Street Cents facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Street Cents |
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Main title
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| Written by | Andrea Dorfman Ian Johnston Dan Hughes |
| Directed by | Ron Murphy Henry Sarwer-Foner |
| Starring | Jonathan Torrens (1989–1999) Kim D'Eon (1999–2003) Brian Heighton (1989–1997) Jamie Bradley (1989–1994) |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 17 |
| No. of episodes | 923 |
| Production | |
| Production location(s) | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Distributor | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBC Television |
| Original release | March 15, 1989 – October 1, 2006 |
Street Cents was a popular TV show for teens and preteens in Canada. It aired on CBC Television from 1989 to 2006. The show was like a special TV magazine, but it focused on helping young people understand money and media. It taught them how to be smart consumers.
The show was created by producer John Nowlan. He was inspired by a British show called Pocket Money. Street Cents won many awards, including several Gemini Awards. It even won an International Emmy for Best Youth Programming. Critics praised the show for including all kinds of young people from across Canada. The theme song for many years was Where Does My Money Go? by Thrush Hermit.
Street Cents did not have commercials, just like another CBC show called Marketplace. The creators didn't want ads to influence what they said about products. The show encouraged safety and good choices. It helped young people feel powerful about their decisions. Sponsor logos were only shown briefly at the end of each episode.
In August 2006, CBC Television decided to cancel Street Cents. Fewer teens and preteens were watching TV at that time. The last episode aired on October 1, 2006. This left CBC-TV without any shows specifically for young people. However, Jonathan Torrens, one of the original hosts, has announced a new version called "Your Two Cents".
Contents
How Street Cents Started
In 1988, CBC Halifax made a test episode for the show. This test episode was called Moneypenny. It was written, produced, and directed by John Nowlan and Gary Vermier. This pilot helped create the Street Cents we know.
Early Years: Seasons 1-8
When Street Cents first started, it had three main hosts. These were Jamie Bradley, Benita Ha, and Chris Lydon. Jonathan Torrens joined later in the first season, replacing Chris Lydon. The show also featured a funny character named Ken Pompadour, played by Brian Heighton. Ken was a sneaky salesman.
The show also had cute animal characters named after coins. In Season 1, there was a pink pig named Penny. Season 2 had a pink and black pig named Nickel. Season 3 featured a pot-bellied pig named Moui, which means 'dime' in Vietnamese. Later, there were hedgehogs called One-Bit and Two-Bit.
The BuyCo Storyline
Ken Pompadour worked for an "evil" company called BuyCo. BuyCo always tried to sell bad, overpriced products. Ken would try to trick the viewers and hosts into buying these items. But the hosts always found a way to stop him!
Eventually, Ken's boss, who was secretly played by Jamie Bradley, disappeared. Ken then became the new head of BuyCo. As the boss, Ken changed his look completely. He wore cool black leather and had a goatee. He also had his own team of "yes men" who agreed with everything he said.
When Brian Heighton left the show, the BuyCo storyline ended. The show then became less about a story and more like a news show. Jamie Bradley left as a host in 1994. Anna Dirksen replaced him, but Jamie still made guest appearances for several years.
Later Years: Seasons 9-17
By its ninth season, Street Cents changed its style. It became more like a news magazine. But it still focused on helping young people make smart choices. It taught them about the media and products they used every day.
Even though the show was made in Halifax, it included stories from all over Canada. This helped make sure the show represented young people everywhere. In its final years, the show also started talking about important teen issues. These included topics like divorce, interracial dating, and eating disorders.
Popular Segments
Street Cents had many fun and informative segments. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- What's your beef? Viewers would send in letters, calls, or emails about problems they had. The hosts or a guest viewer would then investigate these issues.
- Fit for the Pit This segment was very dramatic! If the producers thought a product was bad, they would throw it into a fiery pit in the studio. It showed viewers what products were not worth their money.
- Me Inc. This segment highlighted young entrepreneurs. It showed how teens created their own businesses. These businesses were not only successful but also ethical and helpful.
- Street Test Real teenagers and children would test different products without knowing the brands. They would then decide which one was the best. Often, the most expensive or most advertised product was not the winner!
- Streeters These were short interviews with teens and young people on the street. They usually appeared at the beginning and end of the show.
Meet the Cast
Original Hosts
- Jamie Bradley played himself and the secret BuyCo Boss. He was on the show in Seasons 1, 3, and 5.
- Benita Ha played herself.
- Brian Heighton played Ken Pompadour.
- Chris Lydon was an early host.
- Jonathan Torrens played himself and was a long-time host.
Final Season Hosts
- Gelareh Darabi
- Allie Dixon
- Eli Goree
