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George Stroumboulopoulos

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George Stroumboulopoulos
George Stroumboulopoulos (photo credit: Mark Dunne, 2010)
Born
George Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos

(1972-08-16) August 16, 1972 (age 52)
Malton, Ontario, Canada
Other namesStrombo

George Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos (/ˌstrɒmbəˈlɒpələs/; Greek: Γεώργιος Μάρκος Παύλος Στρουμπουλόπουλος; born August 16, 1972) is a Canadian media personality. He is best known as formerly being a VJ for the Canadian music television channel MuchMusic and being the host of the CBC Television talk show George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (formerly The Hour) from 2005 to 2014. From 2014 to 2016, Stroumboulopoulos worked for Rogers Media, anchoring Hockey Night in Canada and the NHL on Rogers.[1]

Early life

Stroumboulopoulos was born in Malton, Ontario, a neighbourhood in Mississauga, Ontario, to a Greek father from Egypt and a Ukrainian mother.[2] He was raised in Toronto, primarily by his mother and a close-knit extended family.[3] He graduated from Ascension of Our Lord Secondary School. He studied radio broadcasting at Humber College in Toronto.

Radio broadcasting

In spring 1993, Stroumboulopoulos worked at rock radio in Kelowna, British Columbia for a few months before getting a job offer at the Toronto radio station Fan 590 AM, working in talk radio. He then moved to CFNY-FM to host various shows including Live in Toronto.[4]

Since 2005 Stroumboulopoulos has hosted The Strombo Show, a music-oriented freeform radio talk show. The show has been aired on the CBC Radio 2 network since 2009.

Television career

MuchMusic

From 2000 to 2004, Stroumboulopoulos worked at MuchMusic as producer and host of The Punk Show, then host of The NewMusic, MuchLOUD and MuchNews.[5]

The Greatest Canadian

In 2004, Stroumboulopoulos was featured on CBC television's The Greatest Canadian series as the advocate for Tommy Douglas. More than 1.2 million votes were cast over six weeks, as each of 10 advocates made their case for the top 10 nominees. George made a personal and passionate case for Tommy Douglas, Canada's "father of medicare", and Douglas was named the winner of the contest.

The Strombo Show

Stroumboulopoulos has hosted a long-running Sunday night talk radio show, The Strombo Show. Originally aired as a talk show on CFRB in Toronto and CJAD in Montreal, the show moved to the Corus network in November 2007 and the format changed to one of mainly music. The Strombo Show broadcast from 102.1 The Edge's Toronto studio and on other radio stations in the Corus Entertainment network, including CFOX-FM in Vancouver, Power 97 in Winnipeg, FM96 in London and Y108 in Hamilton.

The show moved to CBC Radio 2 on November 8, 2009.

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight/The Hour

Main article: George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight

On January 17, 2005, the first episode of The Hour went to air. In the show's seventh season, in 2010, the show's name changed to George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, and it was shortened from one hour to half an hour. George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight was a hybrid of news and celebrity and covered everything from politics, pop culture, the environment, human rights, entertainment, sports and more. It won eight Gemini Awards. There are a range of guests on the show from world leaders to celebrities and politicians.[6] The show concluded at the end of the 2013-2014 season as Stroumboulopoulos moved to Rogers Communications.[7]

The One: Making a Music Star

Main article: The One: Making a Music Star

In July 2006, Stroumboulopoulos hosted the American reality television talent show, The One: Making a Music Star that aired on ABC in the United States, and CBC Television in Canada. It was advertised as a similar show to American Idol and Rock Star but with the twist that contestants would "live together in a fully functioning music academy", with their actions documented similar to the Big Brother format.

The show was reportedly the most expensive summer series in the history of the ABC network.[8] Its first episode, on July 18, 2006, scored a low audience of 3.08 million viewers,[9] and subsequent episodes had even fewer viewers. The series was cancelled after just two weeks (four episodes) with the final results undecided on July 27, 2006 with no plans for any further episodes.

Stroumboulopoulos on CNN

Stroumboulopoulos’ hour-long talk series for CNN, Stroumboulopoulos, aired during the late spring and the summer of 2013.[10][11] It was taped before a live audience in Los Angeles, and featured interviews in a format similar to his CBC show.[12] Sometimes, episodes did not air as scheduled.[11] After airing seven episodes from June 14, 2013 to August 16, 2013,[13] CNN did not renew the show.[14]

Hockey Night in Canada and move to Rogers

On March 10, 2014, Rogers Media, which had acquired exclusive national media rights to the National Hockey League, officially announced that Stroumboulopoulos would serve as the main host of Hockey Night in Canada, beginning in October 2014, replacing Ron MacLean. Concurrently, CBC announced the cancellation of George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight after a 10-year run.[15][16]

Strombo's role on Hockey Night, which was part of an effort to appeal to younger viewers,[17] received mixed reception. Viewers surveyed upon his introduction felt that he was not a "credible" successor to Ron MacLean,[18] In a move which the Toronto Star speculated was meant to help re-gain viewership lost over the first two seasons of the contract (which was also credited to the poor performance of Canadian teams in the 2015-16 season),[19] Sportsnet announced on June 27, 2016 that Stroumboulopoulos had been let go from Rogers, and that Ron MacLean would be reinstated.[20]

Charity and public awareness

Stroumboulopoulos and The Hour sponsored the 'One Million Acts of Green' Internet Website[21] challenge, calling on Canadians to register environmental acts they've done. The campaign registered over 1.6 million acts on the website. George and his family[22] have been devoted to this cause also supported by Dr. David Suzuki.

