Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Breakfast Television Turns 30: Toronto Mike'd #505

Episode Date: September 5, 2019

Mike is joined by the original on-air crew of Breakfast Television, Ann Rohmer, David Onley, Steve Anthony, John Whaley, and original producer Bud Pierce, as they pay homage to the show 30 years after its initial launch.

Now, if you get a hole-in-one, I'll make you faster. Weekday mornings at 7 on City, the show that always hits the spot. Oh, nicely done, Steve. Thanks very much. One more time. It is not radio retroactive. Maybe not radioactive either. That's it. How do you get it to do that?

It's not like a dog. You can't, like, good girl and give it some grain. Duh, duh, ass, man. I'll make more of a jerk of myself. Please stay with us. This is why you don't get into TV, because they make you do really dorky things. I don't want to see.

City TV's breakfast television. The perfect start to your day serves 7 a.m weekdays Welcome to episode 505 of Toronto Mic'd, a weekly podcast about anything and everything. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Propertyinthe6.com, Palma Pasta, StickerU.com, Capadia LLP, CPAs, and Pumpkins After Dark. I'm Mike from TorontoMike.com,

and my guest this week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of breakfast television is original host ann romer welcome back ann i'm so happy to be here i'm so happy you're here and you look wonderful you do too time has been very kind to you, my friend. How much time has it been? I was trying to think. Two years? Two years, I think. Yeah.

Yeah, and you're saying I don't look terribly older than I did last time you saw me. No, you look great. No, I think you're doing the Benjamin Button. You know, Joke, people think you're doing that because they see you. Because even though you're not currently anchoring at CP24, people are seeing you more than ever. Yes. How did you manage to get in through the back door there?

Or the back window, one or the other. A wonderful company called Renewal by Anderson was looking for a spokesperson to help promote their great work here in the GTA. And they stumbled across me and I stumbled across them. They're geniuses. I don't know who the decision maker is. Can I tell you why? Because by having you in the ads, basically, they know how beloved you are by the audience of CP24 in particular. And here's the thing. I do my homework. This just came out of the blue. I wasn't looking for it. And when they asked me. I do my homework. This just came out of the blue. I wasn't looking for it.

And when they asked me, I thought, well, I better do my research and make sure that they're a really good company. And they really are. Right. Because you don't want your brand, your name attached to something that isn't premium and excellent. So good for you. I'm proud to be a part of that.

So let me throw open the window on this interview. No, that's fantastic. So I do need some windows. So maybe I'll talk to these guys. Send them right over. We'll try to get you a good price. I'll get the Roamer discount. I just have to drop your name. I just touch my nose and go, I know Anne. Just keep it out of your nose. No promises. That was before I introduced the Periscope. So there are a couple of differences here since you were last here. By the way, on that note, you were here for episode, for those who are

listening to you for the first time on Toronto Mic'd and they want to go back and hear the Ann Romer deep dive, I want them to know where to go. So they go to episode 348, Mike chats with Ann Romer about her career at City TV and CP24, her two retirements and returns, and the exciting plunge she might take soon. So can we talk about that briefly? Yes, of course. Last time you were here, you were considering running for Toronto City Council. And I made a very quick decision when it was determined that there would be fewer seats on council, it just, that no longer held any appeal for me. So Doug Ford is the reason we don't have Ann Romer on city council. And maybe he's the reason that you don't have me as an MPP as well.

You know, we got to get rid of this guy because he keeps Romer blocking us. You know, here I am. I sit on the fence. I still am apolitical when it comes to this. It's as if I'm still an anchor. But this time it's personal. Come on. Now he's if I'm still an anchor. But this time it's personal. Come on. Now he's preventing us from getting you in.

Well, it's that I didn't opt to run as a member of provincial parliament. So I kind of think that I should leave politics to those who do it best. Including your prom date. John Tory. What a great guy. He's such a great guy. And he just had Achilles tendon surgery. And that's a wicked thing.

And I know it was probably painful leading up to it. And the surgery wasn't comfortable either. But he'll be dancing a jig in no time. Now, will he be dancing with you? I want to know if that's okay. Well, we'd have to ask Barb, his beautiful wife. And they are, I actually helped kick off his campaign last September in Liberty Village at Moses Nimer's Palace, if you will.

The Zoomerplex. Yes, I call it his palace. And it was such an honor to be asked to do that. And I witnessed Barb and John, Barb and John, Barb and John. There were some struggles, both of them, with some health things and here and there, and he was quite honest about it. He had a tear in his eye, and so did she, and I thought there is a lot of love there.

When you were in, throughout your career, working for Moses, speaking of the great Moses, in his office, did he have a picture on the wall of King Kong climbing the CN Tower tower do you have any memories i don't think i was ever really in his office so we always had our meetings outside of the office you know somewhere in a boardroom or in the news director's office steve hurlbut we never okay yeah only because a recent guest uh lance hornby from the Toronto Sun, talks about this picture. And then we did some digging and found out like the Toronto Star

for like an April Fool's Day in 1976, I want to say, put this picture on the front page of King Kong climbing what I guess the brand new CN Tower at the time. And Moses had a print. And I've been asking, including, okay, so recent guest who has a message for you. So this is for you, Anne, from Lauren Honickman. Oh, the honker.

I wish I'd known that was a nickname before he came over. I would have called him that. A 30-year-old name back in the heyday of City TV. This episode is all about 30 years ago. He's a great guy and he's funny and he's, you know, he's got this quick wit and it's also very sharp and biting. So. Well, he says, I know this is yesterday. He says, I know you're going to have on the original breakfast television crew tomorrow. If you can remember, please say hi to Ann, David and Steve for me. Three great, and I don't think he means to exclude others, but I

only promoted them at the time. But we'll talk about that in a moment. But three great and then I don't think he means to exclude others but I only promoted them at the time but uh we'll talk about that in a moment but three great talents I was lucky enough to sit in for David on breakfast television in those early days when he was off on holidays so hello from Lauren isn't that wonderful probably watching right now yeah and listening if he's watching hi he's watching but for some reason he's got fingers in his ears. He says, I just want to watch Anne Romero. But here's the thing. He's a great lawyer, but he presents really well on television. Yeah, I said that. He takes complex legal issues and he...

Dumbs it down for people like me. Right. You know, honestly. And I appreciate that. I don't like bumbo jumbo. Just tell it to me straight and tell me the truth. Right. And I don't think anyone's better than Lauren at doing exactly that.

And he's awfully cute. You know, in his very different way, he's just adorable. So before we started recording, you recommended I grow my hair longer. No, that's not how it came up. No, you said to me, it's time for me to have my hair cut. My wife doesn't want me to cut it. What do you think? No, no, my wife wants me to cut it.

I mean, she wants me to cut it. Right. What do you think? And I said, I don't think you should. I think you've got the Samson syndrome. I think you should keep your hair long. So, so what about Lauren and his mustache? Because I think he should grow it back. He doesn't have a mustache right now. I didn't know that. Yeah. I think he should grow it back too. I'm not a mustache kind of gal when it comes to my mate, because I don't like kissing hair. Right, it tickles your lip. But watching, you know, it's just kind of his style.

There's a little Groucho Marx in him. Okay, yeah, I see that. He's like Groucho Marx meets Tom Selleck. Oh, that's nice. The honker, right? The honker. Oh, I'm totally going to start calling him that. We've been chatting since he was here.

He's the best. He really is. So tennis, are you a tennis fan? I am now. I really am. So just because Bianca is doing so well at the US Open. She's great. I was listening to something on the way over here, and there was some criticism, I guess,

in the stands. Her mother and father had a dog. Yeah, the mom had a dog in her lap or something. And someone texted the, whoever was critical of this, and said, you don't know what she does. Bianca rescues dogs,

cleans them up, gives them their shots, and finds good homes for them. And does this, you know, and she, it's none of our business why that dog was there. But you should know

all the good things she does. I'm surprised people would have issue with it. Unless you were like super allergic. Or if you had tied your dog up in the sunshine beside the stands, that would be wrong. Or if the dog was like biting your ankles trying to watch tennis. You know, I mean, this may be the way they do things,

but good for her. You know how I feel about people who love animals and Bianca loves animals. Isn't she a stellar player? Well, this is the best U.S. Open performance by a Canadian singles player ever. And yeah, she's 19. And if she wins the semi, she could very well be up against Serena. Which would be amazing.

And it would be nice to actually see them in a final together. Oh my God, that'll be like a can't miss TV. Like that would just be incredible. You've got to wonder how she felt after the Rogers Cup was kind of, it wasn't handed to her. She worked really hard to get there, but it's really different when your opponent has to withdraw. You're so right.

Like she was kind of deprived that moment where she beat Serena in a match. Now hopefully she gets a chance to do it on the biggest stage, right? This is the biggest North American stage for tennis. Under the Lights. I'm not sure when she's playing today. I think it's tonight. Yeah, so Under the Lights.

The other thing about her, she's real, which is I'm drawn to real people. Right. She was asked what she needed to do or what she said to herself in the early going. And she said, I've got to get my shy set together or whatever. But she said the real word, but you know,

good for her. She's just, she's just, she's a kid. She's a teenager. Now, Brian Gerstein, proud sponsor of this very program,

who is a real estate sales representative with PSR brokerage. He was, he's been at the U.S. Open all week. He's a massive tennis guy. He went second year in a row. He went to New York and watched the U.S. Open. And he actually recorded a very short but sweet message for you on this exciting anniversary.

He is so cool. Here's Brian. Propertyinthe6.com Brian Gerstein here, sales representative with PSR Brokerage and proud sponsor of Toronto Night. Happy 30th anniversary to Breakfast Television, which coincides with my move from Montreal to Toronto. So I have seen all 30 years of it.

30 years ago today, this exact day, September 5th, that's today, right? I'm last track. So it was a Tuesday morning right after Labor Day. Right. We did our rehearsals on Labor Day. And I remember getting up that morning on the 5th. I was living with the man who would soon be my husband. We married the year after, Bill Barker from Global Television.

And I left him snoring in bed. And I remember putting the key in the lock as I was closing up the front door and thought, this is either going to go really well or really badly. I know that feeling. What time did you wake up that first day? Do you have that memory? I don't think I went to sleep. Oh, wow. But imagine starting at 7am. I mean, now shows start at four and five in the morning. So that's like sleeping in. It was seven o'clock start. But we

were in the office, I think a couple of hours ahead of time. And we were every morning in by five o'clock for, you know, just for run through and makeup and reading headlines and that sort of thing. There's a lot of morning show hosts right now who would dream of waking up, but getting there at five o'clock, that would be like... I know, that's like sleeping in. And then it sort of started to inch its way back. Kevin Frank has joined us,

I think about five years into the run. And we sort of rolled back the start time. He became our news guy. And then it kept rolling back so right and we would get in earlier and earlier give us right now for the record the opening day on air host lineup of breakfast television 30 it was yourself of course who was joining you that first day on the air i have no idea well not guest wise i mean actual on your side. Oh, you mean the talent. The talent, sorry.

