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378:. The duo spent months preparing for the competition, including studying prime ministers and Air Canada routes, as well as practising driving stick shift Chevrolet (one of the show's sponsor) cars at the dealership. They finished in sixth place. They felt they were portrayed in the series as "very vanilla," until the final episode, in which McLeod accidentally swore.
66:. Over 300 short episodes have been produced, as well as a single-season television series. They have expanded the program into speaking engagements, exercise equipment, and other projects. As a result of racism that Johnson and his parents experienced, their programs and products have intentionally sought to feature an inclusive cast.
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More than 40 TV stations, ad agencies, and other corporations turned the pitch down. More than one was concerned with the image of people of different ethnic backgrounds interacting as equals. One was open to airing the program, but only if Joanne McLeod was joined by a white man; at least one report
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have been produced, with the first 128 segments created between 1988 and 1994. The show focuses on how exercise can be incorporated into daily life. The program was conceived by McLeod and
Johnson after meeting in a gym. The show was designed to be different than other fitness shows of the era:
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ParticipACTION dropped the hosts in 1991, after they had completed 65 segments, despite being the agency's most popular spots. They found different funding, and were able to continue production in 1992. They produced segments with Canada's
Vitality project from 1993 to 1995. The segments were
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as a countermeasure. The show deliberately sought inclusive casting. Johnson has commented that "the media has not only a tremendous responsibility, but a tremendous power" to influence public perception and acceptance. In 2020, the topic of racism became central, following the
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friendly, representing the sexes equally, and showing racial and physical diversity, a result of
Johnson's experiences. Collectively, they financed the show's pilot with their last $ 2000. Johnson worked on the series, while McLeod worked at
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Johnson and McLeod met in a gym, and started to date. They married in 1999. Together they tour the country doing speaking engagements related to health and teamwork. After living for a time in
Mississauga, the couple has lived in
274:, encouraged her to join a track club. She became a 4-time national and 7-time provincial hurdle champion. She represented Canada at events including the Pacific Conference Games, World Cup, Tri-Meet-Canada/PolandEngland, and the
1099:"The Prime Minister has implored and the movie stars have all weighed in but to truly get the message out about social distancing we needed the help of two Canadian icons to spread the safety message. @BodyBreak"
180:. Johnson recorded an unscripted video titled "How We Battled Racism". The video received wide attention in Canada, and led to Johnson speaking on the subject on many media outlets. TSN issued an apology.
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167:, during the 1980s, Johnson was moved so that he wouldn't be sitting next to a white woman. These experiences of racism, as well as the experiences of his parents, helped push Johnson to create
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The BodyBreak brand has been used on a treadmill, Ab Master
Workout, Step Workout, and other products. Hal and Joanne have also endorsed products without the trademark, including BackJoy.
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magazine has mused that "Trying to explain the cultural significance that “Hal and Joanne” have taken on since then is like trying to explain the cultural significance of Tim
Hortons."
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as a sports reporter. Network executives rescinded that offer the same day it was made, stating that they didn't want a second Black reporter. As an extra in an advertisement for
58:
Johnson and McLeod were both international-level athletes, Johnson with baseball and McLeod with the track and field discipline of hurdles. The duo self-financed the pilot for
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In 2020, Johnson commented that "as many successes that we've had, we've had a hundred failures. I expect that. I expect to fail... I'll find another way around it."
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broadcast during commercial breaks as public service announcements on many
Canadian television channels, but the most frequent broadcaster of the program was TSN.
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commissioned a 13 half-hour episode series based on the popular segments, which it aired in primetime. Most of the episodes included people with disabilities.
326:, a federal government program. The organization commissioned five segments, with an additional order placed in January 1989, before the first airing. The
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on a baseball scholarship, earning a business degree. An all-star first baseman, he represented Canada at the World
Baseball Championship.
134:, the child of Black and Irish parents. (Johnson has spoken on the racism they faced for their mixed marriage.) Johnson was diagnosed with
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399:'s "Anybodys'", chasing an anthropomorphized version of Johnson's mustache. They self-parodied in a promotion for Netflix zombie series
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Johnson has stated that the duo has "no business plan," so that they don't close themselves off from unexpected opportunities.
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insurance to pay their bills. Three two-minute segments were filmed in July 1988, in
Toronto's Sherwood Park, as a pilot.
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television hosts and former international-level athletes. They are best known for their television segments called
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For a 10 year period, Johnson lived in the United States, attending the
University of Colorado, and living in
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over 100 times. He acted in various television series between 1988 and 1990, including day player roles in
971:"BodyBreak duo Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod say 'Amazing Race Canada' helped 'revitalize' their brand"
145:
The captain of his high school's hockey, baseball, basketball and football teams, Johnson attended the
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Johnson is famous for his thick moustache, which he shaved at some point before his 2013 audition for
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with her adoptive family. McLeod's high school physical education teacher, who had competed at the
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509:"Hal Johnson On How 'Body Break' Was Created To Combat Racism, Reacts To TSN Apology (Extended)"
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51:, which have been in intermittent production since 1988. The program is considered a
678:"Body Break duo Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod are competing on Amazing Race Canada!"
