Andy Barrie Returns to the Metro Morning Airwaves
CBC Radio junkies like me know that Andy Barrie has been off the air for several months while his wife, Mary, was battling cancer. Sadly, she passed away February 18th, and now Andy is set to return to the helm of Metro Morning, on Monday morning.
Andy was the first Toronto media personality I connected with when I arrived here and he remains my favourite. Jane Hawtin has more than capably filled Andy's seat, and the silver lining of Andy's hiatus has been the opportunity for Matt Galloway to show off in the morning drive for a few weeks and for Kevin Sylvester to get more prominent fill-in opportunities, mostly on Here and Now in the afternoon.
But I find myself wanting to set the alarm for 5:45 Monday morning to hear Andy's return to the mic.
Andy is something of a Toronto icon, so his lengthy departure was sure to get noticed. But I've often thought he had one of the best gigs around, typically working the host's chair only Monday-Thursday and he often was able to take extended breaks. Although in some cases I've wondered if it was illness and not just a getaway to his farm up north, those departures rarely lasted more than a few weeks.
I had heard through the grapevine around the time Andy went off the air that his wife was ill, and I was very much saddened. Mary had just retired from the University of Toronto and I'm sure the couple were looking forward to the coming years. But I've also found that while certainly life - and radio - has gone on, I've missed Andy's voice in the mix. His way of interviewing, and his analysis of the news, I've come to appreciate and value.
Welcome back, Andy.
Photo by photojunkie.
Comments (15)
A heartfelt welcome back to Andy, who has been sorely missed. I have to say that I won't miss Jane, not one little bit!
Sorry, but I've never been a fan of Barrie's interviewing style (in which his questions all too frequently suggest he wasn't even listening to previous answers) or his blindness to the rest of the country (he has a tendency to say "Toronto is the only city where..." instead "Canada is the only country in which cities..."). I have really enjoyed Jane Hawtin's stint filling in for him.
That said, he seems like a really nice guy, and he wears his love for this city on his sleeve.
I'm very sorry for his loss.
Is Metro Morning a national show? I always thought it was just Toronto or, at the most, southern Ontario.
Glad to see he's back. When I had to wake up that early every day to work I really liked listening to the show. He's faced a few personal challenges (his health) over the last few years and it's great to see him still keeping on.
Jane's got chops, but I'll be glad to wake to Andy's baritone again. Sympathy, love, and top of the morning to you, Andy Barrie!
Why can't a Toronto show be Toronto-centric? Must we always defer to every region and 'burg in the country? Even when they don't hear the show?!
I have no problem with focusing on Toronto, and that's not what I was referring to. I was talking about being so blind to the rest of the country as to make factually incorrect statements.
It doesn't serve Torontonians' interests to be told that a problem is particular to our city (in one case, lack of public transit funding from the federal government) when in actual fact, it's shared by all cities in the country.
Metro Morning is the No. 1 morning show in Toronto. Andy's relationship with Toronto and his ability to go beyond the research provided is well-known and respected. The man has a deep interest in so many issues, and a love for Toronto. I for one will be very happy to hear him back this coming Monday.
Aww I love Andy Barrie and I didn't know that's why he's been missing : (
His voice is always comforting when you have to get up early...
CBC radio sucks bigtime. The more I listen, the dumber I get. Compare it to NPR news on the USA!
I missed Andy, and was certainly very sad when I heard he was taking time off for a family situation, that's never a good sign. It's nice to have him back.
I do, however, have to say that I LOVE Kevin Sylvester, and was so very happy to hear him on a daily basis. Interestingly, it was when he was doing sports on Metro Morning that I started carrying a torch for him, anyone that can compare some random sporting thing to ancient Greek theatre is a-okay in my books.
Welcome back Andy! Hope to hear you on a regular basis again soon Kevin!
Andy has been missed in this household too, and we're looking forward to hearing his voice again tomorrow morning. He really is part of the fabric of this city, and of our days in it. For those who are interested, there is a modest "Andy Barrie Fan Club" group on Facebook, if you want to leave some kind regards there:
As I was unable to find the correct place to offer a comment, I am submitting it here in the hopes you will redirect this to Jane Hawkin.
I simply wanted to thank Jane for her stewardship of the Metro Morning program in Andy Barrie's absence. Jane, you provided a consistent, provocative and compelling morning show that met my CBC standards. As much as I missed Andy, your hosting provided a difference in hosts that I appreciated. Thank you for your passion. Thank you for your delivery. Thank you for being a woman on the air.
As one of five sisters I have become accustomed to the female voice. You extended my home experience to the broader public experience. I think that Canadians learned from this.
I hope you continue to thrive on air. We need the female voice.
Gitti, from both Newmarket and "the farm" in Sundridge, Ontario.
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