Ear to the Ground (TV series)

Ear to the Ground is a Canadian music television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1992 to 1995.[1] Focusing on a single Canadian musician or band each week, the series mixed interview segments and live performance clips in a documentary style.[2] It was a spinoff of the network's daily series Video Hits, which had in its final years sometimes devoted special episodes to a single musician or band under the name Video Hits Presents.[3]

Although artists across all popular music genres were featured, the show was considered especially effective and important as a showcase for artists in genres, such as country or folk, which did not typically get into high rotation on MuchMusic.[2] The first episodes of the series were hosted by Dan Gallagher, although the series evolved to a hostless format in later seasons.[2]

The series premiered on June 21, 1992, with an episode devoted to Barenaked Ladies.[4] Other artists profiled on the series during its run included Meryn Cadell,[5] Kashtin,[6] Skydiggers,[7] Lost Dakotas,[8] The Rankin Family,[9] Bob Wiseman,[10] Me Mom and Morgentaler,[11] The Lowest of the Low,[12] Vern Cheechoo,[13] Blue Rodeo,[14] Punjabi By Nature,[15] Tom Jackson,[16] The Barra MacNeils,[17] Big Rude Jake,[18] Ashley MacIsaac,[2] Change of Heart,[19] hHead,[20] Lori Yates,[20] Moist,[20] Susan Aglukark,[1] Bob Snider,[1] Patricia Conroy[21] and Bourbon Tabernacle Choir.[22]

The series was cancelled in 1995, on the grounds that the live performance aspect of the show was now partially duplicated by the network's variety series Rita and Friends.[1] In its place, CBC launched the new series Music Works.[23]

Awards

At the 7th Gemini Awards in 1993, Barenaked Ladies won the award for Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series for their episode.[24] At the 9th Gemini Awards in 1995, the series was nominated for Best Music Variety Program or Series.[25]

References
  1. Sid Adilman, "Ear To The Ground axing draws fire on CBC-TV". Toronto Star, May 23, 1995.
  2. Mitch Potter, "Bucking a trend: CBC's Ear to the Ground wows audiences with low-cost goodies". Toronto Star, December 31, 1994.
  3. Tony Atherton, "Olympics dampen summer trend to original shows". Ottawa Citizen, May 24, 1992.
  4. Tony Atherton, "Television this week". Ottawa Citizen, June 21, 1992.
  5. Laura Blumenfeld, "Sweater song warms up American pop charts". Vancouver Sun, July 27, 1992.
  6. Mike Boone, "Kashtin makes a musical plea for harmony with nature". Montreal Gazette, August 9, 1992.
  7. "Hot Dates". Montreal Gazette, August 16, 1992.
  8. Peter Howell, "Samplers mine cutting Edge". Toronto Star, November 5, 1992.
  9. Sandy MacDonald, "Rankin Family set to record third album". Halifax Daily News, January 15, 1993.
  10. Sandy MacDonald, "Hot music warms up bars after chilly week". Halifax Daily News, January 22, 1993.
  11. Mark Lepage, "We have lift-off; Record launch puts Morgentalers into wider orbit". Montreal Gazette, March 18, 1993.
  12. "Today's best". Calgary Herald, September 28, 1993.
  13. Greg Kennedy, "Warm introduction to Native country-music artist". Edmonton Journal, November 30, 1993.
  14. Liam Lacey, "It's Friday Night - without Ralph Benmergui: Observers blame derivative American format for failure of CBC's entertainment showcase". The Globe and Mail, January 5, 1994.
  15. Pauline Tam, "Punjabi by nature, urban hip by design". Ottawa Citizen, October 15, 1994.
  16. "Actor indulges first love, singing". Canadian Press, October 18, 1994.
  17. Eric Kohanek, "CBC crowing over ratings". Hamilton Spectator, December 30, 1994.
  18. Elizabeth Renzetti, "Rude, lewd and in a retro mood". The Globe and Mail, January 3, 1995.
  19. Peter Trueman, "Repeat offenders: The media just loves a chance to report the other guy's goof-ups". Toronto Star, February 4, 1995.
  20. Mitch Potter, "Humble half hour". Toronto Star, April 22, 1995.
  21. Jeff Mahoney, "Made in Canada, eh? Destiny Ridge a slickly produced drama". Waterloo Region Record, June 15, 1995.
  22. TV Listings, Edmonton Journal, October 9, 1992.
  23. Tony Atherton, "CBC keeping its ear to the ground with expanding range of Music Works". Ottawa Citizen, August 26, 1995.
  24. "Gemini winners". Edmonton Journal, March 8, 1993.
  25. "Major Gemini Nominations". Toronto Star, January 18, 1995.
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