Because the guests, yes, they're talented, but it's the people that I was lucky enough to work with. And I know the answer, of course. I know, of course. But let's hear you because we're able, well, let's hear the list of who was on air host that day. And, oh, I should tell the people, yeah, that your phone is connected to the. Well, it's one of the people that we work to.

Well, answer it. Do you want to answer it? Okay, yes. Let's do this. It's exciting. Hello. Hi, Ann. How are you?

We're live right now with Mike. How are you, David Onley? Good, good. Good. Just wanted to make sure that I was not supposed to call you at 4 o'clock. No, but here we go. We're live. And shall we carry on, Davey?

Now, Mr. Onley, this is Toronto Mike. We've never met. But what an honor it is to speak with David Onley. Grew up watching you. I don't know if you want to hear that or not. I know it could be an insult. Oh, no. Thank you.

It's a real privilege to be on the show, especially on such a specific season with one of my dear friends, Ann Romer. about to say the name David Onley. David Onley, yes. And I wonder, David, are you able to move off speakerphone? I don't know whether that would, because it's kind of reverberating just a little bit, your audio, and I love hearing you just loud and clear. Okay. Let me just get to my desk. Okay. You carry on, and I'll tell tales out of school while you're getting organized. Actually, and I think David will hear this. This is kind of an exciting feature here of the Bluetooth channel, but I'm going to play a very short clip

of David Onley from City TV. So this is David Onley in 1987. So before breakfast television. Hi, I'm David Onley. Behind me is the new City Pulse weather system and here's what it can do. Our Camorra's computer has exclusive state-of-the-art satellite pictures, easy to understand computer graphics, and most important, it's accurate.

Check it out. Only on City Pulse. Every night at 6 and 10. That's brilliant. That was 1987. Two years before he was the news anchor for Breakfast Television. He was Mr. Weather Extraordinaire. Such a smart man and a scientific man and a kind man. Oh, thank you. Oh, I thought she was talking about me. Now we're still hearing you sort of reverberating.

Mike, how are you doing? I don't mind it. It's authentic. I can make out every word, so I'm okay with it. Very good. Okay, good. Okay, very good. So while David is doing that, the

other members of the team, the originals as I call them, the Fab Four, as I like to refer to us, David Onley, news anchor, Steve Anthony, live-eye guy, and John Whaley, like to refer to us. David Onley, news anchor. Steve Anthony, live-eye guy. And John Whaley, floor director slash sportscaster. So it was this kind of brand-new role that was introduced 30 years ago.

So, of course, we want to hear from David now. Thank you, David, for calling us. This is fantastic. But just to let people know, the plan is during this episode where we reminisce about Breakfast Television, the plan is to make phone calls after we talk to David. We're going to talk

to Steve Anthony. And the original producer's name is Bud Pierce. We're going to talk to Bud. And we're going to talk to John Whaley, which is really exciting. So that's the plan. But for now, the spotlight is on David Onley. Very good. Perfect. But for now, the spotlight is on David Onley. Very good.

Perfect. Oh, David, you sound fantastic. Well, thank you. It's going to take me about another 30 seconds to get there. Okay, very good. And, Mike, may I say that this is an exclusive? There isn't anyone else on the airwaves or podcasting or, you know, anything like this

that has the original form, plus the producer of the show, Bud Pierce. Honestly, it's an exclusive. When I look back, this is why I started this up several years ago. It's for this moment. It's because we have the forum now, and we have this, and people like yourself can come in,

and we don't have to worry about who's employed by who. None of that matters. We can actually just put together some colleagues and talk about, reminisce, if you will, about the Girl Days. I should probably, while David's getting set up, explain how this happened. I had heard that City TV was going to celebrate on September the 6th, and that's not the correct date.

It says that online, but you don't always believe what you read online. We were there. It was September the 6th, and that's not the correct date. It says that online, but you don't always believe what you read online. We were there. It was September the 5th, and so I reached out to you. I hadn't heard from City TV at that point, and they had the wrong date, and I thought, well, you know, I want to pay tribute to our show and show it the respect that it deserves. So I reached out to my good friend, Mike Boone, and said, could you give us a shout out on September 5th?

And you said... I can do better than that. A shout out. I said, breakfast television turning 30 deserves more than a shout out. It deserves its own episode. And I couldn't believe we were able to put it together for the exact day.

You did it, my friend. And thank you. Couldn't have done it without you, Ann. Come on. Wonderful. All right. It sounds like David is ready to go. He takes you back to live TV days.

He's almost ready. Yes, very good. I was at the house when I made the call. So when... We have a lifestyle bungalow, and I was in the TV room, which is what we laughingly call the north wing. It means it's the north end of the house. The one at the Rastow bungalow, you can call it a wing.

It's the screening room, a la TIFF, right now. Yeah. So where do you want to begin? so where do you want to begin can we talk about and i want to hear both of you on this but i'm interested in like when were you made aware that this project existed at chum city that we they were thinking of doing a live morning show like what is the true origin and when and how did they approach you about being the first co-hosts like just bury me in some of that great detail from 30 years ago. Do you want to start? Well, there should be some definition in this.

I was the host. David was the news anchor. So we each had titles. We weren't co-hosts. We were, but we're best friends now. But we each had our roles to play. So I was the host. David was the all-important news anchor. That, to me, is the integral part of a solid, friendly, exciting morning show. It's good news anchoring, and David did great news anchoring.

Well, I think the thing we have to take into account is that back at that time, morning television was unbelievably boring. It was essentially your middle of the afternoon, Sunday afternoon news magazine type show. I remember very clearly taking off the last two weeks of August in 89 on vacation, deliberately to adjust my body class to getting up early, and each morning I'd get up and watch Morning Television. At the time, in terms of Toronto, the greater Toronto area, it was exclusively Canada AM. I mean, you could watch the Today Show or Good Morning America or whichever it was on at that point, I don't recall.

But I ended up watching Saturday AM. And the very first day that I tuned in, about two weeks before BT went to air, they opened the show with a 25-minute debate on abortion. Oh, dear. Yeah, have a nice morning. Have a nice morning. Yeah. It was a 25-minute. Yeah, have a nice morning. Have a nice morning. I had 25 minutes. Started at 7.05 and went through to 7.30.

And at 7.30 they had the news. The news was a recap of what they had spent the previous 25 minutes discussing. And that's all there really was available. David, do you remember, do you recall that the idea behind this show, as per Moses Neimer and Bud Pierce, was radio on television. Give people information

but don't tie them down. And also some levity but also some serious, if the news is serious, then it's serious. But also news that you can understand and move on, have a little fun, and then you're out the door with everything essentially that you need in order to make your day a little more pleasant. That's very true. Very true. And I remember on the day that it was announced to the general media, and there was a media conference at the front of the 299 Queen DC was held, but not the studio portion,

where Jeannie Petty's show went to air. And I remember we had it there, and a question was posed to Moses, and he said, well, why do you think this is going to work, having humor and entertainment in the morning, and why not just a steady diet of news? And he said, well, and I'm paraphrasing here, but he said, despite all of the things

that are going on in the world, essentially we have it pretty good. And by and large, there's a lot more to be happy about and entertained about than there is to be worried about. I hope that somebody recorded that somewhere because it was great. That's very astute. Yeah, very astute

and it gave us kind of a bellwether for how to proceed. But the Lord knows we had some very strange entertainment. And demonstrations. And demonstrations and the quad dancers and some groups that came on that we, dubious titles that, in retrospect, you just wondered whether they,

this is straight out of the gong show, whether or not they just made it up in order to get on DC. It always ended well. Do you remember that Barenaked Ladies had their debut, their television debut on Breakfast Television? And we should qualify that as being the group. How do you know?

Maybe it was the other two. Could have been. Even for BT, that would have been a bit of a stretch so yeah here's what i remember uh people poo-pooed the show prior to it even some of my closest friends and my soon-to-be husband kind of said are you sure you want to do this it's just not gonna it might not work it's probably not going to work and honestly david and mike, I think it was just our families watching and our close friends for the first little while. We were hash marks. We didn't have any ratings.

No, there were no ratings. Not for the first while. Not for the first while. And then all of a sudden, it just started to climb and climb and climb. Yeah. I wonder why. Well, I think it was great programming by Mark. Mark can talk about that when he gets on the line,

but Pierce and our dear friend Rick Croce, the associate producer who passed away a few years later, tragically at a very young age. But he had a good eye for entertainment. And you always knew there was going to be something a little bit different, a eyes for entertainment. And you always knew there was going to be something a little bit different, a little bit goofy on Breakfast All-Nation. But you also got the news, the weather, the traffic, everything you needed to get going and out the door. And that was kind of the radio portion of what they were trying to do. I believe it was also based on, loosely, on a show in Great

Britain. It might have been called The Big Breakfast. And I think that might have been sort of the germ of the idea, and then it just blossomed. The other thing is, and I say this with the greatest respect, they put together a team of just regular people. I'm a regular schmo. I've always said that You know, I'm a regular schmo. I've always said that to you. I'm a regular schmo. I've always disagreed with her. David is a regular schmo. Steve Anthony is a crazy regular schmo, but a big heart. And John Whaley, regular schmo. Just real people, you know, not sitting with stuffed shirts and perfect hair and, you know, sometimes not so perfect grammar and so on. It's just people that you would be comfortable waking up with. Now, David and Ann...

Sorry, David. It's a consistent pattern. It's very true. And, you know, even the opening music with the tempest, right out of the military... Would you like me to hum a few bars that was the first bit of music that came out of that show on that day

September 5th and for the length of time I was there, 12 years, that certainly was the wake-up music. Yes, it was. And I recall how they shifted and got different trumpeters, different groups to do the opening. And then when live bands started to become fairly regular, one of the deals was that we would often get the band to open the show with the opening scene.

And so it was a great way to start your day. We also had giveaways. We wanted to make sure the audience was included and had more than one reason to watch and to be a part of our show. They were our family, and we wanted to give them something every single day if we could. Yeah. We'd bribe them.

