The Zone (YTV)
The Zone is the flagship weekday afternoon programming block on the Canadian television channel YTV. It airs between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET and PT in Canada.[1] On Saturday mornings, it is called The Zone Weekend (formerly Crunch).
| Network | YTV |
|---|---|
| Launched | September 2, 1991 |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Owner | Corus Entertainment |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Formerly known as | Afterschool Zone (1991-1994) |
| Format | Daily afternoon programming block |
| Running time | 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Official website | Official website |
Current version
Currently, the hosts of The Zone are Spencer Litzinger, Tyra Sweet, and Alex Wierzbicki.
The program usually features the hosts and the addition of one guest host. The "guest host" is sometimes an inanimate or personified object that is spoken to by Nayan Patel. Some examples would be "The Hand in the Toilet" (the toilet was embedded in the wall; a hand came out the hole once in a while) and "The Camera Man".
Another voice on the show was Egghead (the director Greg Dickinson, who worked on The Zone from 1993-2008) Egghead's face was never seen. He also appeared several times as "the guy in the gorilla suit".
In its early history, the Zone had featured a group of puppets known as Grogs as the co-hosts. A large television with a frame resembling a piece of purple bubble gum with eyes and other mechanical miscellany called Snit (Atul N. Rao) was once a "host" on The Zone; after him came Elvayz, a talking bust of Elvis Presley, although this character has been removed as well. Occasionally, guest hosts would appear on The Zone, such as children's author Robert Munsch and environmentalist David Suzuki.
While usually following a certain theme throughout the week, there are scheduled events that have occurred during The Zone, such as:
| Event | Description |
|---|---|
| Music Mondays | Carlos interviews musicians; he has also played songs on a guitar. |
| Quirky But True News Tuesdays | Carlos brings up some funny and bizarre stories from the Internet, as well as weird stories from viewers and tells them on the air in a news style format. |
| Game Drop Wednesdays | A new game will be released on The Zone's website on YTV.com, every Wednesday. Carlos also shows fan art sent in by viewers. |
| Throwdown Thursdays | Carlos tries to perform challenges sent in by viewers online. |
History and current developments
The Zone began its life as the Afterschool Zone on YTV, debuting on September 2, 1991, with its first host Phil Guerrero, a lone speaker seated on a stool in front of a spartan orange backdrop.[2] The Afterschool Zone was simply a small segment that played between airings of regular television programming, primarily as an entertaining segue into the next programming block to retain viewers and to provide some level of interaction with its young audience. Similar programming existed on YTV's weekend morning broadcasts, also starring variety of hosts, labeled "PJs", or program jockeys, as a take on DJ (disc jockey) and VJ (video jockey). This was done primarily as a tactic to comply with Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission restrictions on advertising in children's programming: popular imported programming would run a few minutes short due to fewer ads being permitted compared to US stations. Instead of filling the time with public service announcements or other filler material (which had been the previous practice of YTV in the late 1980s/early 1990s), the idea of devoting several minutes between programs to interaction between live-action hosts was used, and has proven successful to this day.
The "Afterschool" portion of the title was soon dropped and PJ "Phresh" Phil was sometimes joined by another PJ, Jenn (although she featured more prominently during weekend morning programming and was rarely on The Zone). The segments usually involved discussion or banter on various topics, video clips, previews, and viewer mail.
Eventually, the PJs were joined by a variety of puppets named the Grogs and Spitfire. 1994 saw the introduction of animatronic character Snit (Atul N. Rao), which displayed a pair of moving teeth on a television screen covered with what appeared to be purple bubble gum. When a primetime version of The Zone, YTV Shift, was cancelled, its former host Paul McGuire joined Phil. On October 31, 1997, the two sent Snit into space, and Snit was replaced with the prop Elvays, a plastic Elvis head with a digitally added moving mouth.
