Latest news with #BreakfastTelevision
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dina Pugliese says people 'have no idea' what her life was like before she left TV due to burnout: 'I felt like a failure'
Dina Pugliese's warmth is contagious. When the 51-year-old speaks, it's as if you're sitting with a beloved aunt at her kitchen table, being fussed over and offered anything you could possibly want or need. It's her uncanny ability to move through the world creating an instant familial atmosphere that has led to her success as the host and executive producer of Breakfast Television (BT). For almost 20 years (save for a two-year hiatus in 2023), the Toronto native has been a constant on morning television, willingly giving herself and her energy in hopes that viewers begin their day on the right foot. With a rejuvenated career and an upcoming panel talk at the Women's Healthy Living Show in Toronto next weekend, Pugliese remains determined to connect with her audience. But this time, she's no longer looking to distract viewers from their problems. She's sitting with them in their struggles by sharing her own — and reminding them that they're never alone. Yahoo Canada recently spoke to Pugliese about burnout, caregiving and more. In 2023, a demanding career and years of shouldering the weight of private stressors had taken its toll; she felt as though she had nothing left to give. In February of that year, Pugliese announced on air that she was leaving BT. While she says her decision was necessary — it wasn't one she took lightly. 'I felt like I was disappointing so many people, including myself. I couldn't believe I let myself get to that point of burnout. The last couple months were a complete fog,' she said. 'For years I had gone through different family health crises and I'd been spending all night in the ER or hospital wards. I was with my family during their chemo treatments and radiation and then I would show up on BT. I looked at it as compartmentalizing pain.'Pugliese recalled an author once saying that during a difficult time, she gave herself 15 minutes a day to cry in the shower before moving on with her day. Soon, she began her day the same way before heading to the studio to film BT. "I would cry in the shower and I would pray for strength, then I'd go out there and I'd say, 'I need to laugh. I need this as medicine,'" she recalled. pray before composing herself for a day in front of the cameras. Although it was difficult, her career was her 'medicine' that helped her soldier on for as long as she could. 'When I got to a point where I couldn't draw from that well anymore, I felt this incredible sense of failure,' she said. 'Like I was letting myself down, letting others down. … How could I leave a job that I loved so much?' Soon it became obvious to Dina, her husband, Alex Mirkovich, and her doctor that her body was crumbling due to stress. The first months after leaving BT were dedicated to sleep. Then she began reconnecting with nature and going to church to 'fill her spirit.' 'It was centring and grounding. Reconnecting with God gave me strength,' she said. But like many people, Pugliese's identity had become inextricably tied to her career. If she wasn't working, who was she? Who was the real Dina? 'I didn't know what it meant anymore because I was so defined by this job that I loved. And then I felt like that person was gone. I don't know if I'll ever see that person again,' she said. 'I didn't even know who that person was.' Pugliese's personal life in the years leading up to 2023 was challenging to say the least. In 2014, her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which required surgery in 2021. Pugliese took a temporary leave from BT to support him and other family members experiencing health issues. Acting as caregiver is something that comes naturally to Pugliese. Her first recollection of taking care of others is her beloved nonna, Dea. When Pugliese's grandfather died, she began sleeping next to her nonna so that she would never feel lonely. She cared for her maternal grandmother, who she calls her "kindred spirit" throughout her life. It was a formative bond that she holds dear, even now. 'It stayed with me that life is short. It's finite, and you have to care for the people you live with,' she said. Her husband's health struggles, which the couple kept private for years, required a different level of care. It's an emotional topic for her but one she feels called to share. 'He's so strong and he's so resilient and he's so stubborn. That all helped him recover as well as he did. But it was really hard being in the hospital by myself, having the responsibility to care for him.' Without outpatient care, Dina was around the clock caring for her husband. 'I was watching him like a hawk…,' she said. 'He had to learn how to do everything again.' Almost two years after she left TV, Pugliese was contacted to participate in a talk about her personal experience acting as caregiver for family members. 'I was so nervous,' she said. 'I used to do this stuff in my sleep. I was like, what do I do? They [told me], 'Just be Dina!'' Once she was on stage, she felt something reignite inside of her. 