Roberts, a Toronto native has a long history of interviewing rock stars as he formally worked in music television in Canada during the eighties.

During the interview, Phillips shared memories with Slash of neighborhood restaurants they would frequent as she and Slash grew up in the same LA neighborhood.

It was during the last year’s Canadian Music Week that HoundsTV was first to break the story that Roberts and Phillips, after their respected first marriages ended, had hooked up and become a couple.

Phillips and Roberts are sharp and very experienced interviewers, with JD well versed in rock lore. During the Slash interview, They might have relied too much on Slash’s 2007 autobiography and rehashed stories out of the book. The only problem, Slash did all that on his book tour a few years ago so there was no real big surprises uncovered on the day.

Phillps seemed particularly interested in hearing Slash’s thoughts on Michael Jackson as the pair did work together and were friends. But when Phillips followed up for a third question about Jackson, the interview suddenly had the feel that the anchors was looking to score a good sound bite they could later use on CNN.

The anchor pair also went on too long, and when it came time for audience questions (promised by the hosts at beginning) they just wrapped up the keynote. Some groans in the crowd could be heard.

While Roberts and Phillips are not keeping their relationship a secret from the press anymore – HoundsTV couldn’t help but notice a lovely ring on the engagement finger of Ms. Phillips.

Will the pair have more good news to share soon?


photos courtesy shot7.com

KayvonTV is to become one of the first online shows in Canada to make a jump from small screen to big one (that is, from online video to cable television.)

Kayvon’s brand of guerrilla-style reporting was born online, through his website and YouTube channel. His YouTube channel eventually got so popular – yielding millions of video views and thousands of comments that a music television channel in Canada – AUX came knocking.

The ironic thing – on the eve of Kayvon’s television debut – the producers have found his YouTube channel suspended for an unexplained reason. And getting threw to YouTube for answers has proven an almost impossible task for the KayvonTV team.

The announcement of KayvonTV’s imminent AUX debut did bring out a few detractors, with this Toronto online press having this to tweet.

But on later reflection, and after reviewing the debut KayvonTV AUX episode – that same online source did offer this;

There is one flash of Borat-worthy revelation in AUX’s KayvonTV premiere: a rapper from Naughty By Nature, offended by the implication that he’s been out of the game for years, snaps back at Zahedi by suggesting he was too busy “making falafels.” – MONDOVILLE

KayvonTV makes its world TV premiere on AUX on March 1st.

photo: KISS legend Gene Simmons confronts Kayvon in one of a few scenes to feature the rocker on KayvonTV.

photo: Meeting fellow English mate Prince Charles in Hamilton.

Mr. Barger came to Canada for a weekend to discuss how GM made extensive use of online social media in a presentation titled, “The Social Web – Crisis Response & Reputation Rejuvenation.”

Chris started his talk by stating he was given one small problem – and just one week to prepare a communications plan for it.

Simply put, how to deal with the public fallout on what would be the biggest business crisis in North American history – The Chapter 11 filing and bankruptcy of General Motors.

If there ever was a massive public relations challenge – this was it.

Chris knew he wanted his response plan to heavily involve online social media. But he still had convincing to do with some in the executive ranks of GM. Some GM people wondered, in this period of bankruptcy and crisis, was this the right time to be “open and transparent” on social media?

So while there was talk about “going dark” – that is, shut down the GM blogs and facebook groups, and not engage in any new forms of networking (Twitter) – Chris Barger executed a social media plan that pretty much did the exact opposite.

Mr. Barger discussed at his Podcamp talk some key points he discovered and tried to infuse into his social media team.

1. You can’t over-communicate in a crisis.

Before Chris had his social media team respond to reactions regarding the GM crisis. He Listened. And listened, and listened. A key point he stressed during his Podcamp talk. Before GM was going to respond and be open and transparent in what the company was going through – he first listened to find out what people where talking about and where their concerns lie.

And then General Motors started to become something it hadn’t been before with its corporate communications, “OPEN. OPEN. OPEN.” as Barger would call it.

Those first documents and legal filings on the Chapter 11 – Chris and his team broke up key points and tweeted them out – 140 characters at a time. The General Motors CEO sat-down and did multiple live online chats on twitter.

And GM’s Director of Social Media also made sure of one thing – that traditional media, television and newspapers were always made aware of the social media campaign at each step. GM wasn’t going to forget about the traditional media that has spent decades writing about the company in this new communications campaign.

