Here's an idea.  Tamara Stanners is the new APD for the New PEAK station under Pattison's umbrella.  She worked with those guys in the day...maybe she'll hire them as the stations morning duo.  

While I sometimes felt Simi was too one sided on her political ramblings, there is no doubt their chemistry was fantastic and they will be sorely missed. Hasn't Simi been there for nearly 20 years?

Well, I guess I won't be watching CityTV anymore. In my opinion Dave & Simi BT was the only thing going for them. I'll never understand why stations think their ratings will improve dramatically by canning and replacing talent so often, while stations like Global remain familiar and do well! Hmm, gee, I wonder if that's just a coincidence.

Quoted from FRED

Here's an idea.  Tamara Stanners is the new APD for the New PEAK station under Pattison's umbrella.  She worked with those guys in the day...maybe she'll hire them as the stations morning duo.  

I'd listen!

Dave is talented, sad to see him go.
Simi yaps too much, interrupts too much.  Glad to see her gone.

Breakfast Television co-hosts fired by Citytv

Show will continue, but go 'in a different direction,' manager says

Doug Ward, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, August 14, 2008

VANCOUVER I Citytv Vancouver has fired Simi Sara and Dave Gerry as co-hosts of its Breakfast Television show, which has been unable to erode Global BC's dominance in the morning time period in the Vancouver market.

Seven other Citytv staff, including Bruce Dawson, director of the Breakfast Television show, were also laid off Wednesday.

Sara and Gerry were named hosts of Breakfast Television in 2005. Sara has worked at the Citytv station since 1993. Gerry has been at the station for 20 years, handling news, features and comedy.

Citytv station manager Geoff Poulton said the show will remain on the air and the station will be introducing new local programming in six to 10 months.

"Over the last two months we've come to the conclusion that we want to take the show in a different direction," said Poulton.

He said the morning show's new approach and new hosts will be decided in the next few months.

The Citytv station has been owned by Rogers Media since October 2007. Local versions of Breakfast Television, also known as BT, air on Citytv stations in other major Canadian cities, including Toronto, where it is the No. 1 morning show.

But Breakfast Television in Vancouver has failed to dent Global BC's substantial lead in the morning time period, said Poulton.

"Global owns breakfast morning television in Vancouver and has approximately three times the audience we do," said Poulton. "We're second, although a fairly distant second."

Poulton said it is difficult for a young show like Breakfast Television to compete with Global BC's Morning News show, which has dominated the market for many decades.

"Global was the news leader when I was eight," said Poulton, now 44. "It's difficult to make significant inroads into that arena because of the habits people have formed."

The original hosts of Breakfast Television in Vancouver were Michael Eckford and Fiona Forbes. They were replaced by Shane Foxman and Beverly Mahood, who were then replaced by Sara and Gerry.

The station first went on the air in 1976. It was formerly known as CKVU, VU-13 and U.TV and has had a variety of owners. Local programming has shrunk over time, with Breakfast Television now its only in-house show.

"It's a much tougher business than it was a decade ago and that has forced all competitors to evaluate their programming," said Poulton.

He said local spot advertising in conventional television across Canada is down for the first time in 17 years.

Spot television revenue in the Vancouver and Victoria markets as of May 2008 was down 2.4 per cent from the previous year. Total spot television in all of Canada was down two per cent over the same period, he added. And the marketplace has changed.

"When I was eight years old, there was no Internet, no YouTube, no Facebook. When you wanted news you found it on Global or you read The Sun or The Province or listened to the radio.

"Fast-forward to today, and even before the news is on the air, it's on YouTube or some other form on the web."

http://www.canada.com/vancouve.....97-86af-a79ebcc83b91

My wife and I have watched Simi and Dave every morning for at least 2 years now and this is quite surprising. They had a great chemistry   and in my opinion made watching the local news much more enjoyable. We will both miss them   , and I for one will most likely not watch CityTV because there really wasn't much else to see on this channel, but mainly because Simi, Dave and the others deserved better than to be let go in such a cold hearted way   . The world is changing, but is it for the better?  

