"Switchback" was an hour-long interactive show for teens and preteens, featuring viewer calls, music videos, guest artists, and cartoons. Initially hosted by Stan Johnson in Halifax, it expanded to other cities, highlighting both regional talents and international acts. Airing from 1981 to 1990, it aimed to engage young audiences. In 1985, host Shawn Thompson faced arrest for throwing a doll named Kendini over Niagara Falls, in a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket during a show segment. (He used cole slaw to cushion the doll's fall.) This act resulted in charges by Niagara Parks Police for park dumping and attracting a crowd. Thompson intended to spotlight neglected toys in a parody titled 'Doll Aid.' By 1988, the series cut some editions and faced controversy by removing its cherished long-term host, Stan Johnson. By early 1990, all editions of the program concluded due to CBC's budget reductions.
Stan Johnson
Host (Halifax)
Rick Scott
Host (Vancouver)
Richard Newman
Host (Vancouver)
Andrew Cochrane
Host (Vancouver)
Stu Jeffries
Host (Vancouver)
Shawn Thompson
Host (Toronto)
Howard Busgang
Host (Toronto)
Dale Martindale
Host (Toronto)
Eric Tunney
Host (Toronto)
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Beat Bobby Flay61%
Love It or List It63%
Counting Cars65%
Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory78%
Fear Factor75%
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Flip or Flop60%
Unlocked: A Jail Experiment68%
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American Chopper64%
Jersey Shore: Family Vacation72%
Say Yes to the Dress70%