Watch this show and you can get stuff, you know. On the show, you can get tickets to different programs. It sounds pretty common today, but back then, nobody was doing it, not on television. Radio had been doing it for decades. They'd be the second caller in and tell us. I think the other thing that happened, too,

and you mentioned about the news, is that we had traffic cameras as well, and that was an innovation that was on CityPulse. People trying to get to work in the morning, we were showing them where the traffic jams were. It wasn't like today where everywhere is a traffic jam. Back then, more than 30 years ago, there were ways of getting to work. ago, there were ways of getting to work. Not

completely. We had a segment with one of our cameramen, Mike Henson, I think you might remember that, Anne, where his job was to show the cameraman's foot touch to get to work.

I recall in my recording days, I learned more about the model, how to get from point A to point B than the camera does. Because they had to know their short parts in order to be able to go out, shoot a story, get back

to the station, and do it in a timely fashion. And that ran for several months until some people started complaining, saying, well, you've given away my favorite root. Now it's gone up. David, knowing that this show that you started 30 years ago is turned 30, like not many shows make it to 30,

does that fill you with any personal pride that you helped give birth to something that's still around today? Oh, very much so. Very much so. And the lady sitting with you is a large part of that because she's definitely the face and the voice of Western television for more than that first decade. 12 years. And that's kind of unheard of in television news and broadcasting of that nature. There aren't any people that stay in the same slot for that time. I moved after five years to do education reporting for City Hall.

So I'm glad I did because by that point, our youngest son was five years old, and he was punching me into bed. Telling you bedtime stories. That's right. What is wrong with this picture? When a kid's going to kindergarten, they're trying to get up. And, you know, people say, well, how do you get up so early? And the answer was, well, it's completely exhausted.

It's falling asleep at suppertime at 6 o'clock or even 5.30. You go to bed early. And so I recall meeting Don Gaynor and Aaron Zizek, the cancer fundraiser for the TV setter. It was a lunchtime event. You never did anything after midday, but they had to possibly avoid it. And they were both on CHFI, I believe, at the time, during the morning show, their morning show. So we got talking, and the question was, well, what time do you get up to the show? And back then, both GT and their morning show started at 7 a.m., and I said 4.17, and John said 4.21, and he said 4.32, And I said, 4.17. And John said, 4.21.

And he said, 4.32. And we all bowed. So true. And yeah, because you were just pushing to get to sleep for the last minute. Yes. And three alarm clocks. Every minute counts at that point. That's for sure.

May I say something to David Onley? Of course. Every minute counts at that point. That's for sure. May I say something to David Onley as we wrap up? Because I'm so happy to have heard your stories. You know, you and I have been best friends for a long time, and we have been through a lot together. But these are some stories that I had never heard from you. And so what a delight to hear that. You were the best news anchor on breakfast television.

You were the best Lieutenant governor of Ontario and you are my best friend. Thank you. That was beautiful. That was great. No. And thank you so much for doing this, David. You're worthy of a three hour deep dive unto yourself.

So we'll save that for another day, but thanks so much for calling. That was incredible. Thanks so much. Thank you for another day. But thanks so much for calling. That was incredible. Thanks so much. A privilege. Thank you for doing this. And David, shall we say what we normally say? Toodles poodles.

Later, dater. Bye, David. Thank you. Bye-bye. Bye-bye. Bye-bye. Bye-bye wow that was and that was amazing we just he great and you're right you're not co-host you were the host he was the what was the title again news anchor news anchor on day one 30 years ago today yeah and it's funny that he called in just when i was trying to prompt you to say his name

he was like he sensed it and he's that kind of guy when he commits to something he's there and he's there in a big way right what are the odds steve anthony answers the phone today 50 50 right shall we give that a go yes but first uh because i was about to say so before we got that great call it was uh because brian had wished you uh congratulations on the 30th but i want to just tell people that next week is when those Galleria Mall condos are available. And if you want to get the blueprints or... Blueprints? What are they?

The floor plans and all the pricing. Call Brian or text him at 416-873-0292. He'd be happy to share that info with you. And yeah, it's happening now. So thank you, Brian. Also, i wanted to give you and before we call uh steve who's next is uh a large meat lasagna so actually veggie lasagna okay this is not it this is an empty box because it's in the freezer okay great but yes

courtesy of palma pasta which is a family-run business. They're in Mississauga and Oakville. And they make, basically, it tastes like authentic Italian food that your Italian neighbor would make in his or her kitchen. So if you closed your eyes, you would swear you were in Italy. Honestly, yes. You would think you're in Italy. And then you'd open your eyes and say, oh, I'm in Mississauga. I'm just not in Italy.

But Palma Pasta, fantastic partners of the show. And I urge people to go to palmapasta.com to find out exactly where you can visit them in Mississauga and Oakville. But also they're on Skip the Dishes. I don't think Anne's phone is modern enough to get Skip the Dishes. I have no apps and I am proud of it. She's appless. I live a very straightforward, simple life. I have no social media footprint and I don't have apps.

I simply, I just live a very... Some of them make your life easier, some of them. Well, I would rather take the challenge. I hear you. You'll go to the store and pick up your lasagna. Or I'll drop in. I'm with you. Actually, I say this because I am an app guy,

but I never use Skip the Dishes because I'll go to the place. I like to get out there and go to the place. And I like to meet the people who are behind this. And, you know, I love that part of it. I'm not an app person. I'm so sorry. And I can confirm she's app-less. I was just on her phone to hook up the Bluetooth.

And I did think I was in, I'm going to be very honest with you. That phone probably, I'm going to guess, eight years old? No, it's two years old. Okay, but. Yeah, but I just haven't downloaded any apps. Okay.

And I could if I wished. I could do anything I want with that phone. There's no shame in this game. Jerry Howard was here. Jerry Howard who called Blue Jay Games for a hundred million years.

I am such a fan. No phone. Oh, we'll see. There you go. He's not only appless he's phoneless um uh sir elton john doesn't have a cell phone i i believe that i would believe that and i think that's great uh and so i'm proud of it i need this is it serves my purpose that's it so thank you for the the veggie lasagna and there's a six pack of fresh craft beer courtesy of Great Lakes Brewery for you.

And I'm hosting an event. It's a live recording on September 19th from 6 to 9 p.m. on the patio of Great Lakes Brewery. And it's essentially, if people come, they can watch us record and they can have their beer on the house,

their first beer on the house, but they can come on the show. Like there's open mics. You can come on. Somebody will come on and I'll be like, who the heck are you? And then we'll have a quick chat. Like you can talk about how you on the show. Like there's open mics. You can come on. Somebody will come on and I'll be like, who the heck are you? And then we'll have a quick chat. Like you can talk about how you discovered the show,

your favorite episodes, whatever. It'll be fantastic. So please join me on the patio of Great Lakes Brewery on September 19th from 6 to 9 PM. A nice cold one with a hot one. Okay. It sounds like you're going to be there.

It's you. We just got a confirmation that, yeah, and I'm looking for something. This is brand new. You're only the second person to get this. Okay, this is for you, Anne. I have two tickets to Pumpkins After Dark. Pumpkins After Dark.

What the heck is that you're thinking? It's 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins that illuminate the skies. It's at Country Heritage Park in Milton, Ontario from September 26th to November 3rd. So these 5,000 pumpkins, which include 100 sculptures and sound and all,

it's really cool. You go there after dark and the tickets, I have one for you and plus one, so I'm going to email you two tickets to Pumpkins After Dark. That's fantastic. People who are listening can get 10% off if they go to Pumpkins After Dark and use the promo code Pumpkin Mike.

Pumpkin Mike. That's the promo code. Orange are glad to see me. That is wonderful. I know you research your sponsors. You have a connection with them. You know exactly what it is that they are proud of and you're proud of offering it to them. Because, yeah, it's not enough to say,

hey, I can cut you a check. It's like, no, I got to be into what you're doing there. Absolutely. You don't want to lead your listeners, anybody astray, your family, not at all. So 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins after him. I'm bringing my kids to that, and I'll see you there. I'll see you there with my plus one.

Right. So here, let's do it now, then. Let us get an update first. I want to know how the general's doing and how your mom's doing. They're doing great. Thank you. Dad is 95, just returned from D-Day in France in early June. Mom is the chief of the defense staff.

Dad is the general. She ranks higher than he does. They're both fantastic. They live in Collingwood at a wonderful, very independent, beautiful seniors residence. It's kind of like a cruise ship and they're very happy. So they've got a bit of support if they need

it and a lot of privacy, which they want. If you've noticed, I'm really nervous this episode. It's only because the general might be might be watching or listening and uh so sit up straight it's like well see this and i'm like slouched over but i'm doing lots of things over here general please don't judge me i went to the wikipedia page and they're not always accurate because we learned on wikipedia wikipedia says that breakfast television's birthday is september 9th. Which in 1989 was a Saturday, which just doesn't make any sense.

And several other places have taken that as gospel and reprinted that. So again, we're here to share the truth, which of course is in September 5th. Well, and City TV, in its goodness and its wisdom, on its webpage, it says September the 6th which is tomorrow but it's not the case and so you know I was there. We get it right on Toronto Month. We get it right but I went to the Wikipedia page for General Romer and after your name you get

like initials for like a It's like a full alphabet. And I mean David Alney's got a bunch of initials actually speaking of initials so a lot of initials but nothing like General Romer that's a like you said

that's the alphabet there so you know you're a big deal when you get lots of lots of initials after your name and they just celebrated 70 years of marriage

wow can you imagine that no because I'd have to live to be like 150 years old I think oh sorry I giggled away

from the microphone. I've learned when I have a big laugh coming, come off of it because people are like biking or running and it's, you're in the headphones and then, whoa, it's like you got to kind of, so good for you. Thank you for asking about my parents.

Now I'm, who do you want to call next? I'm not going to make you choose, but do you want to try Steve Anthony? Let's try Steve Anthony and you might as well. And I will, let's just sit back because Steve Anthony has a lot to say. And he is full of great things.

Full of energy. Yes. So shall I give him a ring? Are you kidding me? This is what I love about this program. We're flying by the seat of our pants. I love it. Who knows what's going to happen next?

That's why I wore stretchy pants to this workout gear. I'll tell the people, Anne Romer is dialing Steve Anthony's phone number. And we don't need this to be on speaker, correct? Correct. Don't put it on speaker, because we did better. Did you hear that? Yep.

And who's saying hi, you or me? Me? I'm almost giving up on you. Is Mr. Steve Anthony there, please? This is me. I'm almost giving up on you, and here's why. Why? I am at Arnie's Appliances in Shannonville,

and I'm about to buy four bags of frozen frog legs. Oh! And I thought to myself, they haven't phoned yet. I wonder if I should go into Arnie's and buy those frozen frog legs, or should I wait outside for the call? Well, this is the... Well, I was inside, and I had not yet found the frozen frog legs, so here we are.