'It was like muscle memory and to hear the crowd laugh and connect with them in that way… The connectivity with good people was what I missed…. It was still there.' When Pugliese decided to return to BT in early 2025 she needed to ensure that she wasn't headed for burnout again. That meant creating a different schedule for her day, building in breaks for herself and saying 'no' to more than she used to. Pugliese's focus remains dedicated to her family, rest and work. It also included a lifestyle change. Now that she's in her 50s, Pugliese is navigating perimenopause and learned from her doctor that she needed to overhaul her lifestyle and get moving. 'That's part of the holistic process, right? You have to keep your heart strong," she said. "You have to try and go for walks to clear your mind and do all of the things that we know to do, but sometimes forget to do.' Although her time away from TV forced her to slow down, she's happy to be back in front of the camera, doing what she loves. 'It's a blessing to be a part of people's lives every single day in the morning, when they're at their most vulnerable and for them to let you in. You bond and connect in a way that very few other shows can," she said. No matter where she goes, Pugliese takes time to stop and talk to people. Whether they're viewers that she meets while running errands or people that she meets while travelling, she manages to form a connection. It's not uncommon for Pugliese to share a laugh or a few tears with those she comes across. 'All of my emotions in my 50s are right at the surface," she said. "I don't know if it's burnout… I'm just raw. All somebody has to say is something nice and I'm bawling… because people don't have to be [nice], so often you only hear about the negatives. When somebody just shoes their kindness and their decency, it goes right to my heart." As a public figure, Pugliese has faced more than her fair share of criticism and hurtful comments from strangers. A glimpse into her social media account shows Pugliese with her family, travelling, smiling and enjoying life. Her followers never would have known that privately her family was in the trenches, fighting to hold on to one another. "There's so many things people don't know. They have no idea. I remember for years people would look at Alex and I, we'd share photos when we would travel, because we both love to travel and they'd be like, 'Must be nice' or asking why we don't have any kids," she said. "They had no idea that we tried... It would have been the biggest blessing. The only reason why I stopped trying is because [my husband] was diagnosed with a brain tumour." Now that she's on the other side of things, Pugliese reminds followers often not to rush to judgement. "We really have to be careful because we never know what anybody's going through," she said. "It's curated and it looks a certain way, but they don't now the real truth." While her struggles and public-facing career could have left her hardened, Pugliese remains unapologetic about leading with kindness. "'I've been called 'too nice' like it's a bad thing by bosses… If that's the problem then I am not fixing it because the world needs more nice...," she said. "Just because you're nice, doesn't meant mean you're weak. Just because you're nice doesn't meant mean you're a pushover. "Nice has gotten me burned. Nice has gotten me in some serious predicaments. … You're going to get hurt no matter what, but I choose to still and always lead with kindness."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dina Pugliese says people 'have no idea' what her life was like before she left TV due to burnout: 'I felt like a failure'
Dina Pugliese's warmth is contagious. When the 51-year-old speaks, it's as if you're sitting with a beloved aunt at her kitchen table, being fussed over and offered anything you could possibly want or need. It's her uncanny ability to move through the world creating an instant familial atmosphere that has led to her success as the host and executive producer of Breakfast Television (BT). For almost 20 years (save for a two-year hiatus in 2023), the Toronto native has been a constant on morning television, willingly giving herself and her energy in hopes that viewers begin their day on the right foot. With a rejuvenated career and an upcoming panel talk at the Women's Healthy Living Show in Toronto next weekend, Pugliese remains determined to connect with her audience. But this time, she's no longer looking to distract viewers from their problems. She's sitting with them in their struggles by sharing her own — and reminding them that they're never alone. Yahoo Canada recently spoke to Pugliese about burnout, caregiving and more. In 2023, a demanding career and years of shouldering the weight of private stressors had taken its toll; she felt as though she had nothing left to give. In February of that year, Pugliese announced on air that she was leaving BT. While she says her decision was necessary — it wasn't one she took lightly. I couldn't believe I let myself get to that point of burnout. The last couple months were a complete Pugliese 'I felt like I was disappointing so many people, including myself. I couldn't believe I let myself get to that point of burnout. The last couple months were a complete fog,' she said. 