2. Let others tell your story.

The GM social media plan ensured genuine reach out to online news sites and bloggers. And not just the well-known, influencer type with large audiences. If a blogger with a passion for cars and only maybe had an audience of just 200 people per month. Barger decided that was still somebody to reach out too and engage. That small blogger is still a person speaking to 200 people interested in automobiles and that’s a community GM wants to be involved in. So just like the traditional car journalists and big news sites – GM also started to invite the small blogger in for press events and hands-on driving tests.

Another huge benefit to all the conversations that GM was doing in social media – was that traditional, offline media was listening as well to what the company was doing. A lot of GM’s social media efforts were picked up for stories in traditional media sources. And a lot of the time, the tone of the story was this was a different GM – a General Motors that was engaged in new social technologies and listening to its customers and critics (for perhaps, the very first time.)

Some of the initial results of the online campaign included thousands of conversations across many social media platforms and millions of hits for a special website GM put up explaining the situation in better detail.

But with all the online efforts Christopher Barger’s team put in – he never forgot one golden rule – 90% of word-of-mouth advertising still occurs offline. The GM team never forget to keep offline media aware of their communication efforts and ensure dealer and retail touch points was engaged and also participating with the new media.

3. Follow-up and value the relationships you’ve built.

The GM Social Media team can look back to last year and have a good idea of the news sites, bloggers, tweeters, and more that contributed to the dialogue of incredible change that occurred with the company. And when it comes time for the communications team to reach out again for a “GM hands-on” campaign, you can be sure this engaged community that Barger’s team has carefully cultivated, will hear about any new plans – as well, get their invitations.

DISCLOSURE: The author of this post, Richard Budman has done social media work for GM Canada (via MacLaren Momentum agency) on the Cadillac TIFFinsider campaign.

(HoundsTV – Vancouver) The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger made the trip up to Vancouver, Canada to carry the Olympic flame just before the opening of the 2010 Winter Games.

While the Governator’s appearance was cheered by thousands – and Arnie does love the people. There was another purpose to the visit.

And that was a last minute boost to ensure NBC gets maximum TV ratings out of their big Olympic investment.

It’s no secret NBC is planning on losing millions on these 2010 Winter Games. Heck, even their own sports chief was bragging about it.

But the key continues to be those advertiser eyeballs. And there is nothing like getting one of America’s best loved celebrities up to the Games to carry the torch.

The programming minds were even smart enough to ensure that Schwarzengger’s turn with the flame occurred at sunrise – leaving plenty of time the rest of the day to ensure the media got real play with the story and photo-op. And a beautiful one it was.

(HoundsTV) Talk about blowing it in Vancouver.

That is, the final Olympic torch lighting.

We know our Canadian athletes will hold up far better under the pressure of Olympic competition then these Opening Gala organizers did in Vancouver.

I was sitting with friends watching the 2010 Opening Ceremonies when like the rest of Canada’s largest ever television audience – a sense of horror overcame me as it became clear something was malfunctioning with lighting the final flame. What if they couldn’t get the thing lit? The final torchbearers – Rick Hansen, Catriona Le May Doan, Steve Nash, Nancy Greene, and The Great One just seemed to stand around rather dumbstruck.

And who designed these huge arms of this Olympic cauldron? Did nobody step back and suspect the big picture just might become ripe for ridicule?

Amid this train wreck of a final torch lighting in Vancouver – my friends and I began to think back to some of the more memorable torch lightings from Olympics past.

And one immediately came to mind. Muhammad Ali in 1996 from Atlanta. No big fancy designed sculptures and hydraulic arm thingees. Just a final Olympic flame which Ali ignited.

Simple. Intimate.

It’s what they should have done with Gretzky in Vancouver. It would have made a far more memorable final flame lighting.

And if they have kept it more simple there wouldn’t have been the chance for the mechanical screw-up there was – witnessed by about a billion people. Nice, eh?

What’s that good, old mantra… KISS? The end of the Olympic torch relay and lighting of the final flame in Canada would have been a much more special moment if the Games organizers just would have considered it.

(HoundsTV – December 31, 2009) Since our list last year was so popular – we had to rate the BEST and WORST autograph signers in Canada for 2009.

Who was good about signing? Who was bad? What were the memorable experiences?

Some quick notes about our surveying method – which we admit is based more on qualitative opinion – than quantitative fact. As well, we don’t include the hundreds of small indie bands and C-list actors that travel through the country. They are personalities not usually hounded by the pros in large numbers. So we kept the list to the biggies – the A-list stars, big bands, and pop culture icons that managed to have their passports stamped “Canada” at sometime during this year.

