The As It Happens Files: Radio That May Contain Nuts

by Mary Lou Finlay

In the tradition of Peter Gzowski’s The Morningside Papers comes a book that celebrates the great stories and personalities behind As It Happens.For eight years, Mary Lou Finlay had the pleasure of being the co-host of one of CBC Radio’s most enduring institutions. On any given day she and Barbara Budd interviewed people on subjects varying from the Air India investigation to a man who invented a suit that would withstand an attack from a grizzly bear to a cheese-rolling contest in Cheshire. The As It Happens Files gives us the great stories – the hilarious eccentrics, the audience favourites, the poignant moments – that make up, for many Canadians some of the fondest, most vivid memories of the last decade.

Genres: Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2008

Reviews

[Paula Dembeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

For eight years from 1997 to 2005, Mary Lou Findlay co-hosted the popular CBC radio show As It Happens, a call-in show with a different twist. Instead of callers phoning in, the hosts phoned out, connecting with people their producers hunted down before the show who had interesting stories to tell. The hosts the called them during showtime and interviewed them about their special tale. Some of these interviews covered serious topics, such as the death of Princess Diana which happened the first day Mary Lou took on her role on the program in September of 1997. Others, on similar weighty subjects include the Air India Disaster, the chaos of the Gore/Bush election night, the war in Chechnya, the explosion of the Challenger and interviews with various world leaders. However, most of the stories were the quirky, often humorous kind that provided listeners with a light hearted look at the obscure and the bizarre, human interest stories that never hit the top news media, but were still fun to hear.

Findlay’s memoir, produced after she retired in 2005 and published in 2008, includes a collection of some of her favorite interviews and memories, everything from the story of “The Man Who Wouldn’t Drown, “The Man In A Bear Suit” to “The Runaway Chevy”. Just the title of each chapter is enough to give readers a smile and pull them in out of curiosity. Who can pass by a chapter titled “Mike the Headless Chicken” or “The Wrath of Grapes” without wanting to take a peek at those pages to see what it is all about. And who would not want to hear from the ninety-seven-year-old man who took seventy-five years to get his degree?

The story titled “Cabbages and Kings” proved to be one of their most popular and was often repeated on air at various times during the years as listeners frequently asked for it.

Those who followed the show for years will be interested in this read, however like most reproductions of radio shows to the written page, something critical is lost in the transition from one form of media to the other. Without Mary Lou’s voice it just does not have the same resonance in this different format.

Still, this is an important piece of Canadian CBC history and is an integral part of their story.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to miss the show when we lived in the US and still enjoy it. She has written it up very well and the core of its humour and seriousness is captured. I love that she ends with description of UBUNTU - the essence of being human.

[Jerry Haigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a long-time addict of Canada's best current affairs radio program i was delighted to have the chance to read thse remarkabel vignettes. One can surely hope that more stories like this will come along soon.

[Lyn Zuberbuhler · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I like "As It Happens", this book did not engage me. The written word, taken from scripts, was not as interesting as hearing the stories on the air.

[Penka · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the show you will love this book! It offers background information that I found fascinating.

[Edward B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, quick little read if you like the CBC radio show; otherwise there's probably not much point.

[Sherrida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've listened to As It Happens for most of my adult life. I enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at the program.