Don Newman retires Friday June 19, 2009
I know many here can't stand Don Newman's "Politics" show but I've been a faithful viewer for many years - it's my dinnertime programming from Monday to Friday. Newman has his last show tomorrow, and CBC is going to have special programming to honour Newman, but that's all I know.
I also have no idea if the show will continue with a new host or not. I hope it does continue, and Susan Bonner would be the appropriate replacement for Newman, as she's co-hosted the program many times, as has Chris Hall, another good choice. But Bonner is aggressive and doesn't back down from a confrontation, and that's imperative in a show of this type. I hope Susan Bonner gets the nod to replace Newman, if the show continues, although CBC has a lot of talent to draw from.
Thoughts?
He's certainly been able to draw on his show the who's who of the rogue's gallery over the years. Having watched his show many times, I've seen him press all sides for answers during the interviews, but only up to a certain point, like some sort of gentlemen's code that acts like a wall. Mostly, there's an air of joviality about the show, like they all go for drinks afterwards for a chuckle. Speaking of that, having met him once at the National Press Club when it was on Wellington St, his production crew certainly does wonders to keep his hair in check on camera.
Don's retirement is going to be a HUGE loss to balanced, intelligent coverage of politics in Ottawa.
I disagree on Susan Bonner ... I don't find she has much political or policy insight, and usually manages to run an entire show without even mentioning the existence of the NDP. Chris Hall at least knows we exist.
Slumberjack, they DO all go for drinks afterwards, and maybe that's not a bad thing. The very partisan tone that the current Prime Minister has set in Ottawa, which is really unprecedented, is truly antithetical to the constructive functioning of our democracy.
Slumberjack, they DO all go for drinks afterwards, and maybe that's not a bad thing. The very partisan tone that the current Prime Minister has set in Ottawa, which is really unprecedented, is truly antithetical to the constructive functioning of our democracy.
Then someone totally owes me a beer!
Anytime! You can try and get me to understand the rationale for a carbon tax, once and for all ;-)
Not sure if the buddy buddy network between journalists and politicians is what we want to see, so yeah maybe it isn't such a good thing.
I still don't know if CBC's 'Politics' show will continue - anyone have news on this front?
Maybe Neil MacDonald is getting tired of Washington. Rosemary Barton would be a great choice too.
I wonder if the CBC will eventually close down because all its Great Men are whooshed into Senate (to go on drinking with their cronies). Can the call be far off for Newman to join the Duff?
The CBC has a lot of talent it can replace Newman with - that's not the question. The qustion is whether the show will continue, or not. BTW, I agree Rosemary Barton is another good choice.
I wonder if the CBC will eventually close down because all its Great Men are whooshed into Senate (to go on drinking with their cronies). Can the call be far off for Newman to join the Duff?
Newman, as much as I find him a stuffed shirt, has never struck me as the partisan hack Duffy has always been.
I haven't heard if they are ending the broaaaaadcast entirely. They usually shut down for the season and then resume when the politicos finish flipping burgers for the summer. Maybe there'll be a hint regarding plans for the show tomorrow.
Personally, I'd endorse appointing Don as Governor-General. At least he's read the frigging constitutional documents of the country.
Going for drinks between politicians and journalists is not a bad thing. It's better that journalists be able to form a broader understanding of what's going on than they would get from scripted public announcements. The mistake is for politicians to think that journalists are their friends.
But I probably should have clarified that I meant I don't think it's a bad thing for politicians to go for drinks with one another. At a certain point you need to develop some trust across the floor in order to get things done. That's what's been really dissuaded in the current environment.
I'm trying to think of which politicians I'd like to have a drink with. I'd have a beer with Jack Layton anytime. Maybe Pablo Rodriguez as well.
I'd like to go drinking with John Baird. If he's that mouthy sober he should be a good person to get a really good old time, movie like - bar room brawl going. We might have to go to a biker bar though.
Susan Bonner has not only worked hard, she's mastered the look of someone who's worked hard. If they don't give the job to a hard working woman, who has been covering Parliament Hill since, it seems, the days of Louis St. Laurent, there will be hell to pay.
I'd like to go drinking with John Baird
I'd rather go drinking with Joe Volpe. I get the feeling that his wallet is fat, and no one would investigate too hard after I rolled him in the alley.
Yeah, agreed. Susan Bonner has been great as Newman's replacement, but I think the Conservatives hate her - she's quite capable of cutting through all their spin.
I'd like to go drinking with John Baird
I'd rather go drinking with Joe Volpe. I get the feeling that his wallet is fat, and no one would investigate too hard after I rolled him in the alley.
That or the list of suspects would be so long it would take forever to get to you.
Another vote for Susan Bonner here. Neil Macdonald would be good too, but he seems more interested in being a foreign correspondent than hosting a Canadian political show. Any chance they could entice Steve Paikin from TVO?
I will miss Don Newman - I have always enjoyed 'Politics'. Unfortunately I usually had to watch in reruns as it was usually on in the early afternoon. I will always be reminded of Roger Abbott's Newman impression: "Don 'Blah Blah' Newman here, today on the brooooaaaaaaadcast..." :)
No one did a Don Newman impression of his famous "Broooooaaaadcast" like Newman himself.
I'm not a big Newman fan. I think he liked to foster the impression of impartiality, and maybe in strict terms of party politics he did. But, he always managed the show so that the establishment was never really challenged. But then, maybe that's a true reflection of Parliament itself.
