | $5,604,682 (New single year record, surpassing 2004 total) |
| 2006 | 30 | $3,491,538 |
| 2005 | 29 | $3,440,296 |
| 2004 | 28 | $3,528,410 |
| 2003 | 27 | $3,027,912 |
| 2002 | 26 | $3,026,723 |
| 2001 | 25 | $3,515,611 |
| 2000 | 24 | $2,683,424 |
| 1999 | 23 | $2,500,562 |
| 1998 | 22 | $2,546,637 |
| 1997 | 21 | $2,740,578 |
| 1996 | 20 | $2,306,420 |
| 1995 | 19 | $2,451,783[6] |
| 1994 | 18 | $2,126,734 |
| 1993 | 17 | $2,114,688 |
| 1992 | 16 | $2,003,610 |
| 1991 | 15 | $1,825,092 |
| 1990 | 14 | $1,803,177 |
| 1989 | 13 | $1,965,721 |
| 1988 | 12 | $2,470,577 |
| 1987 | 11 | $2,085,785 |
| 1986 | 10 | $2,004,367 |
| 1985 | 9 | $2,012,424 |
| 1984 | 8 | $1,920,215 |
| 1983 | 7 | $2,010,120 |
| 1982 | 6 | $1,902,480 |
| 1981 | 5 | $1,800,924 |
| 1980 | 4 | $1,551,837 |
| 1979 | 3 | $1,401,422 |
| 1978 | 2 | $1,443,092 |
| 1977 | 1 | $1,214,210 |
[edit] Notable Guests
[edit] National and International
- Susan Aglukark - Canadian country music, folk, pop, and Aboriginal artist
- The Arrogant Worms - Canadian band
- Victoria Banks - Canadian country singer-songwriter and musician
- Barra MacNeils - Celtic and folk band from the Maritimes
- Jaydee Bixby - Runner up on season five of Canadian Idol
- Tracey Brown - country music singer/songwriter (Family Brown, Prescott Brown fame)
- Billy Barty (1924–2000) - "B-Movie" Legend, Stage and Film Actor (a Telemiracle regular up to the time of his death)
- Paul Brandt - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Lisa Brokop - Canadian Country music singer-songwriter
- Kale Brown - soap actor (Another World)
- Jim Byrnes - blues musician and actor
- John Allan Cameron (1938–2006) - Canadian folk singer
- Glory-Anne Carriere - Musician
- George Canyon - Canadian country singer-songwriter and musician
- Rita Chiarelli - Blues singer-songwriter and musician
- Burton Cummings - Singer-songwriter, musician, and former band member of The Guess Who
- Bobby Curtola - Canadian Rock and Roll singer
- Melanie Doane - Fiddle player, singer-songwriter
- Doc Walker - Canadian country band
- Blake Emmons - Singer and TV host
- Farmer's Daughter - Canadian country music trio
- Gary Fjellgard - Singer-songwriter, originally from Rose Valley
- Sue Foley - Blues singer-songwriter and guitarist
- George Fox - Canadian country music singer-songwriter and musician
- Lance Frazier - Professional football player
- Lawrence Gowan - Canadian singer
- Adam Gregory - Canadian country singer-songwriter and musician
- Rolf Harris - comedian, singer/songwriter ("Jake the Peg," "Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport" fame)
- Kelita Haverland - Canadian singer
- Jeff Healey (1966 - 2008) - Canadian jazz, rock, blues, and hard rock singer-songwriter and musician
- The Higgins - Canadian country, rock, and pop band
- High Valley - Canadian country and Christian band
- Justin Hines - Canadian pop singer
- Irish Rovers - Celtic and folk group
- Carly Rae Jepsen - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Arte Johnson - Laugh-In cast member
- Marc Jordan - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Michael Kaeshammer - Canadian boogie-woogie pianist, vocalist, composer, and arranger
- Joan Kennedy - Canadian country music singer
- Richard Kline - Actor (Three's Company)
- Lace - Canadian country music group
- Gloria Loring - Singer, actress
- Rita MacNeil - Canadian country music, celtic, and folk singer
- Beverley Mahood - Canadian country singer and CMT Canada personality
- Charlie Major - Canadian country music singer-songwriter and musician
- Bob McGrath - Sesame Street cast member who has taken part in 34 of the 35 Telemiracles[7]
- Jason McCoy - Canadian singer-songwriter and musician
- Frank Mills - Pianist
