TORONTO — Vassy Kapelos is taking over hosting duties at CBC News Network’s flagship daily political show, Power and Politics.
The public broadcaster said Kapelos will begin her position in March.
Kapelos replaces Rosemary Barton, who now co-hosts the CBC’s nightly newscast The National.
Kapelos has a degree from Western University and a master’s from Dalhousie University, both in political science.
“Vassy’s respectful-but-persistent interviewing style has helped her hone an adroit ability to hold the powerful to account,” Jennifer McGuire, general manager and editor-in-chief of CBC News, said in a news release.
“Her experience and enthusiasm will be invaluable as we chart a renewed course for Power and Politics.”
Kapelos, who describes herself as “politics-obsessed,” joins the public broadcaster from Global News, where she most recently served as Ottawa bureau chief and host of the network’s program The West Block.
Prior to working as a parliamentary correspondent in Ottawa, Kapelos covered provincial politics, including in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to join this show and work with a group of really talented people who are as politics-obsessed as me,” Kapelos said in a news release.
“I honestly grew up wanting to be the host of a daily political talk show — I admittedly wasn’t the coolest kid — and I am beyond excited that it’s happening at CBC.”
Kapelos, originally from Toronto, has won several awards for her work, including a Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) honour in 2013 for an in-depth examination of Alberta’s emergency response system.
Winkler still has to audition
It’s a Hollywood custom that once you’re an established actor, you don’t have to audition anymore. But Henry Winkler is an exception. Winkler is co-starring in HBO’s new black comedy Barry, premièring March 25. And the famous “Fonz” auditioned for the role. “The thing is today, because the executives turn over so quickly, you have to audition a lot,” he says.
“There are a lot of actors who say, ‘Oh, they know my work. Here, send in my tape.’ But these young people don’t trust, necessarily, that you can do what they need you to do because their jobs are so tenuous. So you want the job. I would go to auditions and the young actors would say, ‘What are you doing here?’ I’d say, ‘I’m looking for a job. You?’ ”
New app features Letterkenny
Bell Media has launched a new app for short-form video that will include an original series connected to the hit hoser comedy Letterkenny.
The company says the series on SnackableTV will be a short-form extension of Letterkenny, which streams on CraveTV.
SnackableTV is available for iOS and Android users and is free to consumers.
It features exclusive short-form content from brands including HBO, Comedy Central and the Montreal comedy festival Just For Laughs.
The app is also the Canadian home for the Laugh Out Loud comedy network, a partnership between comedy star Kevin Hart and Lionsgate.
