COLLECTION · Series · 1981

Switchback

"Switchback" was an hour-long interactive show for teens and preteens, featuring viewer calls, music videos, guest artists, and cartoons. Initially hosted by Stan Johnson in Halifax, it expanded to other cities, highlighting both regional talents and international acts. Airing from 1981 to 1990, it aimed to engage young audiences. In 1985, host Shawn Thompson faced arrest for throwing a doll named Kendini over Niagara Falls, in a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket during a show segment. (He used cole slaw to cushion the doll's fall.) This act resulted in charges by Niagara Parks Police for park dumping and attracting a crowd. Thompson intended to spotlight neglected toys in a parody titled 'Doll Aid.' By 1988, the series cut some editions and faced controversy by removing its cherished long-term host, Stan Johnson. By early 1990, all editions of the program concluded due to CBC's budget reductions.