TSN 690 chooses Dan Robertson as new voice of the Habs

The suspense is finally over and Maritimer Dan Roberston is the new play by play man for Montreal Canadiens radio broadcasts on TSN 690, succeeding John Bartlett who left the post to join Rogers Sportsnet. He will begin his new job when the Habs face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday evening.

TSN 690 Program Director Chris Bury would not talk about other candidates, so we do not know whether Rick Moffat actually applied for the job or not. The team was impressed with Robertson's audition for a Habs pre-season game.

"During the first 24 to 48 hours after we heard from John that he was leaving, we got a ton of applications from across the country and even the United States," Bury said. "The demo that really blew us away was Dan's. We went through a pretty transparent process internally and what I got was an across the board endorsement of Dan. I must say as a program director I really enjoyed the process."

Robertston, who is married with kids,  is getting a tour of the city today from assistant program director Matthew Wood. Once he gets his feet wet, Bury hopes to give him a lot of on air exposure outside of Habs games.

Robertson is already a polished  play caller from the Maritimes who has been behind the mic for countless university basketball, hockey and football events. He will join game analyst and Stanley Cup champion Sergio Momesso in the broadcast booth. Robertson brings more than a decade of experience calling QMJHL games, while Momesso contributes his perspective as a 13-year NHL veteran and former Habs player. TSN 690 delivers complete radio coverage of every Montreal Canadiens regular season and playoff game, with contributions from a team of reporters and analysts including Mitch Melnick, Tony Marinaro, Chris Nilan, Conor McKenna, Pat Hickey, and more.

On game days, TSN 690 also provides extensive Habs coverage with the Irish Embassy Pre-Game Show and the Delmar Post Game Show. Throughout the week, TSN 690 delivers comprehensive news and analysis of the team from the following programs:

 

Habs Breakfast on The Morning Show with Elliott Price, Shaun Starr, and Rick Moffat, weekdays from 6-10 a.m. ET.
 

Habs Lunch with Marinaro and Nilan, weekdays from 12 noon-1 p.m. ET.
 

Habs This Week with Simon Tsalikis and Bobby Dollas, Saturdays from 2-5 p.m. ET.



 

Room Service gives new meaning to home delivery of your meal

There is an entire new meaning to the words  “Room Service” in Montreal thanks to the work of  Concorda University John Molson School of Business grads Moustafa El Naggar and Mazen Nadim, Room Service  is the name of their downtown restaurant, which specializes in the home delivery of piping hot meals right to your door.

El Naggar and Nadim

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month they have launched a new strawberry milkshake called Rose Vif., with proceeds being donated to the Cure Foundation. There are also pink pumpkins in the house for Halloween.

El Naggar recently reopened Room-Service, which he launched one year ago, taking over Buns Hamburger House  (Best Burger in Montreal  by CULTMontreal 2010-2014) at 3673 St. Laurent Boulevard with the signature $5 burger buns available for delivery.  ‘‘We deliver culinary sensations to your door, just like a hotel,’’ he explains, noting that ‘‘We are now also getting calls from working people, who are stuck late at the office.’’

Matthew McKean,  now executive chef at Rosewood, Jonas’ new restaurant, developed the menu with Moustafa.

Business is growing quickly. Moustafa has already provided employment for 10 people, as well as four free-lancers. From his international business studies, El Naggar understands the need not only to be first to market, but to ‘own’ that position.  He is building the brand with comprehensive social media and tightly-targeted promotional campaigns.

Bilal arrives with my order.

‘‘I am my market,’’ El Naggar adds. ‘‘Dishes are designed with my peers in mind. We offer fusion pizza with Indian spices for example, and chicken tandoori quesadillas, as well as full meals such as Pacific salmon. I know from experience that sweets are needed, so we have developed both healthy – rice pudding – and super sinful – double chocolate cupcakes. There is a choice of soft drinks as well as comforting milkshakes.’’

Delivery to the Greater Montreal and West Island areas  is as ‘‘chic’’ as a hotel service, with  drivers like ours named Bilal arriving in branded uniforms. Food is easy to eat, delivered in micro-waveable containers with cutlery.  The most popular dishes are philly cheese steak sandwich.  

I decided to give it a try today at my office. A colleague and I each ordered a strawberry milkshake. I opted for the chicken pesto pizza while Brigida  sampled the California Cobb Salad. She gave it a big thumbs up, especially the dressing and the soft breaded slices of chicken. Regarding the milkshake, I have never actually tried the strawberry variety before, but this one was great.

Besides the  Room-Service.ca  delivery option, the funky sit-down resto on very cool Saint-Laurent is open until 4 a.m. (on Fridays and Saturdays due to the huge influx of beautiful young things dancing  - and eating - the night away Other nights it is  open until 2 a.m.

For more information call 514-709-7666

Bob Babinski resurfaces as part of City/Sportsnet NHL coverage

One of the really nice guys in the sports television business has resurfaced in a new/old role as Rogers gets set to launch it $5.2 million, 12 year deal of covering the National Hockey League. We are talking about Bob Babinski, who left his post last summer as executive producer for City TV's year old Montreal station. He has signed on as a content producer with Rogers and will be heavily involved with the much anticipated Hometown Hockey Community Celebration with Ron MacLean each Sunday night on City as well as the traditional Hockey Day  in Canada in  February.

