In January of '95 Joe was approached to host the popular tvokids, which debuted a month before What. At the time Joe planned to shoot What's final episodes and then concentrate on finishing his final semester of school. "I had spent the year to that point balancing TVO with my studies and was having a blast, but my professors weren't exactly giving me a break on assignments." It was decided that Joe would host The Crawlspace on Fridays to ease him into the routine, allowing either Patty or Kevin, the hosts at the time, to have a day off each week. Joe didn't commit full time to tvokids until new producer Kevin White (writer, This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Corner Gas), had a meeting with him. Joe was assured that the "working dynamic" of tvokids would be free of star egos and drama. And every now and then, it was.
Joe started as an everyday host in June and eventually replaced fellow East York alum Kevin Brauch (The Thirsty Traveller). The tvokids Crawlspace was a three-and-a-half hour block of children's programs on TVOntario from 3:30 to 7pm. The hosts, now Patty and Joe, would come on live in between shows to entertain and keep young viewers hooked until the next show
started. And that's what Joe did, every weekday for four amazing years. "Teasing Patty, riffing at will, cracking jokes and doing characters" ... lots and lots of characters. Tool Bit Jack Hammer,
who with Polly Filla would make occasional Crawlspace repairs; Bodybreaker Biff , a cross between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Richard Simmons; The Chill - winter's only hero, and only friend; AK The Hot Dog Vendor - television's first European visible-minority whose broken english never got in the way of making truly good street meat; and Captain Summer, whose good intentions and love of summer heat was overshadowed by his clumsy demeanor. "I also received visits from Mr. Butterfingers, the biggest klutz on Earth and Trouty, my pet fish. I said goodbye to Fly Guy Sly and Sporty Spice before their time
and to Sleepy Guy, whom I couldn't get rid of soon enough." There were also the Detectives, Agents In Black, and the silver-suited gods of good eating, the spectacular Bod Squad.
The Crawlspace, pushing shows like Arthur, The Magic School Bus and more, became a juggernaut. Joe and his co-hosts became UNICEF Ambassadors, made appearances across the province, did their annual International Childrens Day of Broadcasting special and in early 1997, became the number one block of afterschool children's programming in Ontario, at the time with nothing more than a little creativity, a dedicated team, and one camera. When Joe retired in 1999, The Crawlspace had its highest ratings ever or since, a whopping 33% of the target audience - ahead of YTV, Fox and CBC. They earned an International Emmy Award for an ICDB special, and were known in over three million homes. Joe's last show was on May 30th, 1999, five years to the day of his What premiere. "There's not a day that goes by when I don't think about all the cool people I met at TVO," Joe says, "and the viewers who watched me there."
"Joe's genuine enthusiasm makes him a rare treat on T.V. ... fun without being smart-mouthed, interested in kids without being patronizing." STARWEEK MAGAZINE
