Robert Guy Scully
Encyclopedia
Robert Guy Scully is a Canadian television producer
, interviewer and host, and a former journalist. He started as a TV broadcaster with the French "la Société Radio-Canada" (SRC) in Québec, and subsequently also joined the Canadian English language network, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(CBC). He has hosted the following programs: Bibliotheca, Scully RDI, Venture, Scully rencontre, Impacts and The Innovators. He also produced the vignettes known as Heritage Minute
s. He currently hosts an independent talk program distributed by American Public Television
(APT).
, Canada—of Irish and French ancestry. Ironically, the surname Scully
is derived from the Irish name "O'Scolaidhe," meaning either "descendant of the storyteller," who was a regular official at the courts of the old Irish kings, or "descendant of the scholar," from the Gaelic 'scolaidhe' or ‘scholar’. Scully grew up in the working-class district of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
in Montreal
, and was educated at McGill University
.
Encouraged by Claude Ryan
to pursue journalism at the age of 19 years, Scully learned the ropes of journalism at Le Devoir
, first as Latin American correspondent. He even landed an interview with Salvador Allende
. At the age of 21, he became the literary and arts editor at Le Devoir, the youngest journalist ever to hold that job. In 1975 he moved to the United States and wrote columns from New York and Louisiana for both The Gazette
and La Presse.
In 1977, as a print journalist, Scully had been accused of harboring anti-Quebec sentiment, in the wake of a caustic article he wrote in the Washington Post
, that railed against what he viewed as a backward, empty Quebec society (as viewed from the world outside Quebec). The very well-written article uses exaggeration for effect, and some of the subtlety and insight might have been lost to Quebec readers whose grasp of English and of the use of caricature as a literary tool was limited. He apologized five days later on the French program Ce Soir, for having offended some people with his article, claiming that the article had been written for an American (i.e. "not a Quebec") readership, primarily to stir up discussion over the Quebec issue in America. Shortly thereafter, Scully strangely confided to a journalist from La Presse that he was a separatist (or at least had "indépendantiste" leanings)—as he had actually voted for the Parti Québécois
around that time— and insisted that his sentiments had been misconstrued. In 1978, however, he co-authored a book with the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Claude Ryan, about the history of the Quebec independence movement, just two years before the first Quebec referendum on sovereignty. In that referendum, Ryan successfully campaigned for the "No" (federalist) forces and won against the separatist forces in Quebec.
To show how far Quebec society has evolved in the intervening 30 years, we need only to look at the recent debate over a motion put forward
by the Harper government—"That this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada"—(Nov. 22, 2006 - Hansard Debates). During the final debate on the motion Jacques Gourde
listed many of Quebec's socio-political achievements since Confederation. Gourde concluded "that [these] assets...are not characteristic of a paralyzed society incapable of taking charge of its own development and promoting its culture around the world. Rather, these assets are proof of a flexible federalism that takes into account and develops differences across the country. Quebeckers themselves can form a nation within a united country called Canada." Bill Graham, the interim Liberal opposition leader at the time, put his support behind Harper's motion: "For our part, we are devoted to this great country with its marvellous history and unlimited potential. We have committed ourselves to building a Canada with Quebec as a key component. For its part, the Bloc Québécois is dedicated to destroying Canada. Although we have the greatest respect for the members of this House, we fundamentally disagree on this point."
. In 1988, the show was honored with a Gemini Award
for Best Information Program or Series; also in 1988, Scully twice won the Quebec equivalent of the award, the Gemeaux Award, for his work on Impacts. Venture again won a Gemini Award in 1996 (Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television), for Best News Information Program or Series. In 1997, Dianne Buckner
took over as host of the business news and current affairs program, which lasted for another 10 years, before it was cut from the CBC-TV lineup. In 1998, Scully was nominated for a Gemeaux Award in the category "Best Host of an Information Series or Special" – for Le monde de Gabrielle Roy (Scully RDI).
Scully is listed as a Producer of a TV mini-series, Les Beaux Dimanches - Maurice Richard: Histoire d'un Canadien, a 4 hour compilation of archive footage and dramatic scenes, which was first broadcast in October 1999 (Beautiful Sundays: The Maurice Rocket Richard Story [Canada: English title]). It won the 2000 Gemeaux Award for Best Biographical Documentary, 6 months after Maurice Richard’s death at the age of 78. It has since been tarnished, however, by association with the anti-corruption inquiry of the Gomery Commission
(2004 to 2005; also refer below).
