Network: CTV Television Network
Broadcast Run: 1995 to 1997
Broadcast Medium: Television
This half-hour daytime lifestyle series was hosted by Anne Kennedy (sometimes referred to as “Canada’s Martha Stewart”, though she might not welcome the comparison). The series’ promotional material said of the program that “HOMEstyle celebrates the lost art of homemaking”, thereby inviting even closer comparisons with Martha’s series.
The graphics which floated through the opening titles offered what the show delivered – Easy Elegant Cooking, Design and Decor, Entertaining Ideas, Sound and Simple Tips, and Treasured Antiques – as well as helpful hints on many other subjects, in presentations offered by expert guests. Two or three subjects were tackled in each of the 230 episodes that were produced.
The series featured a library of musical themes and links created and played by Jack Preobrazenski, Lou Bartolomucci and Jim Morgan.
The series was produced in Toronto by Summerhill Entertainment, and debuted on CTV in September 1995, where it played at 1:00pm Monday through Friday for two years. The series was later seen on the A Channel in Alberta and subsequently on TV Ontario, the WIC Network, and CFCF Montreal. The durability of its content was demonstrated by the fact that eight years after its first broadcast, it was still being rerun on the Prime specialty channel.
Written by Pip Wedge – July, 2003