'For years I had gone through different family health crises and I'd been spending all night in the ER or hospital wards. I was with my family during their chemo treatments and radiation and then I would show up on BT. I looked at it as compartmentalizing pain.'Pugliese recalled an author once saying that during a difficult time, she gave herself 15 minutes a day to cry in the shower before moving on with her day. Soon, she began her day the same way before heading to the studio to film BT. "I would cry in the shower and I would pray for strength, then I'd go out there and I'd say, 'I need to laugh. I need this as medicine,'" she recalled. pray before composing herself for a day in front of the cameras. Although it was difficult, her career was her 'medicine' that helped her soldier on for as long as she could. 'When I got to a point where I couldn't draw from that well anymore, I felt this incredible sense of failure,' she said. 'Like I was letting myself down, letting others down. … How could I leave a job that I loved so much?' How could I leave a job that I loved so much?Dina Pugliese Soon it became obvious to Dina, her husband, Alex Mirkovich, and her doctor that her body was crumbling due to stress. The first months after leaving BT were dedicated to sleep. Then she began reconnecting with nature and going to church to 'fill her spirit.' 'It was centring and grounding. Reconnecting with God gave me strength,' she said. But like many people, Pugliese's identity had become inextricably tied to her career. If she wasn't working, who was she? Who was the real Dina? 'I didn't know what it meant anymore because I was so defined by this job that I loved. And then I felt like that person was gone. I don't know if I'll ever see that person again,' she said. 'I didn't even know who that person was.' Pugliese's personal life in the years leading up to 2023 was challenging to say the least. In 2014, her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which required surgery in 2021. Pugliese took a temporary leave from BT to support him and other family members experiencing health issues. Acting as caregiver is something that comes naturally to Pugliese. Her first recollection of taking care of others is her beloved nonna, Dea. When Pugliese's grandfather died, she began sleeping next to her nonna so that she would never feel lonely. She cared for her maternal grandmother, who she calls her "kindred spirit" throughout her life. It was a formative bond that she holds dear, even now. 'It stayed with me that life is short. It's finite, and you have to care for the people you live with,' she said. Her husband's health struggles, which the couple kept private for years, required a different level of care. It's an emotional topic for her but one she feels called to share. I was watching him like a hawk…,' she said. 'He had to learn how to do everything Pugliese 'He's so strong and he's so resilient and he's so stubborn. That all helped him recover as well as he did. But it was really hard being in the hospital by myself, having the responsibility to care for him.' Without outpatient care, Dina was around the clock caring for her husband. 'I was watching him like a hawk…,' she said. 'He had to learn how to do everything again.' Almost two years after she left TV, Pugliese was contacted to participate in a talk about her personal experience acting as caregiver for family members. 'I was so nervous,' she said. 'I used to do this stuff in my sleep. I was like, what do I do? They [told me], 'Just be Dina!'' Once she was on stage, she felt something reignite inside of her. 'It was like muscle memory and to hear the crowd laugh and connect with them in that way… The connectivity with good people was what I missed…. It was still there.' When Pugliese decided to return to BT in early 2025 she needed to ensure that she wasn't headed for burnout again. That meant creating a different schedule for her day, building in breaks for herself and saying 'no' to more than she used to. Pugliese's focus remains dedicated to her family, rest and work. It also included a lifestyle change. Now that she's in her 50s, Pugliese is navigating perimenopause and learned from her doctor that she needed to overhaul her lifestyle and get moving. 'That's part of the holistic process, right? You have to keep your heart strong," she said. "You have to try and go for walks to clear your mind and do all of the things that we know to do, but sometimes forget to do.' Although her time away from TV forced her to slow down, she's happy to be back in front of the camera, doing what she loves. 'It's a blessing to be a part of people's lives every single day in the morning, when they're at their most vulnerable and for them to let you in. You bond and connect in a way that very few other shows can," she said. No matter where she goes, Pugliese takes time to stop and talk to people. Whether they're viewers that she meets while running errands or people that she meets while travelling, she manages to form a connection. It's not uncommon for Pugliese to share a laugh or a few tears with those she comes across. 