Annoying people

Laughed my head off when I read Globe and Mail columnist John Doyle this morning.  He named his top 10 most irritating TV-related Canadians of 2013. 

Right up there in the number one spot was Moses Znaimer, long-time Canadian television producer and executive.  He won because he hired Conrad Black to host a chat show, the latter of whom invited Rob Ford on as a guest.  He called their conversation a "stunning grotesquerie" -- a brilliant term.  I agree about Znaimer.  I met him in 1968 in Ottawa when a mutual friend invited us for coffee.  He was nauseatingly in love with himself, with a head the size of a watermelon.  He committed the worst social sin, he was a bore. 

Next is Amanda Lang.  I agree, another one completely full of herself with off-putting ideas and opinions.  Doyle's verdict is that she uses 'The Royal We' too often, giving the impression she's a government spokesman, and is outright rude to her guests.  She is, but at least Kevin O'Leary regularly smushes her into her place. 

Third comes predictable attack dog John Baird.  Nothing more needed on that file.

Next is 'BodyBreak' couple Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod.  Could not agree more.  Talk about completely sexless and clueless!  You'd think a couple of fitness freaks would be sexy, but no, forget about it.  Apparently they went on 'The Amazing Race Canada' and didn't do well, tagging them as a couple of frauds.  Perfect.

Fifth is the A&W manager -- the fat guy who flogs Mama and Poppa burgers.  Inane and idiotic, he prompts thousands of people to switch channels at the very sight of him.  In fact I would never buy an A&W product -- hormone-free and bottle-fed or not -- thanks to his slovenly appearance.

Sixth are freestyle skiers and sisters Justine and Chloe Dufour-Lapointe.  In Doyle's opinion the CBC should not be using eye candy to flog the Olympics.  That's the CBC for you.

Ezra Levant is next -- a perennial favourite.  Another ranting bore.

The Wonga Women are eighth -- those plastic figures who flog loans with English accents.  Silly and annoying. 

Russell Peters squeezes in in ninth place because he is no longer funny.  That pretty much nails Peters, who is less and less funny the richer and richer he gets. 

Finally we have someone I have never heard of, Ziya Tong, co-host of 'Discovery Planet'.  She makes the grade because Doyle says she declares everything "totally amazing".  Hey, it's a science show! And turn down the giggling and gushing.........please. 

Some great choices there, but I can add a few such as Tom Mulcair -- completely ridiculous, out-of-touch with Canadians and hysterical.  On the CBC front I nominate Peter Mansbridge as the absolute worst of a sad and bad lot, with Heather Hiscox (or is she CTV?) right up there for pure, unadulterated self-love and phoniness.  Wendy Mesley gets it for revolting perkiness.

This is fun!  When I think of others I'll let you know.