The Michael Coren Show (originally Michael Coren Live, until it ceased being a live-to-air broadcast) is an hour-long Ontario-based panel show hosted by Michael Coren which deals with current events and social issues. It aired weeknights on the Crossroads Television System, a multi-faith television network with affiliates in Ontario and Alberta. The showed aired on CTS from 1999 until June 30, 2011 when Coren left CTS to join the Sun News Network where he will join a nightly talk show named The Arena.[1]
The show typically features Coren and up to four guests. Weekly regulars on the panel include outspoken freelance writer David Menzies, liberal Muslim Tarek Fatah, journalist and broadcaster Marianne Meed Ward, former MP Carolyn Parrish, CUPE leader Sid Ryan, communications consultant Simon Kahn, conservative activist Manu Raj, legal agent and socialist Harry Kopyto and high profile guests including prominent politicians. Topics of discussion regularly include provincial and federal politics, social issues, gay marriage, abortion, religion and healthcare. The show is known for debate on controversial issues (for example, Coren has hosted numerous shows on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and radical Islam versus moderate Islam, with guests who have strong stances on both sides of these issues).
Programs on the Middle East have proven contentious in the past with leaders of both the B'nai Brith and Canadian Islamic Congress facing recriminations for controversial remarks. In the aftermath of program aired on October 19, 2004, Adam Aptowitzer, Ontario chairman of the B'nai Brith Institute for International Affairs, was forced to resign his position after arguing that Israel had used terror against Palestinians legitimately[2] stating that "When Israel uses terror ... to destroy a home and convince people ... to be terrified of what the possible consequences are, I'd say that's an acceptable use to terrify somebody."[3] On the same broadcast Mohamed Elmasry, president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, asserted that all adult Israelis are legitimate targets of attack as a consequence of their service in the Israel Defense Force. Elmasry apologized for his comments and offered to resign - his resignation was rejected by the CIC.[4]
The Michael Coren Show was also the name of Coren's Sunday evening radio program on CFRB and has also been the name of past radio shows he has hosted on various radio stations.