Farewell, Andy Barrie

[Bob1370]

Andy Barrie announced on CBC Radio One this morning (2/1) that he's going to retire at the end of this month after more than thirty years on the air in Toronto, the last 15 of them anchoring Radio One's Metro Morning.

He says he will have a continuing, although considerably scaled back, role at CBC, and plans to stay in the Toronto area--but his morning slot will be open for the first time in a decade and a half. His deprture isn't totally unexpected since he is turning 65, the normal CBC retirement age, and he's gone public with the fact that he's been battling health issues including early-stage Parkinson's. The passing of his wife last year after a battle with cancer must have taken a toll as well. Nevertheless, his large and loyal audience (at or near the top of the BBMs in morning drive in Toronto year after year) probably expected him to be around a while longer.

He'll be much missed.

CBC hasn't announced who will replace him.

He'll be a tough act to follow.

Anyone have any thoughts as to who could step in, without disappointing the CBC audience?

[Yeziknoradio]

I think they may stick with someone already employed with the CBC, like Marsha Lederman, for example.

Marsha has done talk shows before for Talk 640 Toronto, so she is no stranger to the talk radio scene, but respectfully, she's also just one example of who could replace Andy Barrie. There may be many more...

[Bob1370]

CBC announced they're moving Matt Galloway up from the afternoon drive Here and Now program to host Metro Morning starting next month. Galloway's a lot younger (39 vs. Barrie's 65) and presumably CBC brass expect this to be a very long term solution for mornings--maybe not as long as Wally Crouter at CFRB (who lasted from the 40s all the way to the 90s), but if Galloway can stand those 3:30 AM wakeup calls, 20-25 years isn't out of the question.

IMHO, Galloway's on-air style is reminiscent of Joe Cote's, so he'll probably wear well with the CBC morning audience. 

That plugs the opening left by Andy Barrie's retirement, but opens up a hole in the CBC Radio One afternoon schedule, where Galloway had been hosting and performing well in the BBMs. It'll be interesting to see who they bring in for that gig. Is there anyone in house who's a logical successor to Galloway, the way Galloway (who was Barrie's principal vacation fill-in recently) was for Barrie? Or will they look elsewhere in the CBC system, maybe pull someone into Toronto from another CBC station elsewhere in Canada--or even recruit from commercial radio, the way they got Barrie from CFRB 15 years ago?

[listener-in]

Andy Barrie’s career is a lesson on how to deliver the spoken word over the air.  His manner is almost a throwback to radio as it used to be, and he will be missed.  He respects his listeners and guests, and asks probing questions without patronizing or insulting.  That, by the way, should be standard operating procedure, station managers and talk personalities please note.  It seems that too many of them check their good manners in at the door when they get to work – surely they don’t act that way all the time, do they?

God speed to you , Andy.