Talk Is Cheap

One of the craziest decisions in CBC history was to jettison the daily talk show Take 30.
Similarly, CTV made a few bloopers of its own in canceling its daily Canadian talkers --Dini Petty and Vancouver-based Vicki Gabereau.
Because, you see, talk is all of a sudden daily TV's hottest commodity.
I well remember being one of the first TV critics on the set of the new Barbara Walters show The View which at its inception was carried in Canada by lowly CHCH-TV in Hamilton.
It was something different for American TV: a network-run talk show whereas all the others from Regis And Kathy Lee to Ellen have been syndicated efforts.
But the success of The View and its startling ratings are propelling rivals to get in on the act.
At CTV Marilyn Dennis will debut in September in a new talk sjow format similar to the one she peddled so successfully for 19 years on Citytv.
But the bigger news has CBS filling inits cancelled As The World Turns with a new View-like talk show to be co-hosted by Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini and Marissa Jaret Whew! Just getting them all onstage together will be some feat
Gilbert will serve as executive producer as well as co-host and not all these gals will be around every day although the View has five co-hosts on a full day.
CBS considered and then rejected an offer from Paramount for a similar themed talk show to feature Valerie Bertinelli.
Also considered and then rejected were revivals of Password and Pyramid --instead an updated Let's Make A Deal was chosen.
My solution for ratings-starved CBC in the afternoon is to develop its own Canadian centric talk show. Take 30 was the first step in a long career for Adrienne Clarkson so why not a modern themed revival?
I'd suggest somebody with brains like Hana Gartner or Wendy Mesley. Or why not both together?