Thursday
Mar202008
Ten Years After
Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 7:57AM 
I have a plane ticket to Vancouver for this Monday. I was scheduled to fly there to tape Week 44 of The Lab with Leo. Except I'm not. After 645 Canadian episodes of Call for Help and The Lab, Rogers has decided to cancel the show.
It's a decision I can't help but agree with.
Our Australian affiliate, the How-To Network, had stopped running the show due to poor ratings. The Canadian ratings haven't been so hot, either. The slide began a year ago when Amber left the show. The entire staff left in January and I was left the last man standing. I'm not good with slow fades. It's time to move on.
Rogers is planning to replace it with a daily, live show which is, ironically, what Call for Help used to be, but unless I pack up and move to Canada there's no way I could host it, so we've parted ways amicably. I will always be grateful to them for keeping Call for Help alive these past four years. I have worked with many wonderful Canadians both in front of and behind the camera, many of whom will continue to be friends and partners as I segue into new ventures.
TV, like all performing arts, is full of transitions. It's graduation day over and over again. You know you'll see some people again, and you also know that others, many of whom have been close friends, will drift away never to been seen again. It's sad, but it's inevitable. Every new beginning is also the beginning of the end. I guess that's life.
There will be new shows through May; we were producing several months ahead. Repeats of both Call for Help and The Lab will continue indefinitely. Everything comes to an end except re-runs.
Call for Help launched on May 11, 1998. It was cancelled April 2004 and revived by Rogers two months later. Ten years after its birth, four years after its resurrection, and after nearly 2,000 shows, Call for Help is finally over.
Except, it's not. I'll talk about the next chapter tomorrow.
This is Call for Help the way it was meant to be - with a handsome young host (hey it was eight years ago!) and guests Martin Sargent and Andy Ihnatko.
tagged Call For Help, TV, The Lab in Blog, News
Call For Help, TV, The Lab in Blog, News
Reader Comments (176)
Like Danie above, I used to watch taped The Screensavers and Call for Help here in Net 25, a local channel here in the Philippines. That was 10 years ago. After I think a year or so, the local channel removed ZD/Tech TV replays in their show list. So I urged my mom to get a cable connection. But to my dismay, our local cable company doesn't have ZD/Tech TV channel. So I have to follow Leo and the other guys via the web only. Now, I never failed to listen to their podcasts at twit. To all the Canadians and other viewers of this show, I totally understand how you feel as I too lost my favorite show 10 years ago. Thanks to the net, we can still somehow view what we always wanted..
Leo and the other hosts were such big influence to me to the point that I graduated with a Computer Engineering degree. Now I work as a software engineer.
Thanks Leo and the other guys! Your the best!! Your memory lives on!
Just saw the video of the new TWIT Live digs? Awesome woodwork!
Here's to your success on TWIT Live.
Rogers are idiots and I bet they regret the whole thing when they see TWiT Live ;)
Caesar is dead! Long live Caesar!
I think sending a "stretch" to pick up the talent in SF is a v. good idea.... esp. since you will be having boozehounds like Kevin Rose!
So you've been taking cues from Tom Green... I was watching back before he "whipped" the technology into submission. Shouldn't be too hard to "borrow" what's working for him (bitgravity? SkypePro?)
Looking forward to future developments.... In the meantime I hope you don't mind me watching you eat your lunch!
-Richard
On demand TV (and audio) is where the world is headed. It's almost all I watch (and listen to).
Looking forward to the future.
Never in the field of technology was so much owed by so many to so few. Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
I still haven't gotten over the end of the Screen Savers... surely the best tech show ever on television. I didn't see much of CFH after it moved to Canada, but still feels like the end of an era. We still have plenty of Leo in plenty of places, but it is sad to see you removed from mainstream television all-together. Looking forward to the next incarnation Leo!
Leo,
I have been a big fan of yours for a long time. I have watched your tv shows and enjoyed the TWIT Network of Netcasts. I have been in the computer business over 20 years and I still manage to learn something from you.
Please keep up the good work on all the other projects which you are involved in.
Call for Help was one of the first shows I used to TiVo regularly.
I think you did so many Call For Helps that they all blend in together. I was proud that twice WinPatrol was featured on Call For Help but in a recent Twit broadcast you acted like you never heard of it?
http://twit.tv/ww43
Guess we're all getting old. :)
Thanks!
Bill Pytlovany
I keep watching things fade away,But,A rose may dis to bring forth more,so long line twit,,,
Everybody always says that all good things must come to an end but that does not mean that I have to agree. I remember when I could hardly turn on a computer. Now, thanks to Call For Help and The Lab I get calls from neighbors to help them with their computer problems. Leo,I have been a fan of your shows since the ZDNet days and will hope that someday we will see you back on TV. In the meantime, long live TWIT. Your show was the only reason I watched G4TV.
Thanks Leo........... it was a great run.
You kept me company thru a long illness, thru 5 computers (I actually learned something) and then you were gone from Tech TV and I never watched them again. If only I known you might be on the internet-I just got off dial up and now I can do anything. I have your books and was gonna donate them but sat up all night rereading last night. What a crazy way to feed insomnia. Keep on keeping on. I will be here.