'All of my emotions in my 50s are right at the surface," she said. "I don't know if it's burnout… I'm just raw. All somebody has to say is something nice and I'm bawling… because people don't have to be [nice], so often you only hear about the negatives. When somebody just shoes their kindness and their decency, it goes right to my heart." There's so many things people don't know. They have no ideaDina Pugliese As a public figure, Pugliese has faced more than her fair share of criticism and hurtful comments from strangers. A glimpse into her social media account shows Pugliese with her family, travelling, smiling and enjoying life. Her followers never would have known that privately her family was in the trenches, fighting to hold on to one another. "There's so many things people don't know. They have no idea. I remember for years people would look at Alex and I, we'd share photos when we would travel, because we both love to travel and they'd be like, 'Must be nice' or asking why we don't have any kids," she said. "They had no idea that we tried... It would have been the biggest blessing. The only reason why I stopped trying is because [my husband] was diagnosed with a brain tumour." Now that she's on the other side of things, Pugliese reminds followers often not to rush to judgement. "We really have to be careful because we never know what anybody's going through," she said. "It's curated and it looks a certain way, but they don't now the real truth." While her struggles and public-facing career could have left her hardened, Pugliese remains unapologetic about leading with kindness. "'I've been called 'too nice' like it's a bad thing by bosses… If that's the problem then I am not fixing it because the world needs more nice...," she said. "Just because you're nice, doesn't meant mean you're weak. Just because you're nice doesn't meant mean you're a pushover. "Nice has gotten me burned. Nice has gotten me in some serious predicaments. … You're going to get hurt no matter what, but I choose to still and always lead with kindness."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dina Pugliese says people 'have no idea' what her life was like before she left TV due to burnout: 'I felt like a failure'
Dina Pugliese's warmth is contagious. When the 51-year-old speaks, it's as if you're sitting with a beloved aunt at her kitchen table, being fussed over and offered anything you could possibly want or need. It's her uncanny ability to move through the world creating an instant familial atmosphere that has led to her success as the host and executive producer of Breakfast Television (BT). For almost 20 years (save for a two-year hiatus in 2023), the Toronto native has been a constant on morning television, willingly giving herself and her energy in hopes that viewers begin their day on the right foot. With a rejuvenated career and an upcoming panel talk at the Women's Healthy Living Show in Toronto next weekend, Pugliese remains determined to connect with her audience. But this time, she's no longer looking to distract viewers from their problems. She's sitting with them in their struggles by sharing her own — and reminding them that they're never alone. Yahoo Canada recently spoke to Pugliese about burnout, caregiving and more. In 2023, a demanding career and years of shouldering the weight of private stressors had taken its toll; she felt as though she had nothing left to give. In February of that year, Pugliese announced on air that she was leaving BT. While she says her decision was necessary — it wasn't one she took lightly. I couldn't believe I let myself get to that point of burnout. The last couple months were a complete Pugliese 'I felt like I was disappointing so many people, including myself. I couldn't believe I let myself get to that point of burnout. The last couple months were a complete fog,' she said. 'For years I had gone through different family health crises and I'd been spending all night in the ER or hospital wards. I was with my family during their chemo treatments and radiation and then I would show up on BT. I looked at it as compartmentalizing pain.'Pugliese recalled an author once saying that during a difficult time, she gave herself 15 minutes a day to cry in the shower before moving on with her day. Soon, she began her day the same way before heading to the studio to film BT. "I would cry in the shower and I would pray for strength, then I'd go out there and I'd say, 'I need to laugh. I need this as medicine,'" she recalled. pray before composing herself for a day in front of the cameras. Although it was difficult, her career was her 'medicine' that helped her soldier on for as long as she could. 'When I got to a point where I couldn't draw from that well anymore, I felt this incredible sense of failure,' she said. 'Like I was letting myself down, letting others down. … How could I leave a job that I loved so much?' How could I leave a job that I loved so much?Dina Pugliese Soon it became obvious to Dina, her husband, Alex Mirkovich, and her doctor that her body was crumbling due to stress. The first months after leaving BT were dedicated to sleep. Then she began reconnecting with nature and going to church to 'fill her spirit.' 'It was centring and grounding. Reconnecting with God gave me strength,' she said. But like many people, Pugliese's identity had become inextricably tied to her career. If she wasn't working, who was she? Who was the real Dina? 'I didn't know what it meant anymore because I was so defined by this job that I loved. And then I felt like that person was gone. I don't know if I'll ever see that person again,' she said. 