I have a question for you, Stevie, Stevie, Stevie. What are you going to do with those frog legs? At what time do you want us over? I was, well, see, the ghastly part about all of that is that I got word from Tanya that I was just driving in from Toronto back to Prince Edward County. And she said, stop in at Arnie's and get them. They have a new supply. So I had this dreadful thought about people going out in the middle of the night and hunting these frogs. And then I thought how horrible that was.

It was a ghastly thought. Oh, and hopefully they don't throw them back without their legs. That's just terrible. No, if I go there, that would be just horrible. That's terrible. Hi, Steve. How are you? I'm fine.

Hi, Toronto Mike. Steve, thanks for doing this, man. I appreciate this. That's no problem. You're the best. All right, Steve. How are you? I'm fine. Hi, Toronto, Mike. Steve, thanks for doing this, man. I appreciate this. That's no problem. You're the best. All right, Steve. 30 years ago today, we launched, with the help of an amazing producer, production team, Moses Neimer, we, the original four, Fab Four, you know, 7 o'clock.

Yep. September 5th, 1989. The following day, I 5th, 1989. Well, the following day, I knew where I was. I was up at the subway stop at Allen Road, whatever that one was, right? Eglinton West? Yes. I guess that's what it was. And the next day,

a writer for the Toronto Star, and I know who she is, but I won't even mention who she was. Antonia? Zerbezi? Yes, that's right. The next day, she thought it clever, so she did a minute-by-minute recap of what we were doing, like 7.04, and Romer says blah, blah, blah. And then it says 7.22, Steve Anthony at the subway.

She goes, Steve Anthony approaches somebody and says, move along, people. Nothing happening here. And she goes and she writes, that was absolutely right. Oh, my goodness. I don't remember that. Do you? I don't remember that. I said, Steve says, nothing's going on here.

And Anthony writes, and that's absolutely true. You know what, Steve? I think you won her over eventually. I think she became a fan of the show at a certain point. She's a good girl. And you know what? I think somebody, this is just what I remember and what I heard. Of course.

And that's fine. That's all I'm doing. Was that she had wanted to be on the show. Like, she wanted to be a regular on the show. And she was denied that. And that she was resentful of it. Now, that's just what I heard. That's all. So she took a shot at us. That's real talk.

And, you know, Steve, how long were you with us in that first round of Morning Show's breakfast television? I think I was there for four years or more. Four and a half years at the beginning. And what prompted you to leave? Well, if you remember, I was still doing much music at the time. Yes. And I was doing that.

And then I was living the life of a rock star. And they all just couldn't fall in together. You know, I understand. It's kind of just too much for four, for four, for four and a half years. I was getting up at,

you know, when people should be going to, well, whenever people should be going to bed. And how long did you last? Any? 12 years. And then I,

yeah, I, I, one of my last days was nine 11. If you can imagine, I was moving over to become the chief anchor for CP24, but I've lasted 12 years. But I want to go back very quickly. I always look at your life and say, BT meaning before Tanya and AT after Tanya, because she

made the difference in your life, which is how you were able to come into CP24 Breakfast and build that show to number one recently. Wow. And he says you're for the flattery. You were there at the beginning. Yeah, we ended up being, well, we ended up, they still are number one. Yes, they are. That's when I left. It was appropriate to leave when they were number one.

Kind of like a Seinfeld thing. to leave when they were number one, kind of like a science, kind of like a science thing. Um, um, so before Kenya, wow. So the thing, the thing that Kenya, and she's probably going to listen, she's going to smile. What Kenya, um, kind of made me do was, uh, to stop. Well, I was never looking, but, um, cause, because I'd been with people for long periods of time, but she kind of was, she was kind of what I wanted. And that was the time. So then I, you know, I was just more conscientious of what I was doing and doing in the world

and taking care of, you know, money and all that stuff. And you kicked a whole bunch of bad things to the curb, and I'm so proud of you. I've known you for more than 30 years, and I've seen all kinds of incarnations, and I love every one of them. Wow, that's so nice, Annie. That's so nice, and I feel the

same way about you. Mike, would you go away? And Tan, you too. Ann and I would like to neck in the corner thank you and you know honestly Mike he is such a genuine person and such a sweetheart and you know sometimes he would put on the big rock star

image and language and so on but he's a genuinely sweet guy and he's very cute yeah I've won awards for being a great guy you didn't know that did you it's called tanya that's your award that's right okay all right well happy 30th um whatever you are bt wherever you are whatever you're doing down there in the doldrums wish you luck now steve uh just so ann knows uh you've been on Toronto Mike twice

so Steve's been on once we did the deep dive but then you came back to kick out the jams which was amazing your appearances are legendary not quite Romer-esque but pretty damn good honestly and since you were last on shortly after you were last on

you announced you were leaving CP24 and now am I correct you're living a wonderful life buying frog leagues in Prince Edward County. This is where you've relocated to, right? Correct. Well, we had and we have been part of the Prince Edward County community, I guess, for 17 years. We've been coming here for 2021, 22 or something.

But 17 years ago we bought property and we were part of it, but it was only part time. And then after, well, I mean, I don't know if I, if I said this, but Tanya only wanted me to do CP 24 breakfast for five years.

I promised her I would do it for five years. And so she hung in not coming to Prince Edward County for an extra five years for me to, to make the show number one, or to give me the time to help do that. And once we did it, it was kind of like, well, I did it. So I guess it's time I pull my end of the bargain. Let's move to the county and not begrudgingly. I love Prince Edward County. This is where I want to be. Do you have a studio in your place at Prince Edward County? Because I know you had one in your Toronto apartment or home. Yes. Yeah, I do. And so I can do whatever it is that I want to do

for podcasts or voiceovers and stuff like that there. And don't you have a charity as well? Well, charities that we're involved with, if I can, if I can, this sounds like a plug for Steve Anthony. I love it. Steve Anthony on Toronto Mike. What we would like to do is we'd like to have, we wanted to have a senior dog rescue because we got a lot of land, but then we have concerns about dogs barking, even though we love them. So we are steering towards having a farm animal sanctuary. Nice. Very nice. Very nice. And you can, you can come and pet the cows. steering towards having a farm animal sanctuary out here. Nice. Very nice.

Yeah. Very nice. And you can come and pet the cows. As long as I don't have to milk them. Well, I was leading to that. Please keep us posted on that front, because that's a very, that's a valiant and courageous thing that you're doing, and farm animals need help more than we know, or you know, and I know, but you know.

Yeah, you bet. Yep. Okay, well, I adore you, Anne, and Mike, you're okay? Thanks for doing this. Can I go get my frog legs now? You are dismissed. Thank you, Steve Anthony. That was amazing.

Thanks, bud. Bye. Take care. Bye, Stevie. Bye, honey. Wow, that was great, too. So he did answer. In fact, he was waiting for the call. He is a sweetheart.

He never did tell us, though, what he's going to do with those frog legs. Is he having a big party? And I hope we aren't invited, actually. It sounds like a pretty big party. I've never had a frog leg. I think I did. When I was younger and dating a lot, you know, in my sort of late teens and early 20s, I would try anything when I was younger and dating a lot. Um, you know, in my sort of late

teens and early twenties, I would try anything while, while I was out on a date. So oysters, oh yeah, sure. I'll try that. You have to go to a restaurant that has something like frog legs and oysters on the menu. I don't think I could do that now. I'm too passionate about, you know, I was going to say it's expensive, those menus. Yeah, I know, but it's also creepy. So I'm not going to start. You're allowed those menus. Yeah, I know. But it's also creepy. So. No, I'm not going to start. You're allowed to change every decade how you approach life. We're two for two. This is very exciting.

We got David Onley. We got Steve Anthony. And you see, I didn't realize that he promised Tanya that he would just do five years. And he literally went from the helicopter. He was, that was his first job on CB24 Breakfast. The live eyes. Did they call live eyes back then? No, it was always in the helicopter. So he would not do live eyes. So he did helicopter. That was his first job on CB24 Breakfast. The live eyes. Did they call them live eyes back then? No, it was always in the helicopter. So he would not do live eyes. So he did helicopter. Oh, the breakfast, right.

Then he moved on to live eyes. Then he sat in with Melissa Grello. She is amazing. And the two of them co-hosted. And then there were some other changes. But he moved from an airplane seat to the anchor seat or to the you know steve anthony and i told him this to his face but he has kind of a pretty fascinating career in this market because you've got the guys my age you were raised on much music you know he's one of the early vjs on much music so you have that whole thing he was on i know he's on q107 but he was was also on CFNY 102.1 just before Humble and Fred launched 30 years ago. Everything's 30 years ago.

And George Lagajanis as well, who now wears a suit, greatest guy on earth, just the salt of the earth. And he's a news anchor, but he was a wild and crazy VJ as well. I got to get George in here. Oh, you must. I remember George from the Electric Circus.

Yes. And I don't know, I'll just show it to you, but this is very rare. I can't even let you drink it, but that is the, uh, limited, uh, it's a great lakes beer called electric circus. And on the cover of it is the, almost, it could be, but I remember Monica and George, uh, hosting that show. And that's the Electric Circus cowboy. His name is Kenrick Pompey. And he's gracing the cover right there. So that's in honor of Electric Circus.

And at TMLX4, which is the event that's happening on September 19th, Joel Goldberg is going to be there. Say hello, would you? What a decent guy he is. He's at the Zoomerplex now. He's working with Moses. Yeah. He's a really good guy. He's a really good guy. He's a really good guy.

Like a solid citizen. And, you know, the Zoomerplex is a beehive of activity. And at the center of it is Moses, who is one of the most brilliant men in television ever. And so he's not the easiest man to work with all the time. He's very demanding, but he only asks for what he thinks you can give and what he would give.

And he's a true visionary. He sees it before the rest of us. Have you met him? No. I think you should. I did when I was in High Park one day doing a run when I used to run. I ran by him along Grenadier Pond, but I didn't want to stop and bug the guy because he's like, oh, there's Moses.

Well, I think you should reach out to him. I have his email address. I mean, everybody does. It's just a standard email address. But why don't you reach out to him? Can I put, Anne suggested I reach out? Anne said hi. Yes.

