Yellow tape coming off Toronto playgrounds is huge news in these times. And the plan to resume full-time elementary school classes in September is close behind. Before that is the reopening of indoor bars and restaurants across nearly all of Ontario, although the return of live music clubs will remain elusive.
A movie made for big bubbles
With the phased reopening of Cineplex theatres given a nationwide go-ahead comes the question of how to draw patrons, beyond 1980s ticket prices, given how Hollywood basically cancelled its summer. It’s resulted in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run getting a Canadian theatrical release, while Americans wait to watch it at home.
Peel Regional Police vow to crack down on weekend house parties. News of three people shot at an Airbnb rental in Brampton, Ontario, followed reports of the 200-person party in that city that led Doug Ford to lament another bunch of yahoos. But social gatherings are now allowed to have 50 people indoors, or up to 100 outside.
Justin Trudeau made it through
The committee asked whether family ties to We Charity influenced the now-cancelled student grant program contract, and the PM responded with regret that he didn’t recuse himself from a role in arranging it. Questions from opposition MPs resulted in a feisty session, but a greater heat remains on We for what’s been gleaned about its workings:
“The radicalization of Seth Rogen.” An interview on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast to promote his upcoming movie An American Pickle gained plenty of headlines due to Rogen saying he was “fed a huge amount of lies about Israel” while growing up in Vancouver. But then he stuck to talking about his pottery hobby with Jimmy Fallon.
Finally, woof, woof, woof, woof
“Who Let the Dogs Out” has recently been the subject of a documentary film and an episode of the podcast 99% Invisible. But upon the 20th anniversary of the single by the Baha Men, whose barking hook originated with a radio commercial produced in Toronto, the record executive behind its release tells the story of how it became a hit:
