In March of this year, MTV Canada was relaunched after a failed attempt on digital cable a few years ago. Many rolled their eyes and chose to swear undying allegiance to their beloved Much Music, but I was rather looking forward to the Big Satan taking over Toronto’s Masonic Temple as headquarters. Heck yeah I want to know what those pretty kids on 8th and Ocean are up to. More earth-shattering relationship how to’s on Laguna Beach, s’il vous plait. Most importantly, I wanted to see if they would hire any desi VJs, which they did do in the form of one Aliya-Jasmine Sovani. She doesn’t get much air time while sharing the MTV Live stage with six other VJs and what I have seen has been aptly described as “a woman so perky she makes Kelly Ripa look like Sean Penn in mourning.” Sadly, I don’t gel too well with perk peddlers on TV.
Sovani used to produce for Much Music and switched over to MTV to work in front of the camera. This left me wondering why Much wasn’t adding any brown to the VJ payroll. After all, they hired my supremely cool childhood idol, Monika Deol, in the late 1980s. My mum was never as horrified at my solitary whinin’ to Shabba Ranks videos if Monika announced them. Oh Monika, you were everything and everything was you. A Canadian music channel is nothing without proper Canadian representation.
It seems that Much Music has heard my cries of anguish, Praise the Record! Everybody get their crush on for Much’s newest VJ, Hannah Simone, one part Indian, one part German/Italian/Cypriot hybrid, all smarts. U.K. born, raised in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Canada, Simone has a political science and broadcast journalism background. She has spent time conducting research for a book authored by former Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, followed by a stint as a human rights and refugee officer for the UN. According to her bio, she wants people to know that she is “inspired by the fusion between music and humanitarian issues.” I can dig that.
Hold me steady, Mutineers, I feel a little weak at the prospect of this Deol-shaped hole in my heart being filled. Sorry? You have a question? What about M.I.A.? Oh, well, let’s see here…Why YES, I spot a M.I.A. in the “Musicians” list! We cool? Cool.
The community radio slave within me is happy that she comes to Much via CKLN Ryerson University radio. Before radio she hosted a home design show on HGTV. Simone is currently hosting the Much Top Ten countdown on weekdays (7 pm ET). If her delivery is as good as her biodata then chances are high that she’ll be lured into the CBC before her first anniversary 🙂
CUUUUUUUURRRRRRRUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can see it already – they finally get rid of Strombo and have her anchor for The Hour.
Then all she has to do is run for MP after a couple of years on the show and voila, Governor General in 10 years! 🙂
Woah, B, is that a bigger crush than Ruby Dhalla?
And Strombo will be Prime Minister! That man can do no wrong.
Simone lists her musical preferences
The musicians that move her: Gwen Stefani, Damian Marley, M.I.A., Damien Rice, Ani DiFranco, The Philosopher Kings
Whatever happened to Monika Deol?
Ikram – what, no Philosopher Kings for you? ok, from the description she has some very average taste for a VJ but Much is pretty much pop now anyway. Hannah Sung is probably the only one with any respectable music smarts.
As for Monika…sigh. Did you ever watch FAX or Rapid Fax? Haha, faxes at the height of their coolness.
Neha – yes it is. I’m moving on. Unfortunately after the restraining order was issued, things just haven’t been the same between Ruby and I.
😉
“This left me wondering why Much wasnÂ’t adding any brown to the VJ payroll.”
Is this some kind of requirement? They just had a the VJ search and 2 brown chicks made the initial cut of 20 or so but they both didnt make it to the actual show finalists (to make the reality show/search).
And rid of Strombo for the Hour? You f’in nuts? The Hour IS Strombo and dude is one of best anchors on TV period. Simone seems pretty good so far but its a bit early to tell if she can run her own daily show, let alone distinguish herself from the other Much Music VJs.
Sovani is hot as hell but more a cheerleader (on the mtv show anyhow from what ive seen so far).
And Deol was alright but wasnt anything special. She had a good voice and presence but nothing special in terms of music, youth culture, etc (unless you were into EC). Ive heard she is retired now and living it up or something, btw.
MIA is also one of the other MM VJ’s fav artists aswell, the other Hannah (Sung).
“Ikram – what, no Philosopher Kings for you? ok, from the description she has some very average taste for a VJ but Much is pretty much pop now anyway. Hannah Sung is probably the only one with any respectable music smarts.”