I'm sure he will respond, whatever the answer is. I'm going to do that then. You don't know until you ask. He'd be an ideal guest. he'd be amazing i have a so that's the zoomerplex is actually right uh they play uh rugby i go to these wolf pack matches and they play at lamport stadium which is like right across the street but now you're in the same neck of the woods as sticker you they're in liberty village sticker you but you can go to sticker you.com. They're proud sponsors of the program. They made some stickers for you, including the Toronto Mike sticker,

which is highly in demand. You can have that, Anne, and I can't wait to find out where it ends up. Well, I will tell you when I put it where it's going to go. Not where the sun don't shine, or whatever that expression is. Oh, thank you. Just know, wherever you put it, I want a photo.

Okay. Just so you know. I know you want to rock it, I want a photo. Okay. Just so you know. That's a, I know you want to rock the temporary tattoo, the Toronto Mike tattoo. I do. No, I'll make it permanent.

Would you? Of course I would. I actually would. I can't tell if you're joking. I know. And I'm not good at that. I'm struggling over here. Shall we?

Okay, so we're going to make a call in a second though, but those stickers, thank you, sticker you. So one last, there's also, this is for your phone, but this is called a, what do they call it? A pop socket. You put it on the back of your phone,

and it lets you watch TV. Not that you will, because you know I have that phone. But you can give it to a friend. My 1960s phone. But that's courtesy of Capadia LLP. Rupesh Capadia is the rock star accountant. I urge everybody listening that has a quandary or a question regarding, you know, business ventures or anything to do with taxation. If you want an accountant who sees beyond the numbers, Capadia is ideal for you. And I just want to play a little clip of Milan, longtime friend of the program. He's at Fast Time. Here's what he had to say about Capadia. Hello, Toronto Mike listeners. This is Milan from Fast Time, watch and jewelry repair.

We've been using Capadia LLP for many years, providing guidance for all of our corporate and personal accounting needs. Over the years, Rupesh Capadia has put together an effective tax plan for his clients. And the bottom line is he and his expert team of accountants save you money. Thanks Toronto Mike. And thank you Kapadia LLP. Thank you Milan. Thank you so much. And Rupesh Kapadia, if you want a free consultation, give me a shout. Who do you want to call next? Do you want to do Bud Pierce or do you want to do John Whaley? Like do you want to save Bud for last? Yes, because Bud is an extraordinarily gifted producer with the gift of the gab as well.

Okay. We're going to close with him then. We can play him out with music. Okay. This is exciting because I didn't even promote that John Whaley was going to be on this program and he was the missing link, so to speak. And I had a great chat with John today and now we're going to call him. So you're up, good. Okay, very good. And let me just remind folks that he was sort of a brand new television position, floor director slash sportscaster.

So here is John Whaley. I hope I don't have to put a one in front of it. No, no, no. It's Mississauga. Okay. Oh, that's a big place. I know. No.

I didn't say his address. We've never been this quiet. I'm anticipating. I hope he's there. See, Steve answered quickly. I was very excited by that here. Come on, John. Come on, John.

Hello. I know that voice. Hello, Ann. How are you? Hi, John. How are you? It's wonderful to hear that voice. How are you?

How's Betty, by the way? Betty is just wonderful. Thank you for asking. Healthy, happy the way. Eddie is just wonderful. Thank you for asking. Healthy, happy, wise. Just unfortunately stuck in a brutal marriage. You know, we all make bad career life decisions. Look at us at breakfast. No, I'm kidding. Oh, you're great.

What are you doing these days, John? Well, I do a variety of things, man. You know, I put the holes in the donuts at Tim Hortons. You know, I take horseshit from a fly pepper with boxing gloves on. Oh, hang on. Is Toronto Mike there? Yes, he is. John, how are you doing?

He's on the line. Yes, he's listening. I'm here. How are you, Mike? Good. Thanks for doing this. We just talked to David Onley. You'll regret it.

And we talked to Steve Anthony. And now we get to talk to John Whaley. I call you a day one-er. You were there 30 years ago today at the first launch date of Breakfast Television. You were there. Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. And it was, I've got to tell you that woman sitting across from you is,

I can't even begin to tell you how much respect I have for Anne. And as great as the talents were, and they were singular, you know, David Onley, Steve Anthony, you know, um, and had, and had to carry the craziest show in the, you know, ever devised on her back and carry me and I'm a load. So she is just, you know, that show, that show, as I recall, Anne, after the first month, we were the number one show in Toronto. I think that it wasn't quite that fast, but I'll tell you something. It was pretty rapid. And let me also say, he ain't heavy. He's my brother.

And that's you. and that's you but but um like uh just ann had you know the variety of things you had to do and i mean you know you you had to do you know calisthenics and then from there interview the mayor and then from there put a beer barrel around you and learn the polka and and then there'd be dr john and some goat and you know and and you know you care like the the show the show became the legend it has because of you and you and steve anthony and david and bud pierce i really truly look no i'm i'm i'm gonna be perfectly honest here i played a small part to you three and thank heavens i did because like for example and do you do you uh you i know you and david onley um all that summer before the show came on the air we're always asked by the media well

what's back at television going to be about? And you all had to say, well, it's going to be different. And the reason you couldn't say anything specific, because we didn't have a clue what it was going to be like. We didn't know either. Exactly. We didn't get Bud, if I'm not mistaken,

until like a week before the show, maybe two. I thought it was a little, well, we're going to talk to him in a few minutes as well, but I, do you remember he and Rick Crocious used to sit in a darkened office? But I thought it was a couple of months that he was with us. But again, time flies when you're having fun, you know?

Yeah, yeah. And, but you guys, you know, you kept being asked what the show was going to be about and you didn't know. I know we'd say, it's going to be different, but we don't really know. I remember you standing, and so cute. I think you had your hand on one hip, and you would hold the clipboard with the other.

And so John was supposed to be floor director, but he was also sportscaster and really good at it. Oh, your nose is rolling. No, it isn't. But just such a pleasure. Because, you know, we were all by ourselves out in that lobby, just the two of us. And Oliver, the floor director, you know, I guess the floor director.

But we were all, we were all just jointed out there. So thank goodness that we had each other. Well, it sounds like we're like the last journalist out of Saigon. Driving for the bottom of the helicopter. I know, apocalypse now. It was a zoo. And, you know, things that come to mind in there is, well, I don't know if you've mentioned it, but the first time Kyle Ray appeared on the show. Oh, yes, yes.

Do you remember that? Yes, and was he a city councillor at that point? Yes, yes. And did he come out on our show? I don't remember that specifically. Well, he swore, let's put it that way. Well, so did I. Do you remember that I said the S word a couple of years into the show?

Oliver Walters had come out to Queen Street. I didn't know we were live, and Oliver said, oh, you forgot to mention a giveaway. And I said, oh, and then the S word. And I could hear it in my earpiece and I knew that it had gone to air live. So I was sure I was going to be fired at the end of the show, but never said a word.

He said, I'll let you kick yourself around the block. Just don't let it happen again. Well, aren't you thankful that we worked in an age where, you know, generally things never came back the hottest on YouTube or, you know, the mistakes we made, you know. You know, I've remained very private and I understand you are as well. I have no social media presence and I never will. No, I'm the same way and uh once um uh when I left when I left Sydney in 2001 and that was because of a contract dispute I wanted one yes yeah I can understand that I'm kidding um I uh never had any desire my I had my 15 minutes of fame. Didn't care for

it very much. No bad stories or anything. But you were very, very, very, very good at what you did. Okay, I'm sorry. John, how long... I was going to ask, how long, John, were you on

Breakfast Television? 12 years, I think. It took me to run it into the ground. Never. And so from, you know, 89 to 2001. But earlier, to come full circle in, you would ask me what I do now. I do a variety of things. I work freelance.

I do a variety of things. I work freelance. I've been a producer for the last two, six, seven Olympics. Oh, wow. Served as senior writer, features producer. I also sort of produce under Joel Darling, Hockey Day in Canada for Sportsnet and CBC. And it's great.

Like, for example, this year it will be, or next year, pardon me, in February, it will be in Yellowknife. Oh, cool. In November, I'll go up to Yellowknife for a week and shoot six features for Hockey Day. Let me ask you this. What happened in the 12 years that you were on breakfast television. Was there anything from that 12 years that prepared you for what you're doing today?

Uh, yes, it was all like, I, I, I never wanted to go back on air. What I love to do is create the idea and tell a story. And when I left City, I went to Lease TV, the fledgling just starting up the production arm of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

And I sort of led the magazine production department and it sounds impressive but really the department was me and a couple of other people we had to do six shows a week wow um you know and so i did that for i did that for about 18 months and then i was uh i i my daughter my daughter Hannah it just sort of timed out that she was born in 99 and by that time starting up Leafs TV and Raptors NBA TV was a 12 hour a day 7 day a week job and Hannah was around

2 and I didn't know her really so I pulled a John Lennon and I took 2003 off and baked bread and took her down to the park. And best year of my life. And then fortunately, a wonderful and talented man named Scott Morrison hired me at Sportsnet, where I produced the hockey features for Hockey Central and Sportsnet News. Hockey Central and Sportsnet News and uh and then from there went to uh freelance and Olympics and and stuff like that so you know it's uh it's uh this the landscape of this business has changed

so much you know I'm just happy to still have a you know uh a bit of skin in the game and proud to have worked with you, Ann. People don't understand. I don't know if you've spoken about this yet, and I'm sorry if I'm going on too long, but when you work those hours, those, I don't know what I, can I swear on this show? Absolutely.

Mike? Absolutely. What about frontal nudity swear on this show? Absolutely. Absolutely. OK, what about frontal nudity? OK, please. OK, when you were fucked up hours like that and, you know, we're lucky. Like I got to go on TV and be glib and insincere, which really I generally like in life. But when you look at when when you do those shifts, and you know what I'm like, you're at a charity event on a Friday night

and you can't even keep your eyes open. You're, you're, you're, and, and, and we're lucky. Think about firefighters, ambulance, police, dispatchers who have to work those crazy hours. I also think about people working in factories who are holding down two and three jobs and overnight, you know, and,

and just working so hard and not getting the recognition that they so richly deserve. By the way, you have me in tears and it's not because you're stepping on my foot. You have me in tears. Me? Yes, you,

your story. You're so wonderful. You just plastered a picture of? Yes, you. Your story. You're so wonderful. You just plastered a picture of me now to her, didn't you? And by the way, irony of irony, private joke, only between Ann and I. When I had hair, because I'm bald now, Ann. Yes. When I had hair, I would always have this this habit of because i parted it in the middle of flicking my hair back and and always got a chuckle out of that well i keep doing it

but nothing's looking back there it's we've had a lot of crop failure up there in the last few years. I'll bet you're still as handsome as you were 30 years ago. And you are as funny and as sweet as you were back then as well. Thank you. What a pleasure to hear your story. You are a terrible judge of character, Anne. Actually. What happened to you? Quite the opposite.