Eventually, a week of programming was devoted to a plotline which featured PJs Phil and Paul on a quest hunting for extraterrestrials and making a discovery. This discovery was revealed to be the return of the Snit character (minus its familiar purple coloring). Following cosmetic and technological upgrades, Snit went on to host Snit Station, a weekend morning programming block, replacing Brainwash; the block was later renamed The Vortex, before it was renamed CRUNCH.
A female co-host, Sandra Jackson, was added to the Zone in 1999. She began hosting alongside Paul and Phil.
As a slight format change, the "You Rule!" campaign was replaced with a "Keep it Weird!" theme. When the New Year came, Sandra, Paul, and Phil were found to not be "Y2K Compatible", venturing into other opportunities and were thus replaced with comedian Pat Kelly and Jenny Katie Racicot (previously PJ Katie on Treehouse, with no relation to the original PJ Jenn or PJ Jazzy Jan) Elvays was replaced with "the Hand in the Toilet".
While Jenny and Pat were hosts, they formed the band "Nuclear Donkey", which was featured at the end of the YTV's compilation album Big Fun Party Mix (with the exception of 7, 8, and 10).
At one point during their tenure, a plotline emerged involving electronic insects known as Yokomites that were under the control of a mysterious chicken-man named Fiendly Fowl. They were created by Fowl to destroy the station, should his demand to be given the station was ignored. At the end, there was an animated comic where Pat and Jenny went into the Yokomites' lair to defeat them. The hand in the toilet was "killed" when it saved them.
With Jenny's departure, Pat had a brief breakdown as a one-week plotline, where he demanded a new co-host or he would no longer host. He built a giant wooden crate in the studio parking lot and locked himself inside it as a protest until YTV hired a new co-host. At the end of the week Sugar Beard came along claiming to be Pat's new co-host and she opened the crate with a crowbar to reveal a disheveled Pat who was in desperate need of a shower. The two co-hosted the block afterwards. However, Pat himself soon also departed, leaving Sugar as the lone host. A plotline emerged where Sugar would discover that one of the YTV's janitors was playing with the cameras during off-hours, clandestinely acting out as a host for The Zone. Employing detective skills to track down this janitor, Sugar eventually discovered Carlos and invited him to become her co-host in 2002, a position he would stay on until 2018.
Sugar and Carlos hosted together for several years, introducing such segments as "A Dash of Sugar" and "Late Afternoon With Tito Lemmy", along with many characters such as Van Vogel, Pretty Tiffany, Johnny "The Brick" Wahl, and Wiwyam Birdie. They also co-wrote six songs together as the band "Nuclear Donkey".
On January 19, 2007, Sugar announced on that she would leave The Zone on January 26, 2007. Sugar's last "Nuclear Donkey" song, Z-Dot, appeared on Big Fun Party Mix 8, a compilation from YTV. Carlos hosted The Zone alone until Monday, December 31, 2007, on The Zone's Countdown to Halfway to New Year's party, where he introduced his new co-host, Joyce. She had recently appeared on The Zone working at the Tree Farm, where Carlos chose The Zones Christmas Tree. Joyce co-hosted until January 2, 2009, when she left to travel the world. In fall 2009, The Zone returned to starting at 3:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m.
On August 20, 2012, The Zone began doing the 4@4 lineup featuring four back-to-back episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants on Mondays and Wednesdays, The Fairly OddParents on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness on Fridays. The Penguins of Madagascar was formerly on the block as well. On July 5, 2013, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was added to the block; encore presentations of the episodes which air on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
On August 26, 2013, The Zone's lineup returned to the way it was the previous year.
In October 2013, two new hosts were announced, The Next Star's Mark "Suki" Suknanan and TFC's Rachel Bonnetta. Suki is responsible for all things celebrities and Rachel talks about the latest trends. These are the first two new cast members since Andrew Chapman.
On December 31, 2013, Andy Chapman announced he was leaving the Zone.