Def more pop with VJs like Leah Miller. The guy who ended up winning the VJ search is actually quite music knowledgable but won more on his looks (Tim Deegan). He seems likeable aswell but sucked hard in terms of on camera presence based on the VJ search show. Very pop-punkh kind of steez though seems to be improving already.
In terms of music knowledge (aswell as articulacy and personality), nobody can touch George Strombo and Sook Yin Lee.
I think I’m in lurrrrrrrrrvee…….
While Hannah is H-O-DoubleT HOTT, my heart belongs to Neha – not only are her posts interesting and funny, she’s cute to boot!
Join me mutineers in demanding a permanent visa for Neha.
Give this guest residency. Do it. Do it NOW!
Never really been a fan of the CBC-Strombo.
The scary thing about the caricature they do of him on Air Farce is that it isn’t that far removed from the reality! But I won’t hate on the Strombo. He seems like a nice guy.
… just a little out of his league in my opinion.
so I really need to know how does one make their own blog and make other mofos read it?
I will gladly romance all (except Monica, shes a bit aged for my liking) of said women. I particularly enjoy sweet Jasmine, if only for her connection to the one half of my tv addiction (mtv, the other being the food network, cops is a given). We could chat about how much of a bitch Kristen is and how that guy model (like his name matters) is a jackass and needs a good kicking. Sigh. Thank you once again Canadian television, thank you for never letting me down.
Oh, for a Teri Hatcher moment.
to london-brown: isn’t it awkward when nobody responds? yah, i got that too once.
Anyway, i think it’d be cool if Neha took up permanent residence with SM.
Hey! I agree, Canadian representation on Canadian television is extremely important to the music industry, the television industry and the Canadian cultural landscape. I recently stumbled upon this really interesting website. It is an initiative of the Canadian Government and discussed many of Canada’s cultural topics. Something that I found of particular interest was a current showcase they have posted on Canadian Music. You should check it out. Here is the URL:
http://www.culture.ca/topic-theme-e.jsp?data=200510/sfp01000102005e.html
While you’re there you should look at all of the different categories. There is a lot of useful and interesting information about Canadian culture.
Cheers!
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blockquote>”This left me wondering why Much wasnÂ’t adding any brown to the VJ payroll.”
Ack! The 2nd para is not supposed to be in blockquotes in above comment. Thorry.
Manish,
I had a chance to read through that link — very funny story. So you basically got your own personal lapdance from Teri Hatcher. “Embarassment” ? What the hell are you complaining about ?! 😉
In other news, I am going to state the obvious like everyone else here and say that, judging from that photo, Hannah Simone looks absolutely gorgeous. Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about…..
i was wondering about her. i thought she brown, then i thought she was some type of latino. now i see…. we are the same though! background in poli sci, two-year journalism upgrade. ahh minus the axworthy and U.N.-tastic credentials 🙁
Isnt she just beautiful???? =]]]]]] Shes the most beautiful and loving person on planet earth and possibly out of the other worlds we no not yet of. She truelly is a work of art and a natural born star. and You all BETTER not feed the trolls because you WILL feel her wrath ha ha =]]
she is cute but her nose is big
that aliya jasmine is ugly, dont find her attractive. seems really fake. looks fake. sounds like a man. big teeth. tries to hard to act “rocker chic”.
now hannah simone, she is one smokin hot girl. absolutly beautiful. stunning.
What the fuk..aliya jasmine is fucking HOTTT….all the hot women are indian women…brown skin, straight hair smart and beautiful..cultured…white ppl go to the tanning salon…black ppl got pubic hair on thier head so they need to straighten it…and most of the women wear weaves…brown girls got it good…
Aliya-Jasmine is AMAZING! Beautiful, REALLY smart, 10x better than hannah simone. She’s a host AND a producer-respect
Jason you are a pathetic bigoted idiot “brown girls got it good” what a joke.You need to get out more and stop masturbating with picutres of Ms. Aliya Jasmine. She wouldn’t give you the time of day, even if you were a billionaire!
Jason, you are a moron. Black people have pubic hair on their heads? You are the reason that some black women don’t find themselves attractive.
FROM MRS. SUSAN SHABANGU DEPUTY MINISTER OF SAFETY & SECURITY, SOUTH AFRICA . E-MAIL: shanbangususan@yahoo.com
DEAR SIR/MADAM
FIRST, LET ME START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF AS MRS SUSAN SHABANGU, A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN AND THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY SINCE 29TH APRIL 1996 TO DATE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA MR THABO MBEKI.
