TV Host/Performer,
Freelance, Toronto, ON. Born: Toronto, ON.
Joseph Motiki became one of the most recognized faces on children’s television as co-host of TVOkids’ The Crawlspace on TVOntario, from 1995-1999. He first hosted What, a late-night phone-in program for youth on TVO, which was nominated for a Gemini for “Best Youth Program”. During his four years on TVOkids, it became the number one block of afterschool children’s programming beating out YTV, CBC and Fox. During this period, he made over 200 appearances at children’s events across Ontario, co-hosted UNICEF’s International Children’ Day of Broadcasting on many occasions (including the TVO broadcast which won an International Emmy Award in 1997), and was recognized along with his co-hosts by UNICEF for his work as an Ontario Spokesperson for the organization in 1997 and 1998.
After leaving TVOkids in 1999, Joe worked on numerous live-action and animation projects. He hosted the 1999 Golden Marble Awards for excellence in children’s advertising in New York, and later that year played “Professor Rocket” on HBO’s animated family program Crashbox. In addition to the Golden Marbles, Joe has served as host of the Alliance for Children and Television Awards on two occasions, and three times as host of the Miss World Canada event, most recently in 2006.
Favourite books? There are too many to mention, but books that have really entertained me recently are re-reads: Have Gun Will Travel – The Spectacular Rise and Violent Fall of Death Row Records by Ronin Ro, and Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling by Bret Hart. I guess I’m attracted to long titles.
Favourite quote? “Listen to the stage manager and get on stage when they tell you to. No one has time for the rock star bulls***. None of the techs backstage care if you’re David Bowie or the milkman. When you act like a jerk, they are completely unimpressed with the infantile display that you might think comes with your dubious status. They were there hours before you building the stage, and they will be there hours after you leave, tearing it down.” – Henry Rollins
Given the chance, what would you love to do that you haven’t done yet? This might be selfish but in my adult life, I have never taken a vacation. Like, a real, just-for-me, go-get-stupid vacation. I’ve been fortunate to travel extensively for work, but never without a producer around or a shoot to prepare for.
Who inspires you? My parents came to Canada in 1969 from South Africa so they didn’t have to raise a family under apartheid rule. People have mentioned in the past that I’m driven or focused, but I’ve just felt – if they left their home, family, friends and everything they knew so I could have a better way of life, the least I can do is be a good citizen, try to take advantage of every opportunity this country affords me, and try to become the absolute best at what I do.