Telemiracle
Telemiracle | |
---|---|
Logo for Telemiracle 33 | |
Genre | Telethon |
Presented by | Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation |
Opening theme | You are the Miracle by Brad Johner and Donny Parenteau |
Ending theme | O Canada |
Country of origin | Canada |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 40 (as of 2016) |
Production | |
Location(s) |
Saskatoon or Regina (alternating) |
Running time | 20 or 21 hours (with 30-minute break for national news) |
Release | |
Original network |
CTV Saskatchewan (1977-present) CBC Saskatchewan (1977-?) |
Original release | 1977 – Present |
External links | |
Website |
Telemiracle is an annual telethon organized by the Kinsmen and Kinettes in Saskatchewan, Canada for the benefit of the Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation. Initially broadcast on both CTV and CBC affiliates in Saskatchewan, it is now broadcast, commercial-free, exclusively on the province's CTV affiliates. Generally broadcast the first weekend of March, the 40th edition took place in Regina on March 5 and 6, 2016. Telemiracle 41 will take place in Saskatoon on March 4 and 5, 2017.
History
Originally, the Kinsmen had the idea to have a car raffle to raise funds to help with all the requests for assistance they received but the government wouldn't allow it. So instead, they came up with the idea for a telethon. In 1977, the first telethon raised more than CAD $1 million, which at the time was considered a record for per capita telethon fund-raising in a 20-hour period (the province had a population of only about 1 million people at the time). The telethon passed the $2 million mark for the first time in 1983, and the $3 million mark in 2001. Telemiracle has exceeded the $4 million mark seven times and $5 million five times, most recently in 2016.
Early broadcasts of the telethon featured a mix of national and international celebrities such as the late John Allan Cameron, Gloria Loring, Alan Thicke, the Irish Rovers, Arte Johnson of Laugh-In, Bob McGrath of Sesame Street, game show personality Jim Perry, his daughter Erin Perry, singer and TV host Blake Emmons (who was the telethon's de facto host during the first few years, a post later taken over by Thicke in the 1980s), pianist Frank Mills and Saskatchewan-born motivational speaker Alvin Law. In recent years, the event has mostly attracted Canadian talent. Traditionally, the telethon alternates between the two major Saskatchewan cities of Saskatoon and Regina.
Bob McGrath, a regular fixture on Telemiracle for over 30 years, was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan for this work by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Lynda Haverstock, on March 3, 2006.[1] He announced during the 2015 telethon that it would be his last.
Telemiracle 31 (2007), the first telethon to exceed the $5,000,000 pledge total, broke all previous records, with an official final total of $5,604,682. This record was shattered in 2012 (Telemiracle 36) with a final total of $5,906,229. A $1.4 million bequest—the largest pledge, bequest or otherwise, in the telethon's history—contributed to the 2012 total.
A scheduling mixup resulted in Telemiracle 32 being relocated to Saskatoon in 2008. A convention was booked in Regina for the days leading up to the telethon, meaning that the usual setup time was not available. Telemiracle was held in Saskatoon for 3 consecutive years. The telethon returned to Regina in 2010.[2]
Format
Shown annually on CTV affiliates, the broadcast starts at 9 pm local time on the first Saturday in March (though for the first half of its history, it was scheduled in February). The broadcast goes live to the host auditorium, where members of the national cast are introduced.
The previous theme was Mike + The Mechanics' 1986 hit "All I Need is a Miracle", it was replaced in 2011 with You are the Miracle by Brad Johner and Donny Parenteau.
With the exception of viewers in the Lloydminster area, the broadcast takes its only break, at 11pm local time to allow for the CTV affiliates to broadcast the CTV National News. The telethon (and live broadcast) continues during this 30 minute news break and at 11:30pm stations that aired the newscast once again rejoin the broadcast until the conclusion of the show on Sunday evening at 5pm local time. The broadcast always concludes with O Canada and a balloon and confetti drop during which time some of the volunteers take to the stage to celebrate; up through 2010, a rendition of With a Little Help from My Friends was included with the closing festivities.
For the first time in 2009 the show went to other various locations in Saskatchewan outside of Saskatoon or Regina. It went to many of the smaller towns and cities across the province showcasing what the local residents have done to raise money. The practice continued in 2010.
Telemiracle was streamed online on CTV's website for the first time in 2010.
While the show is now carried only on Saskatchewan CTV stations, the production crew is composed of approximately 200 volunteers representing several broadcast networks, many travelling from outside of the province.
Annual totals
Telemiracle's website doesn't display the annual totals and they don't set annual goals, but their FAQ notes that the telethon raised over $111 million [3] through Telemiracle 39 in 2015, an amount that includes the $5,604,682 raised by Telemiracle 31 in 2007 and record-setting $5,906,229 at Telemiracle 36 in 2012.