AFTER DUE DELIBERATION WITH MY CHILDREN, I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN STANDING AS A BENEFICIARY TO THE SUM OF US$30.5M ( THIRTY MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) YOU CAN VIEW MY PROFILE AT MY WEBSITE http://WWW.GOV.ZA CLICK ON, CONTACT INFORMATION, THEN CLICK ON DEPUTY MINISTER, AND CLICK ON SAFETY AND SECURITY FINALLY, CLICK ON MY NAME SUSAN SHABANGU AND READ ABOUT ME. THE PROPOSAL, AFTER THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY MAKING ME THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, MY HUSBAND MR. NDELEBE SUSAN SHABANGU DIED WHILE HE WAS ON AN OFFICIAL TRIP TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IN 1996. AFTER HIS DEATH, I DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD SOME FUNDS IN A DOLLAR ACCOUNT WHICH AMOUNTED TO THE SUM OF US$30.5M WITH A SECURITY AND FINANCE INSTITUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA OF WHICH I WILL DIVULGE INFORMATION TO YOU WHEN I GET YOUR FULL CONSENT AND SUPPORT TO GO FOR A CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY AND SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER OF THE FUNDS INTO YOU A COMFORTABLE AND CONDUCIVE ACCOUNT OF YOUR CHOICE.
THIS FUND EMANATED AS A RESULT OF AN OVER-INVOICED CONTRACT WHICH HE EXECUTED WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA . THOUGH I ASSISTED HIM IN GETTING THIS CONTRACT BUT I NEVER KNEW THAT IT WAS OVER-INVOICED BY HIM. I AM AFRAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA MIGHT START TO INVESTIGATE ON CONTRACTS AWARDED FROM 1990 TO DATE. IF THEY DISCOVER THIS MONEY IN HIS BANK ACCOUNT, THEY WILL CONFISCATE IT AND SEIZE HIS ASSETS HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND THIS WILL DEFINITELY AFFECT MY POLITICAL CAREER IN GOVERNMENT.
I WANT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN OPENING AN ACCOUNT WITH BANKERS THROUGH MY BANKER SO THAT THIS FUND COULD BE WIRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT DIRECTLY WITHOUT ANY HITCH. AS SOON AS THE FUND GETS TO YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE IT IMMEDIATELY INTO ANOTHER PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY.
I WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE ACCOUNT IS NOT TRACED FROM SOUTH AFRICA . AS SOON AS YOU HAVE CONFIRMED THE FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, I WILL SEND MY ELDEST SON WITH MY ATTORNEY TO COME TO YOUR COUNTRY TO DISCUSS ON BUSINESS INVESTMENTS. FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, I AM OFFERING YOU 20% OF THE PRINCIPAL SUM WHICH AMOUNTS TO US$6,100.000.00 (SIX MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TO ASSURE ME AND ALSO BE READY TO GO INTO AGREEMENT WITH ME THAT YOU WILL NOT ELOPE WITH MY FUND. IF YOU AGREE TO MY TERMS, KINDLY AS A MATTER OF URGENCY SEND ME AN EMAIL. DUE TO MY SENSITIVE POSITION IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT, PLEASE DO NOT CALL ME ON LINE, BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THIS TRANSACTION EXCEPT YOU CAN CALL MY SON ON HIS DIRECT LINE ABOVE HIS NAME IS MARTIN SHABANGU.
I PREFER YOU SEND ME EMAIL THAN CALL. ALL CORRESPONDENCE MUST BE BY EMAIL TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS, { E-MAIL:shanbangususan@yahoo.com} IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK WITH MY BANKER, THAT IS FINE AND OKAY BY ME. YOU WILL HAVE TO SEND DOWN YOU PRIVATE TELEPHONE /FAX NUMBER SO THAT I CAN FORWARD IT TO HIM TO REACH YOU FROM TIME TO TIME THIS IS FOR SECURITY REASONS. PLEASE I DO NOT NEED TO REMIND YOU OF THE NEED FOR ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THIS TRANSACTION MUST SUCCEED. IF YOU DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS TRANSACTION, DO NOT HESITATE TO DISCONTINUE. THANKS FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION AND MY REGARDS TO YOUR FAMILY.
MRS.SUSAN SHABANGU DEPT. MINISTER SAFETY & SECURITY SOUTH AFRICA .