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Rob Ford and his brother Doug are taking their new found fame — some would say infamy — to the world.
No sooner had Maclean’s magazine named Toronto’s controversial mayor its “newsmaker of the year” Thursday then his sibling Councillor Doug Ford made an announcement of his own.
He revealed the pair intends to start a new show on YouTube next month and we’re all invited to watch.
This follows what he calls interest from everyone from Dr. Phil to Oprah asking the brothers to co-operate in a reality concept show.
“There’s a massive market in the U.S.,” Doug Ford said confidently.
The plan is to go straight over the heads of traditional media, City Hall reporters, critics and supporters by reaching out to fresh online audiences.
Their program’s working title: Ford Nation.
This was also the name of their briefly lived television segment on Sun News that set viewer records for the fledgling network.
Some are already impressed with the possibilities.
“The Fords are perhaps becoming the Kardashians of Canada,” Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly said when asked about the possible Ford reality show.
What better place to road test the concept of this new vehicle for the Fords but Nathan Phillips Square in front of City Hall.
Who will be watching?
You can count Andrew Thomas of Etobicoke out.
“No, I am just not interested at all,” Thomas said. “I grew up in Toronto and lived for a while in Vancouver before returning.
“On the whole I am not a fan of the Ford family. I agree this city seems to run OK but they could do more, the whole council could do better.
“Roads and infrastructure are falling to bits. That won’t be helped by a show on YouTube.
“I also have the feeling sometimes that the world isn’t laughing with Toronto but at it, at us. More of the Fords won’t help that.”
Rachel Kornhaber is not so sure. She is a tourist from Sydney, Australia and visiting friends in Canada’s biggest city.
She said Rob Ford is “huge” in Australia and she would happily watch him and his brother.
“What fantastic psychodrama, what a cast, yes, I love it!” she said. “Everyone has seen Rob Ford back home in Australia and I really think he would be a hit anywhere.
“Talk about the best free show in town. The Ford family follies would be a must-watch.”
Laoise Renwick is another visitor. She hails from Ireland. Renwick says she heard about Rob Ford “before I even stepped on the plane to leave Dublin” but is not going to be part of the target audience.
“No, I don’t think so really. I am sure it would be appealing in a car crash TV sort of way, maybe even mildly hypnotic, but not for me.
“I have a few other things going on in my life. Watching Rob Ford and his brother isn’t one of them.”
The last word goes to Tim Carter. The tourist from the English midland city of Nottingham also heard plenty about Rob Ford before he left the U.K.
“You couldn’t avoid him really. He was on so many late night TV shows,” he said.
Carter is sitting on the fence when it comes to the YouTube production and is not committing himself either way.
“Yes, Rob Ford is a global phenomenon but that doesn’t mean he will be ‘must see’ when he goes live and unscripted.
“Don’t forget it won’t be like a radio show where people call in.
“He will just be talking with his brother. That doesn’t make for very watchable TV. In fact it might just send people to sleep so I am undecided.”
There is one advantage of YouTube.
“If you don’t like them, you can turn them off,” Carter concluded.
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