Stroumboulopoulos has also been involved with numerous charitable initiatives, such as hosting the 'HipHop4Africa' Mandela Children's Fund Canada and CapAids February 2006 Toronto benefit. He has traveled to the Arctic for a special on literacy, youth culture and the loss of Inuit identity. He has been to Sudan with War Child Canada, and Zambia for a World AIDS Day special documentary. He also supports Make Poverty History. He joined other prominent Canadians in sharing views on global issues in the March 2010 issue of Upstream Journal magazine.

He was executive producer and co-host of Canada for Haiti television with Cheryl Hickey and Ben Mulroney to help the humanitarian crisis in Haiti after a devastating earthquake.

He also presented at Vancouver's EPIC Expo in May 2011 where he showed support for Fair Trade and the work of Fair Trade Vancouver.

Stroumboulopoulos was selected by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as an official ambassador in March, 2011, thus being named the first Canadian National Ambassador Against Hunger.

Personal life

George Stroumboulopoulos follows a vegan and "straight edge" lifestyle.[23] He is a fan of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team.[24]

Awards

  • The Hour won six Gemini Awards.
    • In 2006 – Viewers Choice Award – Best Host
    • In 2007 – Best Talk Series – Best Host – Best Production/Design
    • In 2008 – Best Host
  • Stroumboulopoulos was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws, from the University of Calgary on November 13, 2007.[25]
  • He was also awarded an honorary degree in Communications from Humber College in June, 2009.
  • In September 2011, he received the inaugural 'Swarovski Humanitarian Award' at the 5th annual Playback Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame Gala in Toronto.
  • On March 6, 2012, the World Economic Forum announced that he had been selected as a Young Global Leader (YGL) for 2012, and was one of three Canadians to receive the global honour.

Filmography

Radio and Television

References

  1. ^ "Stroumboulopoulos named 'Hockey Night in Canada' host". Globe and Mail. March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  2. ^ "Our Public Airwaves - This Hour has a nose ring". Archived from the original on 2007-01-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "The Case for George". Ryerson Review of Journalism. Summer 2007.
  4. ^ "The Man Behind The Punk - Interview with George Stroumboulopoulos". Happygrrls.com. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  5. ^ "George Stroumboulopoulos departs MuchMusic". CBC. November 12, 2004. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  6. ^ Some of The Hour's more notable guests included: Gene Simmons, Al Gore, Sarah Palin, Tony Bennett, Tom Cruise, Ricky Gervais, Bono, Jane Goodall, Noam Chomsky, Matt Damon, Gordon Ramsay, former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Tim Robbins, Gore Vidal, Spike Lee, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Richard Dawkins, Samuel L. Jackson, Paul Anka, Richard Branson, Barbara Walters, Former President of Mexico Vicente Fox, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Larry King, Bill Maher, Bif Naked, Adrien Brody, Ted Danson, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Chris Jericho, Hulk Hogan, Georges St-Pierre, Dave Grohl, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush, The Smashing Pumpkins, Coldplay, Russell Peters, Michael Bublé, Tegan and Sara, David Suzuki, Stephen King and Engelbert Humperdinck. On December 31, 2008 The Hour hosted a New Year's Eve Special and interviewed Sarah Palin from Fairbanks, Alaska.
  7. ^ Brioux, Bill (March 9, 2014). "Report: Strombo scores as Rogers' HNiC host". brioux.tv. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Canadian version of The One still possible: CBC executive, CBC.ca, July 28, 2006
  9. ^ 'One' Miserable Showing: 'Idol' Knockoff Sets a Record, John Maynard, The Washington Post, July 26, 2006
  10. ^ "Strombo comes to CNN". CNN. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  11. ^ a b Tony Wong (September 17, 2013). "George Stroumboulopoulos is back with his CBC talk show". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  12. ^ "CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos to host CNN show". CBCNews. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  13. ^ "Zucker Celebrates 1 Year at CNN".
  14. ^ Jon Dekel (March 10, 2014). "CBC pulls plug on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight as its host leaves for hockey". canada.com. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  15. ^ "Stroumboulopoulos named 'Hockey Night in Canada' host". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Canadian Press. March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  16. ^ "George Stroumboulopoulos to host Hockey Night in Canada next season". CBC News. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  17. ^ "Rogers betting Stroumboulopoulos can grow HNIC's appeal". The Globe and Mail. March 10, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  18. ^ "Sorry Ron MacLean fans, George Stroumboulopoulos is here to stay". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  19. ^ "Ron MacLean to replace Strombo on Hockey Night in Canada: Feschuk". Toronto Star. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  20. ^ "Ron MacLean to host Hockey Night in Canada, with David Amber". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  21. ^ "Welcome to GreenNexxus". Greennexxus.com. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  22. ^ "Saving Water". GreenNexxus. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  23. ^ Botelho-Urbanski, Jessica (February 21, 2013). "George Stroumboulopoulos: Rebel with a cause". The Uniter. Winnipeg, Canada: uniter.ca. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Hockey Night Online". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-22.
  25. ^ "Convocation: Nov. 13/07 | University of Calgary". Ucalgary.ca. 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
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