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lists that broadcaster as TSN. Johnson decided to seek funding for the project from
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in 1988. Rejected by over 40 companies, the first 65 episodes were funded by
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1050:"The 'Body Break' duo just released a new segment on physical distancing"
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977:. Toronto ON: Postmedia Network Inc. The Canadian Press. 14 August 2013
865:"How the Body Break duo turned a passion project into a 30-year career"
584:"Johnson says popular 'Body Break' series was created to battle racism"
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19:"Joanne McLeod" redirects here. For the figure skating coach, see
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750:"How Body Break duo were eliminated from The Amazing Race Canada"
720:"Amazing Race Canada: Hal and Joanne are happy—save for one edit"
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Success Is a Four-Letter Word: Learn How to Bring More Abundance
232:
997:"BodyBreak stars make comedy debut on This Hour Has 22 Minutes"
653:. Cochrane AB. The Canadian Press. 17 June 2020. Archived from
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As of 2013, McLeod was reported to be still running marathons.
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804:"Hal Johnson Reacts To TSN's Apology: 'I Hold No Bitterness'"
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McLeod is of German and Italian heritage, and grew up in the
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590:. Duncan, British Columbia. The Canadian Press. 16 June 2020
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deemed them "the cutest cannibals." They created a COVID-19
1024:"Hal And Joanne From "Body Break" Are The Cutest Cannibals"
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as a child; he would later memorize all the lines for
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Johnson was born in the United States, and grew up in
395:. Johnson and McLeod appeared in the music video for
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Canadian fitness educators, television personalities
1003:. Toronto ON: Rogers Communications. 9 October 2013
389:Parade, and guest "anchors" on news comedy program
156:, Long Beach, San Francisco, Denver, and Boulder.
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871:. Edmonton AB: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
159:After his athletic career, Johnson was hired at
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810:. Toronto ON: Corus Media. Archived from
802:Corey Atad; Katie Colley (17 June 2020).
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330:was the first network to air the spots.
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1097:Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
941:"Body Break: Sitting -- It's Dangerous"
775:Randall Stewart; Cindy Stewart (2006).
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1210:Sportspeople from Scarborough, Ontario
1185:Canadian sportspeople of Irish descent
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1022:Strapagiel, Lauren (7 February 2017).
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186:Off the Record with Michael Landsberg
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939:Hal Johnson; Joanne McLeod (2018).
912:Hal Johnson; Joanne McLeod (2013).
726:. Toronto ON: Rogers Communications
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13:
1220:Baseball players from Philadelphia
1048:Mangione, Kendra (30 March 2020).
835:"New incarnation for Life Network"
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14:
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718:Bell, Sonya (14 September 2013).
676:McInnis, Frances (27 June 2013).
328:Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
863:Muzyka, Kyle (2 February 2018).
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309:Over 300 90-second episodes of
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684:. Toronto ON: St. Joseph Media
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387:Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
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21:Joanne McLeod (figure skating)
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1200:Sportspeople from Mississauga
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1078:. Vancouver BC. 30 March 2020
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30:Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod
1230:The Amazing Race contestants
1195:Sportspeople from North York
947:. Toronto ON. Archived from
474:Hal Johnson; Joanne McLeod.
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55:among Canadian pop culture.
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891:Abdominal workout programme
588:The Cowichan Valley Citizen
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198:Alfred Hitchcock Presents
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1180:Canadian female hurdlers
1138:for Hal and Joanne, via
549:"Keep Fit and Have Fun!"
392:This Hour Has 22 Minutes
381:In the months following
375:The Amazing Race Canada
368:The couple competed in
276:1978 Commonwealth Games
211:The Amazing Race Canada
1076:"Vancouver is Awesome"
178:murder of George Floyd
147:University of Colorado
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237:Joanne McLeod in 2011
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268:Scarborough, Ontario
183:Johnson appeared on
411:physical distancing
95:Hal Johnson in 2011
1054:CTV News Vancouver
754:The Globe and Mail
553:Abilities Magazine
402:Santa Clarita Diet
272:1968 Olympic Games
253:September 18, 1958
165:Woodbine Racetrack
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945:ON the GO Toronto
869:CBC News Edmonton
476:"About BodyBreak"
338:Television series
292:Oakville, Ontario
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515:. ET Canada
513:Youtube.com
364:Appearances
316:Canada Life
285:As a couple
83:Hal Johnson
75:Hal Johnson
70:Biographies
35:Hal Johnson
1159:Categories
788:1412099986
427:References
266:suburb of
249:1958-09-18
128:North York
107:1956-06-14
1001:Maclean's
918:BodyBreak
899:319878499
808:ET Canada
724:Maclean's
480:BodyBreak
421:Maclean's
397:Sam Weber
342:In 1995,
311:BodyBreak
299:BodyBreak
192:T. and T.
169:BodyBreak
140:BodyBreak
60:BodyBreak
48:BodyBreak
1028:BuzzFeed
839:Playback
519:June 23,
407:BuzzFeed
370:season 1
350:Business
305:Segments
174:protests
136:dyslexia
43:Canadian
1151:on IMDb
1109:19 June
1103:Twitter
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486:17 June
264:Toronto
132:Ontario
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845:15 May
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204:E.N.G.
201:, and
914:"DVD"
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895:OCLC
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243:Born
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