Editing George Stroumboulopoulos

{{short description|Canadian broadcaster}}
{{Infobox person
| name = George Stroumboulopoulos
| image = George Stroumboulopoulos at the CFC Annual BBQ Fundraiser 2014 (15180088615).jpg
| caption = George Stroumboulopoulos at the 2014 CFC Annual BBQ
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|8|16}}
| birth_place = [[Malton, Ontario]], Canada
| birthname = George Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos
| othername = Strombo
| employer =
| website            = {{URL|https://www.music.strombo.com/}}

}}
'''George Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|s|t|r|ɒ|m|b|ə|ˈ|l|ɒ|p|ə|l|ə|s}}; [[Greek language|Greek]]: Γεώργιος Μάρκος Παύλος Στρουμπουλόπουλος; born August 16, 1972) is a Canadian media personality. He is best known as formerly being a [[VJ (media personality)|VJ]] for the Canadian music television channel [[MuchMusic]] and being the host of the [[CBC Television]] talk show ''[[George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight]]'' (formerly ''The Hour'') from 2005 to 2014. From 2014 to 2016, Stroumboulopoulos worked for [[Rogers Media]], anchoring ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' and the ''[[NHL on Sportsnet|NHL on Rogers]]''.<ref name=rogers>{{cite news|title=Stroumboulopoulos named 'Hockey Night in Canada' host|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/stroumboulopoulos-to-take-over-for-maclean-as-new-host-of-hockey-night-in-canada/article17390692/|access-date=March 10, 2014|newspaper=Globe and Mail|date=March 9, 2014}}</ref> He is currently (as of December 2019) a radio host on [[CBC Music]]. Most recently, he joined [[Apple Music Radio]] as host of a Monday to Thursday live show.<ref>{{cite news |title=Strombo talks ‘Hockey Night in Canada,’ the art of hosting and recreating the Much magic on Apple Music Hits |url=https://outline.com/45WJ2A |access-date=September 26, 2020 |work=Toronto Star |date=September 24, 2020}}</ref>

==Early life==
Stroumboulopoulos was born in [[Malton, Ontario]], a neighbourhood in [[Mississauga]], Ontario, to a [[Greek Canadians|Greek]] father [[Greeks in Egypt|from Egypt]] and a [[Ukrainian Canadian|Ukrainian]] mother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourpublicairwaves.ca/index.php?page=961|title=Our Public Airwaves - This Hour has a nose ring<!-- Bot generated title -->|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103082633/http://www.ourpublicairwaves.ca/index.php?page=961|archive-date=2007-01-03}}</ref> He was raised in [[Toronto]], primarily by his mother and a close-knit extended family.<ref name="Ryerson Review of Journalism">{{cite magazine|title=The Case for George|magazine=[[Ryerson Review of Journalism]]|date=Summer 2007|url=http://www.rrj.ca/issue/2007/summer/696/}}</ref> After graduating from [[Ascension of Our Lord Secondary School]], he briefly studied radio broadcasting at Toronto’s [[Humber College]].

==Career==

===Radio===
In spring 1993, Stroumboulopoulos worked at rock radio in [[Kelowna, British Columbia]] for a few months before getting a job offer at the Toronto radio station [[CJCL|Fan 590]] AM, working in talk radio. He then moved to [[CFNY-FM]] to host various shows including ''Live in Toronto''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ho |first1=Christine |title=The Man Behind the Punk: Interview with George Stroumboulopoulos |url=http://www.happygrrls.com/features/george2.html |website=Happygrrls.com |access-date=1 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920094316/http://www.happygrrls.com/features/george2.html |archive-date=2012-09-20}}</ref>

===MuchMusic===
From 2000 to 2004, Stroumboulopoulos worked at [[MuchMusic]] as producer and host of ''[[The Punk Show]]'', then host of ''[[The NewMusic]]'', ''[[MuchLOUD]]'' and ''[[MuchOnDemand#News|MuchNews]]''.<ref name="cbc1">{{cite news |url= http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2004/11/12/Stroumboulopoulos041112.html |title=George Stroumboulopoulos departs MuchMusic |access-date=2009-12-11|publisher=CBC | date=November 12, 2004}}</ref>