Babinski was recruited for this role last summer, but chose now to go public with it. His sudden departure from City Montreal and Breakfast Television stunned his adoring staff, but he believes it was the right decision. "I am very proud of what I accomplished there," Babinski says. "My main job was completed and that was the selection of a staff and getting things going."

Babinski did indeed choose well. The fact the same on air staff remains intact is positive to begin with. Alex Despatie, Joanne Vrakas, Catherine Verdon Diamond, Laura Casella, Wilder Weir and Elias Makos are supported by an outstanding team behind the camera. Ratings for local morning TV have never been strong here. But with NHL games now about to air on City that should allow for more Breakfast TV commercials to be showcased. Ditto for the weekly sports magazine show, hosted by Weir. Chantal Desjardins has joined Sportsnet as a local correspondent while John Bartlett will handle play by play for Rogers regional broadcasts of the Canadiens - two more high profile individuals City could benefit from.

Babinski, Chantal Desjardins and PJ Stock

"I still watch Breakfast TV," says Babinski. "I am really proud of the team I assembled. They are all developing very well."

Back to his new job, Babinski says he is returning to his first love. Following a number of years as a sportscaster for CBC Montreal, from 1994 to 2000, he enjoyed great success as a freelance producer for many special events such as the Vancouver Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and Hockey Day in Canada.

"I already know Ron MacLean from  my previous experience with Hockey Day in Canada, so that makes the move easier," Babinski says. "Right now I am really busy travelling back and forth to Toronto and working on the content we will use for Hometown Hockey where we will visit a different community in Canada every Sunday. We'll be on at 6:30 p.m. leading up to the Sunday game of the week and then have additional hits during the intermission. Ron is totally engaged with this format."

Babinski was recently in Toronto, hopping a plane with colleagues Desjardins and PJ Stock, for the Rogers NHL Summit. "This was a series of meetings to introduce ourselves and get set for the rest of the season," he says.

Stock, the former NHL tough guy, was outstanding on Hockey Night in Canada and I am happy to see him part of the Rogers team.

Hockey Day in Canada will be broadcast live from Halifax on February 14 and Babinski says work is well underway for the 13 hour program.

Away from the rink, Babinski has also launched a business whereby he serves as a performance trainer for clients who want to express themselves more effectively - either in front of a camera, at a conference, or in a boardroom. "My training program is called 'Babinski's reflex,'" he says.

Habs play by play announcer update: winning candidate to be revealed before season opener

TSN 690 Radio Program Director Chris Bury is not tipping his hat as to who will replace John Bartlett as the new play by play man for Montreal Canadiens broadcasts.

Bartlett left his post very recently to accept a job with Rogers Sportsnet TV, where he will call the plays for regional Canadiens telecasts.

Bury seems to have been using the Habs pre-season games as a chance to evaluate the talent.

Veteran Rick Moffat should be at the front of the line. He's done the job before and only stepped away when CJAD lost the rights to the Habs to TSN. Of course now they are part of the same family. Moffat already worked with colour commentator Sergio Momesso and it has been great listening to them during the exhibition season.

These days Moffat has a full plate. He is part of the TSN 690 morning team, does the sportscasts on the Andrew Carter Morning Show on CJAD and also does play by play for the Alouettes and the Impact.  While Bartlett only worked play by play, the thing I always admired about Moffat is how he would call the plays for a night game and be on the sports desk the following morning. Another plus to Moffat getting the gig would mean Conor McKenna finally getting a permanent spot on the roster. He fills in for Moffat when he is away, spells Mitch Melnick and does the Habs intermission and post game shows. Elliott Price and Brian Wilde could handle the Als and Impact duties.

Price should not be counted out as a candidate either. He was, after all, Bartlett's backup the last few years and has decades of experience with baseball, hockey, football and soccer.

AJ Jakubec from Ottawa's TSN 1200 Radio already has the experience calling games for the Ottawa Senators, Ottawa RedBlacks, Ottawa Fury, Ottawa 67's

AJ Jakubec

and CIS basketball. He has sounded good during his Habs stint.  The other new voice we have heard is Dan Robertson, a polished  play caller from the Maritimes who has been behind the mic for countless university basketball, hockey and football events.  He too did nit seem out of place during his so-called TSN 690 audition.
Bury said that the identity of Bartlett's successor will be announced in time for the face off at the Habs opening game against Toronto on October 8.

"I’ve received a lot of applications from people with all levels of experience and strong resumes," Bury shared with me. "We’re in a good position and excited."

Who will replace John Bartlett as Habs radio play by play man?

Who will replace John Bartlett as the play by play man for Montreal Canadiens hockey games on TSN 690?

Bartlett completed three seasons on the job after coming over from Toronto where he undertook the same duties for the American Hockey League Marlies. During his time here he did some TV work for TSN Regional broadcasts of the Canadiens, as well as some other assignments. It was only a matter of time before an offer came his way to go on the small screen full-time. With Rogers Sportsnet East and City TV getting the rights to regional Habs games, Bartlett was an obvious choice to call the plays.