, which first aired on November 5, 1983 ('Guy' Fawkes Day
), and which he still hosts. Although distributed by an American public broadcasting network, the show is produced in Montreal
, QC. Scully is considered an erudite bilingual former journalist, who even speaks French in the passé simple
tense. His melodious delivery as a broadcaster sounds so natural, that he is allowed to get away with stylish language and obsolete expressions that would sound pompous, coming from someone else. Scully is proficient not only in English and French, but also in Spanish and German.
created in 1997 by the Jean Chrétien government was designed to generate commissions for private companies—while hiding the source of the funding—rather than to provide any benefit for Canadians. One of the offenders, Canada Post, was asked why it paid $1,625,000 to a production company, L'Information essentielle Inc. to produce a television series on Maurice Richard, despite the fact that no contract was signed and there was no documentation provided to show how the corporation would benefit. Robert Scully was part owner and the executive producer of L'Information essentielle Inc. In another instance of questionable money transfers, Fraser's audit showed that Via Rail Canada Inc. was used by Lafleur Communication Marketing to handle the transfer of nearly $1 million towards the same television series on Maurice Richard, using what the auditor general called a "fictitious contract." Via was reimbursed all but $160,000 of the money; of that, Lafleur kept $112,500 as an agency commission.
Although Scully was not personally involved with the Sponsorship Scandal
, his testimony as a witness, during the inquiry known as the Gomery Commission, did reveal his role in selling federalism
, a role which did not endear him to the Quebec media.
, Paul Martin
(guest) once appeared on a spoof of Venture when he was Minister of Finance, and threatened to audit the host, Robert Scully (played by Don Ferguson) when he tries to hand-deliver his tax return to save on postage (aired on Political Hot Shots - Friday, November 12, 1999). Known at the time as Royal Canadian Air Farce, when the show first appeared weekly on TV, it frequently parodied Scully starting with the 7th episode in November, 1993.
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, interviewer and host, and a former journalist. He started as a TV broadcaster with the French "la Société Radio-Canada" (SRC) in Québec, and subsequently also joined the Canadian English language network, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
(CBC). He has hosted the following programs: Bibliotheca, Scully RDI, Venture, Scully rencontre, Impacts and The Innovators. He also produced the vignettes known as Heritage Minute
Heritage Minute
Heritage Minutes, also known officially as Historica Minutes: History by the Minute, are sixty-second short films, each illustrating an important moment in Canadian history. They appear frequently on Canadian television and in cinemas before movies...
s. He currently hosts an independent talk program distributed by American Public Television
American Public Television
American Public Television is the largest syndicator of programming for public television stations in the United States.-History:...
(APT).
Origins in journalism
Robert Scully was born in 1950, in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada—of Irish and French ancestry. Ironically, the surname Scully
Scully
Scully may refer to:a surnameThe Irish name, "Scully" comes from older forms Ó Scalaidhe, Ó Scolaidhe, Ó Scolaí and Ó Scolaighe. These surnames referred to an ancestor who functioned as a sceulaidhe, a high-ranking storyteller of an old Irish court, or a "student"...
is derived from the Irish name "O'Scolaidhe," meaning either "descendant of the storyteller," who was a regular official at the courts of the old Irish kings, or "descendant of the scholar," from the Gaelic 'scolaidhe' or ‘scholar’. Scully grew up in the working-class district of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is a district of Montreal, Quebec, situated on the eastern half of the island, generally to the south and south-west of the city's Olympic Stadium. A part of the borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, its borders are roughly rue Moreau to the west, rue Sherbrooke to the...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and was educated at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
.
Encouraged by Claude Ryan
Claude Ryan
Claude Ryan, was a Canadian politician and leader of the Parti libéral du Québec from 1978 to 1982. He was also the National Assembly of Quebec member for Argenteuil from 1979 to 1994.-Early life and career:...
to pursue journalism at the age of 19 years, Scully learned the ropes of journalism at Le Devoir
Le Devoir
Le Devoir is a French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and the rest of Canada. It was founded by journalist, politician, and nationalist Henri Bourassa in 1910....
, first as Latin American correspondent. He even landed an interview with Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
. At the age of 21, he became the literary and arts editor at Le Devoir, the youngest journalist ever to hold that job. In 1975 he moved to the United States and wrote columns from New York and Louisiana for both The Gazette
The Gazette (Montreal)
The Gazette, often called the Montreal Gazette to avoid ambiguity, is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with three other daily English newspapers all having shut down at different times during the second half of the 20th century.-History:In 1778,...
and La Presse.
