This Hour Has Seven Days - Legacy

Legacy

This Hour Has Seven Days is still considered one of the most important and influential productions ever aired by a Canadian television network, bringing new and innovative creative techniques into the mainstream of television journalism.

In the initial aftermath of its cancellation, Canadian journalists were often intimidated by the prospect of taking on controversial issues. However, the show inspired both the American newsmagazine 60 Minutes and the Canadian satirical sketch comedy series began in 1993, This Hour Has 22 Minutes (since renamed simply as 22 Minutes), which took both its name and a comedic variation on Seven Days-style ambush interviews from the earlier show. Shortly after Seven Days ended the rival CTV Television Network launched W5, a similar program, which continues to air in the 2010s (Watson contributed to this series on occasion).

Watson continued to produce programming for the CBC, including the 1988 documentary series The Struggle for Democracy. He also produces and narrates The Heritage Minutes, which are made for the Historica Foundation and given to all broadcasters who want them (receiving some 50,000 showings per year across Canada). In 1989, he was named chairman of the CBC, a position he held until 1994.

LaPierre, who also continued to produce CBC programming and authored a number of books on Canadian history, was named to the Senate in 2001.

Christie continued to work as a singer and comedic actress.