It is the A-listers which get the paparazzi, autograph hounds, and fans out in big numbers. And from where we culled our reports and opinions. So after thinking back to the year that was in Canada and hearing the opinions of autograph collectors coast-to-coast HoundsTV presents its annual BEST & WORST LIST…

RELATED: Virgin Radio 99.9 interview about 2009 BEST & WORST signers list

BEST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009

1. GEORGE CLOONEY

George Clooney earns HoundsTV’s title of BEST Signer to come through Canada this year. Besides starring in perhaps the best movie of the year, Clooney came to Toronto during September for the International Film Festival and was a signing champion to fans and autograph collectors – never refusing a signature request. Now, normally that wouldn’t have been too surprising as George is one of the nicer guys in the business. But his signing prowess was even more impressive – considering he was in Toronto with a banged up and bandaged signing hand. Clooney could have easily gotten off the hook from signing and everybody would have understood – but there he was – wading into crowds and signing away, often ignoring the pleas not to by his own people, security and publicists for fear of further injuring the hand.

2. JONAS BROTHERS

For another year running, the Jonas Brother were no strangers to Canada. They toured across the country – and even spent six straight weeks at a hotel in Toronto while filming a movie. And for hardcore JB fans and autograph seekers – it became no big secret where they were staying and crowds of people would congregate outside their hotel every day waiting for them. But the Jonas Brother proved to be fan favorites as they would routinely step outside their hotel to greet fans and sign autographs – not even caring if that particular signature might eventually make its way for sale.

3. MICHAEL JORDAN

Known for usually turning up on WORST signers lists – Michael Jordan earned a change in status this year after a visit to Oakville, Ontario during July for a charity golf tournament. A very large crowd of autograph collectors and fans turned out for the day following Jordan’s every move. Word on the course being that he would sign after his round. While the crowd swelled to hundreds chasing Jordan for that elusive signature, Jordan shocked many when he spent a good TEN minutes signing anything the hounds managed to get in front of him just before he departed the course. To the many collectors who chased Jordan for years to get that elusive signature – a sunny day in July on an Oakville golf course will be a day not soon forgotten.

4. TWILIGHT CAST (NEW MOON)

There was perhaps nobody more hounded (or famous?) to spend time in Canada during 2009 then the cast of Twilight – especially Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Since the pop culture phenom series is 90% shot in Canada the stars spent a lot of time in Vancouver and stories of autograph experiences with the cast are numerous. One collector extensively blogged from the scene of many encounters with the Twilight cast. While the main stars were often difficult to find – there is consensus that the signing habits of the cast was generally good during the filming of New Moon – the 2nd movie of the series (unlike the 3rd film – see below) Even Kristen Stewart when cornered by collectors outside a restaurant replied she understands the autograph hounds “had a job to do” and didn’t care about signing. As for heart-throb Robert Pattinson - he got good at speed-walking to sometimes avoid the crowds, but If you managed to get close – he was good about signing. Pattinson was even known to sometimes sign for the fans gathering at the filming locations (and that was after he had shot all day and night.)

5. SIDNEY CROSBY

It couldn’t have been a bigger year for Sid The Kid winning NHL’s top awards and the coveted Stanley Cup. No team had a bigger crowds of autograph collectors outside their hotel in whatever Canadian city they were in. Fortunately for the autograph hounds – Crosby was “doing it” more than not.

6. YUSUF ISLAM (CAT STEVENS)

Perhaps because he came to Toronto over the Christmas holidays – but Yusuf Islam’s (formally known as singer Cat Stevens) long-awaited return to Canada may have gone under-reported in the mainstream media – but his appearance in Toronto didn’t go unnoticed by the autograph hounds. It even brought a few top U.S autograph collectors to Toronto for the occasion. And Yusuf did not disappoint the astute collectors that managed to track him down. While he politely declined photo requests, Yusuf was kind and gracious in signing any and all memorabilia – even as most were Cat Stevens albums. He even would often add the inscription, “peace & happiness”

WORST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009

1. BRITNEY SPEARS

Ms. Spears graced Canada for a bunch of concerts across the country on her 2009 “comeback” Circus tour. We couldn’t find a single collector or fan that reported getting Brit’s autograph this year. Most hounds don’t even bother trying anymore as Britney continues to live up to her reputation of being terrible in public for signing autographs and greeting fans. For her multi-night stay in Toronto Spears was rarely even seen – using private entrances and decoys to secretly get her in and out of the hotel. As for getting Brit’s autographs? Not a chance – You would have been doing good to just spot her outside of the shows.