In 1977, as a print journalist, Scully had been accused of harboring anti-Quebec sentiment, in the wake of a caustic article he wrote in the Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, that railed against what he viewed as a backward, empty Quebec society (as viewed from the world outside Quebec). The very well-written article uses exaggeration for effect, and some of the subtlety and insight might have been lost to Quebec readers whose grasp of English and of the use of caricature as a literary tool was limited. He apologized five days later on the French program Ce Soir, for having offended some people with his article, claiming that the article had been written for an American (i.e. "not a Quebec") readership, primarily to stir up discussion over the Quebec issue in America. Shortly thereafter, Scully strangely confided to a journalist from La Presse that he was a separatist (or at least had "indépendantiste" leanings)—as he had actually voted for the Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
around that time— and insisted that his sentiments had been misconstrued. In 1978, however, he co-authored a book with the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Claude Ryan, about the history of the Quebec independence movement, just two years before the first Quebec referendum on sovereignty. In that referendum, Ryan successfully campaigned for the "No" (federalist) forces and won against the separatist forces in Quebec.
To show how far Quebec society has evolved in the intervening 30 years, we need only to look at the recent debate over a motion put forward
Québécois nation motion
The Québécois nation motion was a parliamentary motion tabled by Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 and approved by the Canadian House of Commons on Monday, November 27, 2006...
by the Harper government—"That this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada"—(Nov. 22, 2006 - Hansard Debates). During the final debate on the motion Jacques Gourde
Jacques Gourde
Jacques Gourde is a farmer and the Conservative Member of Parliament for Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière. He was first elected in the 2006 federal election and, on February 7, 2006 was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian...
listed many of Quebec's socio-political achievements since Confederation. Gourde concluded "that [these] assets...are not characteristic of a paralyzed society incapable of taking charge of its own development and promoting its culture around the world. Rather, these assets are proof of a flexible federalism that takes into account and develops differences across the country. Quebeckers themselves can form a nation within a united country called Canada." Bill Graham, the interim Liberal opposition leader at the time, put his support behind Harper's motion: "For our part, we are devoted to this great country with its marvellous history and unlimited potential. We have committed ourselves to building a Canada with Quebec as a key component. For its part, the Bloc Québécois is dedicated to destroying Canada. Although we have the greatest respect for the members of this House, we fundamentally disagree on this point."
Television in two languages
In 1982 Scully was working in radio at Radio-Canada and by 1984, he was hosting the French TV program Impacts, also at Radio-Canada. In 1987, Scully took over from Patrick Watson as the host of the new CBC business program VentureVenture (TV series)
Venture is a weekly Canadian business television series that aired on CBC Television from 1985 to 2007. The show focused mostly on business documentaries, but also aired business-related news pieces...
. In 1988, the show was honored with a Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for Best Information Program or Series; also in 1988, Scully twice won the Quebec equivalent of the award, the Gemeaux Award, for his work on Impacts. Venture again won a Gemini Award in 1996 (Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television), for Best News Information Program or Series. In 1997, Dianne Buckner
Dianne Buckner
Dianne Buckner is a Canadian television journalist, best known as a host of business-oriented programming, such as Venture and Dragons' Den on CBC Television....
took over as host of the business news and current affairs program, which lasted for another 10 years, before it was cut from the CBC-TV lineup. In 1998, Scully was nominated for a Gemeaux Award in the category "Best Host of an Information Series or Special" – for Le monde de Gabrielle Roy (Scully RDI).
Scully is listed as a Producer of a TV mini-series, Les Beaux Dimanches - Maurice Richard: Histoire d'un Canadien, a 4 hour compilation of archive footage and dramatic scenes, which was first broadcast in October 1999 (Beautiful Sundays: The Maurice Rocket Richard Story [Canada: English title]). It won the 2000 Gemeaux Award for Best Biographical Documentary, 6 months after Maurice Richard’s death at the age of 78. It has since been tarnished, however, by association with the anti-corruption inquiry of the Gomery Commission
Gomery Commission
The Gomery Commission, formally the Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities, was a federal Canadian Royal Commission headed by the retired Justice John Gomery for the purpose of investigating the sponsorship scandal, which involved allegations of corruption...
(2004 to 2005; also refer below).