When that Simi Sara / Dave Gerry concept was launched, I thought Gerry was hopelessly miscast as a part of a morning duo. Over the years, I think he has come miles in growing into the role that I think City TV first envisioned. Simi is a real pro, a good interviewer and a good reported. Gerry is a genuinely funny guy and now has some solid on-camera experience if he wants to keep going in that direction. I think they could both go to radio and do well. As bland as Colliar and Darling seem, millions of viewers still have their TV dials soldered to Global and nothing has been able to budge them off it. City TV gave it a good shot, but the numbers aren't there.

this is really too bad.

It takes time to change people's established habits with thier news.  My folks are huge Global watchers, but my old man started getting into the BT show.  he likes Dave and thought he was hilarious.  I agree, put Dave on the radio in AM drive... he'd start with at least one 50 something male Vancouver executive.

They were a great team almost married like.

Dave Garry is kind of a hero to me.  If you get a chance to watch some of his old features, they truly are brilliant.  Because they were on CKVU-UTV, etc...nobody ever saw them.  He was the funny version of Mike McCartell, and never laughed at himself.   Deadly serious, totally committed...I think one of the most under-rated talents this city has ever seen.

I hope he pops up again...and I think he could last years and years on radio.

Get the 5 minute hit of news from Global, then go to CITY-TV for the human interest/lifestyles stuff on BT.  That USED to be my routine.  I just laugh every time Princess Fiona and Les Nesman over at Global Morning try to do their version of BT, it's so LAME.  Their little fashion show the other day from Canada Place took the cake.  The morning Global News went "green" was equally LAME.  The interaction between Lynn and Steve is so cardboard.  

As for the topic of this thread, I'm sure Dave and Simi will land on their feet somewhere else.  I remember watching some of the priceless "bits" Dave used to do on U Tonight and the daily "bit" he used to do with Frosty Forst plugging his "human interest" story to come later on City's 6pm news.   Simi's got a warm, believable personality....she'll do well too...Simi would do well to approach the folks at the "W" network, see if she can't start a food/nutrition version of "The Shopping Bags."

Wasn't it Billy Joel who sang..."Ony the good get fired"...(my apologies to Billy)...Very sorry to hear that Dave and Simi were shown the door...I was fortunate to have worked with Dave and was there at good ole CKVU in his first few days...I'll never forget his arrival from the East when we did the "Summer Madness Bikini Contest" from the Expo grounds in '85...he was priceless...his comedy made me laugh so many times...such a great sense of humour...One of his best routines was his spoof of "Miami Vice"...great television.  I do like the suggestions here about putting Dave and Simi on radio...I agree, their chemistry together would be a good fit.  To Dave and Simi, best of luck in your next steps, whether they are together or separate, your futures are bright...And how could I forget the people behind the scenes...(been there, got fired)...I should never forget them...they are just as important as the people you see every morning...Sorry to hear that Bruce Dawson got caught up in the sweep as well...Bruce had been at 180 West 2nd for well over 20 years...a hard dedicated worker, and not a bad hockey player either...Good luck to you Bruce and all the other production people sent packing...

O-kaaaay.  Here goes.  I know I'm gonna get crucified here but I have to say  it.  What took CiTso long? I swear guys I've REALLY tried to watch Breakfast TV (even once like Alex in Clockwork Orange having my eyes held open with specula) Gerry comes across as that guy at parties who has to always be sooo amusing-(How can I make this moment funny? The Lamp Shade Guy.) Simi? Sorry.  I know by the comments above that most of you know these folks personally and I'm sure they're wonderfule but, as an outsider from the Vancouver scene, I judge them from a viewer's perspective. And it ain't good.  Never was.  I suspect from the mangement's point of view they weren't drawing enough numbers either.

Yes, you are right!!

Mailman, you obviously wouldn't know talent if it slapped you in your big ugly mug.  Sorry, Mr. Man but I for one really take exception to your comments.  In light of the situation couldn't you of kept your big ugly opinion to yourself.  I for one have listened and watched both Simi and Dave for years and I KNOW for a fact  that they are both VERY talented broadcasters and although not your cup of tea I wish them the best.  I don't know them, have never  met them but  as someone in this business I know they are that good and will turn up sooner than later.  My reply shouldn't be any surprise to you but really sometimes people should just stfu!!