Long Live Twit, what a great resource! I listen to episodes at work.
I loved Call for Help on old Tech TV.
I did try to catch Call for Help when visiting family in Toronto.
The problem was my wife's Uncle did not have it on his
cable line up. I did get to enjoy episodes on the web..
Twit is great and I listen to Leo on WMAL in Washington DC (only 3 hours a weekend (boo Hiss)) and at KFI on the web.
Thanks
Leo and keep up the good work.
Well, Leo, where to start. I was watching you on the big sattlelite dish years ago. Seemed like it was only you and kathy or katie, can't remember her name now, all day long and I would watch every minute I could. My brother in law worked for IBm and he would say, "Liz how did you learn that or where did you get that program?" and I would say, I watch Leo every day and then the channel went to gaming and I tried to follow on the internet, but I'm not a young woman anymor and I can't keep up with what goes on on the internet now a days. I listen to your radio show when I can, but seems like I miss it half the time. I live in Mississippi and we don't get Canadian TV, but I wish you had another show here in the US, I would surely watch it. I learned so much from watching you and from time to time I visit your webpage just to see where and what you are doing these days. You are like an old friend.
I am redoing my webpage from top to bottom. Just today I deleted everything on there and started over. I've had one up for years, but since it's genealogy, mostly, I try to keep it simple so folks my age can read and understand where I'm going with it.
Just one more thing, I hate Windows Vista. I don't know what Microsoft was thinking. Here I've spent money for years for programs and they won't work on Vista. I had to go back to XP.
I'll be looking for you on my TV.
Liz
Well, there's nothing good on TV anyway, you're blessed to get out while you can. Feed the niche!
You taught me a lot.
Best wishes to you Leo our friend !! Your a great man of inspiration !! You have inspired me through the years and should be very proud of Call For Help and all you and the great staff have accomplished on our computer woesss and other topics. Better things are on the horizon I'm sure for you. One thing in communications I have learned all good broadcasting shows end in time, but you keep the talanted friends, co-workers, and fun memories with you in your heart as you continue into lifes new broadcasting adventures. All my best friend and thank you for everything you do :)
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Hi, Leo,
It's fun watching these two "Call for Help" videos. Man, I have missed watching TechTV these past for years. I retired in September 2001. I watched "Call for Help" and "The Screensavers" every day. I learned so much from you.
Good luck to you, Leo! See you on the radio!
Your buddy,
George Spink
Los Angeles
Leo I miss the days of tech tv for sure and have missed seeing you in a video oriented show since you haven't done anything in the states for a while. I truly can't wait for your new video shows and I know you will truly continue to innovate and revolutionize audio and video on the internet. You have always been a truly incredible inspiration and make me happy to work in the tech industry.
Thanks for your time Leo. I was on the show twice as a call in...thanks for coming up to Canada and being a great American Ambassador. Your welcome back at any time.....
Leo & Team
All the best for the future. I'm from Sydney. You and your team (and guests) taught me so much about technology in a fun and entertaining way. Not only the basics of how things are done but to give me confidence to "give it a go".
Please keep everyone informed about any future shows that may be in the pipeline. I have started visiting all of your other sites.
I have already phoned Foxtel to voice my disgust at their decision to axe the show!
Hope to se you soon.
Regards,
Bob
Leo I have watched your shows since ZDTV many moons ago. I am close to retirement now and I want you to know that you had a strong infuence on my life. I enjoyed and learned so much from you and your friends, that I went into the IT field as a profession. I am working for the US Post Office as a Computer/Network Tech. I am an avid listener of Security Now on the net.
I think the World is a little Poorer from the loss of your shows. The only bright spot is the Podcasts, I hope you can make them until they shovel the last bit of dirt on my coffin.
GOD BLESS YOU
Who could be upset that a TV show will be Replaced by an even better Video Podcast. I barely watch tv anymore any ways. See you on TWIT...
Hey Leo,
Kind of a sad day in a way, but it is just a form of evolution. I owe you alot about what I learned from you and the others on ZDTV Call for Help & on down the line... when one day I stumbled on the that station some years ago. You made it easy to understand and in some strange way, made it fun. That kind of work is a labor of LOVE, and not for everyone. And though it is entertaining to the tech community, it does not fit with the broadcast idea of the masses that sports and reallity shows seem to draw. Not that I agree with that decision at all, but things change, nothing lasts forever but those first shows were classics and I will always remember them as well as the previous posts pointed out. It seems as though computers are starting to disappear into "gadgets". iphones etc. have been slowly changing the way we comunicate. Before we know it, computers will fade to devices that we will just operate with no need to reboot, or restore, defrag, or upgrade. It will just do it. Which will leave us more time to watch you on TWIT so you can fill us in on those changes.
Keep up the good work Leo. We'll keep tuned to you where ever you are. Atleast now I know where to get my Leo fix.
Even if we are in the minority, we are stronger together.
Thanks again LEO! God Bless ya!
Harry L