All kinds of reasons have been thrown into the analytical arena: it was time for a change, Redford irreparably damaged the party by booking one too many flights on the public’s dime and the sky is falling on the oil industry. Heck, even the cows are still mad at the PC’s.
But, in my opinion, everybody has missed the obvious! This is fall-out from a PC decision that was made by Mulroney and his gang waa-aa-ay back, in 1984. That was when they wielded the power of the pen and with one stroke cut the CBC’s budget so deeply they slew a giant in the field of children’s programming – they killed The Friendly Giant.
So, this has been stewing in the back of Albertans minds for the past 30 years until it finally reached its boiling point and then it was “Hello NDP!”
It hasn’t been sitting well with me either, after all, Canadians of a certain age can relate to the fact that The Friendly Giant became part of our cultural identity.
Beginning with the iconic camera pan from the model village to the Giant’s foot, followed by Friendly’s soothing voice inviting us to “Look up, waa-aa-ay up" to the haunting strains of Early One Morning to the invitation into the castle and then, my favourite part, the rearranging of the tiny furniture in front of the fireplace.
Then, of course, there were the Giant’s two lighthearted best friends, Jerome the giraffe and Rusty the rooster, who lived in a book bag (by choice). The three engaged in some delightful banter and often spontaneously broke out into song and harp and flute playing.
Why oh why did it have to end?!
They weren’t hurting anybody. Not even the budget. That whole set probably cost $15, tops, when the show started in Canada back in 1958. No music royalties had to be paid since Early One Morning was first penned in the late 1700’s and, therefore, was in the public domain. The show itself was only 15 minutes long and, for the most part, it was unscripted.
What was Mulroney’s problem?
Three possibilities come to mind and all three can be traced to one three letter word - EGO.
1) He wanted to brag to all the boys that he killed a giant (the fact that he was a friendly giant and probably didn't fight back made no difference).
2) The Friendly Giant was close to collecting his giant pension from the CBC.
3) Little Ben Mulroney preferred Fred Penner. (Poor Fred Penner has since been tainted by the whole scandal and has also been referred to as the giant killer; all because of a child’s whim.)
Of course, this is all speculation on my part; all or none of these scenarios could be true.
But in true Canadian fashion, there was a flurry of letter writing to protest the show’s cancellation when the final episodes aired in 1985, but to no avail. That is until now.
Let this be a lesson to PC’s everywhere who choose to cut too deeply into the very fabric of Canadian culture! Never underestimate the power of Canadian sentiment. Sure it might be on a slow thirty-year simmer, but eventually that melting pot is going to boil over.
Long lives the Friendly Giant!
Recommended Viewing: The Friendly Giant (every episode)
Recommended Listening: The First Cut Is The Deepest (Rod Stewart)
Recommended Reading: Look Up-Way Up!
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