Canada's Got Talent: The journey has begun
TrishStratus.com welcomes Bob Kapur aboard as your CGT correspondent. Bob will provide coverage when show debuts this spring on Citytv. To whet your appetite, here’s exclusive details from the recent audition tapings in Niagara Falls.
Photo: IG/@lilly
The buzz started this summer with the airing of the first commercial, in which the legendary Simon Cowell announced that "Canada's Got Talent is coming."
Since then, the excitement has only grown, as Canucks coast-to-coast vied to compete on the stage of the Great White North's version of the world's biggest talent competition.
During the week of November 10th, things reached even higher levels as the audition rounds got underway, thus beginning the journey to crown this country's next global superstar. And judging from the environment during the tapings, Canadian fans can expect much more excitement to follow when the show starts airing in the spring on Citytv.
Certainly, as one of those in the Avalon Ballroom theatre at the Fallsview Casino and Resort in Niagara Falls, I can attest to the crowd being blown away by the experience.
Maybe it was the sight of the massive stage and the giant LED screen featuring the CGT logo, or the ominous red Xs hanging above the stage, each one representing a potential Sword of Damocles ready to tear apart a contestant's dream.
Or maybe it was simply being present in the same room as the Canadian superstar judges – legendary hip-hop artist Kardinal Offishall, effectively known as “Kardi”, massive YouTube star Lilly Singh, WWE Hall of Fame and fitness icon Trish Stratus, or international funny man with 12 years with the Got Talent brand Howie Mandel.
While the contestants were ostensibly the real stars of the show, a lot of fun was to see and hear the judges' reactions to the acts. Unlike other competition shows where the judges can seem mean or condescending when giving their feedback, everyone on the CGT panel seemed to genuinely want to help the contestants. Help the good ones who got through by providing them advice on how to advance through the competition. And even help the ones that got buzzed out or didn't get enough "Yes" votes to make the cut, by providing them constructive criticism and tips on what they could do to improve the act. The earnestness with which they interacted with the performers really shone through, and that connection was felt by the audience as well.
Their charm and likeability was also on display when the judges interacted with each other or with the show's host – country singer Lindsey Ell – as they playfully took shots at each other when they disagreed on a decision, or backed up one another if they didn't put through a crowd favourite. In addition to their judging, the judges also got to occasionally show off their more playful side, like engaging in a squat competition – and kudos to Trish, who showed off her athletic dominance, winning that contest despite wearing high heels and a spectacular floor-length form-fitting dress... talk about someone who's got talent!
Of course, the auditions are only the first step of the journey – not only for the acts, but also for the judges, and more significantly, for the viewers at home.
But a task that Canadian fans have been waiting years for. And, finally, the wait is almost over as Canada's Got Talent will debut this spring on Citytv! Go to Citytv.com and follow @cangottalent for more info.
Bob Kapur is a senior editor for SlamWrestling.net. He can be reached at bobkapur@hotmail.com
Photo: IG/@lilly
The buzz started this summer with the airing of the first commercial, in which the legendary Simon Cowell announced that "Canada's Got Talent is coming."
Since then, the excitement has only grown, as Canucks coast-to-coast vied to compete on the stage of the Great White North's version of the world's biggest talent competition.
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During the week of November 10th, things reached even higher levels as the audition rounds got underway, thus beginning the journey to crown this country's next global superstar. And judging from the environment during the tapings, Canadian fans can expect much more excitement to follow when the show starts airing in the spring on Citytv.
Certainly, as one of those in the Avalon Ballroom theatre at the Fallsview Casino and Resort in Niagara Falls, I can attest to the crowd being blown away by the experience.
Maybe it was the sight of the massive stage and the giant LED screen featuring the CGT logo, or the ominous red Xs hanging above the stage, each one representing a potential Sword of Damocles ready to tear apart a contestant's dream.
Or maybe it was simply being present in the same room as the Canadian superstar judges – legendary hip-hop artist Kardinal Offishall, effectively known as “Kardi”, massive YouTube star Lilly Singh, WWE Hall of Fame and fitness icon Trish Stratus, or international funny man with 12 years with the Got Talent brand Howie Mandel.
While the contestants were ostensibly the real stars of the show, a lot of fun was to see and hear the judges' reactions to the acts. Unlike other competition shows where the judges can seem mean or condescending when giving their feedback, everyone on the CGT panel seemed to genuinely want to help the contestants. Help the good ones who got through by providing them advice on how to advance through the competition. And even help the ones that got buzzed out or didn't get enough "Yes" votes to make the cut, by providing them constructive criticism and tips on what they could do to improve the act. The earnestness with which they interacted with the performers really shone through, and that connection was felt by the audience as well.
Their charm and likeability was also on display when the judges interacted with each other or with the show's host – country singer Lindsey Ell – as they playfully took shots at each other when they disagreed on a decision, or backed up one another if they didn't put through a crowd favourite. In addition to their judging, the judges also got to occasionally show off their more playful side, like engaging in a squat competition – and kudos to Trish, who showed off her athletic dominance, winning that contest despite wearing high heels and a spectacular floor-length form-fitting dress... talk about someone who's got talent!
Of course, the auditions are only the first step of the journey – not only for the acts, but also for the judges, and more significantly, for the viewers at home.
But a task that Canadian fans have been waiting years for. And, finally, the wait is almost over as Canada's Got Talent will debut this spring on Citytv! Go to Citytv.com and follow @cangottalent for more info.
Bob Kapur is a senior editor for SlamWrestling.net. He can be reached at bobkapur@hotmail.com
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