Latest news with #TheCarePrinciple
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.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dina Pugliese returns to BT after morning show axes Sid Seixeiro and Meredith Shaw
After it unceremoniously sent Meredith Shaw and Sid Seixeiro packing last month, Breakfast Television revealed its new hosts and brand-new studio Monday morning. BT personality Devo Brown thanked viewers for their patience before first introducing Tim Bolen, who left his position as CHCH Morning Live co-host in January. Bolen then announced that Dina Pugliese — who helped lead the broadcast for 16 years before departing in 2023 — will return as his co-host on the long-running morning program, which airs coast-to-coast. 'I was so burnt out,' Pugliese 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.' Pugliese, who emerged on the set from a giant moose costume, said she used her time away to focus her efforts on The Care Principle, her clean beauty line, and travel with her husband, Alex. She said when people would see her out in public, they would ask her if she would ever go back to TV. 'It was a lot of resting and walking and cooking and cleaning and sleeping and then, repeat,' she said. Pugliese had offers from other stations in Canada and the U.S., but was convinced to return after a meeting with BT's executive producer, Claire Adams. 'She was like, 'If you're ready, I would love to have you back on duty and bringing joy back into the mornings for us the way you did.' And I just sobbed,' she recalled. A stint emceeing an event for caregivers convinced Pugliese that she still had more to offer people at home. Following conversations with her husband and other family members, Pugliese said she was 'ready and prepared and rested and recovered enough to get back to it.' 'More than ever, people are looking for comfort, optimism, a uniquely Canadian perspective, and a sense of joy in the mornings – and no one delivers that better than Dina and Tim,' Adams said in a statement. 'Dina is one of the most beloved morning show personalities in the country and her return feels like welcoming back a best friend. Tim's warmth, quick wit, and natural connection with audiences make him the perfect complement to Dina's vibrant energy.' 'You will find NO ONE more surprised about this news than me! It's crazy how life works sometimes,' Pugliese said after the news was announced live on-air. 'After two years of rest and recharging, it feels like I'm stepping back into a pair of comfy slippers. It's such a gift to be able to return to what made my life meaningful for almost 20 years – connecting, sharing, and laughing with YOU, our BT viewers. I can't wait to continue making mornings brighter together!' Pugliese first joined Breakfast Television back in 2006 alongside co-host Kevin Frankish. After some fans reacted angrily to the news of Seixeiro and Shaw's departure, response online was mostly positive following the news of Pugliese's return. 'THIS IS THE BEST NEWS EVER!!!! WELCOME BACK!!!!' one watcher wrote on X, with another one adding, 'Oh my gosh, I had happy tears and laughter when the BT moose revealed itself. Your kindness and puns have been missed. Thank you for coming back.' Bolen, who started his career at Rogers TV as host of community shows such as Structures and Toronto Living, said that until he met Pugliese he looked up to her from afar. 'For over 35 years, BT has set the benchmark for morning television. Many incredible hosts have paved the way, and I feel truly privileged to add my name alongside them. But the real pinch-me moment? Getting to co-host with the best in her triumphant return! I've admired Dina for years and from the moment we connected, the TV spark was undeniable. I know we'll turn that into a big yellow bulb of sunshine for audiences to wake up with,' the father of three said. In addition to hosting alongside Brown, Pugliese and Bolen will be joined by the rest of the BT morning show team, including Melanie Ng, Frank Ferragine, Caryn Ceolin, and Tammie Sutherland. 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. '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.' In a post that was shared to X and Instagram, Shaw said she was blindsided by the news. 'Not gonna lie, this is hard,' she wrote. On Instagram, Shaw's post generated thousands of supportive comments, including one from Pugliese, who wrote, 'Meredith you are so talented and I know you are going to go on to do amazing things!' Seixeiro, who joined BT in 2021 after taking over from Roger Petersen, also addressed his departure in a message shared with his 189,000 followers on X. 'Thanks for letting me into your homes and for being so kind. Also, thank you to @Rogers for over 13 years of support. They allowed me incredible freedom on-air and I'm grateful,' he wrote. mdaniell@ Dina Pugliese, Jann Arden and 'Breakfast Television' fans react to Meredith Shaw and Sid Seixeiro exit Sid Seixeiro and Meredith Shaw out as 'Breakfast Television' co-hosts Dina Pugliese says a heartfelt goodbye to Breakfast Television
