Night Walk, Night Ride


 Posted on August 10th, 2010
 by Patrick 5 great comments. Room for one more!

If you happened to be an insomniac somewhere in the neighbourhood of 26 years ago or, like me, just happened to be awake for whatever nefarious purposes, you may have flipped over to local channel Global TV and been treated to their late night (early morning?) test pattern fill-in, a gentle program named “Night Walk”.

As the name implies, the show is nothing more than one long, continuous, first-person steadicam shot of downtown Toronto streets set to dreamy jazz. I’m not sure if the purpose of the show was ever made clear — Was it simply filler for that lonely 4 a.m. time slot? Was it a form of video sleep aid? Was it interwoven with subliminal suggestions intended to keep you enthralled? (I could never peel my eyes away!)

Apparently only one episode of “Night Walk” was ever shot, but follow-up programs such as “Night Ride” continued the tradition in the same vain.

Unfortunately, Global stopped broadcasting these programs some time ago, but I’m of the opinion that it’s about time they were brought back. Perhaps on this very blog. ;)


(How many now-absent Toronto landmarks can you spot?)


(“Night Ride” was a bit more my speed.)

(When you can’t decide whether to walk or drive, call it “Night Moves”.)

(After the commercial break.)

(Night night!)

5 Comments on “ Night Walk, Night Ride ”

  • Lennon
    September 23rd, 2010 9:23 pm

    I absolutely loved watching these when I was young, as I always had a tough time sleeping. Thanks very much for the trip down memory lane. I really wish they would bring this back!


  • Patrick
    September 24th, 2010 8:07 pm

    Ain't no thang, Lennon. I loved these too and, to be frank, think they're every bit as relevant today as they were when they first appeared on the air. The youth of today don't appreciate what "early morning" means anymore. :)


  • Nemo Burbank (@nemoburbank)
    January 5th, 2012 12:06 am

    HOLY SHIT http://t.co/HA3zD5mO

    i used to watch this show as a kid after sneaking out of bed in the middle of the night to play nintento


  • Patrick
    January 5th, 2012 5:05 pm

    Haha! Wait…were you watching this while playing Nintendo? As in, at the same time? Pretty damn impressive at 3 in the morning!


  • Michael
    October 4th, 2013 1:55 pm

    man this show helped me sleep at night it was a great show and should be released on DVD


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