When Farrell arrived at The Conan O’Brien Show last night dressed as Anchorman character Ron Burgundy to announce that there would be a sequel to the classic film, young professionals across North America rejoiced and the social media world quickly went abuzz with excitement and quotes from the original 2004 film. Production of the film is expected to begin later this year for a 2013 release.
We thought we’d feature five of our favourite young professional anchor people/hosts from across the country, who may not be Ron Burgundy, but who are certainly notable in their own regard.
George Stroumboulopoulos
George Stroumboulopoulos represents a staple news source for young Canadians. Stroumboulopoulos has hosted a range of guests from world leaders to celebrities and politicians in his over two decade-long career. From his early career at Toronto’s Fan 590 radio station, Stroumboulopoulos went on to engage followers for CFRB, CFNY and MuchMusic. CBC’s The Hour began in 2005 when it became a quick Canadian YP favourite. Now renamed and shortened into a daily half-hour show called George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, the revised program is broadcast weeknights at 11:05 pm local time, making it Canada’s only late-night talk show. The show has won eight Gemini Awards.
This month, the World Economic Forum announced Stroumboulopoulos is one of the 192 Young Global Leaders named for 2012.
George is actively involved in a countless number of charitable and environmental causes. He, along with The Hour, sponsored the “One Million Acts of Green” Internet website challenge, which asked Canadians to register environmental acts they’ve done. The campaign resulted in over 1.6 million registered acts on the website.
Other charitable initiatives include hosting the ‘HipHop4Africa’ Mandela Children’s Fund Canada and CapAids February 2006 Toronto benefit, travelling to Sudan with War Child Canada, and going to Zambia for a World AIDS Day special documentary. He was featured among other Canadians notables in sharing views on global issues in the March 2010 issue of Upstream Journal magazine. Last year, Stroumboulopoulos was named the first Canadian Ambassador Against Hunger for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
Seamus O’Regan
Seamus O’Regan became a national celebrity for his 10-year career as the co-host of Canada AM, CTV’s national morning show, and is now a correspondent on CTV National News. For a decade (a full career duration for some young professionals), he lived the morning show’s demanding schedule, filming three hours of live television per day, five days a week and 48 weeks per year; a position that has seen him interview the world’s top political figures, celebrities, all other newsmakers.
On Canada AM, he has interviewed such newsmakers as former U.S. president Bill Clinton, prime minister Paul Martin, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Conrad Black, Prince and former prime ministers Brian Mulroney, Kim Campbell, John Turner and Joe Clark. O’Regan and his team were first to break top global stories like the London transit bombings and the tsunami.
Melissa Grelo
Melissa Grelo has been a welcomed addition to CP24 since 2006 and is currently the co-host of CP24 Breakfast with Steve Anthony, airing weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Barely into her thirties, Grelo has enjoyed memorable highlights, like when she co-hosted CTV’s Olympic Morning program with Seamus O’Regan, who updated the nation on their morning Olympic news, including exclusive interviews with Canadian medalists and their coaches and families straight from Whistler, B.C. In broadcasting, Grelo has held positions as a news writer, reporter, anchor and commuter specialist at CP24, CityTV and in Barrie.
Grelo is an active contributor to a number of charitable causes, dedicating her time to charity work raising funds for the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) and the Community Association for Riding for the Disabled (CARD) with horseback riding demonstrations. Grelo is also the ambassador of Artbound, a group of young Toronto professionals that work to build schools in developing nations in support of Free the Children. She is a familiar face at Toronto’s charity events and speaks at many fundraising events.
Patricia J
For the past ten years, Patricia J has been pounding the pavements of Toronto, making regular appearances on a variety of major television networks including Global TV, MuchMusic, SLICE, CTV and MTV, among others. She is currently the bright and “sunny” weather specialist and reporter for Toronto’s Breaking News, CP24.
A Jill of many trades, Patricia J is known for her acting, hosting, producing and writing. She wrote, hosted and produced the nationwide music, entertainment and lifestyle television program “NiteLife TV,” which aired on CityTV for two consecutive seasons. She is currently the Music Editor for Scion Magazine, where she writes a column for Toyota and works as an online host, producer and writer for Hot Wheels LIVE! Oh, and she also has her own production company called Patricia J Productions.
Patricia J has interviewed a variety of celebrities including Lady Gaga, Tiesto, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Steve Aoki, Evangeline Lily, Jesse McCartney, Blake McGrath and designers Valentino, Joe Mimran, David Dixon and Evan Biddell.
Patricia J donates her time with notable charity functions and hosts various awards and events shows and galas. Raised solely by her mother, she is especially passionate in her support of various young mother and youth organizations.
Thor Diakow
Each morning, Thor reports the latest entertainment news, reviews and celebrity gossip to Breakfast Television in Vancouver. His career in media began shortly upon graduating from BCIT in Broadcast Journalism at CKNW Newstalk 980 Vancouver. Interestingly, Diakow started out on Breakfast Television as a behind-the-scenes producer but he made his way in front of the camera in a Friday movie review of new releases called “Thor’s Hammers”. His career highlights include covering the celeb and athlete-filled nightly parties during the 2010 Olympics, interviewing celebrities like Michael Buble, Chris Cornell and Alice Cooper, and covering the 2009 Juno Awards in Vancouver.
He is a devoted supporter of nature-related charities such as The National Geographic Society and The Oceanic Preservation Society or any other group that helps preserve our ocean inhabitants.
Photo: Melissa Grelo