===''The Greatest Canadian''===
In 2004, Stroumboulopoulos was featured on [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] television's ''[[The Greatest Canadian]]'' series as the advocate for [[Tommy Douglas]]. More than 1.2 million votes were cast over six weeks, as each of 10 advocates made their case for the top 10 nominees. George made a personal and passionate case for Tommy Douglas, Canada's "father of medicare", and Douglas was named the winner of the contest.

===''The Strombo Show''===
Stroumboulopoulos has hosted a long-running Sunday night [[talk radio]] show, ''[[The Strombo Show]]'' since 2005. Originally aired as a talk show on [[CFRB]] in [[Toronto]] and [[CJAD]] in [[Montreal]], the show moved to the Corus network in November 2007 and the format changed to one of mainly music. ''The Strombo Show'' broadcast from [[CFNY-FM|102.1 The Edge]]'s Toronto studio and on other radio stations in the [[Corus Entertainment]] network, including [[CFOX-FM]] in [[Vancouver]], [[CJKR-FM|Power 97]] in [[Winnipeg]], [[CFPL-FM|FM96]] in [[London, Ontario|London]] and [[CJXY-FM|Y108]] in [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]].

The show moved to [[CBC Radio 2]] on November 8, 2009 and continues as a music-oriented [[Freeform (radio format)|freeform]] radio [[talk show]].

===''George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight/The Hour''===
{{main|George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight}}
On January 17, 2005, the first episode of ''[[George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight|The Hour]]'' went to air. In the show's seventh season, in 2010, the show's name changed to ''George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight'', and it was shortened from one hour to half an hour. ''George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight'' was a hybrid of news and celebrity and covered everything from politics, pop culture, the environment, human rights, entertainment, sports and more. It won eight [[Gemini Award]]s. There are a range of guests on the show from world leaders to celebrities and politicians.<ref>Some of ''The Hour's'' more notable guests included: [[Gene Simmons]], [[Al Gore]], [[Sarah Palin]], [[Tony Bennett]], [[Tom Cruise]], [[Ricky Gervais]], [[Bono]], [[Jane Goodall]], [[Noam Chomsky]], [[Matt Damon]], [[Gordon Ramsay]], former Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]], former Prime Minister [[Brian Mulroney]], [[Tim Robbins]], [[Gore Vidal]], [[Spike Lee]], former U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Samuel L. Jackson]], [[Paul Anka]], [[Richard Branson]], [[Barbara Walters]], Former President of Mexico [[Vicente Fox]], [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], [[Larry King]], [[Bill Maher]], [[Bif Naked]], [[Adrien Brody]], [[Ted Danson]], NHL Commissioner [[Gary Bettman]], [[Chris Jericho]], [[Hulk Hogan]], [[Georges St-Pierre]], [[Dave Grohl]], [[Geddy Lee]] and [[Alex Lifeson]] of [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[The Smashing Pumpkins]], [[Coldplay]], [[Russell Peters]], [[Michael Bublé]], [[Tegan and Sara]], [[David Suzuki]], [[Stephen King]] and [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]]. On December 31, 2008 ''The Hour'' hosted a New Year's Eve Special and interviewed [[Sarah Palin]] from [[Fairbanks, Alaska]].</ref> The show concluded at the end of the 2013-2014 season as Stroumboulopoulos moved to [[Rogers Communications]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Brioux |first=Bill |title=Report: Strombo scores as Rogers' HNiC host |url=http://www.brioux.tv/2014/03/report-strombo-scores-rogers-hnic.html |access-date=March 10, 2014 |newspaper=brioux.tv |date=March 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310183716/http://www.brioux.tv/2014/03/report-strombo-scores-rogers-hnic.html |archive-date=March 10, 2014 }}</ref>

===''The One: Making a Music Star''===
{{Main|The One: Making a Music Star}}
In July 2006, Stroumboulopoulos hosted the American [[reality television]] talent show, ''The One: Making a Music Star'' that aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] in the United States, and [[CBC Television]] in Canada. It was advertised as a similar show to ''[[American Idol]]'' and ''[[Rock Star (TV series)|Rock Star]]'' but with the twist that contestants would "live together in a fully functioning music academy", with their actions documented similar to the ''[[Big Brother (TV series)|Big Brother]]'' format.

The show was reportedly the most expensive summer series in the history of the ABC network.<ref name="cbc_cancelled">[http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2006/07/28/the-one-cancelled.html Canadian version of The One still possible: CBC executive], CBC.ca, July 28, 2006</ref> Its first episode, on July 18, 2006, scored a low audience of 3.08 million viewers,<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/25/AR2006072501591.html 'One' Miserable Showing: 'Idol' Knockoff Sets a Record], John Maynard, ''[[The Washington Post]]'', July 26, 2006</ref> and subsequent episodes had even fewer viewers. The series was cancelled after just two weeks (four episodes) with the final results undecided on July 27, 2006 with no plans for any further episodes.

===''Stroumboulopoulos'' on CNN===
Stroumboulopoulos’ hour-long talk series for [[CNN]], ''Stroumboulopoulos'', aired during the late spring and the summer of 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Strombo comes to CNN|url=http://strombo.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/01/strombo-comes-to-cnn/|publisher=CNN|access-date=10 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911073739/http://strombo.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/01/strombo-comes-to-cnn/|archive-date=11 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name = "strombocnn">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2013/09/17/george_stroumboulopoulos_is_back_with_his_cbc_talk_show.html|title=George Stroumboulopoulos is back with his CBC talk show|work=[[Toronto Star]] |author=Tony Wong|date=September 17, 2013|access-date=December 29, 2013}}</ref> It was taped before a live audience in [[Los Angeles]], and featured interviews in a format similar to his CBC show.<ref>{{cite news|title=CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos to host CNN show|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2013/04/09/strombo-cnn.html|access-date=13 April 2013|newspaper=CBCNews|date=9 April 2013}}</ref> Sometimes, episodes did not air as scheduled.<ref name = "strombocnn"/> After airing seven episodes from June 14, 2013 to August 16, 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvlive.com/todays-news/2014/1/22/zucker-celebrates-1-year-at-cnn?dtoc|title=Zucker Celebrates 1 Year at CNN}}</ref> CNN did not renew the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/cbc-pulls-plug-on-george-stroumboulopoulos-tonight-as-host-rumoured-to-take-over-hnic/|title=CBC pulls plug on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight as its host leaves for hockey|publisher=canada.com|author=Jon Dekel|date=March 10, 2014|access-date=April 21, 2014}}</ref>

===''Hockey Night in Canada'' and move to Rogers===
On March 10, 2014, [[Rogers Media]], which had acquired [[NHL on Sportsnet|exclusive national media rights to the National Hockey League]], officially announced that Stroumboulopoulos would serve as the main host of ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'', beginning in October 2014, replacing [[Ron MacLean]]. Concurrently, CBC announced the cancellation of ''George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight'' after a 10-year run.<ref name=cp-stroumohnicofficial>{{cite news|title=Stroumboulopoulos named ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ host|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/stroumboulopoulos-to-take-over-for-maclean-as-new-host-of-hockey-night-in-canada/article17390692/|access-date=March 10, 2014|agency=Canadian Press|location=Toronto|work=The Globe and Mail|date=March 10, 2014}}</ref><ref name=cbcn-georgenhl>{{cite news|title=George Stroumboulopoulos to host Hockey Night in Canada next season|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/george-stroumboulopoulos-to-host-hockey-night-in-canada-next-season-1.2566664|work=CBC News|access-date=March 10, 2014}}</ref>

Strombo's role on ''Hockey Night'', which was part of an effort to appeal to younger viewers,<ref name=gandm-george>{{cite news|title=Rogers betting Stroumboulopoulos can grow HNIC's appeal|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/cbcs-stroumboulopoulos-to-host-hockey-night-in-canada/article17394956/|access-date=October 5, 2014|work=The Globe and Mail|date=March 10, 2014}}</ref> received mixed reception. Viewers surveyed upon his introduction felt that he was not a "credible" successor to Ron MacLean,<ref name=gandm-heretostay>{{cite news|title=Sorry Ron MacLean fans, George Stroumboulopoulos is here to stay|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/sorry-ron-maclean-fans-george-stroumboulopoulos-is-here-to-stay/article21548809/|access-date=March 16, 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> In a move which the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' speculated was meant to help re-gain viewership lost over the first two seasons of the contract (which was also credited to the poor performance of Canadian teams in the 2015-16 season),<ref name="torstar-stromboisout">{{cite web|title=Ron MacLean to replace Strombo on Hockey Night in Canada: Feschuk|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2016/06/19/ron-maclean-to-replace-strombo-on-hockey-night-in-canada-feschuk.html|website=Toronto Star|access-date=20 June 2016}}</ref> Sportsnet announced on June 27, 2016 that Stroumboulopoulos had been let go from Rogers, and that Ron MacLean would be reinstated.<ref name="sportsnet-macleanisback">{{cite web|title=Ron MacLean to host Hockey Night in Canada, with David Amber|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/ron-maclean-host-hockey-night-canada-david-amber/|website=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref>

===Apple Music===
Starting on August 18, 2020, George Stroumboulopoulos became the host for his new show called STROMBO on the newly created [[Apple Music 1|Apple Music Hits]] radio station on [[Apple Music]]'s live radio. The shows airs Monday to Thursday every week at 2:00pm (PST).<ref>{{Cite web|title=STROMBO on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/curator/strombo/1496683317}}</ref>

==Charity and public awareness==
Stroumboulopoulos and ''The Hour'' sponsored the 'One Million Acts of Green' Internet Website<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greennexxus.com |title=Welcome to GreenNexxus |publisher=Greennexxus.com |access-date=2011-02-19}}</ref> challenge, calling on Canadians to register environmental acts they've done. The campaign registered over 1.6 million acts on the website. George and his family<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greennexxus.com/viewproject.aspx?projectID=883 |title=Saving Water |publisher=GreenNexxus |access-date=2011-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711125218/http://www.greennexxus.com/viewproject.aspx?projectID=883 |archive-date=2011-07-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> have been devoted to this cause also supported by Dr. [[David Suzuki]].

Stroumboulopoulos has also been involved with numerous charitable initiatives, such as hosting the 'HipHop4Africa' Mandela Children's Fund Canada and CapAids February 2006 Toronto benefit. He has traveled to the Arctic for a special on literacy, youth culture and the loss of Inuit identity.  He has been to Sudan with War Child Canada, and Zambia for a World AIDS Day special documentary. He also supports Make Poverty History. He joined other prominent Canadians in sharing views on global issues in the March 2010 issue of ''Upstream Journal'' magazine.

He was executive producer and co-host of ''Canada for Haiti'' television with [[Cheryl Hickey]] and [[Ben Mulroney]] to help the humanitarian crisis in Haiti after a devastating earthquake.

He also presented at Vancouver's EPIC Expo in May 2011 where he showed support for [[Fair Trade]] and the work of Fair Trade Vancouver.

Stroumboulopoulos was selected by the [[United Nations]] [[World Food Programme]] (WFP) as an official ambassador in March, 2011, thus being named the first Canadian National Ambassador Against Hunger.

==Personal life==
George Stroumboulopoulos follows a [[vegan]] and [[straight edge]] lifestyle.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 19, 2017|url=http://uniter.ca/view/george-stroumboulopoulos-rebel-with-a-cause|title=George Stroumboulopoulos: Rebel with a cause|publication-date=February 21, 2013|first=Jessica|last=Botelho-Urbanski|location=Winnipeg, Canada|publisher=uniter.ca|magazine=The Uniter|volume=67|number=20|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204012655/http://uniter.ca/view/george-stroumboulopoulos-rebel-with-a-cause}}</ref> He is a [[sports fan|fan]] of the [[Montreal Canadiens]] hockey team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/player/Sports/Top%2BStories/ID/2353529822/|title=Hockey Night Online|publisher=[[CBC.ca]]|access-date=2013-03-22}}</ref>

==Awards==
{{update|section|date=September 2012}}
*''The Hour'' won six [[Gemini Awards]].
**In 2006 &ndash; Viewers Choice Award &ndash; Best Host
**In 2007 &ndash; Best Talk Series &ndash; Best Host &ndash; Best Production/Design
**In 2008 &ndash; Best Host
*Stroumboulopoulos  was awarded an [[honorary degree|honorary]] [[Doctor of Laws]], from the [[University of Calgary]] on November 13, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ucalgary.ca/news/october2007/convocation-advisory |title=Convocation: Nov. 13/07 &#124; University of Calgary |publisher=Ucalgary.ca |date=2007-10-22 |access-date=2011-02-19}}</ref>
*He was also awarded an honorary degree in Communications from [[Humber College]] in June, 2009.
*In September 2011, he received the inaugural 'Swarovski Humanitarian Award' at the 5th annual Playback Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame Gala in Toronto.
*On March 6, 2012, the World Economic Forum announced that he had been selected as a Young Global Leader (YGL) for 2012, and was one of three Canadians to receive the global honour.
*Nobel peace prize nominee for Top 5 under 50 for the humanitarian award sponsored by CBC 2021

He received a [[Canadian Screen Award]] nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Web Program or Series at the [[10th Canadian Screen Awards]] for his role in the comedy web series ''[[The Communist's Daughter]]''.<ref>Brent Furdyk, [https://etcanada.com/news/867531/2022-canadian-screen-awards-nominees-announced/ "2022 Canadian Screen Award Nominees Announced, ‘Sort Of’ & ‘Scarborough’ Lead The Pack"]. ''[[ET Canada]]'', February 15, 2022.</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Expand section|more works|date=July 2018}}
'''Radio and Television'''
*2000–2004: [[MuchMusic]] host (various shows)
*2010: ''[[The Strombo Show]]'' (radio show)
*2010: ''Canada for Haiti'' (TV Movie documentary)
*2005–2010: ''[[George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight|The Hour]]'' (TV series)
*2006: ''[[The One: Making a Music Star]]'' (talent show)
*2010–2015: ''[[George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight]]'' as host (TV series)
*2013: ''Stroumboulopoulos'' (CNN TV series)
*2014: ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]''
*2015: ''[[The Plateaus]]''
*2015: ''[[Being Canadian]]'' (documentary)
*2018: ''[[Design Canada]]'' (documentary)
*2021: ''[[The Communist's Daughter]]'' (web series)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Canada|Biography|Politics}}
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/ George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight] official website
*{{IMDb name|0835181}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stroumboulopoulos, George}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of supra-national bodies]]
[[Category:Canadian game show hosts]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Egyptian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian radio sportscasters]]
[[Category:Canadian talk radio hosts]]
[[Category:Canadian television sportscasters]]
[[Category:Canadian television talk show hosts]]
[[Category:CBC Radio hosts]]
[[Category:CBC Television people]]
[[Category:CNN people]]
[[Category:Humber College alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Much (TV channel) personalities]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:Participants in Canadian reality television series]]
[[Category:People from Mississauga]]
[[Category:World Food Programme people]]
[[Category:Canadian VJs (media personalities)]]