It is hard to admit, but I am a TV addict.  As a sports fanatic this has to be the best time of year, the NBA and NHL have just begun their playoffs, the baseball season has just begun and most importantly many of the domestic soccer leagues are concluding their season and the UEFA Champions League will crown their new champion.  Similar to my musical tastes my TV preferences are more diverse.  I'll watch everything, from the educational and informative to the most mindless and ridiculous.  The Maury Povich Show is not beneath my standards.  When I feel inspired to watch a TV show with a little substance I turn to TVO's(TV Ontario) The Agenda with Steve Paikin.  The show is a current events type show, covering a variety of important issues.   The topics can be very Canadian focused but also discuss a global subjects.  What sets this show apart from other current event shows is that each espisode is an hour and usually focuses on two topics.  This provides ample time to delve into each topic in detail.  Nothing bothers me more than the CNN style of journalism in which a guest is given 2 minutes to provide their opinion on a subject and just when the discussion gets interesting, there is no time remaining.  In this society people the need to have things condensed to to quote or soundbite prevents a real examination of the complexity of the issues.  The Agenda's format is better suited to provide background, context and analysis of an issue.  Secondly, the host Steve Paikin is perhaps one of the best hosts of this type of show I have ever seen.  Extremely knowledgeable, unbiased and not afraid to ask the important questions, his ability to keep the conversation on point is incredible.  The roundtable discussion on many shows, especially those involving politicians, tend to be less about discussion and more about an opportunity to "spin" questions for their own interests.  Paikin is able to keep the focus on the relevant issues and the show is able to present a variety of perspectives without coming across as favouring any one particular point of view.  The Agenda also has their show available for download making it very convenient for listeners.