Benson Cook

Instead of the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980 I think we should start calling the 2026 men’s win the “Accident on Ice” given how much better the Canadians played for much of the game and also the fact that half the country regretted rooting for them after seeing them party with Kash Patel

If you had told me on January 1, 2020 that multiple completely-separate American political conflicts in the decade ahead would center around people wearing masks, with the two ideological halves of the country taking opposite positions in each scenario, I’d have been very confused

Need someone to tell the people of Lincoln Park that it is in fact nearly mid-February and it’s probably time for them to take the Christmas wreaths down from the front doors of their million-dollar townhomes

Petition to name the new O’Hare Global Terminal for Catherine O’Hara

“Do you want gin or vodka in your Tom Collins?” asks the United Club bartender that definitely does not know how to make a Tom Collins

“Oh my God, François Legault is going to resign!” I exclaimed, and let me tell you, not a single other person in line at La Colombe has the foggiest idea what I was talking about

Just learned I’ve been pronouncing Amanda Seyfried’s name wrong for the past twenty years — she now shares the top-slot of the “people whose names I wish were pronounced differently” list with Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles

It is currently so humid aboard the L that every plastic/glass surface (windows, dividers, seat surfaces) has a thin film of condensation on it. I had to double-check that my seat was just slightly-wet and not, I don’t know, covered in pee or something (it is the CTA, after all)

Weird fact about me: I get super stressed out in yoga classes that are taught in English because I learned yoga when I was living in Montréal so unless you’re giving me instructions in French or literal Sanskrit I get really lost

If you give the CTA a billion dollars they just might invent a Time Machine

Keep telling these stories. Canadian TV, cinema, and radio don’t have to be in a death spiral. But it means doing things besides microwaving American TV.

Heated Rivalry proves that’s utter nonsense. This show was produced on a shoestring budget, with no pre-established stars, and became a smash-hit worldwide anyway because it was telling a story different from the ones our feeds are filled with, and it did so incredibly well.

I’m not Canadian, but I spent the most formative years of my life working in radio and TV there. The gravitational pull of America and its far larger audience and fatter production budgets mean that there is often a sense that Canadian stories aren’t worth telling, that they just can’t compete.

Besides all of the obvious reasons why I, as a gay person who likes hockey, obviously likes Heated Rivalry, I also can’t help but feel an immense pride at this shining example of the stories Canadian media can tell, and must keep telling.

I just hope my 2026 ends up being even half as good as Anne Hathaway’s seems like it’s going to be

I looked it up and the actual cottage they filmed in is not only NOT in the Lanaudière it is in fact not even in Québec at all (it’s in Muskoka, Ontario)

I realize that there’s a lot of more important things about Heated Rivalry that aren’t the most realistic but the Lanaudière isn’t exactly cottage country — people aren’t exactly going to Joliette for a countryside retreat

I’m listening to Québécois Christmas music at the gym and honestly kind of living

Duolingo is trying to convince me to call every Tiago I’ve ever met “James” instead when addressing them in English, and I’m sure that’ll go over well

Me for the rest of the day

Why does it seem like every gay I know going to Lapland right now? I think this is now the third gay couple I’ve seen post from this random region of northern Finland in the past few weeks. Was there like a TV show featuring hot people that was set there or something?

I think the photo of me on my Brazilian tourist visa might be the worst anyone has ever taken of me. I look like JD Vance

I really do hate to be on Marco Rubio’s side about anything but Calibri is an absolutely hideous font

I finally started watching Heated Rivalry, and beyond everything everyone’s already said about it, as a graduate of Canadian commercial media, I’m so glad Crave finally made an original series that people besides Bell Media executives actually want to watch.

😍

It is violently on-brand for the CTA to re-route the red line to the elevated tracks on the coldest night of the entire year, denying me the chance to walk straight from the subway into the office

White House launches website to excoriate media for ‘biased’ stories Trump administration lists reporting it objects to in latest escalation of attacks on US journalism

The White House just launched a "Media Bias" tracker to supposedly monitor fake news. It's really a hit list of reporters & outlets covering issues in ways Trump & the admin dislike. Flagrant attack on independent thought, freedom of the press & free speech. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

"Oh God, why are we showing the ShamWow guy?", I hear a colleague remark as I sit back down at my desk

(Turns out he's running for Congress)

Always

Inshallah Zohran will be a more competent mayor though!