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It's been a very long time since there's been a Canadian late night talk show. Mike Bullard was probably the last one on the air and that was over five years ago. Strombo has picked up where Bullard left off and has an interesting line up of guests including many US actors filming up here in the great Hollywood North. But more importantly, he's provided a forum for conversation with many Canadian celebrities, including the final interview with writer/activist June Callwood. And it's a real hoot when the Trailer Park Boys are in the studio! George is a fast talking host and his show moves along very quickly, but he's got a good sense of humour. Comparable to the late Brian Linehan of City TV, he knows his subjects well and his questions are thought provoking and he can put the guests on the spot, but it's all in good fun. The Hour with George Stroumboulpoulos is one of the reasons we tune into our public broadcaster, the CBC. Should be a Gemini winner.

Very well done Canadian legal drama series that apparently had not so good ratings in its original run, but the writers managed to put together broad story lines revolving around criminal law, insurance and fraud, personal injury, family law, and medical negligence. Unlike current shows such as Close To Home where much of the focus is on criminal law, here we get to see a broad spectrum of work performed by a young team of lawyers at the firm Young, Barnsworth & King (YBK).

The show is made for a Canadian audience with its setting in the Canadian courts with numerous references made to the controversial Charter of Rights & Freedoms. Consisting of only two seasons (31 episodes), the latter season shows off an important Toronto landmark, the CN Tower, and the finale episode leaves viewers on a happy note tying together previous story lines while adding a story about a very popular Canadian sport and utilizing both criminal and civil law. Fans of Traders and Street Legal should find some good entertainment in this series.

Excellent family entertainment combining both drama and some comedic moments about a working class 10 year old African American girl who is encouraged to enter a national spelling bee contest. Though she is coached by a retired award winning professor and does make it to the finals, success never gets to her head. The school and the community rally behind her and she finds a way to fit into popularity without looking like a geek. In fact, she encourages her competitors who are also her peers during the contest to do their best despite all the stress everyone feels in their efforts to win. This is a good message for young adolescents who excel in school activities. Good sportsmanlike conduct is important and little four eyes Akeelah was not only a competitor but also a coach and a leader.