In November 2014, Rachel Bonnetta and Adam Christie left The Zone, and Lisa Gilroy from Undercover High got added to the team. Around the same time, a brand new contest called "The Z-Head Zearch" was introduced asking fans to submit videos to be aired on The Zone.
On March 21, 2016, The Penguins of Madagascar, Scaredy Squirrel, and Breadwinners were removed from the lineup to make room for Pig Goat Banana Cricket, Littlest Pet Shop, and Harvey Beaks.
On September 11, 2016, Harvey Beaks was replaced by The Loud House, and Pig Goat Banana Cricket was replaced by The Amazing Spiez!. Littlest Pet Shop was removed from the lineup.
On January 7, 2017, Meisha Watson began co-hosting The Zone Weekend.[3]
On June 5, 2017, The Amazing Spiez! and Numb Chucks were removed from the lineup to make room for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Bunsen Is a Beast.
On July 17, 2017, The Fairly OddParents was replaced by The ZhuZhus.
On August 28, 2017, SpongeBob SquarePants was replaced by Grojband, while Nerds and Monsters was replaced by Mysticons.
On May 23, 2018, Spencer Litzinger joined The Zone.[4]
On December 3, 2018, Carlos left YTV after 16 years to become a full-time reporter for Entertainment Tonight Canada, on YTV's sister network Global.[5]
On March 22, 2019, Meisha Watson left YTV and her hosting duties of The Zone and The Zone Weekend.[6]
On March 23, 2019, Spencer Litzinger started co-hosting The Zone Weekend.
On April 1, 2019, Teletoon's adult shows were moved to Adult Swim.
On September 3, 2019, Tyra Sweet joined The Zone.
On October 26, 2019, Suki left The Zone and The Zone Weekend to be on Canada's Drag Race as his drag alter ego Priyanka. He later won the first season of the show.
Set Changes
When The Zone began as a regular block on September 2, 1991 we a multicolored living room with abstract shapes and a map of Canada.
Sometime in 1994, the set was changed to a more-common, all blue set with graffities and eyeballs. In this set, you can see the red lizard with the 1991–1994 YTV wordmark. In 1995, Snit was added.
In 1999, it was changed to a subway train set that featured a TV set and Metro print ads-styled block bumpers of The Zone. There is also an orange checkerboard floor.
Sometime in 2002 or something, by the end of Sugar run, the set was changed to match YTV's 2002 look. The set was redesigned to feature a new logo of The Zone. There is also a silver fan.
In 2007, after Sugar left, the subway train set from 1999 to 2007 was gone, so the set was redesigned as a center stage with liquid stuff on it, and featuring the block's logo in the middle of the floor. There were also HDTVs that were standing through the set. The walls also gained a green color scheme.
In 2010 or something, the set was simplified, the set now has lights under it and the words The Zone are put back. The walls are now glowing purple, sometimes other colors for certain occasions. The TVs are now put to the shelf again. In 2013, the entire set gained a green color scheme.
Logo changes
On September 2, 1991, TBA.
In 1994, a circle background was used with a blue eyeball. Then it featured upcoming clips from the block's old shows. Then, it turns into a purple background with the red word "ZONE", followed by PJ Phil's entrance.
In 1996, TBA.
In 1999, a swirly yellow background was used with the green word "ZONE" and the word "The" on top of "ZONE". Then the Photonic YTV logo appears below the logo.
In 2002, the logo was updated with a redesigned background and a purple outline on the entire logo. The YTV logo below was removed.
In 2007, a new CGI logo was created with a new look, and a CGI version of the logo. This new look featured purple and green liquid stuff, and black zigzag shapes.
In 2013, The Zone underwent a format logo and brand refresh, with a new green logo with a black eyeball instead of a purple one.
Opening spiels
The Zone Debut Spiel: Today in The Zone, you might see your brother working on lily pads. Your sister dancing! Your carpet man flooring! And your dad cleaning your car! You're in The Zone! And now, here's the star of the show, PJ Phil!