You know, I grew a thick skin, but I still have a big beating heart. And it sounds like you did too. Okay. Now, before I go, because this is everyone to hear, can Betty and I take you out for dinner some night? Oh, I'd love to. Are you talking to Mike or me? Surprise. Well, I don't know. I wish, but he's married. So I would love to. Thank you. And I have your number now. So I will send you a text with my number

when we're finished. Yes. And as we always used to say, we don't call it stalking. We call it following because it sounds nicer in court. You're a riot. John, thanks so much for doing this

on the 30th anniversary of the first episode of Breakfast Television. I really, really appreciate this. We couldn't have done this show without you. Whatever became of that show? You really? Okay. Love you guys. Bravo, my friend. Thank you. Love to Betty, too.

Okay, we'll see you soon. Okay, I'll text you in about an hour. Okay, bye. Okay, bye-bye. Thank you. Bye, John. Oh, we'll see you soon. Okay, I'll text you in about an hour. Okay, bye. Okay, bye-bye. Thank you. Bye, John. Oh, hey, Anna, I gotta end it this way. Thanks for coming out. That's exactly who would always say that. Say it again.

Thanks for coming out. Perfect, perfect. Okay, bye, guys. Bye, John. Thank you. Okay, bye. We are three for three. Those were three fantastic conversations. And, John. Thank you. Okay. Bye. We are three for three. Those were three fantastic conversations. And he brought me to tears. I saw that.

I was like, I felt like Barbara Walters here, you know, making the guests cry. We had lost touch, and it was no particular reason. We just, you know, went separate ways and different ways. Right. And he's so genuine, and he puts on this, you know, I'm going and different ways, but what, and he's so genuine and he's, he puts on this, you know, I'm going to be a funny guy and, and, but he's just a deep thinker and a kind soul. So. And it's interesting of the people we've talked to, for example, well, David Onley, like your bestie, your B So we'll put that aside. But Steve Anthony and you were at CP24 together for a long time.

And I would fill in for Melissa Grello from time to time. So what a cool time that was to co-host the breakfast show. I was just the news anchor, but occasionally they would let me sit with him. Right. But it sounds like John went behind the scenes. So he's no longer on air. He's doing a lot of work. And by his choice, it sounds like it just wasn't for him.

But it's powerful work. Oh, no, important work, great work. And Scott Moore, who's been on the show, now works for LeBron James. Isn't that neat? It will only be a matter of time before John Whaley is doing something for Drake and LeBron over there. But I think he also figured all of this out during the 12-year run on Breakfast Television. It's not for the faint of heart. And I love his story about taking the year off and baking bread because I'm

with Hannah. Yeah. Like, uh, I think he said Hannah was three. I think when he took the year off, I think I heard that right. And I have a three year old now and it's like,

uh, I was thinking like, Oh, that sounds perfect. Yeah. Amazing. I know. So glad we got John on this show.

I'm learning so much about the people that I was honored. It was my honor and my privilege to be with them on that first day in 1989. Mike Gregotsky, who's a listener, he's listening right now, wants to know who came up with the name Breakfast Television. Well, I think we may have to ask the producer that. Now I learned, I've been learning a lot from listening to you guys talk, and it sounds like Bud showed up late in the game. I don't think so, but I'm not sure.

We're going to find out in a moment, assuming Bud answers the phone. So a couple more quick questions before we call Bud. Now, we talked, Kevin Frankish takes over for David Onley five years in? I believe that Kevin started maybe four years in as the overnight assignment guy. Gotcha.

So David would stand at the assignment desk and say to Kevin, what happened overnight? Gotcha. And then David made the decision that his five years, that's a pretty good run for anybody on a morning show. Then Kevin was tapped to be the news anchor and he did a great job. When does Jennifer Valentine join you guys? Well, she came on as the, and it sounds so awful in 2019, but she was the diner girl, and that's an awful thing to say. Diner girl?

Diner girl. Not the prize queen. No, not the prize queen as far as I remember, but diner girl, and then she sort of moved into weather, and she sang a little bit as well, and she's, look at her now. Have you watched on Global Morning News? I don't see any news things in the morning, unfortunately, but I do get the press releases.

I'm very proud of her. She is doing brilliantly. And this is kind of a second chance for her. I'm not sure of the circumstances, but she left City TV. A topic of much discussion here on Toronto Night. And'm not sure of the circumstances, but she was, she left city TV topic of much discussion here. And it's not in my business. Um, but she,

uh, went to, uh, Derringer in the morning and I never heard, I didn't hear much from her and I would listen and want to hear from her, but it just wasn't the right fit. She's now co-hosting or hosting global news morning and she's doing beautifully.

So on that note note when we launch when you when i'm acting like i was part of the launch now but when you launched what two no i was i was in high school in 1989 so now when that was my first day of high school was your first day of breakfast television that was my first day of high school wow it's also the 80th anniversary of the of bill Billy Bishop airport. Something like that today. Yeah. Lots of things going on in September.

I know. And I know a 30th anniversary of let your backbone slide by Maestro Fresh West. That's important. Lots of, absolutely lots going on. But when you started breakfast television 30 years ago, it sounds like all there was, was Canada AM. I think so. I mean, I'm not really even aware of what was out there. I think

a lot of radio morning shows, but not television. And as David talked, quite frankly, I mean, I've never heard him be so frank about things. It was a little on the snoozy side. I'm no, you know, no disrespect, but so we sort of jumped in feet first, and we made a big splash. See, only knows that if you're going to do Toronto Mike, you've got to come out guns a-blazing. And look at John Whaley. He used the F word.

I know. Whoa. My tender ears. That is not to toot our horn here, but Whaley doesn't do a lot of public appearances. This is a very rare thing, getting John Whaley on the show. He wasn't doing it because Toronto Mike was doing this. He heard Ann Romer was on the show.

He says, I'm in. I have sent you many communications over the years that we've known each other. I think you do a terrific job. And every once in a while, I have to say to you, you know, I think you need to sort of follow through with this or whatever. I mean, I hope you don't mind that every once in a while I reach out to guide you. I don't mind at all. Because I believe in you and I know that you want to get to the truth. And that's what is the essence of life at this point and the essence of news and television.

It's the truth. You know what makes my day? When my inbox has an Ann Romer email in it. So I'm just letting you know. And the last one came a couple of weeks ago saying, just give us a shout out. So quick, and then we're going to, yeah, we got a call, but, but, um, Brian, quick, maybe quick one. I may be, uh, Brian says inquire about what sort of behind camera Mike shenanigans would go on to try to get the person to break while live on air. Like,

would you do that? Never, ever. And I didn't need to. And I had lots of serious interviews. I had politicians. I had sports figures. I had people who were champions of cancer. I ran with Terry Fox, which was just one of the... I was just at the monument in Victoria. I saw that.

I was just there. And I'm running for him on September 15th. May I sponsor you? Oh, my goodness, yes. I'll that. I was just there and I'm running for him on September 15th. May I sponsor you? Oh my goodness. Yes. I'll email you the link. We, uh, I was honored of course to, you know, I mean, I didn't even know what, what to think, but they allowed me to run with him. We didn't do the interview at that point. We stopped, we did the interview and then he carried on and we put a plant, like a little tree in for him so that I that I could do what are called the re-asks. And he was amazing.

He was so young, right? Yeah, I know. And I hope he's looking down on us and knowing how much we respect him and what he has done in saving lives with the money raised for cancer research. Well, I can say this with great authority as the father of four, that the schooling, so the schooling does it up right. Like they really educate the kids on who was Terry Fox, what was he doing,

what do we do today? They all do the run. So I can tell you my five-year-old knows all about Terry Fox from school already. And I know the same thing was true in my oldest turn around that same age. Like he was coming home and telling me about this guy, Terry Fox. And it's like, so anyone out there who thinks maybe like, oh,

the kids today don't know who Terry was. No, I can tell you for sure. They know they're being educated. What's interesting is when he was running, it started to gather momentum in time, but nobody knew who he was. I mean, it was actually fairly straightforward of getting permission to run with him and to do an interview with him because he needed some exposure. Right. So, and then he had to, he had to withdraw. And that was probably the saddest day of our lives as Canadians. It's heartbreaking.

And if I think about that, I will cry as well. I know, I know. So, yeah, Thunder Bay. I've cried enough for both of them. It was Thunder Bay. Right. Oh my goodness. Now, how do we, you're the pro.

How do you segue into the bud thing and get a palate cleanser? Let's pull it right back to what it is. We're celebrating, I think, a morning show that revolutionized the way morning television is presented and that was and is breakfast television. Here's a silly promo I pulled,

but I'm going to play it because when else would I play it? Okay. Pass the cereal, please, Stephen. Stephen, way to please, Steven. Steven! Way to go, stupid. Just for that, you are coming down to do the show today, young man. I told you I'm sick.

Well, you should have thought of that beforehand. Get him, John. Thanks, Dad. No, no, no. I'm going to go. City TV's Breakfast Television, featuring Ann Romer, David Onley, John Whaley, and sometimes Steve Anthony, served at 7 a.m. weekday.

I want a copy of that, please. Oh, of course. Easy. Now, that's a parody of Leave it to Beaver, of course, and the video, which I'll send you the link to the video, which I believe Retro Ontario pulled, because who else would pull that? It's pretty fun to watch, but that was, yeah, a promo from 30 years ago. I almost didn't recognize my own voice.

There was another moment in time for us at Breakfast Television in the early going, and it was a Star Week TV Guide cover. And the four of us are standing in a giant Breakfast Television mug. It's a yellow mug, and obviously we are standing in a giant breakfast television mug. It's a yellow mug, and obviously we weren't in a mug. We stood with, I think, a hula hoop around the four of us. But it's a beautiful picture, and it says it all, because it's a little quirky,

and you don't have to say anything about it. The picture speaks volumes. That's where I was going. So I mentioned Canada AM was what was there at the time, but then this quirkier morning show shows up breakfast television and now there's a whole bunch of like but I would just call carbon copies like so you still got breakfast television going 30 years later but you you know

the CP 24 breakfast which is fantastic is well let's face it it's it wouldn't exist if breakfast television there is the blueprint literally was you know the story simulcast and then anyway start you are there you know the story but uh there's a you mentioned jennifer valentine she's on the global show they got rid of canada am and now they have a what i would call a quirk year which is the your morning with ben mulrooney and ann maria medawake and some others medawake

medawake medawake yeah lindsey deluz who came from c, great gal. Right. I'm not sure who else is on that show at this point. But yeah, it's a more subdued version of breakfast television, I think. And they try to be a little more national and a little more in-depth with their interviews and not so much the hijinks that we saw and see still on BT and on CB24 Breakfast. Now our next call is to somebody who was behind the scenes, so the people won't know the name.

