Toronto Mike

Dean's Substitute

Edge 102 Morning Show

I realize I wrote about this yesterday morning, but I want to comment further on the CFNY Edge 102 morning show I heard this week.  With George Stroumboulopoulos as host, it's the best show on the dial.  The song selection has always been stellar, but the quick comments on each band or song from Stroumboulopoulos enhances the entire experience.  It's not my intent to bash regular host Dean Blundell so much as it is to praise the efforts of Stroumboulopoulos who manages to entertain while educating.  Perhaps I'm developing a man-crush on Stroumboulopoulos?  Nah, I think it can be nicely explained by the following Simpsons reference.

In season two, there was a Simpsons episode entitled "Lisa's Substitute".  The episode guide from  The Simpsons Archive sums it up nicely: "Lisa's regular teacher falls sick, and gets replaced with a substitute teacher who changes the face of learning for Lisa."  It was the presence of Mr. Bergstrom, a substitute teacher, that made Lisa fall in love with learning again.  His passion inspired her, but like all substitute teachers, his position was temporary and the regular teacher returned.  Lisa reacted to this news by rushing out of the classroom in tears.  A great quote from Mr. Bergstrom as he's departing: "That's the problem with being middle-class.  Anybody who really cares will abandon you for those who need it more."  Great episode.

George Stroumboulopoulos is my Mr. Bergstrom.  I'm being stifled by the regular cast, but when they go on vacation and Stroumboulopoulos substitutes, I fall in love with the CFNY Edge 102 morning show again.  Just this morning following Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit Stroumboulopoulos remarked "If you don't know what song that was you don't need to".  When I turn on my shower radio on Monday and hear the absence of George Stroumboulopoulos's voice, I imagine I too will rush out of the shower in tears.  I now know exactly how Lisa felt.

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