For TSN 690 program boss Chris Bury, there is not a lot of time to select a replacement. Then again, with this job description posted and the available  in house talent, the task should not be too difficult.

So who are the leading candidates?

Rick Moffat

• Rick Moffat handled the play by play for CJAD before they lost the rights to the Habs.  Now CJAD and TSN 690 are under the same Bell Media roof.  Moffat is presently the voice of the Impact and the Alouettes. He previously handled Als and Habs duties simultaneously and this season he actually splits Impact duties with CTV's Brian Wilde. There would be no learning curve for Moffat and if he took the job, Conor McKenna  could get a long overdue promotion to full-time status as part of the morning team.
• Elliott Price did  a masterful job as the play by play man for the Expos. He also saw

  

  Elliott Price

  duty with the Alouettes and for the last three years served as Bartlett's very capable backup. Price has paid his dues and definitely deserves a shot.
• Scratch Derek Wills  as a candidate. He was the play by play man for the Habs' AHL affiliate the Hamilton Bulldogs and was a leading candidate three years ago. I spoke to him on a number of occasions three years ago and he was very interested in the job.  He is a talented  broadcaster whom we have been able to hear when TSN 690 carried Hamilton games. Had Bartlett left in June he would have been in the running. However, he was recently hired by the Calgary Flames.
• Would Brian Wilde consider the job? He does an outstanding job covering the Habs for CTV and has the play by play experience with the Impact.

Brian Wilde

Bury says that different talent will be used during the exhibition season and I expect you will see the likes of Moffat, Price and possibly even Wills chosen for this task.

 

YidLife Crisis is so funny it should be on network TV

What would an episode of Seinfeld or Curb Your Enthusiasm be like if two central characters conversed in Yiddish? This is one of the first observations The Suburban made after screening episodes of the hilarious new web series starring Montreal actors Jamie Elman and Eli Batalion called YidLife Crisis.

The four part series went live at www.YidLifeCrisis.com  via YouTube yesterday and it is rated Chai or 18 plus due to its edgy nature. It features Elman and Batalion engaging in rip roaring funny dialogue in Yiddish, with English sub-titles. There is also some great music featured. The duo graduated four years apart from Bialik HighSchool in Côte Saint-Luc where Yiddish was part of the curriculum.

 “At one point we were looking at shows like Seinfeld and Curb and agreed that they both have a real Yiddish spirit,” said Elman. “First we considered taking classic episodes of Seinfeld, with me being Jerry and Eli as George speaking in Yiddish. Then we came up with our own original idea to talk Yiddish with the sub-titles.”

One episode each of about five minutes will be rolled out over the next four months. The premiere, arriving the week before Rosh Hashana is appropriately called   "Breaking the Fast.”  It was filmed at La Banquise, best known for its Quebec delicacy of poutine. The latter is how the duo decide to break their fast on Yom Kippur. They’ll wrap things up in December, with a finale along the spirit of Chanukah, after which they will decide what direction to take. Everything from more episodes to a stage version are possibilities. Filming also occurred at Lester’s Deli and the St. Viateur and Fairmount bagel factories.

A French version of the site is planned, as well as a French sub-titled version of the episodes, for early October.  Seed money came from the Jewish Community Foundation Arts Grant and the Bronfman Youth Fellowships Venture Fund.

“A lot of great North American comedy is deeply influenced by Yiddish expression, cadence and logic…or lack thereof”, says Batalion, once the Yiddish valedictorian of Bialik.

This series is pure brilliance. Here  is the first episode

Bell Fibe TV subscribers can enjoy "excellent" new Give Back Montreal program

Leslie Perez is our newest star
Subscribers to  Bell Fibe TV in Montreal can now access an unprecedented new program which shares heart-warming personal life stories about local philanthropists and profiles the respective organizations they support in the same episode.

Give Back Montreal is hosted by the dynamic Leslie Perez, a marketing and communications professional who also serves as the producer. She began working on the concept a year ago and her touch is immediately evident in a catchy opening sequence which includes a variety of different Montrealers endorsing her theme.

 

Leslie Perez

The show appears on Bell Local is to engage local Canadian communities by working together to create and share entertaining, informative and inspiring local stories.  To access this show and others 24/7, one must go to channel 1217, press select, “view all” and then when on the  Greater Montreal category go to “view all” again and scroll down to find the episodes.

Perez says she wanted to create a show that highlights the ways philanthropists become who they are as a result of their personal trials. “Many philanthropists undergo life-changing hardships and one of the most constructive ways they deal with their challenges is by giving back or advocating for the cause they believe in; my goal is to reveal just that,” said Perez, a single mother of two who opens up about that experience and even showcases her daughters in the opening.

The first two episodes profile  Diane and Sal Guerrera, major contributors to The Miriam Foundation and influential advocates for children and adults with autistic spectrum disorders or intellectual disabilities; and  lawyer Norton Segal and his connection to the Friendship Circle, which provides assistance and support to children with special needs.

I watched both shows with great interest. Who knows? Leslie  could become the Barbara Walters of Montreal!

Here is the catchy opening: