Rex Murphy is bad at his job and should be axed.
While that statement may seem like hyperbole, it’s not. Rex Murphy is a smart man and on occasion he stumbles across a salient point (though that may simply be the law of averages exacting its cruel vengeance on us), but there is one thing that he simply can not claim to be: a good radio host.
“Who’s Rex Murphy?” you might ask? Rex started his public life as a political pundit in Newfoundland, plaguing then-Premier Joey Smallwood with questions and criticism related to the government’s commitment on tuition levels. He successfully lobbied the government for change, and in the end he won out as tuition was delivered as promised. That moment may be the last time that Rex Murphy was relevant for anyone other than Rex Murphy.
Mr. Murphy went on to succeed as a failure when he ran for office not once, but thrice; proof that it was more Murphy that politics he managed to remain un-electable on both the conservative and liberal ticket.
He has wallowed in mediocrity for over thirty years, adding his “viewpoint” to The National on CBC TV. It is, however, his performance as a radio host that I am calling into question, with his weekly crucifixion of the CBC Radio mainstay Cross Country Checkup.
It’s not to say that he’s not trying, he’s just not very good. Every week the producers of the show pick topics that are relevant to Canadian and each week those topics are ignored as thousands of Canadians turn their radios off the moment the subject is handed to Murphy to introduce.
In a word, Rex Murphy is boring. I would suggest that his treatment of these topics is malicious, but I don’t think he’s capable of such cruelty. His droning voice is audibly sincere as he grinds through the topic over and over; asking the same question in up to a dozen slightly different but almost identical ways. He actively drives listeners to reach for the dial. I’ve done it myself; one moment I’m listening to the CBC and the next I’m curious as to why I’m singing along to oldies. The answer: Rex.
The second most recent Cross Country Checkup was a perfect example of this travesty. The topic was debt. Debt was the topic. It was debt which Rex wanted to talk about, debt that Canadians might be carrying too much of. Do you have too much debt? How do you feel about debt? Debt, debt, debt. Did I mention debt? I should ask a few more general, obvious questions about debt. I’m not sure that he actually had anything to say, but I do hope he has a decent long distance plan – it’s clear he was just phoning it in. You can listen to the episode here, but don’t do so while operating heavy machinery. You’ve been warned.
Cross Country Checkup could be an interesting, lively debate, fueled by strong personalities and interesting topics. Instead it’s a weekly assassination of the discussion-that-could-have-been by a man who has more business grumbling to his barber over an extremely short haircut (both in length and in length of time) rather than polluting national air waves with his un-material. Instead of wasting everyone’s time and tax dollars from 4-6 on Sundays the CBC should let Rex go quietly into that good night and simply play white noise instead. It would be more beneficial to all involved.
We should, however, be thankful. At least when he’s on Cross Country Checkup we don’t have to actually look at him. If ever there was a man with a face for radio, Rex Murphy is him. It’s just a pity that’s the only thing he has going for him in that space.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Graham Williams. Graham Williams said: Listening to my @cbcradio podcasts has driven me to pen. I hate Rex Murphy. http://twurl.nl/dzesvw [...]
Rex is not an efficient man. He’s got fourteen thesauruses open at any given moment, even at a mcdonald’s drive through. Do I want fries with that? Let me recount the history of agricultural development in Canada’s prairie heartland, young teenaged virgin…
And like that, Rex Murphy was the number one cause of teen suicide.
I abhor such limited and near sited perspective, if I dare use that word, of your like. Rex is, and has been one of the most well versed and impartial journalists and broadcaster in the lat 10 years of the lame stream media. How truly typical when you lefties don’t like being challenged or come to hate any that challenge you delusions. Oddly enough, delusions that he would welcome as part of a free and open discussion if only you could support your arguments with fact instead of hyperbole.
Kim, it really looks like you didn’t read the blog; you’re definitely attacking me and not the substance of it.
I didn’t address Rex’s impartiality, nor do I disagree with his viewpoints on the whole (I prefer to address people on a per-issue basis). You, on the other hand have gone right for the throat with “right wing” talking points (“your like”, “lefties”, “lame stream media”). Honestly, that’s a rather pathetic way to discuss things. I’m not a “lefty” by any means, so you’re clearly barking up the wrong tree there, and your personal attacks illustrate that you don’t actually have an argument here.
What I have said here, quite clearly, is that Rex Murphy is a terrible broadcaster. He’s boring, his style is painful to listen to, and for the good of Canadian airwaves, he should stop. I wouldn’t dare silence his viewpoints, I’d just prefer them to be carried by someone who doesn’t put me at risk of being a somnambulist.
So take it down a notch. Your attack is unwarranted, and quite frankly it’s what’s wrong with Canadian politics. If you want to rationally address the points I’ve made, that’s fine. If you want to call me names, that’s not so fine. Allons-y.