Voluntary departure from CBC and 'journalism'
In 2000, Scully quit the CBC, after it was discovered that the Canada Information Office had been the major source of funding for one of his programs, Canada du Millénaire, and that the federal government (Department of Canadian Heritage) had channeled funds through a private foundation to support the vignettes called Heritage Minutes. By leaving 'journalism', Scully was able to spend more time on his cable television program Scully: The World ShowScully: The World Show
Scully: The World Show is a Canadian talk show hosted by Robert Scully, who has interviewed some of the world's most prominent and famous personalities...
, which first aired on November 5, 1983 ('Guy' Fawkes Day
Guy Fawkes Night
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding...
), and which he still hosts. Although distributed by an American public broadcasting network, the show is produced in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, QC. Scully is considered an erudite bilingual former journalist, who even speaks French in the passé simple
Passé simple
The passé simple , also called the passé défini , is the literary equivalent of the passé composé in the French language, used only in formal writing , journalism, and formal speech. As with other preterites, it is used when the action has a definite beginning and end and has already been completed...
tense. His melodious delivery as a broadcaster sounds so natural, that he is allowed to get away with stylish language and obsolete expressions that would sound pompous, coming from someone else. Scully is proficient not only in English and French, but also in Spanish and German.
Funding of "Maurice Richard" series investigated by Gomery Commission
In the February 2004 report that prefaced the Gomery Commission, Auditor General Sheila Fraser said the Sponsorship ProgramSponsorship scandal
The sponsorship scandal, "AdScam", "Sponsorship" or Sponsorgate, is a scandal that came as a result of a Canadian federal government "sponsorship program" in the province of Quebec and involving the Liberal Party of Canada, which was in power from 1993 to 2006...
created in 1997 by the Jean Chrétien government was designed to generate commissions for private companies—while hiding the source of the funding—rather than to provide any benefit for Canadians. One of the offenders, Canada Post, was asked why it paid $1,625,000 to a production company, L'Information essentielle Inc. to produce a television series on Maurice Richard, despite the fact that no contract was signed and there was no documentation provided to show how the corporation would benefit. Robert Scully was part owner and the executive producer of L'Information essentielle Inc. In another instance of questionable money transfers, Fraser's audit showed that Via Rail Canada Inc. was used by Lafleur Communication Marketing to handle the transfer of nearly $1 million towards the same television series on Maurice Richard, using what the auditor general called a "fictitious contract." Via was reimbursed all but $160,000 of the money; of that, Lafleur kept $112,500 as an agency commission.
Although Scully was not personally involved with the Sponsorship Scandal
Sponsorship scandal
The sponsorship scandal, "AdScam", "Sponsorship" or Sponsorgate, is a scandal that came as a result of a Canadian federal government "sponsorship program" in the province of Quebec and involving the Liberal Party of Canada, which was in power from 1993 to 2006...
, his testimony as a witness, during the inquiry known as the Gomery Commission, did reveal his role in selling federalism
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
, a role which did not endear him to the Quebec media.
Parodies of Scully
Comedians have tried to imitate Scully's interviewing style, with some success, both in French and in English: on Royal Canadian Air FarceAir Farce Live
Air Farce Live is a comedy album, performed by the Royal Canadian Air Farce comedy troupe. It was released in 1983. The sketches were performed live during the "Air Farce Live at the Bayview" performance in 1983, at the Bayview Theatre in Toronto....
, Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
(guest) once appeared on a spoof of Venture when he was Minister of Finance, and threatened to audit the host, Robert Scully (played by Don Ferguson) when he tries to hand-deliver his tax return to save on postage (aired on Political Hot Shots - Friday, November 12, 1999). Known at the time as Royal Canadian Air Farce, when the show first appeared weekly on TV, it frequently parodied Scully starting with the 7th episode in November, 1993.
External links
- Archives of Scully's programs on the French CBC are available at SRC - Robert-Guy Scully.
- "Max Ward sells Wardair" - Venture, Jan. 22, 1989. Host: Robert Scully (Reporter: Linda Sims).
- Grand plans for more hydro power. (1988) Host: Robert Scully (includes interview with Premier Bourassa of Québec)
- Scully présente le disque compact (1984) - in French
- Books that Scully has published are listed here at AbeBooks.co.uk.
- Original transcripts (in French) of the testimony of Robert Guy Scully, as a witness for the Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities. These transcripts cover two days, December 13 & 14, 2004.
- (Part 1; Part 2)
- obtained from Gomery Commission of Inquiry & Sponsorship Scandal, at the Mapleleafweb
- English translations at Part 1; Part 2