- Alannah Myles - singer-songwriter
- Sierra Noble - Canadian fiddler, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist
- One More Girl - Canadian country duo
- Stella Parton - sister to Dolly Parton, country singer/songwriter
- The Northern Pikes - Canadian rock band
- Jim Perry - former game show host
- Prescott-Brown - Canadian country music trio
- Ronnie Prophet - Canadian country music singer-songwriter and musician
- Jimmy Rankin - Canadian country, folk singer-songwriter, and musician
- Matt Rapley - Canadian R&B and gospel singer-songwriter and musician
- Johnny Reid - Country musician and singer-songwriter
- Lloyd Robertson - CTV National News anchor
- Steve Schnetzer - soap opera actor (Another World)
- Amy Sky - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Sally Spencer - soap actress (Another World)
- Alan Thicke - Actor and game show host
- Shari Ulrich - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Valdy - folk singer-songwriter
- The Wilkinsons - Canadian country music group
- Jim Witter - Singer-songwriter and musician
- Michelle Wright - Canadian country singer
[edit] Saskatchewan
- Kevin Arcand - Singer-songwriter and musician
- Sheldon Bergstrom - Singer and actor
- Carrie Catherine - Saskatoon-born singer.
- HOJA - Canadian a cappella quartet
- Tom Jackson - Aboriginal singer, musician, and actor
- Colin James - Regina-born Canadian blues legend
- Brad Johner - Country singer-songwriter and musician
- Connie Kaldor - Singer-songwriter, musician, and children' author
- Chad Klinger - country music artist, grew up in Lashburn
- Candace Lacina - Saskatoon-based singer
- Melanie Laine - Saskatchewan country music artist
- Deborah Lauren - country music artist, grew up in Yorkton
- Alvin Law - A man with no arms who is also a motivational speaker
- Tyler Lewis - 2006 Canadian Idol finalist
- Little Miss Higgins - Blues singer-songwriter and musician
- Andrea Menard - Actor, singer-songwriter, playwright
- Donny Parenteau - Singer-songwriter, musician, and multi-instrumentalist
- Kyle Riabko - Saskatoon guitarist and singer-songwriter
- Saskatchewan Express - A group of young singers and performers
- Kenny Sheilds - Canadian singer of the band Streetheart
- Theresa Sokyrka - 2004 Canadian Idol runner up
- Streetheart - Canadian rock band
- Streetnix - Acappella group
- Pamela Wallin - Television personality and diplomat
- Craig Wilson - News reporter and anchor for CFQC-TV
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ News Releases - Government of Saskatchewan
- ^ "Telemiracle returns to Regina in 2010". CJME. http://www.newstalk980.com/index.php?p=ntnews&action=view_story&id=6432.
- ^ "Telemiracle FAQ". Telemiracle. http://www.telemiracle.com/html/telemiracle/FAQs/index.cfm#cat1. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
- ^ "Telemiracle is truly a miracle". CTV. 2011-03-06. http://regina.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110306/sask_telemiracle_03062011/20110306/?hub=Regina. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
- ^ Grummett, Danny (2010-03-07). "Saskatchewan Performs Another Miracle". CJME. http://www.newstalk980.com/story/20100307/30339. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
- ^ "Saskatchewan Hansard". Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. 1996-03-04. http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/Hansard/23L1S/96-03-04.pdf.
- ^ MacClean, Rory (March 5, 2011). "Telemiracle starts today, features Andrea Menard" (in English). The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). http://www.thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/Telemiracle+starts+today+features+Andrea+Menard/4388967/story.html. Retrieved 03-10-11.
