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Seamus O'Regan knows that man cannot live by books alone. In between his ongoing anchor duties on CTV's Canada AM, the chipper native of St. John's has expanded his literary horizons as host of The O'Regan Files. The Bravo! series features O'Regan conducting one-on-one conversations with arts luminaries ranging from author Malcolm Gladwell to jazz chanteuse Diana Krall. The show seems a natural extension of intellect for O'Regan, who became a CBC Radio correspondent at the age of 10 and later studied politics at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, which led to advanced studies in Dublin, France and Cambridge, England.

Following a few years working in provincial and federal politics, O'Regan joined the current-affairs program The Chatroom in 2000 and signed on for Canada AM in 2002. His years spent in television have given him a healthy respect for the genre, as evidenced in his three current favourite programs.

The Daily Show

It's required viewing as soon as I'm home (I can't stay up so I watch it a day late). Jon Stewart continues to set the bar - he's whip smart, wickedly funny, passionate and he has the most rigorous research department I've seen. This is solid journalism that holds public figures to task, but I've been known to fall off the couch laughing all the while.

Top Chef Canada

Top-notch television. The egos, the food and the steely glare of the host, Thea Andrews. She's a dear friend and this show demonstrates her smarts. Chef Mark McEwan has great screen presence and provides guidance to the young culinary pups who always create the most overwrought dishes. I was a lot more impressed than the judges that my buddy Todd from St. John's got some exotic Newfoundland moose meat in there. Good man!

Republic of Doyle

My hometown has never looked so gorgeous. Allan Hawco is one of my closest friends, so I just watch with a big silly grin, beaming with pride for him and the show. We BBM while watching in real time - true interactive television! To shut me up, he gave me a cameo as Paddy the bartender in the first season finale, but that's only whetted my thespian appetites. Watch for Paddy's return!

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