On Monday, CTV will launch The Social, a weekday midday chat show featuring four well-known Canadian women sharing their opinions on current events in a familiar coffee-klatsch setting. The show's name is a nod to its hashtag-happy structure, which will allow audience members across the country to guide the onscreen conversation by submitting tweets and Facebook messages. The Globe and Mail caught up with the four hosts to talk dream guests and get their individual takes on one hot topic this week: Hollywood A-listers Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones announcing "a break" after 13 years of marriage.
Cynthia Loyst, relationship expert – The Straight-talkerIdeal guest: "Prince! I want to ask him why he's not singing Darling Nikki anymore and I wouldn't mind – I just want to smell him. I feel like that is a man who is fastidious when it comes to personal hygiene and I feel that I would like to just rub up against him and vibe off him."
Her take: "They got 13 years, I mean that's pretty much unheard of. I'm surprised it lasted this long to be honest. To me, she's this effervescent, gorgeous woman. I'm not saying he's not an amazing person, I'm not saying he's not a super talent, but he's quite a lot older."
Traci Melchor, entertainment reporter – The Romantic
Ideal guest: "I would say Oprah's inspiration, Maya Angelou. I had the good fortune to interview her once and this is a woman who's not only inspired a generation of people and our biggest daytime talk show host, she's inspired presidents. People don't know her as much as they need to know her."
Her take: "I'm heartbroken. I'm really heartbroken. This takes me back to the time when Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman broke up. The first divorce always throws you for a loop with your idols. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, I loved what they were about. I loved the fact that she became a star in The Mask of Zorro and he was Old Hollywood, second generation, director, actor, Oscar-winner and they came together as this glorious couple on the red carpet."
Melissa Grelo, news anchor – The Optimist
Ideal guest: "Two people. Oprah. And I think our Prime Minister Stephen Harper would be a fascinating guest because he always has very highly controlled situations. This is a very uncontrolled situation."
Her take: "I don't really care too much about the story. I don't know why. I was a fan of hers in The Mask of Zorro. I went from blond highlights to black hair because of her."
Lainey Lui, gossip blogger – The Pragmatist
Ideal guest: "J.K. Rowling. Just because I am obsessed with Harry Potter and I'm obsessed with her. I think that she is so smart and so compassionate. Her world view is something that I would love to have on The Social."
Her take: "I'm more interested in the timing for it, I mean he's up for an Emmy in four weeks and so he chooses to drop this announcement. So he chooses to drop the story now, right before Labour Day weekend hoping that we'll have four weeks to process it and then he can basically go and do his victory lap, single guy at the Emmys. It's very interesting – the ego."