Ed the Sock Hung Out to Dry
After 16 years on the air, Ed the Sock has been hung out to dry. I've been a fan of Ed's raunchy, blunt style and antics, and even once had the opportunity to meet the man behind the sock. But these days, it seems like nothing is being spared from the chopping block, after recent decisions not to bring back Speaker's Corner to the departures new media specialst Amber MacArthur and consumer advocate Peter Silverman.
Ed the Sock becomes another casualty of Rogers' management trying to create a new image for Citytv by distancing the network from many of the Citytv staples. Don't worry; it's going to be quick and painless (or at least that's what they would like us to think). But at the same time, Rogers is doing a poor job of taking control of their $375 million dollar investment by cutting classic Canadian content (that over the years helped to define the City of Toronto).
Shouldn't they be at all concerned about alienating old viewers? Or should we be more concerned that shows are suddenly getting the axe in order for the network to seem slightly more female-friendly?
According to Jamie Haggarty, the vice-president and general manager of Citytv Toronto as well as the executive VP of television operations for the Citytv chain, they "have a lot of programming that skews both male and female with [their newly] acquired U.S. schedule."
Ed's and Red's Night Party, in its 11th season, has become Canada's longest running weekly comedy show next to Royal Canadian Air Farce and competes with the hugely popular American late-night shows hosted by Jay Leno and David Letterman. Ed's hard-hitting humor and feisty commentary in addition to his scowl, his cigar and gravelly voice quickly made him a fan favourite.
What will replace these shows at the moment is uncertain, but Steven Kerzner, the man behind the cigar-chomping, womanizing puppet says that, "Ed the Sock is far from dead." There are currently rumors that a spinoff TV show or even the starring role in a film is in the works.
Photo by jrjenks_agiletek.
Comments (30)
At least Rogers is endearing themselves to the public with their new iPhones data plans. All will be well.
I am somehow more disappointed by this news than I was with any of the previous departures from City, post-Rogers takeover.
Why can't they kill the abomination that is Breakfast Television? Kevin Frankish and his super best friends club needs to go...
You're really not supposed to fuck with guys who somehow manage to make a solid career out of making a cigar chomping sock talk raunchy to a camera. He's, in all likelihood, bat shit insane. I'd be very afraid.
whatever...it was a puppet. a sock puppet. seriously, it was played out.
steven, the man, is obviously very intelligent. he'll be fine. hopefully this allows him to pursue something bigger and better.
I used to watch Ed a million years ago on the Rogers cable community channel, and I don't think he's been funny since the move to City TV. Rogers could have made a big publicity event of bringing him home.
So, let me get this straight. These recent moves were to make the station more female friendly?
So firing Marilyn Dennis after 19 years hosting Cityline is their way to win over female viewers?
Hopefully this will clear the way for more American reality TV shows about dating.
I've been thinking for a while that City was lacking in that department.
Thanks for catching that, I've changed it to Peter Silverman.
In response to Ryan L, yes the network is trying to make their brand image more women-friendly; however, the reason behind Marilyn Denis leaving is that the CRTC ruled the Citytv stations could not remain with CTV. And as a result, Denis technically was a CHUM employee doing a morning radio show on CHUM-FM, which now also is owned by CTV.
So the new reality as far as CityLine goes is that Denis presently is a CTV employee doing a show for Rogers.
Confusing? It is.
@ protogenes, who wrote, "At least Rogers is endearing themselves to the public with their new iPhones data plans. All will be well."
Have you not been following the outcry after those data plans were announced?
...Roger will learn that merely stringing up wires and charging thru the nose for someone else's tv channels is a lot easier than trying to create content. Good Luck.
You sounded so earnest in your "All will be well" sentiment, you had me convinced. Besides, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. :)
I'm seriously upset about Ed's departure. I just moved and when I found out that with a garage sale antennae I wouldn't have to get cable to watch CityTV, and thus, Ed' Night Party, I was quite pleased. He'll probably end up on the Comedy Network. Perhaps they'll do a whole puppet night, with Puppets Who Kill, Ed the Sock and, I don't know, some other Canadian puppet comedy show?
In response to Mark, I think that he might go back to begin a VJ. On a side note, Conan O' Brian took inspiration from Ed the Sock to make Triumph the Insult Comic Dog but coupled with Avenue Q in Toronto, I think I've had enough puppets for a while. Hopefully they don't reinvent the wheel.
Well Rogers is doing a swell job of things, just another step closer to completely destroying what City TV has done for entertaining Canadian content, and alienating everyone who actually lives in the city of Toronto. It seems that all that matters is appealing to the 905 ultra conservative demographic. They'll probably end up turning the old City TV building into condos' or a Walmart just to cap it all off in a nice tiny red bow!
It'd be interesting to see if someone would offer Ed a show with a larger budget. The low budget is part of the charm of his show now, but there is definitely room for improvement. I wouldn't mind seeing a version that didn't rely so heavily on cuts and editing.
Ed should make like Tom Green and take to the digital airwaves. Tom's even back on the Comedy Network now as a result, it seems. (I say it seems because I don't care for this television dinosaur and am basing that on his show being listed on their website.)
Guys, it's OK! They have new shows from the US! That'll make everyone happy! See, the work's already done, we just have to watch!
BOYCOTT ROGERS.
In response to rek, while I'm all for home-grown Canadian content, you will just have to wait and see what shows they have acquired. Citytv and Rogers are on thin ice, but perhaps this signals a large re-structuring of Canadian media.
What a shame.
I wasnt a huge fan of the show but i do not want to see more re runs of "blind date"
Good riddance. That show was misogynistic, the humour was in the gutter and the guests were awful. It had no redeeming quality.
Andrew N - I don't care what shows they bought, why aren't they producing or buying anything Canadian to fill the spot? Hell, I'd settle for a Canadian reality series that isn't just a franchise of one from the US or UK.
I cannot say that I was a big fan of Ed the Sock, but I was a fan of much of CityTV's innovative programming. Under the leadership of Moses Znaimer they did a great job of removing themselves from the mold of typical Canadian TV news...all in all I am not looking forward to the changes that Rogers will bring...
I cannot say that I was a big fan of Ed the Sock, but I was a fan of much of CityTV's innovative programming. Under the leadership of Moses Znaimer they did a great job of removing themselves from the mold of typical Canadian TV news...all in all I am not looking forward to the changes that Rogers will bring...
alienating old viewers? But I'm only in my 20s! Even things I remember have disappeared once rogers took over. Jojo Chintoh still showed up on citytv "rewind" news broadcasts, gone. Amber MacArthur (best looking thing on citytv for a while), gone. Peter silverman (his fight with the fake oakley sunglasses guy was incredible), gone. Ed the sock, gone. Speaker's corner, gone. Maybe they should have gotten rid of frankie's flowers instead. Nice, Ted. Screw us over with cell phone plans, cap the internet services, turn skydome into Robbers Centre, fine. Touch Amber MacAruther, it's personal.
How is it that red green can stay on the air and ed is off the air, sad canadian crap when you have that rick mercer goof ball. I remember when ed was on brampton cable 10 its a sad time for canadian TV I was waiting for ed to be in the next trailer park boys movie bummer man
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