Anyway, I'm sure he'll go into retirement keeping a stiff upper lip.
I know many here can't stand Don Newman's "Politics" show but I've been a faithful viewer for many years - it's my dinnertime programming from Monday to Friday. Newman has his last show tomorrow, and CBC is going to have special programming to honour Newman, but that's all I know.
Why wouldn't people like Don Newman? How can you dislike him? He's a great guy and I will be sad to see him go as well.
Love him, love the show. FWIW, I have heard that CBC is not intending to replace him. Can't say I am crazy about any of the proposed replacements, although I will miss the format.
I always thought Newman's show was much better than Duffy's, I'm not sure what I think of Tom Clark's replacement (I don't watch it much). It'll be terrible to see 'Politics' not carried forward with a new host, but maybe CBC has something similar in mind as a replacement show? I guess we'll find out on Friday night.
Big day for Newman in the House of Commons today - the Speaker invited Newman and his wife Shannon into the Speaker's Gallery, and one by one many MP's (and party leaders) rose to their feet to pay homage to the dean of political broaaaadcast journalism in this country, and for his 30+ years at the CBC. Tonight's show at 5pm will be a tear jerker, I suspect.
ETA: Breaking news! Nancy Wilson on Newsworld just announced Don Newman has accepted an invitation to cover the next federal election for CBC. Yayyy!
I'm pretty sad to see him go too. I love Don Newman! Watching his show was my first real introduction to politics.
Our publisher went to his retirement party and twittered about it from there sometime last week or the week before, I think. :)
CBC is really pushing Newman's final show - I just watched a retrospective of the Newman years; he has covered the defining news stories of the past 30 years of Canadian history. Starts in ten minutes from now.
Nice tributes, including this from Ralph Klein: "Damned CBC!" then, "have a nice retirement."
Boom boom give us coverage here of it please, as I won't ever bee able to see it! :)
All the living Prime Ministers so far - except Kim Campbell and Stephen Harper - have paid great tributes to Don. And many Premiers as well. Nice tributes from Ed Broadbent, Jack Layton, and that long time NDP MP whose name I can't remember - he's a United Church minister.
ETA: Newman is being praised as the face of Remembrance Day. I never watch that program, so it's news to me.
ETA:
Peter MacKay: I met Don Newman on the Sparks Street Mall once when I was first elected to Parliament. I overheard a tourist say, "Who is that talking to Don Newman?" I quickly learned the pecking order in Ottawa that day.
ETA: oops, maybe not John Turner, either, although there were clips of Newman talking to Turner in the 1980s. Turner did not look well last time I saw him on TV - he's really ravaged by age.
Rosemary Barton was born in 1976 - the year Don joined the CBC! Susan Bonner is doing a great job hosting this tribute to Don. Rosemary Barton looks very much in awe of Newman.
Rosemary: Don taught me the importance of showing your personality on TV.
CBC's Ann McMillan in London: Don Newman is the most revered Canadian journalist in England, has a huge fan base here, and suggested to Don that he should move to the UK because he's so much in demand there.
From Winnipeg? Bill Blaikie?
Why not Harper?
From Winnipeg? Bill Blaikie?
Why not Harper?
Yeah!! Bill Blaikie. I suspect they're saving Harper for last.
Craig Oliver from CTV: "Don, you're as good as they get."
Newman: "The biggest change I have seen is this 24-hour news cycle".
Keith Boag: "Newman was instumental in getting Newsworld to take the 24-hour format".
Susan Bonner gives Newman a kiss on the hand and says, "Don, you get the final word".
Class act all the way.
Don: "That has been the broadcast. I'm Don Newman. So long for now".
Champagne, a toast, and lots of applause.
It's over.
Son of a gun - nothing from Harper, unless I missed it. Maybe Harper is out of the country???
Omg, I could tear up, one of the things I miss about not living in the city is cable so I could watch Newman.
na, I didn't figure Harper would say a freakin word.
And no announcement from the CBC as to whether "Politics" will continue, or not.
I doubt it will, something of the sort will continue of course, but with a different name.
I guess the official Conservative tribute came from Tom Lukiwski in the House this morning. Disppointing not to hear from Harper, though, as he's the Prime Minister, and Don interviewed him often on the show.
I doubt it will, something of the sort will continue of course, but with a different name.
I'll be quite upset if Susan Bonner or Rosemary Barton are not headlining the replacement, whatever it's called. Bonner has been absolutely first rate as Newman's replacement on 'Politics' and she did an absolutely great job today.
I guess the official Conservative tribute came from Tom Lukiwski in the House this morning. Disppointing not to hear from Harper, though, as he's the Prime Minister, and Don interviewed him often on the show.
Not surprising. Harper is an ass.
Just another nail in Harper's coffin is all! It will be noted at least amongst the political junkies, and the press.
Too busy attempting to be prime ministerial...errr presidential, in Canada, no less.
To be fair to Harper, though, I averted my eyes from the screen long enough to get a soda from the fridge, so who knows, maybe he said something. But it had to brief, as I was gone for less than a minute.
Well, if I could watch the show at the CBC links i would.
To be fair to Harper, though, I averted my eyes from the screen long enough to get a soda from the fridge, so who knows, maybe he said something. But it had to brief, as I was gone for less than a minute.
I don't think Harper said anything. I recorded the show and am re-watching it on tape now and I don't see any sign of Harper. I think your original conclusion was correct
Don Newman = class Stephen Harper = pathetic