2. ELTON JOHN

Another tour with Billy Joel brought Elton John to Toronto and Montreal a few times this year. But numerous autograph collectors did report – it was the same old Elton. No signing for the “eBay guys” (as Elton likes to say.) The thought of his autograph being sold still seems to send chills up Elton’s spine – so he rarely signs them anymore. Too bad, if this list was for 1999 he would have been high up on the BEST side.

3. U2

Also former “BEST” signers that have slowly moved over to the dark side as each new tour brings the group to Canada. The tour years of 2001 and 2005 when Bono and Edge would stand outside their hotel for an hour greeting fans and signing autographs appears to be over. During their week in Toronto for the most recent tour saw the band staying at a private residence. Bono and Edge were routinely seen all over town – Bono signing very little. Edge nothing. Since Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton were practically ghosts and rarely seen, and refused autograph requests when they did appear – the consensus is that U2 have become BAD about signing autographs during their stop in Canada this year.

4. STEPHEN KING

A trip to Toronto during October for the reclusive horror icon Stephen King brought out the autograph collectors in droves. While King was in Toronto to talk about his new novel – he just wouldn’t sign any in public. King was approached many times by people with his book and pen in hand. He either refused to sign or simply ignored the request. Even at the event where King was reading from his novel the people in attendance were instructed that he would NOT be signing and instead, a lottery system was set up to distribute the few books King was willing to sign – away from the public and behind closed doors.

5. METALLICA

A wire story broke early in the year indicating a high percentage of Metallica autographs for sale on sites like eBay were fake. Reached for comment, the band said they were aware of the counterfeits and for that reason they don’t sign much anymore for people hanging around hotels and airports. Metallica later spent a few days in Toronto on their recent world tour. And while they were no strangers to walking the streets of Toronto. Autograph collectors reported that the main members of the group where very tough about signing (except Robert Trujillo – but you can’t really count him?) As for memorabilia like photos or albums – Lars and James just wouldn’t touch them on the outside. While 2009 may NOT have been a good year for collecting Metallica autographs – it was a good year financially for the band touring.

RELATED: Virgin Radio 99.9 interview about 2009 BEST & WORST signers list

6. TWILIGHT CAST (ECLIPSE)

After filming New Moon earlier in the year, the Twilight cast returned to Vancouver during summer to shoot the third film in the series – Eclipse. Autograph hounds reported the signing habits of most of the cast had changed – and for the worst. Collectors reported hearing things like this said by minor co-star Cameron Bright, “I am only allowed to sign one and I have to put your name on it” (words I’m sure Summit Entertainment executives put into the casts head.) As for Rob and Kristen, the media attention on them became so overwhelming they practically disappeared and were almost like ghosts when not filming. While reports of new cast members like Bryce Dallas Howard were cool about signing – there is no question, the supply of autographs coming from the Twilight cast shrinked considerably when shooting the third movie.

Looking for authentic signed memorabilia? WE GOT SOME HERE. Don’t forget to follow @houndstv on Twitter for BREAKING NEWS

Sure, it was nice of the TTC to provide free transit rides for Toronto peeps traveling on New Years Eve between 12 and 4 am. But my experience with Toronto’s better way twelve hours earlier is what will leave a bitter taste in my mouth and make me forget quickly about any good.

Like many on the day of New Years Eve, I was rushing to do a few things before settling in with friends to celebrate the night so I found myself entering Bloor subway station in the early afternoon needing to take the train north.

Upon entry to the station, A sense of deep dread overcame me as I walked into a line at least 50 deep. It then hit me – last day of the month. The day people need to get their January metropass.

Now, I have grown used to TTC management NOT caring – NOT realizing the last couple days of the month are extra busy with people buying their new metropass and MAYBE those are good days to ensure ALL collector booths at stations are open (it seems to me that metropass purchases are usually what holds things up.)

Usually, I avoid the line by heading to the token machine. BUT WAIT. That was not possible today as the TTC suspended token sales a month ago for their own idiotic reasons.

So I was stuck. No token machines and only twenty dollar bills in my pocket. I had to get in the line.

BUT WHERE I GOT REALLY PISSED? Is when I turned to my right to see the other collector booth CLOSED that a sense of anger overtook me. (50 people in line barely moving – 1 of 2 collector booths open. Nice TTC.)