At the 37th Telemiracle in 2013, the Kinsmen and Kinettes were proud to announce that the lifetime total for Telemiracle had surpassed 100 million dollars. Telemiracle has an all-time total raised of $116,869,064.
Year | Telemiracle | Host City | Total |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | 40 | Regina | $5,200,071 |
2015 | 39 | Saskatoon | $4,312,457 |
2014 | 38 | Regina | $5,285,744 |
2013 | 37 | Saskatoon | $5,546,712 |
2012 | 36 | Regina | $5,906,229 |
2011 | 35 | Saskatoon | $4,635,768 [4] |
2010 | 34 | Regina | $4,010,314[5] |
2009 | 33 | Saskatoon | $3,802,308 |
2008 | 32 | Saskatoon | $3,648,310 |
2007 | 31 | Saskatoon | $5,604,682 |
2006 | 30 | Regina | $3,491,538 |
2005 | 29 | Saskatoon | $3,440,296 |
2004 | 28 | Regina | $3,528,410 |
2003 | 27 | Saskatoon | $3,027,912 |
2002 | 26 | Regina | $3,026,723 |
2001 | 25 | Saskatoon | $3,515,611 |
2000 | 24 | Regina | $2,683,424 |
1999 | 23 | Saskatoon | $2,500,562 |
1998 | 22 | Regina | $2,546,637 |
1997 | 21 | Saskatoon | $2,740,578 |
1996 | 20 | Regina | $2,306,420 |
1995 | 19 | Saskatoon | $2,451,783[6] |
1994 | 18 | Regina | $2,126,734 |
1993 | 17 | Saskatoon | $2,114,688 |
1992 | 16 | Regina | $2,003,610 |
1991 | 15 | Saskatoon | $1,825,092 |
1990 | 14 | Regina | $1,803,177 |
1989 | 13 | Saskatoon | $1,965,721 |
1988 | 12 | Regina | $2,470,577 |
1987 | 11 | Saskatoon | $2,085,785 |
1986 | 10 | Regina | $2,004,367 |
1985 | 9 | Saskatoon | $2,012,424 |
1984 | 8 | Regina | $1,920,215 |
1983 | 7 | Saskatoon | $2,010,120 |
1982 | 6 | Regina | $1,902,480 |
1981 | 5 | Saskatoon | $1,800,924 |
1980 | 4 | Regina | $1,551,837 |
1979 | 3 | Saskatoon | $1,401,422 |
1978 | 2 | Regina | $1,443,092 |
1977 | 1 | Saskatoon | $1,214,210 |
Notable guests
National and international
- Susan Aglukark - Canadian country music, folk, pop, and Aboriginal artist
- The Arrogant Worms - Canadian band
- Victoria Banks - Canadian country singer-songwriter and musician
- Barra MacNeils - Celtic and folk band from the Maritimes
- Jaydee Bixby - Runner up on season five of Canadian Idol
- Tracey Brown - country music singer/songwriter (Family Brown, Prescott Brown fame)
- Tal Bachman - Canadian rock singer and songwriter. Son of Randy Bachman
- Billy Barty (1924–2000) - "B-Movie" legend, stage and film actor (a Telemiracle regular up to the time of his death)
- Paul Brandt - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Lisa Brokop - Canadian Country music singer-songwriter
- Kale Brown - soap actor (Another World)
- Jim Byrnes - blues musician and actor
- John Allan Cameron (1938–2006) - Canadian folk singer
- Glory-Anne Carriere - Musician
- George Canyon - Canadian country singer-songwriter and musician
- Rita Chiarelli - Blues singer-songwriter and musician
- Burton Cummings - Singer-songwriter, musician, and former band member of The Guess Who
- Bobby Curtola - Canadian rock and roll singer
- Leah Daniels - Canadian country singer
- Melanie Doane - Fiddle player, singer-songwriter
- Doc Walker - Canadian country band
- Blake Emmons - Singer and TV host
- Farmer's Daughter - Canadian country music trio
- Gary Fjellgard - Singer-songwriter, originally from Rose Valley
- Sue Foley - Blues singer-songwriter and guitarist
- George Fox - Canadian country music singer-songwriter and musician
- Lance Frazier - Professional football player
- Lawrence Gowan - Canadian singer
- Adam Gregory - Canadian country singer-songwriter and musician
- Harlequin - Canadian rock band
- Rolf Harris - comedian, singer/songwriter ("Jake the Peg," "Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport" fame)
- Kelita Haverland - Canadian singer
- Jeff Healey (1966 - 2008) - Canadian jazz, rock, blues, and hard rock singer-songwriter and musician
- Headpins - Canadian rock band
- The Heartbroken - Canadian country music band
- The Higgins - Canadian country, rock, and pop band
- High Valley - Canadian country and Christian band
- Justin Hines - Canadian pop singer
- Honeymoon Suite - Canadian rock/pop rock band
- Irish Rovers - Celtic and folk group
- Carly Rae Jepsen - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Arte Johnson - Laugh-In cast member
