George Strombo lands big US gig

Looks like another case of Toronto boy breaking into the American markets. It's not enough that Canada does a healthy business of exporting comedians, but now they are getting our best pop culture hipsters. George Stroumboulopoulos has been announced as the host for ABC's The One: Making of A Music Star, a reality competition that has 11 aspiring musicians compete for a contract. If it follows the pattern of past summer talent searches, this will be a big hit for ABC and a huge boost to George's career if he is looking at getting American exposure.

The good news is that George is still doing his CBC show The Hour come fall, which is moving from Newsworld to late-night on the main network. I've been following George's career since his days as a DJ on Edge 102 and then MuchMusic. One of the best morning shows Edge ever ran was the 3 or 4 times when George filled in for the usual morning show gang for a couple of weeks. He was always funny, disarming and shared a wide knowledge of music. Come on, how many hosts of major American network shows love Tom Waits, Joe Strummer and Johnny Cash? His depths of political and musical knowledge peeked through on Much, notably in his on-the-spot coverage during the Quebec City Summit of the Americas demonstrations (crackdown by riot police) in 2001.

It may be inevitable, but George may end up working in the US more and in Canada less. I look forward to the inevitable Daily Show interview, but with the lure of American exposure, how long until The Hour is up?

But George for the love of Cash: please don't end up hosting Access Hollywood.

Update: The inevitable "George Stroumbo- wha?" articles are starting in the US. Commence the buzz:

CANOE -- JAM! Television: Stroumboulopoulos to host U.S. show:
"...we're curious to see how a guy who's been a longtime champion of the indie and underground music scene in Canada adapts to babysitting a batch of American reality-show pop stars.

The kind of hard-working, groundbreaking bands that Strombo used to profile on MuchMusic's The New Music and The Punk Show would kill for the exposure a series like The One offers to its crop of Kelly Clarksons and J.D. Fortunes. Yet they'll never see a fraction of this sort of fame, will they?

'I don't think that's a reason not to do it,' Stroumboulopoulos said. 'I am still the guy who, on my radio show, plays bands no one has ever heard of. But am I supposed to be one guy forever? I mean, God, I would like to be an enriched human being instead of a one-page book.

'People will watch the show and make up their own mind,' he said. 'And that's cool.'"

TV TAttle: ABC taps George Stroumboulopoulos to host "The One" -- who?

Stroumboulopoulos -- or "Strombo" -- just might become the next Ryan Seacrest. The host of "The One: Making A Music Star" is a Canadian CBC personality described as a "tattooed, pierced and black-clad golden boy."

TheStar.com - Strombo's 'The One'