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The Slice: They probably think we’re hosers
An intriguing e-mail arrived from Shirley Roberts of Greenacres.
“While on vacation recently we were having dinner in a restaurant in London, Ontario,” she wrote. “Imagine my surprise when I realized that the TV across the room was tuned in to KREM! They were seeing Dr. Phil, Oprah, and our very own local advertising.”
Her theory is that the restaurant has a satellite dish. That must be the case.
OK, many of us are familiar with Spokane programming showing up on televisions in Calgary and Edmonton. But Ontario?
That got me thinking.
If people all over Canada are watching Spokane’s TV stations, they probably have some questions.
This newspaper does not circulate north of the border in any significant way. But the S-R Web site can be accessed from anywhere. So today The Slice presents a speculative FAQ guide for Canadian viewers of Spokane television.
Q: Does Stephanie Vigil ever visit Moose Jaw?
A: I have no idea. Probably not.
Q: What’s the deal with the new approach to staging KXLY’s news broadcasts? Are they going for “political town hall/community forum” or “people standing around talking in a lounge”?
A: I don’t know.
Q: How old is that commercial for that one carpet place?
A: Judging by the spotlighted sneaker, it probably goes back to the ‘70s.
Q: Do people doing TV sports in Spokane understand that the young guys in the Western Hockey League are elite-level players, not just the equivalent of, say, high school athletes?
A: A few do.
Q: What ever happened to Ted Baxter?
A: You’re thinking of a news anchor on the old “Mary Tyler Moore Show.” But there are a couple of kindred spirits still working in Spokane.
Q: Why don’t Spokane TV reporters cover curling?
A: It can’t be hyped as “breaking news.”
Q: So would I be correct in assuming that your puny version of winter comes as a surprise every year to drivers in Spokane?
A: Yes.
Q: What are the implications of the strong Canadian dollar for KSPS?
A: Currency fluctuations come and go. Pledge breaks are forever.
“Today’s Slice question: How will you note Columbus Day?