Morning maven Marilyn Denis wraps decades long daytime TV tenure

Daytime mainstay Marilyn Denis makes her final appearance as host of the “Marilyn Denis Show” on Friday, capping a decades-long run as one of Canada’s most enduring television personalities.

It’s the end of an era for many who tuned in regularly to catch the seasoned broadcaster’s breezy celebrity interviews and home decor tips for roughly 12 years with CTV and nearly 20 years before that on Citytv’s “Cityline.”

Tears spilled suddenly as Patricia Ballantyne testified to her longtime fandom while standing with dozens of mostly female audience members waiting to enter a recent taping at CTV’S Queen Street studio in Toronto.

“I love Marilyn Denis. I’ve been wanting to be on her show forever,” said the 58-year-old, her voice wavering.

“I record it, every day I watch it. She’s just so lovely. Funny. She makes you laugh and feel good when you feel bad or you’re having a bad day.”

Nearby, self-described superfan Josie Jager oscillated between tears and laughter as she tried to articulate her ardour. Like many, she recounted the highlights of Denis’ broadcast career in tandem with her own personal milestones, noting she first got to know Denis on the radio.

“And then when she moved to TV, and (when I was) home with my kids, my daughter’s 25, my son is 28, I would come home from dropping them off and have a coffee and it was like having a friend for coffee,” says Jager, standing in line with her daughter.

“You hear a voice and you think, ‘Oh, yeah, somebody’s here.’ You weren’t alone.”

Denis announced the end of her show mid-april, and her final shows have featured a cavalcade of highlights, special guests and audience surprises. As her last episode approached, a reflective Denis, best known for her perennially perky, snappy delivery, admitted to a flood of emotions.

“One day I’m crying, the next day I’m holding it back,” Denis said after a taping last week with real estate guru and guest co-host Scott Mcgillivray.

“It’s very emotional. But I’m always thinking about what the audience is thinking. And I don’t want to be a mess because there’s a show to conduct.”

Although she’s looking forward to more time with friends and family, the 64-year-old will continue to cohost her weekday morning radio slot on Toronto’s CHUM 104.5, which she’s