"The Point": inane, dull, pointless

Among the many casualties of the recently announced funding cuts at the CBC is CBC Radio's "The Point", a debate program hosted by Aamer Haleem, broadcasted on weekday afternoons.

One of the strengths of radio is the quick turnaround time and within hours of learning of their program's projected demise, "The Point" panelists du jour, Heather Mallick and Fazil Mihlar, were discussing the show's fate, under the pretense of discussing "public broadcasting in a recessionary era".

In the awkward conversation that followed, Mallick played the role of a jilted lover. One could imagine Mallick on a post-breakup bender as she spoke of burning bridges now that she would no longer be employed by the CBC. It was a overstated claim since the last debacle Mallick involved the CBC in resulted in an apology by CBC on her behalf (see 2008 Controversy) but no apparent severing of ties.

Later, while on the inane topic of whether Canada is boring, Mallick asked why Canadians find people who try to be provocative (read: interesting), such as herself, annoying. The answer was so ripe with possibilities and yet, one answer covers both the panelist and the show: an outrageous statement without substance is not provocative; it is annoying. Unfortunately, Haleem let a good opportunity go to waste, which is exactly why "The Point" is such milquetoast programming, in spite of labelling itself "provocative".

I do not object to CBC cutting drivel like "The Point" and its defunct predecessor "Freestyle", both featuring light weight banter with hipster musical accompaniment. Even under the shadow of an axe, Haleem and his cohorts continue to chatter about tangential topics that they know nothing about in the most flippant manner possible. With all the ignorance of shock radio but without the bite, "The Point" is pointless.