Richard Nestor and Betty-Jean Allison will be in Vancouver on Monday April 26!

Tune in to Breakfast Television on Citytv Vancouver at 7:20am and again at 7:40am to watch Richard get interviewed for a change! We’ll be bringing prize giveaways so be sure and tune in.

> Watch online at http://www.btvancouver.ca/
> Citytv Vancouver is channel Shaw 13, Telus 13, Express Vu 253 or Star Choice 359

Betty-Jean will be interviewed live at 8:40am on Vancouver’s Fun FM. BJ will also be bringing prizes for the listening audience.
> Listen online at: http://www.1049greatesthits.com/

Both Richard & BJ, along with a few other folks from The Shopping Channel, will be at the Citytv studios in person from 10am to 11am Monday morning for a drop-in meet and greet. Stop in and say Hi – we’d love to see you there!

We are thrilled to welcome back TV Host Betty-Jean Allison! So many of you have been asking about her, and we’ve been sure to pass on all your well-wishes to her over the last few months.

Tune in today at 3PM ET as BJ hits the airwaves once again!

Like my fellow TV Hosts here at The Shopping Channel, I heartfully believe how important it is to help those that are truly in great need and to give them support and hope as they go through difficult times. This past weekend, I attended a black tie fundraiser for Halton Women’s Place, a shelter for women and children.

As an Oakville resident it was a must attend. A group of eight of us went in style (via limo) and did some serious fundraising. As an avid footbal fan, it was a thrill for me to meet Michael “Pinball” Clemons (Argonauts CEO) and his lovely wife Diane, who together raised awareness and spoke to the needs of many.

What a group of lovely ladies if I do say so myself. On my left is my cousin Tina Triano. Tina is VP of Fundraising for Credity Valley Hospital (Mississauga, ON) and is a Director on the Halton Women’s Place Board. She initiated this event and brought all us gals together for this cause.

Me with Sandi Hall, former The Shopping Channel TV Host. (By the way, I’m wearing our Boutique Fashions Mesh Cocktail Dress.)

Me with Michael “Pinball” Clemons and Diane Clemons. Michael was the CO-Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Back in March 1987, a then friend of mine, Bill Allison (now my dear husband), a.k.a. Bargain Bill, started at what was called the Home Shopping Network. Bill told me about the network and thought I should come in try out for the on air Host position. I arrived in August 1988 when Rogers Communications Inc had just purchased the “Club”.

I truly believe that I have the best job on the planet. My husband Bill and I worked together for a few years and we known as the Killer Bees! In the early days we didn’t have many guests and host teams were created. We loved it when you would join us on air. By the way, we got married in 1993 at The Little White Chapel in Las Vegas!

In the early days the Stars started to shine and more and more big names arrived in Canada on air in our studios. That was exciting! Things were really happening. What a day when I met the one and only Joan Rivers in 1996!

Oh my heavens! This is world famous comedienne Joan Rivers, and she is everywhere in Hollywood! The place was buzzing. Joan being the consummate professional put us all at ease and we had a great time and still do together. I had the pleasure of launching her show here in Canada. I’ll also never forget the day I met Ed McMahon from the Johnny Carson Show, who was in town for a few days here with his lovely wife and their personal chef. Ed is such a lovely man and he made us all me feel so relaxed and comfortable. We had a blast on air.

Celebrities Joan Collins arrived on one visit and then Linda Evans, both from the hit TV series Dynasty. I watched that show religiously. Jeannie Cooper from the Young and The Restless had us all in stitches in the boardroom with her wit and stories. Melody Thomas Scott also from that show was on air with her hair care products. Phyllis Diller was one of our very first celebrity guests here with a makeup line. Singing star Crystal Gayle joined us on air, then The Carleton Showband and more. And hockey fans coast to coast were thrilled to see legends Maurice Richard, Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretsky on set for our Sport Collector Showcase events. Most memorable!

In my 21st year now, I hope to see you real soon and want to thank you for being there for me and for all your kindness and support through the years. You are the best. And you mean a lot to me.

Also I do want to thank you each and every day for watching and shopping with me and sharing your time with me. My hope is to be a friend and help you the best I can, along the way. I also want to thank each and every one of you who has asked about Bill over the years and sent good wishes and prayers to him. He sends his love to you too! My friends in the Customer Care Centre always let me know the many times that you have asked about Bill and sent your kind thoughts and messages to him.

Thank you for celebrating with us this past week. And, in the words of the late Mr. Ted Rogers, remember that “the best is yet to come”

Love Betty

On June 24th, The Shopping Channel held its first-ever Make a Difference Telethon in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. The Telethon included an auction for once-in-a- lifetime experiences, one of them being a backstage studio tour and lunch with the highest bidder’s favourite TV host.

Earlier this week, Linda Arcand and her Aunt Gloria (both from Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON) enjoyed this amazing experience. Linda chose to have our host Richard as her personal tour guide and Richard was honoured to oblige. Although, I learned that it was a toss up between Richard, who was Gloria’s choice and BJ, who was Linda’s choice. Since this day was a special gift to Linda’s Aunt Gloria to celebrate “Aunt’s Day”, a family tradition, Linda wanted to let Gloria have her wish. Meanwhile, we here at The Shopping Channel had a plan to surprise Linda and include BJ in the experience as well.

It started with a behind the scenes tour of our TV studio. Linda and Gloria were brought on-air where Nick Chavez gave them a little primping and a lot of heartfelt thanks for their generous contribution to help conquer a disease that has affected us all in some form. Throughout the studio and production area, our tour guests had the opportunity to meet many of the hosts, chat a bit and take pictures with them.

Then it was off to a very quaint restaurant to relax and enjoy the decadent food and their charming lunch companions. The conversation was all about vacations, music, theatre and work. Linda knows all there is to know about wines and wineries and had the rest of us fascinated with her interesting stories. Linda and Gloria have been long time viewers of The Shopping Channel so there was a lot of reminiscing about “back in the day” when the broadcast consisted entirely of still photos and when a horn would blow when the phone lines were full. Of course, Richard and BJ shared all the funny and embarrassing stories they have about working as hosts.

On the ride back from the restaurant, it was discovered that Gloria and BJ are both songbirds and they started belting out tunes. What a big voice Aunt Gloria has! And BJ is quite a singer as well. I am sure Linda and Gloria didn’t want it to end as we said our sad goodbyes. Thank you to Linda Arcand for her very generous contribution to our Canadian Cancer Society fundraising efforts. We hope you had a wonderful time!