Canada's Stroumboulopoulos to helm U.S. reality-T.V. singing contest

Cassandra Szklarski, Canadian Press
Published: Monday, July 10, 2006


TORONTO (CP) - CBC-TV's pierced, punk-rock talk-show host has been
tabbed to helm an American singing series.

George Stroumboulopoulos is bringing his black shirts south of the
border to host the U.S. version of The One: Making a Music Star, CBC
spokeswoman Danielle Fielder said Monday.

"It's great for us, because we get to have a Canuck down there
representing on (U.S. network) ABC," Fielder boasted.

"He'll be down in L.A. for the rest of the summer doing the show and
then the show wraps at the end of the summer, he comes back and then
starts (CBC talk show) The Hour."

The eight-week U.S. series, produced by Endemol USA, will be simulcast
on CBC-TV starting July 18, she said.

In the show, 11 musicians live together while competing for a chance
at a recording contract. Cameras follow the young hopefuls as they
brag, bicker and backstab, all the while being coached and trained by
recording industry professionals.

"You'll see all the fights and romances and all the stuff behind the
scenes," Fielder promised.

Every Tuesday, contestants will perform in front of a panel of judges
and a live studio audience. Viewers at home get to support their
favourites by phoning in or text messaging their vote a la American
Idol, said Fielder.

On Wednesdays, one of the contestants gets booted off the show.

"It's kind of a melding of formats," Fielder explained of the series,
already a hit in 23 countries.

"It's not just about singing, it's about knowing all the ins and outs
of the recording industry - (the coaches) groom them, they do vocal
training."

CBC caused waves earlier this year when it said it would bump its
flagship newscast, The National, in Ontario and Quebec to accommodate
the simulcast.

Network execs said they were trying to establish an audience for the
show in advance of the Canadian version, expected to be launched in
the fall.

No host has been announced yet for the Canadian version of the show,
said Fielder.

In a blatant ratings challenge to rival CTV, CBC-TV has put the
singing contest on the same nights as the hugely popular Canadian
Idol, hosted by the squeaky clean-cut Ben Mulroney.

The 33-year-old Stroumboulopoulos, known for his straight talk and
black wardrobe, will remain on CBC's late-night lineup once the U.S.
show ends. The Hour is moving from CBC Newsworld to the main network
and will follow The National from Sunday to Thursday starting Oct. 2.

The music series is just one of several reality-based programs the CBC
is offering out of its newly created "factual entertainment division"
in an apparent bit to bring younger viewers to the beleaguered network.

Other programs include quiz show Test the Nation: National IQ Test,
and The Dragon's Den, an Apprentice-style competition in which
entrepreneurs pitch their scheme to potential investors.