When YTV was cool.

Channel 23. Every kid I knew growing up in Toronto was tuned on this channel before and after school. “The Breakfast Zone,” and “The Zone” were daily staples in the life of a grade school kid, “The Treehouse” staples for the even younger crowd, or those of us (me) who missed a lot of class. And now?

Let’s just say, quality control is lacking. I mean one can only swallow so much Spongebob, Fairly OddParents, Prank Patrol, and Fries With That. (Yes I’ve watched all those shows, and on more than one occasion) Seeing Malcolm in the Middle, Sabrina, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on the channel regularly just shows how content deprived the network is currently.

I mean whatever happened to the shows like Wishbone, Video and Arcade, Student Bodies, Breaker High, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and Goosebumps?

But shows aside, and perhaps of a more pressing concern, whatever happened to the faces of YTV? Whatever happened to the PJs who read our letters, and showed our drawings in between shows? Whatever happened to the autographed postcards with their faces on it, we’d get in response from our letters? And whatever happened to the Fuzzpaws?

Sure the channel maintains a few TV personalities, a roster nowhere comparable to their predecessors.

So with all this said, it’s only fitting that we take a look back at the PJs who made YTV the network to watch in the 90s, and see where their YTV stardom has taken them today.

And so without further ado…

PJ Fresh Phil (Phil Guerrero)

The man who made “The Zone” what it was (along with pictured Snit). The franchise PJ and the dude who made it cool to be Filipino growing up in Toronto.

Where did YTV take him?

Well, apparently not too far. Although he appeared in an episode on the Tia Carrere series, Relic Hunter, the internets say that he has garnered acting gigs on YTV shows like the classic series’, The Adventures of Shirley Holmes, and System Crash.

PJ Paul (Paul McGuire)

If PJ Phil was the Jordan of the network, PJ Paul would be its Pippen. The dude was a mainstay on all the Zones (breakfast/after school/weekend).

If this face looks familiar, it’s because he was in the Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon blockbuster, Fever Pitch.

Most notably, like Pippen, life after YTV took him west, where he is now the face of CMT. Yes, that’s Country Music Television.

PJ Katie (Jennifer Raicott)

Keeping with the 90s Chicago Bulls references, PJ Katie would be YTV’s Toni Kukoc. Figuratively speaking of course. She was the face of the channel when most kids were at school. She filled the air, when Paul or Phil were nowhere to be found. She was the face of the Treehouse program block (post/pre, breakfast/after school zone). And as a result frequently co-hosted with an infamous Fuzzpaw.

She branched out with her own show, PJ Katie’s Farm, where she created and voiced all the characters.

Post YTV, she created a show on Treehouse tv called Pet Squad, as well as a nature show for TVO, Canadian Guide Kids.

Unfortunately Google has no picture of her, but the Youtubes have provided this clip.

PJ Aashna (Aashna Patel)

Dennis Rodman. Sure she hosted program blocks like Shift (short-lived prime time block), as well as stints on Treehouse and YTV News. But she was probably best known for hosting YTV’s Hit List, post Tarzan Dan era. In other words she brought the “hot” music of the 90s to our TV screens. Which = a lot of NSYNC and Back Street Boys equivalents.

She has taken years of experience at the Hit List and YTV to become a big deal in South Asian Community, apparently.

She has reported for CNN’s World Beat, TV Guide’s Hollywood Insider, and hosted a series on the Travel Channel called Vacation Home Search.

Perhaps the highlight of her career, she has lent her voice to the Disney cartoon series Filmore. (Which deserves a blog post on its own)

PJ Daryn (Daryn Jones)

Not even sure if he made the PJ era, but dude definitely was hosting The Zone, in the late 90s, early 2000s. And really only mentioned him because he is John Salley personified. 

Originally a comedian, Daryn Jones has taken his YTV fame giving him hosting duties on the once popular (now extinct) radio station KISS 92 FM (“…now give me my money”). And is currently a host of MTV Canada’s MTV Live program.

To add to that, he has not been a stranger to Blockbuster Video and Arby’s commercials. And even an episode in Degrassi: The Next Generation.

All because of YTV.

Much like John Salley (star of blockbuster Eddie), Daryn utilized his YTV success to cataclysmic proportions.

Everyone complains about how messed up today’s youth are. They blame video games, violence on TV and Movies, and even bad parenting. I however, put the blame on the deplorable state of YTV. I’m sure I am not alone in saying, “YTV, please bring back PJ Phil.” (He also probably needs a job.)

Anyway, he’s probably better suited than that Filipino dude they have hosting The Zone right now.