Yes. So maybe one sentence or two on who the heck are we calling and why? We're calling the original producer whose vision got us through the front door on September the 5th and into the vehicle, and we never looked back. I'm excited. Bud Pierce is his name. I popped my P. Okay, let me say that again.

I want to be a professional. Bud Pierce. Handsome, smart, quick-witted, very talented, and just persuasive, you know, without being mean. And he just, he rounded up this crazy group of people. Did he cast it? Yes, he cast it. Well, I got questions for him.

I know. Well, I can't wait to hear all this. And the reason he's on the phone and not in person is because he's handsome. I can't have another handsome guy here when Anne Romer's here. He's in Port Perry,

so I think you're safe. Okay, good. Okay, so we've got Mississauga, Port Perry, Prince Edward County, Davidson Scarborough. Right. And I'm in your studio. Okay, so let me call Bud Pierce.

Okay, let's see if we go four for four. Yeah, we wouldn't be where we are today, any of us, without him. It was the best training ground possible. And he taught me how to, I'm just calling him. No, yeah, you call. He taught me how to, I'm just calling him. No, yeah, you call. He taught me how to do breaking news. And I thanked him for that all my life, all my television life.

He gave me the chance to do it. He guided me off camera. And I learned how to stay calm and tell what was going on without being biased. It's good you had that training because 9-11. Well, yes. And then everything on CB24 until Steph Smythe started, and then she does it brilliantly. Yes.

So you're saying hi or me? I never know. I'm saying hi? You go. Okay. Hi, Bud. It's Toronto Mike here. Hey, Mike.

How are you? Good. How are you? I'm joined by a voice you'll recognize. Hi, Bud. Who is that? I have no idea. It's Annie. How are you? I'm joined by a voice you'll recognize. Hi, Bud. No, who is that? I have no idea. It's Annie. How are you, Bud? I'm great, how are you?

Oh, you know, Bud and I email frequently about things that are going on in television and in our lives, and so it's really nice to hear your voice again. Yeah, good to hear yours too. Are you still as handsome as ever? Yes, actually I think I got better. hear your voice again. Yeah, good to hear yours too. Are you still as handsome as ever? Yes. Actually, I think I got better. Okay. Are you the pride of Port Perry?

I'm not in Port Perry. I'm in San Juan Falls. Oh, excuse me. I think I've done that before, haven't I? Yeah. It's two F's instead of two P's. Exactly. I'm handing you over to Mike.

Okay, terrific. Okay. Now, bud, I'll be handing you back to Anne shortly because she's much better at this than I am. But I'm curious, like when, I got some, we've talked, so far today we've talked to David Onley, we talked to Steve Anthony, and we just talked to John Whaley. We're leaving the best for last, that's you.

Yeah. I see Whaley was second last. Okay. So can you tell me a little bit, I'm interested in the detail, like how do you get assigned to this project, so to speak, and how does it all come together 30 years ago? Like a little bit of the, from your perspective, the origin story of the breakfast television.

Wow. Well, I had worked for Citi many years before, in its very early days, for about eight or nine years. And I left and went and did other things, produced for CBC, et cetera. And then some years later, I heard from Moses, and we got together. He said, how would you like to do a morning show? I said, geez, Moses, absolutely not. I really wasn't interested in getting up at four in the morning. But, you know, he twisted my arm and there we were. I think

I came on board literally weeks before the launch. We didn't have a lot of time. And one of the reasons I turned it down was that I actually don't like mornings. And I think that's true of a lot of time. And one of the reasons I turned it down was that I actually don't like mornings. And I think that's true of a lot of people. I just think, you know, getting up early and hitting that alarm and, you know, the weather's bad outside, you're going to sit in traffic for an hour, you just had a fight with your significant other. I'm just a lot of things about mornings that aren't great. And so that's where it started for me. How could we do something that A, was different from the other guys, because they were all the same carbon copies of each other? And could we do a show that, you know, was a little more fun and a little lighter and a

little looser? You know, could we be a bit unpredictable? Could we roll with the punches? Could we just have some fun? Still provide the necessary news, weather, traffic, etc. But the rest of the show had to be different from what everybody else was doing. So that's where it started to come together. And we didn't

have much of a budget. We didn't have much in the way of resources. So I knew we were going to be a bit ragged, a bit rough around the edges. But we kept that up because I think the audience at home kind of feels like that and so we were I think the show was incredibly relatable I think the talent was incredibly relatable and you know what you saw on tv is what these people were really like and so it was a bit of a rough start you know, we threw something on. We had a rehearsal the day before the launch,

I'm just remembering now, where absolutely nothing went right. Absolutely nothing worked. And sat on a stool in the lobby for about six hours. I was in the control room. And technically, we were simply not ready. And I thought, what are we going to do? Do I keep the talent here for another six hours

and maybe we'll be ready? This was labor day. I got on the intercom and I said, great rehearsal, everybody. Go home, get some sleep, and I'll see you in the morning. And the crew worked all night. We came in the next day. I guess we did a show, Ann.

I think, yeah. Yeah, and you know, the weird thing is I was down in the control day. I guess we did a show, Ann. I think, yeah. Yeah. And, you know, the weird thing is I was down in the control room. When it was over, I kind of thought, oh, I just hated that. But I went upstairs and everybody else loved it. Everybody just loved it. And I started to understand why they liked it. And so from that point forward, we just, you know, we went on the air every day and tried to make it a little bit better than the day before. We were totally unpredictable. And I think that was really important. We let mistakes happen and we rolled with them or we made something out of it.

And I think a lot of that is what got the audience. It took a while to build. You have to have kind of a core group before you start to see the growth. But after a time, people started to talk about us because we were so different and started to tell others about us. And the audience started to grow. And I don't remember exactly how long, but within a few seasons, it was the number one show in the country and uh and remained that way for a very very long time i'm gonna cry again i i cried earlier i that's that that is so beautifully put bud um do you remember that that the words radio on television were sort of banded about as well yeah yeah i i think sounds really important and also i think, think about our morning.

You get up and, you know, in those days, and again, it's a little different today than it was 30 years ago. But, you know, it's easy to turn on the radio while you shave or, you know, make an egg or pour a bowl of cereal. But people are not going to take the time to stand around and watch television. So we needed the sound to create that similar to radio feel, right,

where you could listen to us and still get a really strong sense of what we were doing. And if you heard something you liked, you could stop while you're eating a piece of toast and watch for that two or three minutes and then move on to something else. And we kept everything incredibly short and tight so we could just move to another segment move to another segment we always just say you'll never be late for work if you watch us we were the first show to put a clock on the screen to put weather and stuff on the screen we did we did all of that first and as i say it just it just caught on we also listen to the audience and he knows this we

we uh we get calls every day after the show and I took you know every call that came my way and people called to say they loved it or they called to complain and if they complained you know we listened to them and we tried to adjust you know on the fly it's it's I don't think it's that hard to do but apparently it is but that's kind of how we built the thing wow yeah yeah you have to have talent that can do that too you know i was fortunate i mean in ann's case you know who could who could you know stop on a dime and change direction and and you have to have real um respect for each other and you have to have real respect for each other and you have to feel really comfortable with each other no matter what happens you're all you've all got each other's

back and so and we did for me morning shows are about creating the environment to do the show you can't have fun on a morning show if you're not having fun making the morning show you know so behind the scenes during the day, it's really important. And I don't see that much today. And we were a very tight unit. We, you know, you and I used to talk, I think, every night. We were really, really close, all of us. And we were really invested in the show.

Bud, and I don't know whether it was Bud's decision or I had asked. I kind of think it was Bud's suggestion. I also contributed a little bit as a segment producer, so that helped me to just be a part of the show that was different from what I was presenting to an audience every morning. But what role did you play on assembling this, like assembling the Avengers here, this on-air team? So you have, you know, Ann, David, John, Steve.

Did you help cast that crew? No, no, no, I absolutely did not. That's interesting because City had decided they were going to do a morning show. The news department is where those shows land, and they had been putting something together. And so the talent was in place, but nobody apparently had a real concept for what the show was going to be. And so that's when I was approached by Moses to come in and try and give this some structure, some semblance of a show.

And cohesiveness. Yeah, yeah. And so, you know, I looked at the talent and said, okay, what have I got? What have I done? What have I said yes to to this? Wait a minute. Went back up to Moses and handed in my resignation. No, I, you know, what you've got to do as a producer is really understand your talent.

I like to think that's one of my strengths. I don't get, I don't do what they do. They're different. They're special. They bring something that, you know, other people don't. And so you have to get to know them and play to their strengths and protect their weaknesses and really give them confidence to go out and do the best.

That's a producer's job is to create the situation where the talent can be the best they can be. And so David was great. You know, he was a newsreader and really his personality. Anne was a rock, you know, from day one. I mean, everything revolved around her. She was the traffic cop, if you like, out there in the lobby. And Steve, well...

Steve. Steve was Steve. God bless him. Nothing but trouble. However, instrumental in building audience. Because he was so bloody unpredictable and and quite funny as a viewer sorry i'm sorry bud for interrupting but as a viewer i was going to point out this something interesting about having steve on the crew which is that part of what breakfast

television reminded me of was much music like it is very uh you look you mentioned the mistakes were part of the show it It wasn't overly polished. It felt very kind of real, like people who genuinely like... So it always felt a little like Much Music was an influence of some sorts in that format. And I think having Steve on the show helped kind of add to that. Because, of course, Steve was famous for being a Much Music DJ. And he was a heartthrob and a rock star too you know that helps

absolutely true on all those levels and when you think about it I mean there weren't many other shows around but look at the males who were on those shows they were basically you know kind of middle aged suits and ties and Steve was anything but that and as I say

it really helped to build the audience because you you know what, the audience didn't know what Steve was going to do. In fact, I never knew what Steve was going to do. Or if he was going to show up. Yeah, exactly. But it kind of worked. And when it didn't, we dealt with it. And so they were an important part. And, you know, we got the show to number one.

And then, you know, people make changes in their lives and in their careers. And I think David was probably the first one who decided he wanted to, you know, move back to news. I don't think he liked the mornings. And we talked about that. And we kind of, you know, went through that process. And, of course, as a producer of a very successful show, you're worried because it's all about the talent. Nothing else

matters. It's all about the talent. So David moved on and we... Bud, you there? Bud? Bud, check your phone in and see if your phone call dropped. Yeah, it did for some reason. Bring it back.