- Marc Jordan - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Michael Kaeshammer - Canadian boogie-woogie pianist, vocalist, composer, and arranger
- Joan Kennedy - Canadian country music singer
- Richard Kline - Actor (Three's Company)
- Lace - Canadian country music group
- Gloria Loring - Singer, actress
- Rita MacNeil - Canadian country music, Celtic, and folk singer
- Beverley Mahood - Canadian country singer and CMT Canada personality
- Charlie Major - Canadian country music singer-songwriter and musician
- Bob McGrath - Sesame Street cast member who has taken part in 38 of 39 Telemiracles; [7] announced his retirement from the series in 2015[8]
- Jason McCoy - Canadian singer-songwriter and musician
- Frank Mills - Pianist
- Alannah Myles - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Sierra Noble - Canadian fiddler, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist
- One More Girl - Canadian country duo
- Stella Parton - sister to Dolly Parton, country singer/songwriter
- The Northern Pikes - Canadian rock band
- Jim Perry - former game show host
- Prescott-Brown - Canadian country music trio
- Ronnie Prophet - Canadian country music singer-songwriter and musician
- Jimmy Rankin - Canadian country, folk singer-songwriter, and musician
- Matt Rapley - Canadian R&B and gospel singer-songwriter and musician
- Johnny Reid - Country musician and singer-songwriter
- Lloyd Robertson - CTV National News anchor
- Steve Schnetzer - soap opera actor (Another World)
- Amy Sky - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Sally Spencer - soap actress (Another World)
- Alan Thicke - Actor and game show host
- Shari Ulrich - Canadian singer-songwriter
- Valdy - folk singer-songwriter
- The Wilkinsons - Canadian country music group
- Jim Witter - Singer-songwriter and musician
- Michelle Wright - Canadian country singer
Saskatchewan
- Kevin Arcand - Singer-songwriter and musician
- Sheldon Bergstrom - Singer and actor
- Carrie Catherine - Saskatoon-born singer
- Kim Coates - Saskatoon born actor
- HOJA - Canadian a cappella quartet
- Tom Jackson - Aboriginal singer, musician, and actor
- Colin James - Regina-born Canadian blues legend
- Brad Johner - Country singer-songwriter and musician
- Connie Kaldor - Singer-songwriter, musician, and children' author
- Chad Klinger - country music artist, grew up in Lashburn
- Candace Lacina - Saskatoon-based singer
- Melanie Laine - Saskatchewan country music artist
- Deborah Lauren - country music artist, grew up in Yorkton
- Alvin Law - motivational speaker
- Tyler Lewis - 2006 Canadian Idol finalist
- Little Miss Higgins - Blues singer-songwriter and musician
- Andrea Menard - Actor, singer-songwriter, playwright
- Donny Parenteau - Singer-songwriter, musician, and multi-instrumentalist
- Kyle Riabko - Saskatoon guitarist and singer-songwriter
- Saskatchewan Express - A group of young singers and performers
- Kenny Sheilds - Canadian singer of the band Streetheart
- Theresa Sokyrka - 2004 Canadian Idol runner up
- Streetheart - Canadian rock band
- Streetnix - A cappella group
- Pamela Wallin - Television personality and diplomat
- Craig Wilson - News reporter and anchor for CFQC-TV
See also
References
- ↑ News Releases - Government of Saskatchewan
- ↑ "Telemiracle returns to Regina in 2010". CJME.
- ↑ "Telemiracle FAQ". Telemiracle. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
- ↑ "Telemiracle is truly a miracle". CTV. 2011-03-06. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
|first1=
missing|last1=
in Authors list (help) - ↑ Grummett, Danny (2010-03-07). "Saskatchewan Performs Another Miracle". CJME. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
- ↑ "Saskatchewan Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. 1996-03-04.
- ↑ MacClean, Rory (March 5, 2011). "Telemiracle starts today, features Andrea Menard". The StarPhoenix. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Retrieved 03-10-11. Check date values in:
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(help) - ↑ "Bob McGrath gives tearful goodbye at Telemiracle fundraiser". CBC News. 2015-03-08. Retrieved 2015-03-09.