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Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's reality show canceled after one episode

Mayor Rob Ford was allegedly photographed smoking crack with Anthony Smith, left, and two others.
Mayor Rob Ford was allegedly photographed smoking crack with Anthony Smith, left, and two others.

TORONTO, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Canada's Sun News Network has canceled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's reality TV after one episode aired, a network official said Tuesday.

Kory Teneycke, an SNN vice president, said "Ford Nation," hosted by Ford and his brother, a member of the Toronto City Council, "beat our record of 100,000 viewers," but the show cannot go on because of the amount of time and production that go into it, CNN reported.

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Teneycke said the Ford brothers will appear regularly as guests on other network shows.

The show premiered after the City Council voted to revoke most of Ford's mayoral authority -- and about two weeks after Ford told reporters he had smoke crack cocaine while in one of his "drunken stupors."

Ford said on NBC's "Today" show Tuesday he is embarrassed by having admitted he smoked crack but still could do his job.

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"We've all made mistakes," he said. "I'm not perfect. Maybe you are, maybe other people are. I've made mistakes. I've admitted my mistakes."

Ford was stripped of many of his powers Monday at a raucous City Council meeting during which he knocked down a council member. The council voted to cut his office budget by 60 percent and allow mayoral staff to join the deputy mayor.

The council's actions, Ford told "Today" during the interview in Toronto, "basically took away [the votes] of the 383,000 people who voted for me."

He said he was "embarrassed," not for himself, but for his family, friends and supporters.

"I take full responsibility," Ford said.

The council's actions essentially mean Ford has no legislative power because he no longer heads the executive committee. He can keep his title and the ability to represent Toronto at official functions.

Ford again said he answered truthfully that he doesn't use crack but had tried it. He previously said he wasn't asked the right questions about his drug use, so he never lied.

Asked whether he was fit to lead in case of emergency, given that he has admitted to being drunk on occasion, Ford said, "I'm very fortunate it hasn't happened."

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Ford told "Today" there were "very few isolated incidents" when he's been impaired on the job.

"I'm very fortunate that that hasn't happened, but that could happen with anybody at any time," Ford said.

Ford said he "absolutely" wants to remain mayor.

"They're not going to find another Rob Ford," he said.

Ford told NBC he wasn't in any treatment program, but was working on his weight.

"I'm not in any drug treatment programs," he said. "I have a weight issue. I've been training every day."

"All I can say is actions speak louder than words. I invite you to come back," Ford said. "Give me five or six months, and if you don't see a difference, I'll eat my words."

Ford's brother, Toronto Councilor Doug Ford, appearing with the mayor on "Today," defended his brother, noting the city saved millions of dollars under his leadership.

But Doug Ford said he was worried about his brother.

"His weight issues, when he goes on a binge, when he goes, if you want to call it binge-drinking, and I hear about it, yeah, it's concerning," Doug Ford said. "Do I know, on a personal side, has Rob been 100 percent honest? No, he hasn't."

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