The Best CBC TV Program Ever

For decades I’ve been conflicted about the CBC. In some ways it is a tremendous failure, and in other ways it succeeds in outpacing my expectations. The program that consistently blows me away is Venture.

Host Diane Buckner is brilliant. Her demeanor reminds me of Carolyn Kepcher (Donald Trump’s sidekick on The Apprentice) in that she’s sophisticated, slightly amused and clearly very smart. She’s also a babe.

Buckner adds value to what is already a strong concept: watch people bet their reputations, pride or life savings on starting up a business. It might fall into the Reality TV category, but the show has been around for a generation and no one is forced to swallow squirming insects.

I’ve written about the CBC on several occasions, and much of it not very flattering. I don’t consider myself a CBC basher in that I think there is a need for a well-funded national broadcasting system in this country – in TV, radio and the web.

I’ll put more of my thoughts about the CBC on these pages in the weeks to come. For now I just wanted to give props to Venture, and tell you to watch it.