Toronto in the 1990s
The 1990s saw increasing globalization and rapid advancements in technology. The World Wide Web was launched in 1990, heralding a new decade of democratization. Text messages, Amazon, and Sony PlayStation all made our lives and workplaces faster.
In the US, the election of President Bill Clinton ended twelve years of Republican rule and seemed to usher in a new era of social change. In Canada, the Meech Lake Accord failed, the Bloc Quebecois was founded, and the federal government announced a national economic recession.
Toronto won the World Series back-to-back in 1992 and 1993. The city continued to grow, and the downtown core was still affordable. The Citytv and MuchMusic headquarters at 299 Queen Street West became a media magnet – attracting celebrities and citizens alike. And participation by audience members in local series, such as Speakers Corner and Electric Circus, foreshadowed the rise of user-generated content.
The concept of “narrowcasting” – targeting viewers through their values, preferences, demographics, and subscription choices – came to fruition and the cable universe exploded with hundreds of channels.
The Story of YTV
YTV launched on September 1, 1988 with a primetime special hosted by Scarborough local John Candy. The company was active from 1968 to 1995.
The Afterschool Zone – later known as The Zone – launched in 1991, and was hosted by a rotating group of “Program Jockeys” (PJs). The initial group of PJs included PJ Jazzy, Gord the PJ Man, and PJ “Fresh” Phil, acted by Janis Mackey, Gordon Michael Woolvert, and Phil Guerrerro respectively.
Two young Toronto puppeteers – Jamie Shannon and Jason Hopely – devised “The Grogs,” a group of monster puppets to join the cast. By 1993, the puppets had become the most popular on-screen characters.
The Grogs’ tenure on the show came to an end in 1994 when their creators declined to license the puppets to YTV. Their final day on set saw Grog-oriented programs which included a random assortment of cartoons and programs that were occasionally interrupted by the puppets’ demands for praise. After a Grog-centred program, The Grogs disappeared – never to be seen on air again.