'I didn't even know who that person was.' Pugliese's personal life in the years leading up to 2023 was challenging to say the least. In 2014, her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which required surgery in 2021. Pugliese took a temporary leave from BT to support him and other family members experiencing health issues. Acting as caregiver is something that comes naturally to Pugliese. Her first recollection of taking care of others is her beloved nonna, Dea. When Pugliese's grandfather died, she began sleeping next to her nonna so that she would never feel lonely. She cared for her maternal grandmother, who she calls her "kindred spirit" throughout her life. It was a formative bond that she holds dear, even now. 'It stayed with me that life is short. It's finite, and you have to care for the people you live with,' she said. Her husband's health struggles, which the couple kept private for years, required a different level of care. It's an emotional topic for her but one she feels called to share. I was watching him like a hawk…,' she said. 'He had to learn how to do everything Pugliese 'He's so strong and he's so resilient and he's so stubborn. That all helped him recover as well as he did. But it was really hard being in the hospital by myself, having the responsibility to care for him.' Without outpatient care, Dina was around the clock caring for her husband. 'I was watching him like a hawk…,' she said. 'He had to learn how to do everything again.' Almost two years after she left TV, Pugliese was contacted to participate in a talk about her personal experience acting as caregiver for family members. 'I was so nervous,' she said. 'I used to do this stuff in my sleep. I was like, what do I do? They [told me], 'Just be Dina!'' Once she was on stage, she felt something reignite inside of her. 'It was like muscle memory and to hear the crowd laugh and connect with them in that way… The connectivity with good people was what I missed…. It was still there.' When Pugliese decided to return to BT in early 2025 she needed to ensure that she wasn't headed for burnout again. That meant creating a different schedule for her day, building in breaks for herself and saying 'no' to more than she used to. Pugliese's focus remains dedicated to her family, rest and work. It also included a lifestyle change. Now that she's in her 50s, Pugliese is navigating perimenopause and learned from her doctor that she needed to overhaul her lifestyle and get moving. 'That's part of the holistic process, right? You have to keep your heart strong," she said. "You have to try and go for walks to clear your mind and do all of the things that we know to do, but sometimes forget to do.' Although her time away from TV forced her to slow down, she's happy to be back in front of the camera, doing what she loves. 'It's a blessing to be a part of people's lives every single day in the morning, when they're at their most vulnerable and for them to let you in. You bond and connect in a way that very few other shows can," she said. No matter where she goes, Pugliese takes time to stop and talk to people. Whether they're viewers that she meets while running errands or people that she meets while travelling, she manages to form a connection. It's not uncommon for Pugliese to share a laugh or a few tears with those she comes across. 'All of my emotions in my 50s are right at the surface," she said. "I don't know if it's burnout… I'm just raw. All somebody has to say is something nice and I'm bawling… because people don't have to be [nice], so often you only hear about the negatives. When somebody just shoes their kindness and their decency, it goes right to my heart." There's so many things people don't know. They have no ideaDina Pugliese As a public figure, Pugliese has faced more than her fair share of criticism and hurtful comments from strangers. A glimpse into her social media account shows Pugliese with her family, travelling, smiling and enjoying life. Her followers never would have known that privately her family was in the trenches, fighting to hold on to one another. "There's so many things people don't know. They have no idea. I remember for years people would look at Alex and I, we'd share photos when we would travel, because we both love to travel and they'd be like, 'Must be nice' or asking why we don't have any kids," she said. "They had no idea that we tried... It would have been the biggest blessing. The only reason why I stopped trying is because [my husband] was diagnosed with a brain tumour." Now that she's on the other side of things, Pugliese reminds followers often not to rush to judgement. "We really have to be careful because we never know what anybody's going through," she said. "It's curated and it looks a certain way, but they don't now the real truth." While her struggles and public-facing career could have left her hardened, Pugliese remains unapologetic about leading with kindness. "'I've been called 'too nice' like it's a bad thing by bosses… If that's the problem then I am not fixing it because the world needs more nice...," she said. "Just because you're nice, doesn't meant mean you're weak. Just because you're nice doesn't meant mean you're a pushover. "Nice has gotten me burned. Nice has gotten me in some serious predicaments. … You're going to get hurt no matter what, but I choose to still and always lead with kindness."