This is exciting. You, bring it back here. This is exciting. You know your live TV. This is live. Yeah, this is the way it goes. Okay, we'll try that again. Oh, good. Because I was very keen on what you were saying there. Oh, and it's a wonderful transition from David to hi.

What part of that story didn't you like? It's called rap, rap. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But we hired Kevin, and again, it continued. And Steve left, and we hired Jennifer, and she became popular. And the real hard one was some years in, strongly number one, so far ahead of anybody else. Ann came to me and said, I'm just thinking about down the road, maybe.

And that created a big worry for me because she was so important to the show, such a loyal following. But when she decided she wanted to, oh, of course, I was going to stand in her way and she wanted to do something else, which she was great at. And we hired Liza Frommer, who also carried on.

Totally different. I tell you, when Ann left, I thought, what am I going to do? I auditioned, I kind of remember clearly, 25 really talented women for the role. Put them on tape, put them with Kevin. And I couldn't find anybody because it's not that they can be, you know, you're not going to replace Ann. And I wasn't trying to. And so you have to find something else that clicks. And, you know, eventually I found Liza,

who was very unique and quirky and funny and terrific. And they all continued on. But, you know, it was really those first few years where we just worked really hard every day to build it into what it became. I'm very proud of the show and of all the talents it's ever worked on. I really am.

To me, that's the best we did was the group of talents. We call them the Fab Four. Yes, they were pretty good. They were pretty good. They were pretty good. Three and a half. Yeah, we just talked to John Whaley, and John has been, since he left Breakfast Television, he seems to have chosen to be behind the

scenes, and we haven't heard or seen much of John since Breakfast Television, so it was kind of amazing that we got to catch up with him and hear his voice again. Yeah, I haven't. I heard from John for a while afterwards.

You know, you sort of keep in touch and then things happen. And I went to Vancouver and then came back. But yeah, I heard for a while he was working in sports, I think. And then eventually went back behind the scenes and liked what he was doing. But his role that you created for him, that of producer, art producer, floor director slash sportscaster, that was quite unique and he embraced it.

Yeah. Well, he was a real person. One of the things I do when I look at talent is I try not to, especially at morning shows, which kind of became my specialty. Not that I ever wanted to be, but that's kind of what I fell into. And I love doing it. I really did. I think I understood the morning audience. But one of the things I don't like are presenters, readers.

I'm with you. I mean, David Onley had news scripts, but nobody else ever had a word written for them. You know, Anne did what she did on her own, kind of. We talk about the guests and what the story was and the approach, but off she went and did her thing. And so we had a four-page lineup that basically at about, you know, seven o'clock when we first started, we tossed aside. And as guests came in, we would the day before say,

well, we're going to put this one first and this one third. And then they would come in and you'd see something different. So you'd quickly switch them and then to juggle and then be ready for the next thing. So again, that was part of the appeal is that we continue to do that. Today, they're all pretty scripted, I think. Well, I was going to ask you what you thought of, so Breakfast Television turns 30 today. It's still

on this morning, live, right? What do you think of it today? Do you still tune in? No. I will look at all the morning shows every so often. I've been away from it for enough years now.

I'll flip on each show for about five minutes just to see if anybody's doing anything new or different or creative. To be honest, I'm not a fan of any of them. I just think they're all kind of... I think it's interesting. It's kind of secular. They've all gone back to being the same show. I don't think they're real. I don't think they're – I just don't.

I know breakfast television, I think, eventually, once we found ourselves, kind of gave you a reason to watch. You kind of felt like you didn't want to miss anything, right? I think it was a show when you watched it, you might actually, when you got to work, talk about something that happened on the show. Water cooler talk. Yeah, I think that water cooler talk, it had that kind of appeal. I don't think that's the case now. I just don't think it is. I don't know why. It's because you're not at the helm.

Well, there is something to be said for that. But no, I think it is a mindset. You have to want to work that way. A lot of producers don't like it. I happen to love the free form and that way of doing things. So I'm not a big fan. I just don't think they're very good these days. And here's my two cents worth, and it should be more than that because of inflation.

I was contacted by the supervising producer of one of the morning shows. And she, we chatted about this and that. And I said, how old are you? And she said, 32. And I thought, you know, so you were two when Breakfast Television launched. And so it's as simple as that. So can I throw something in? Oh, my gosh, yeah. Bud, at the very beginning, and he and I, we have the greatest respect for one another. In fact, I had a crush on him like crazy as well. But we sometimes would butt heads. What did you mean, hats? You're too far away in Fenlon Falls. Stop the press.

You're too far away in Fenlon Falls. But he asked me to wear a track suit at 7 o'clock every morning, Monday to Friday, and I was allowed to change into regular clothes at 7.30 because he felt that that's kind of how people were dressed at that time in the morning. And so he wanted me to reflect that and for it to be reflected in my wardrobe. It's brilliant. I fought it a little bit near the end of that time. And then you let me kind of wear what I wanted starting at 7 or 6.30 when we had rolled back

to 6.30. Anne asked me to wear a flannel flannel, but I asked her to refuse. I said there was no way. But do you know, how did Breakfast Television get its name? The name is Moses Nyman. And you know what? There's somebody I'll give credit to. As a producer, when an executive producer or president of the company calls you to do a show, they kind of have their own ideas, and

they always want to be involved. Moses approached me and we had worked together before. He knew my kind of style and approach to things. And when I first said no, he said the show launched. It was seven to nine and later became six and then five thirty. But he said, but two hours a day, five days a week, do what you want. Just don't do what the other guys are doing. And give me something, you know, a three ring circus. And that was my directive from Moses. And yeah, we had disagreements over the years and arm wrestles and discussion.

But Moses is that kind of exec producer. He always, you know, he respects when you do something that becomes successful. He's a sucker for a good argument. He told me that once. And so I owe him a lot for allowing me to do, you know, what I did there. But that was his name. That was his name. And I fought with him about it. I hated the name.

I said, no, I hate that. It makes no sense to me. But we fought. He won. I hated the name. I said, no, I hate that. It makes no sense to me. But we fought. He won. He was the president. And he was right. And then everything, that's where we started short-forming things and you see it all over the place now. Breakfast television was long and hard to say, so it became BT.

And then every other show became CP24 Breakfast or became initials, etc. It was his name. And there you go. You know, I sent him a note probably six months ago when I figured out that this was the date of the launch, 30 year anniversary. And I just said thank you for my career because he hired me as a sportscaster and believed in me when I had no idea what I was doing or what I wanted.

sportscaster and believed in me when I had no idea what I was doing or what I wanted. But I also want to thank you, Bud Pierce, for giving me my career and helping me learn how to be a better me and an honest me. I remember when we had breaking news and you stood, I believe, to my left and I was standing at a table in the newsroom. Do you remember it was a fellow whom police, I believe they shot him, and we watched it live. Somehow it was masked behind a mailbox or something. But you coached me, but did it in such a respectful way, and you held my hand and taught me, you showed me the path that I was ultimately going to go down, which was news anchoring. And it started on that

day. I was covering for Kevin and this started to unfold and we went live with it. Yep. I do remember, obviously. It was a shooting thing. It was somewhere near Union Station. Yes. We were live from there. And it's one of those things you have to do it. I mean, morning shows are new, so you have to jump on it. Yep, absolutely. And Kevin, that was what Kevin did, but he was gone. And I said, Dan, let's go do it. And, you know, I helped, but I mean, Ann really worked. Again, rock solid through that thing, and we did some good work that day. Yeah, you did it.

And you gave me the confidence to think that I might be able to continue to do that. And thank you. That was my fault. Thank you. Thank you for everything thank you thank you for everything every every everything i really mean that so i adore you and bud thanks for agreeing to uh to do this we got to talk to the original producer we got to i think we did it justice right in 100 percent went four for four maybe well said to Mike, this is an exclusive. No one else in Canada has the original 4

plus the original producer on this very special day. Yeah, yeah. No, it's great. I'm happy you decided to do this, Mike. I think it was a great idea. His idea, and he conducted it beautifully, Mike. Thank you, Anne. Thank you for being here, and Bud, thanks for jumping on this call. That was fantastic. You're very welcome, Mike. Thank you, Anne. Thank you for being here. And Bud, thanks for

jumping on this call. That was fantastic. You're very welcome, Mike. You're very welcome. Bye, Bud. We'll talk soon. Okay, bye. Thank you. Four for four. Excellent. Fantastic. Honestly, this has gone so tremendously. I've got to play us out because I'm afraid if I keep going, I'll mess it up.

And I don't want to mess it up, so we've got to get out of here. That's great. Anne, thanks for being here on the 30th anniversary of Breakfast Television. Thanks for being a part of, you know, all of Toronto. As a Torontonian, you've been in my living room many, many times and that means something.

Thanks so much for being Ann Romer. And thank you for letting us tell our stories and happy anniversary, Breakfast Television and my beloved Fab Four plus Bud Pierce. And thank you for letting us tell our stories. And happy anniversary Breakfast Television and my beloved Fab Four plus Bud Pierce. And that brings us to the end of our 505th episode.

You can follow me on Twitter. I'm at Toronto Mike. Anne is not on Twitter. Don't look for her there. You won't find her. Never. Our friends at Great Lakes Brewery or at Great Lakes Beer. Propertyinthesix.com is at Raptors Devotee. Palmapy are at Great Lakes Beer. Propertyinthe6.com is at Raptor's Devotee. Palma Pasta is at Palma Pasta. Sticker U is at Sticker U.

Capadia LLP is at Capadia LLP. And Pumpkins After Dark are at PumpkinsAfterDark.com. See you tomorrow where I'm recording live from the opera house because we're going to be celebrating the life of Martin Streak. Oh, that's wonderful. And we're going to have a lot of people there like Alan Cross and May Potts and Ivor Hamilton and Scott Turner

and George Strombolopoulos and a whole bunch, Robbie J, and a whole bunch of people who worked with Marty and knew him. And I'm going to capture as many streak stories as I can. Beautiful tribute to a beautiful man. And your smile is fine

And it's just like mine And it won't go away Cause everything is rosy and green Well, you've been under my skin for more than eight years it's been eight years of laughter and eight years of tears and i don't know what the future can hold or do for me and you but I'm a much better man For having known you Oh, you know that's true Because everything is coming up

Rosy and green Yeah, the wind is cold But the smell of snow Wants me to dance