1991–1994 Spiel: (insert upcoming clips [from the block's old shows], followed by the theme of The Zone being played with upcoming clips being shown, and then up until 1993, a scene of high school teens doing foolish activity in Grade 10, and they see The Zone on a TV screen. (Each episode begins with actors seeing The Zone on their TV on any locations followed by a spotlight revealing a stage appearing on a wall made with cloth and the camera pans to the right through the wall, or zooming through the TV screen. No skits are shown in 1993.) Ladies and gentlemen, PJ PHIL!
1994–1999 spiel: You've entered The Zone, and you're here to be in the vandalism room, and we'll try to make sure you be on your behavior. Cause now, you're on The Zone. Ladies and gentlemen, PJ PHIL!
1999–2003 spiel: Hey, The Zone is on! (insert name of clip here) Today, on The Zone! (insert description of upcoming clips), only on The Zone! And now, (insert funny comment here)...
- Giancarlo Caltabiano! (1999–2001)
- (It's) Sugar Beard! And, (insert funny comment here), Giancarlo Caltabiano!
- Sugar Beard and Carlos Bustamante! (2001–2003)
2003–2007 spiel: Previously on The Zone: (insert upcoming clips from the block's 2000s and 2010s shows) Today in The Zone! (insert description of upcoming clips). We're The Zone! And now, here they are, (insert funny comment here), Sugar and Carlos!
2007–2012 spiel: Previously in The Zone: (insert upcoming clips from the block's same 2000s and 2010s shows) This afternoon, in The Zone! (insert description of upcoming clips). You are in The Zone! And now, here he is, (insert funny comment here), (it's) Carlos Bustamante!
2012–2018 spiel: When you come to The Zone, here's a sneak peek of shows we aired previously. (insert upcoming clips from the block's 2010s shows) Welcome to The Zone! And now, he is the host of our show, Carlos Bustamante!
2018–present spiel: It's The Zone! Direct from Toronto, the block of afternoon daily! And you've got The Zone! And now, here they are, the host of the block, Spencer Litzinger, Tyra Sweet, and Alex Wierzbicki!
Slogans
"So until next time, if you always do some things, keep the cameras rolling. We'll see you next week." (1991–1994)
"Uh oh, gotta go, good night." (PJ Phil's last day on The Zone only)
"Remember, here at The Zone, (insert funny comment). This is us signing off. Good night." (1999–2002)
"Congratulations to YTV. We hope you all enjoyed watching The Zone. Please be sure to check back next time for more fun and updates. Give a slice, give a life. I'm Carlos, and I'm Sugar. Good night." (2003–2007)
"That's it for The Zone, and we will be back next time with more updates, and fun, so you can just relax forever. And remember..." (2007–present)
- "If you want to see more shows, log on to ytv.com, keyword: The Zone." (2007–2010)
- "..in this update if you send us a video, and it airs on the daily show, we'll send you skull shirt." (2010–present)
"If you get it on tape, you get it in cash. Good night everybody." (2007–2010)
"So upload to us. Get rich, get famous. Good night everybody." (2010–2018)
"So if you don't get it in tape, you got to be in cash. Good night everybody." (2018–present)
Current schedule
The schedule for The Zone is:[7]
The Zone Weekend schedule
Saturday (as of 2020)
- SpongeBob SquarePants - Saturdays at 7:00 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 9:30 a.m.
- Ollie's Pack - Saturdays at 8:00 a.m.
- The Loud House - Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
- The Casagrandes - Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.
- Lego City Adventures -- Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.
References
- "YTV Shows: The Zone". YTV.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- "YTV Hosts And Stars: Where Are They Now?". Huffington Post Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- "YTV (2017) - 1st Zone Weekend of 2017". YouTube. MIKER PHONE. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- "YTV (2018) - The Zone: TMNT Day Segments ft. Spencer". YouTube. MIKER PHONE. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- "CARLOS SAYS GOODBYE!". YouTube. YTV. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- "SO LONG YTV". Instagram. Meisha Watson. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ytv.com schedule