The MuchMusic VJs Are Almost Unrecognizable In 2020 (PHOTOS)
They’re all grown up! Before there was Spotify and YouTube, Canadians used MuchMusic (now known as Much) to keep up with everything hot in the music industry. With the Canadian channel came hosts, also known as MuchMusic VJs, that ran shows like MuchMusic Countdown and MuchOnDemand. It’s been over two decades since some of these VJs have been on our screens and a lot has changed.
While some have continued their journey in the entertainment industry as hosts, others have gone on to become actors, and others to be BFFs with some pretty big A-listers.
Either way, these Canadian icons have gone on to live very different lives in 2020 compared to 2002.
Matte Babel
According to Gossip Gist, Matte Babel became a MuchMusic VJ right after his graduation from Ontario University Wilfrid Laurier in 2003. He spent four years hosting MuchOnDemand until moving onto Toronto news channel CP24 where he launched their CP24 Breakfast segment.
He’s gone on to be a contributor for Entertainment Tonight and The Insider up until 2018.
Now in 2020, Babel lives in Los Angeles with his five-month-old daughter and girlfriend Pretty Little Liars Actress and fellow Canadian, Shay Mitchell.
Careerwise, INDIE 88 reports that he’s currently the CEO of Ransom Music Group in Los Angeles.
Leah Miller
In an interview with Faze, Leah Miller described how she skipped out on university to head into the world of acting in Los Angeles. It wasn’t until she realized it wasn’t the right choice that she returned home to Toronto and landed her gig on MuchMusic in 2004.
She hosted MuchOnDemand and even hosted the network's MuchMusic Video Awards, according to IMDb.
In 2008, she left her VJ position to host the now-cancelled So You Think You Can Dance Canada.
She currently has a film, El otro Tom, slated as in post-production and has made multiple appearances on Hilary Duff’s Instagram, who claims they have been friends for 14 years.
Devon Soltendieck
Like Leah Miller, Devon Soltendieck also hit the MuchMusic stage back in 2004. After acting as a host for the network, TRNTO claims he went on to become an anchor for CP24, and then the host of pop culture game show, Pop Quiz.
Until 2018, he was the senior entertainment reporter for CTV’s show etalk.
IMDb currently has no upcoming projects listed for the former host.
George Stroumboulopoulos
According to his IMDb, George Stroumboulopoulos worked as a MuchMusic producer and VJ from 2000 to 2004. He hosted shows like The Punk Show, The NewMusic, MuchLOUD and MuchNews.
From 2004 until 2014, he went on to host his own talk show called George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight that aired on CBC. According to Gore Mutual, he also went on to work with CNN and Hockey Night in Canada.
He’s currently an executive producer on the show The Communist’s Daughter, and on the movies Clowning and Laudanum.
Rick Campanelli
Rick Campanelli hit the MuchMusic VJ spotlight back in 1994 and spent much of his time on the network hosting the MuchMusic Countdown. After leaving the network in 2005, INDIE88 says he went on to host ET Canada until 2017.
In 2020, his Instagram highlights his family life in Toronto that includes wife Angie and three kids.
Bradford How
Bradford How served as a VJ on MuchMusic from 2000 to 2003 until he quit to move into an acting career.
Since his departure hosting shows like Electric Circus, he’s had steady acting gigs. Now, IMDb has him listed as working on the short film The Book. Vol. 1. Aswang with a series I Do: The Series in post-production.