What’s the lesson for management in all this? GET OUT OF THE OFFICE. Go visit your customers touch points – the places where your customer actually interacts with your service and product. Observe what’s going on. Then think about how you can maybe serve them better.

And one last thing. I was also especially impressed with the professionalism of the signage for a transit system in a world-class city.

A scribbled CLOSED sign on the collector booth that looks like it was written by a 6 year-old child. Again, nice TTC.

Here’s a thought. If you got to close collector booths. Maybe some professionally designed signage. Something along the lines of “Sorry, booth closed. Another collector will be happy to help you.” But hey, what do I know? I’m just some dude looking for a job.

And it was further comforting to know that after this day, the next time I would be taking the better way I would be paying another 10% for this service.

Some mobile relief must be needed when you get a big crowd of people and media to brave the frigid cold of Toronto for the official launch of a new mobile brand and store in Canada – WIND.

Even more impressive, the crowd was awaiting the unveiling of a big outdoor statue – which turned out to be… how shall I describe it… a cool dude? I can only read from it (and the accompanying dedicated plaque) – a big announcement to the other carriers that a 4th player is here to shake things up in the Canadian mobile industry.

WIND, owned by Globalive Communications, opened its first retail outlet along Toronto’s harbourfront today and the company is planning other stores across the country as the network is soon rolled out in Vancouver, Ottawa and Edmonton.

Has a truly different alternative and mobile cost relief finally come to Canadians?

“This statue commemorates Flippy, Mr. Ideas, FlowerGal and the thousands of other Canadians who rose up against an unresponsive mobile industry. It was upon the immortal thoughts of this online community – who made proclamations like, “NO CONTRACTS… Do this and I will be your customer forever” and “it would be nice to NOT have limits” – that a movement was born. Their brave ideas gave rise to the dialogue which gave rise to WIND mobile – the first wireless company to be led by the people and a testament to the truth that conversations always make things better.” – WINDmobile.ca statue plaque

I was recently invited to an interesting DVD launch event. I was intrigued that Warner Brothers was doing this “live community screening featuring star Daniel Radcliffe” (their words) to promote the release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on Blu-ray and DVD.

Now, the event was well put together and the couple hundred people in attendance at the Varsity cinemas seemed to enjoy the free popcorn, drinks, entertainment, and the chance to win some cool prizes.

But when it came time for the actual screening – I was very disappointed. Small text scrolling across the top screen? That’s what Warner Brothers means by “live virtual participation of star Daniel Radcliffe and Director David Yates” ?

I certainly wasn’t feeling it to be very participatory or entertaining for that matter. If you got the director and star Daniel live in London doing real-time commentary on your network – I say you got to pump some video threw those pipes!

If they are talking live in London – I want to see that on the big screen, together with the film. Since everybody at the theatre will end up buying the DVD and watching it twenty times anyway – we didn’t really need to see a full fledged theatrical presentation of the film yesterday.

Here’s a thought for Warner Brothers – find one of those DVD’s you’ve produced in the past – one that lists a “video commentary” by the cast and crew as a special feature.

Do that next time and you’ll have a cool community screening.

I can’t believe its a bandwidth thing. If YouTube can deliver a beautiful live U2 concert stream to 10 million peeps simultaneously – I think WB tech people can figure out a way to pump a video stream into the few theatres across the globe participating in the Potter event.

So after about 15 minutes of not being able to connect to the text commentary. I was out of there.

Turned out the best thing about the Potter event for me was it got me into Varsity cinemas where I noticed a screening of Up In The Air was just starting in the theatre next. Since I was waiting for my nephew who was enjoying the Potter Film (I did ask him later, he didn’t bother with a word of the text commentary either – he was just lovin’ the film.)

Me? I took a seat for the Clooney movie next door.

And what a beautiful film it was. Reitman and Co. should well be on their way to multiple Oscar nominations in the new year.

Since we love autographs at HoundsTV -we couldn’t help be taken aback for a second when visiting Tiger Woods official website for a read of his latest cowardly statement (aren’t Tiger’s meant to roar, not hide?)

Interesting of Tiger to feature his own, big, bold autograph just before his “infidelity” statement.

It is well known and documented that Tiger Woods is one of the WORST signing athletes of this generation. An almost impossible autograph to acquire in-person. He simply just does NOT do it.

So if your looking for sympathy about Tiger’s latest ordeals and the losing of sponsors by the day – don’t look to the autograph hounds. They are actually quite enjoying the whole Tiger Woods saga.