Global Puts on the Ritz in a Hurry

When Global Television Network last month got the go-ahead to launch Entertainment Tonight Canada, a Canadian version of Entertainment Tonight (ET), it quickly contacted its PR agency, Holmes Creative Communications. The air date of the first episode was coming up in just over two weeks, and Global needed to get the show's promotional wheels in motion. Given only six days to plan a media event, Holmes' director of events and promotions Maureen McTague quickly selected the Drake Hotel as the venue.
Aware that the new show would bring news about the biggest Canadian and international stars to a mainstream audience, Global opted for elegant decor, starting with a red carpet from Robinson Show Services running from the building's front entrance down to the lower-level event space and right up to the stage. The desired upscale look was further achieved with billowing panels of white fabric draped from the ceiling and white fabric hung from the walls. Westbury National Show Systems used gobos to shine images of the Canadian flag all around. Other design touches included fresh blooms from Poppies, ET-branded mini bottles of Mo?t Champagne, and a black and white colour scheme for the stage.

The breakfast event was attended by Cheryl Hickey, a longtime Global reporter and the newly appointed host of ET Canada, as well as its team of four reporters, including Rick Campanelli, known as "The Temp" during his lengthy tenure as a MuchMusic VJ, and Kim D'Eon, formerly a reporter for CBC Television's The Hour. The spread included mini Caesar shrimp cocktails, duck confit with chanterelle mushrooms and chevre savory crepes, mini crab benedict, banana pancakes with warm chocolate ganache, and lobster and blue crab with fresh mango. The most popular items were the mini apple-juice shooters with tiny apple strudels and the orange-juice shooters topped with orange poppy-seed muffins.

—Robyn Small

Photos: Keith Pace Asciak