Toronto Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Breakfast Television's Frank Ferragine calls it quits: 'Toronto traffic has a lot to do with it'
Frankie Flowers dropped the surprising news during Wednesday morning's broadcast Get the latest from Mark Daniell straight to your inbox BT's Frank Ferragine is calling it quits. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk / Postmedia Network Breakfast Television personality Frank Ferragine has announced he is leaving the program at the end of the month. Ferragine, who is BT's weather specialist and gardening expert and goes by the nickname 'Frankie Flowers ,' dropped the surprising news during Wednesday morning's broadcast. 'I've made the decision to step away from Breakfast Television and early mornings,' Ferragine told co-hosts Dina Pugliese and Tim Bolen. 'This is going to be my final month … I want to take some time and go back to the things that ground me most which is my boys, my family, my garden — spend some time with the amazing community that has supported me.' Ferragine added that he wants to 'continue to grow in other ways.' 'This experience I've had, it started in February of 2005, right here in the early mornings,' he said. 'The experience I've had over these two decades are so wonderful that I think it's important for someone else to shine in this spotlight.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Ferragine thanked the team at BT and Rogers, as well as the morning program's legions of fans. 'It's been a wonderful journey,' he said. 'So the time now is for me to sleep in, but also grow in other ways and that's what I want to do.' 'Twenty years is unbelievable,' Pugliese said. 'To get up at these hours and drive in from Bradford.' Pugliese hinted that Ferragine had been talking about stepping away for some time. The TV vet joked that Toronto traffic played a part in his decision. 'Toronto traffic has a lot to do with it,' he said. Pugliese called Ferragine 'Canada's Al Roker' and praised him for wanting to focus on his family business, Bradford Greenhouses. 'You are that staple, that icon, we wake and (wonder), 'What's Frankie got to say today?' Everybody adores you,' Pugliese said. Ferragine promised to return for segments on gardening. 'I want to teach people how to grow things. I want people to feel good,' he said. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Like a perennial he's always going to come back,' Pugliese promised, saying he is 'exactly' the same person he is on air, off camera. 'You come back as soon as you're ready,' she said. Pugliese, who left the morning show in 2023, returned to BT in March alongside Bolen after the program parted ways with Meredith Shaw and Sid Seixeiro. 'I was so burnt out,' Pugliese previously said, addressing her decision to leave two years ago. 'I had a lot of lonely moments, in the last two years; a lot of scary moments. I got to be there for family, in big ways and small … I was grateful that I had that time to rest.' Dina Pugliese is returning to Breakfast Television with new co-host Tim Bolen. Photo by Citytv / Rogers Sports & Media Following Seixeiro and Shaw's ouster, a spokesperson for Rogers Sports & Media called their exit part of the show's necessary 'evolution.' 'We're invested in Breakfast Television's success and leadership in Canadian morning television,' a spokesperson wrote in an email to Postmedia. 'As part of this evolution, we have parted ways with Sid Seixeiro and Meredith Shaw. We thank them for sharing their passion and energy with audiences every morning and wish them both the very best.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. On social media, news of Ferragine's departure was greeted with a mix of appreciation and sadness with many BT viewers calling his exit 'the end of an era.' 'This made me sad this morning, but wish you the best and hope you have lots of fun spending more time with your family. Your replacement will have big shoes to fill!' one fan wrote, with another adding, 'Made me want to cry. But good for you. You still have flowers to keep you busy. Will really miss you Frankie for the weather your garden knowledge and just you being you!' mdaniell@ Read More Columnists Canada Sunshine Girls Toronto Blue Jays Editorial Cartoons
