Don Newman was described in the Globe and Mail by long-time politico Peter Donolo as “the last larger-than-life authoritative CBC political correspondent. There’s no one who comes close.” In the same article, Calgary Herald columnist Don Martin says “CBC’s got massive shoes to fill.”
If we assume:
- The CBC brass decides to keep the well rated show Politics
- The amazing team that produces the show is provided a new host
Who will fill the venerable Don Newman’s “massive” wingtips?
Smart bets
- When an anchor retires, reasonably most people look to the person who logs the most hours filing in at the desk. In this regard, Susan Bonner has had a vice-grip on the Politics guest anchor chair in recent years. Bonner is cool and calm under pressure, and she hosts well – although I’ve always had the sense she was aware of Don’s presence even when he wasn’t there.
- Chris Hall‘s voice is familiar to millions of Canadians, as CBC Radio’s Ottawa bureau chief. He is also known to the Politics viewers as a regular on the Friday journalism panel.
- TVO’s Steve Paikin makes sense if the CBC is looking to lure a star away from another network; or more to the point a political broadcast star – he has hosted civil and informative debates on the most delicate of subjects. Paikin is also an author and well regarded journalist among his peers.
- And, I’ll add Kathleen Petty to the list. Although she seems to be warming to her role as the voice of the House and CBC Ottawa’s morning show, she was a marque host on CBC Newsworld for years. The House is amazing political training.
Wild cards
- Tom Parry in London as the CBC Radio’s voice for most things European. He is also a political encyclopedia, expert interviewer, and holds court on TV well.
- The CBC Newsworld program The Hour still isn’t pulling in the ratings expected of George Strombouloupoulous and the CBC management may be looking for a way to expand the 5pm Politics demographic. Move The Hour? Move George to Politics? (h/t Joe Boughner)
- Technologist and news junkie Jesse Hirsh recently took over the syndicated CBC Radio technology column. Hirsh is a regular with Suhana Meharchand on Newsworld, and together they are producing some of the more consistently watchable TV on the network. If the CBC was looking to blend a TV version of the very popular Spark (part radio show, podcast, blog…) they could add Nora Young to the mix.
- And, if the CBC simply wanted to annoy CTV they would hire Tom Clark.
From left field and the right wing
- Now, if CBC wanted to really shake up the format I could see Avi Lewis and Ezra Levant taking over the show. Both men have political, production and publishing pedigrees; their political ideologies couldn’t be more opposite. It would be one hell of a show to watch. Perhaps they might be able to show us when the left and right might be able to agree, that is if both of them could stay reasonable.
Other personalities the people on Twitter think are in the running:
- BrianMcInnis: Susan Bonner,Julie VanDusen are my number 1 and 2. Alan Gregg would be great but doesn’t need the job.
- LarryLarry: I’m thinking Kathleen Petty might be a good choice.. Keith Boag would be frickin’ awesome too (and my pick).
What do you think? Who did I miss? Is the CBC going to shake things up with Don’s retirement? Or is the Politics program moving ahead with a new host? Who do you think will fill the seat left open by the venerable Don Newman?
Full disclosure: I’m still an active political advisor to New Democrats and progressives at all levels of government; I don’t however speak on behalf of any of them. These are my opinions based on the past five years working with the National Press Gallery as a press secretary/political aide. This is a standard political disclosure I place on all Canadian political blog posts at MediaStyle.ca. If you want to know more, email me ian@mediastyle.ca
