YTV's Hit List was a music video television program that aired on YTV, a Canadian specialty television network aimed at children. The series first started in 1991, hosted by Tarzan Dan and had 14 seasons in all. The first 6 seasons of Hit List were hosted by Tarzan Dan, there were numerous hosts to follow from Aashna, Leslie and Exan to Rob and Danielle. As of fall 2005, Hit List has gone on an indefinite hiatus.
Tarzan Dan worked on the radio in Toronto and was nominated for Canadian Radio Announcer of the Year 5 times and won 4. He was also nominated for a Gemini for his YTV work and Best TV Host of a Music Based Show at the Canadian Music Industry Awards. He has most recently been seen on MuchMoreMusic on the show Listed.
Danielle McGimsie and Rob Fournier, were the last people to host the Hit List. Danielle is now an entertainment reporter for ETalk on the Canadian CTV Network, and was the host of HypaSpace on the SPACE Channel.
Hit List was known for breaking many groups in Canada. Backstreet Boys performed on the YTV Achievement Awards one year.
The celebrities include "Weird Al" Yankovic, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, *NSYNC, Take That, The Smashing Pumpkins, Spice Girls, Five, No Doubt, Britney Spears, Blur, Kim Stockwood, The Moffatts, Hanson, O-Town, Eiffel 65, Aaron Carter, Shawn Desman, Lillix, Simple Plan, Avril Lavigne, Busted, Rachel Stevens, Clay Aiken, and many others.
From seasons 1-6 when Tarzan Dan hosted it, the music videos played were similar to those seen on Muchmusic with pop, rock, dance, r&b, etc. When the show began its 7th season with Aashna, Leslie and Exan, most of the music videos being played were pop which caused a decline with the male viewing audience during seasons 7-10. However, once Danielle and Rob replaced them in season 11, rock videos made a comeback and so did the male viewing audience.
Famous quotes containing the words hit and/or list:
“Carlyle’s humor is vigorous and titanic, and has more sense in it than the sober philosophy of many another. It is not to be disposed of by laughter and smiles merely; it gets to be too serious for that: only they may laugh who are not hit by it.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Hey, you dress up our town very nicely. You don’t look out the Chamber of Commerce is going to list you in their publicity with the local attractions.”
—Robert M. Fresco, and Jack Arnold. Dr. Matt Hastings (John Agar)