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dina Pugliese says she 'hasn't even looked' at public reaction to her 'Breakfast Television' return: 'I'm still scared'
Dina Pugliese shocked audiences earlier this month when she announced her return to Breakfast Television (BT). The 50-year-old Toronto-born television personality returned to the morning show as host and executive producer two years after she resigned to focus on her health. Pugliese's return, alongside newcomer Tim Bolen, followed a shake up at Citytv, in which the network "parted ways" with several familiar faces like Meredith Shaw, Sid Seixeiro, Tracy Moore and Cheryl Hickey. Pugliese shed light on her return to morning television in a new interview on "The Big Story" podcast with host Melanie Ng, and why she resigned from BT in 2023. Here's what we learned from the interview. When Pugliese left BT in 2023 after more than 16 years on the show, she told fans that the demanding schedule of morning television had taken a toll on her body. "I knew I was so burnt out, and every single day was like walking in quicksand," she said. "And it took me about a year and half before I started to climb out of it, and even longer to feel more like myself...I'm still a work in progress." Pugliese admitted that she never thought she would get back to where she is now, "under the BT lights." "I really retreated," she said. "I was depleted. I did nothing but sleep those first few weeks — sleep, eat, walk, repeat." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Citytv+ (@city_tv) She also said that she worked on her clean beauty line, The Care Principle, and spent lots of quality time with family. "I slept in my old room," she said. "I was able to clean for them, cook for them, just be together." As a public figure, Pugliese is well aware of how positive — and toxic — social media can be. Although there was plenty of support for her return to BT, not everyone was thrilled to see her back as host. "I still haven't looked," Pugliese said of the public's reaction to her resuming hosting duties. "I looked quickly on Instagram, just to those nice people off the top. I haven't even looked at Twitter — I'm still that's the thing, it's that you could have 50 people say the most wonderful things, and you really do appreciate it, ... and then that one person comes at you so hard." She went on to say that she always tries to live her life by "the golden rule," and that negative comments can be a shock. "So when you come at me with a slap, I'm like, 'What did I do to deserve that?' I don't understand it," she said. "Maybe you don't get my talent. But to come at me that hard, I'll never understand it." Pugliese has been open in the past about her experience being bullied growing up. On Instagram, she once shared that as a tween, she was "ostracized big time," explaining that she missed a ton of school due to two bullies who were "relentless," but was able to get through it and get to a better place through talking to someone. On the podcast, Ng asked Pugliese what advice she would give to viewers and fans that may be going through similar situations. "Whatever you're going through right now, first of all, always talk to somebody," she said. "Whether it's somebody at school, whether it's a doctor ... Somebody who can help guide you not going to last forever. There'll be a day when you will never have to see those people again. It's a short period of your life, and you will get through it, but you cannot do it by yourself." Pugliese encouraged people to look forward to the future and believe that there will be brighter days ahead. "You are going to laugh again. You're going to be happy again," she said. "You're going to find people who love you or who you are, and there's so much to look forward to and live for." Pugliese said the appeal of working with her former colleagues and the viewers was a big part of her return to morning television. "The viewers are very much that — they are family," she said. "I always knew it fed my soul, and that's why I was able to do these crazy hours with joy for as long as I did, because it's so meaningful...I was never blessed with my own children, but I am so close with my family. And I feel like, by extension, the viewers are that — they are family." "So I'm like, this is maybe God's way of saying, 'I got you,'" she said.
