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Off Script
Finding Your Voice, Living Out Loud
For over a decade, millions of Canadians started their day with Marci Ien. As a Black female news anchor and, later, the first Black woman in Canada to co-host a national morning show, Marci felt the pressure to stay “on script”—with little room for error. She had to be great. She had to show, every day, that she deserved to be there.
When her career veered sharply away from the news, Marci embraced her new role “off script.” With a greater opportunity to speak her mind on the air, Marci now bravely shares experiences from her own life with viewers and pursues more ways to make a difference in her community.
In Off Script, Marci shares personal milestones, tales of resilience and kindness, dramatic moments from her career as a journalist and insights from the many unforgettable people that she’s met and interviewed. Living off script means having the courage to speak up, trust your voice and follow your own formula for what matters most.
For over a decade, millions of Canadians started their day with Marci Ien. As a Black female news anchor and, later, the first Black woman in Canada to co-host a national morning show, Marci felt the pressure to stay “on script”—with little room for error. She had to be great. She had to show, every day, that she deserved to be there.
When her career veered sharply away from the news, Marci embraced her new role “off script.” With a greater opportunity to speak her mind on the air, Marci now bravely shares experiences from her own life with viewers and pursues more ways to make a difference in her community.
In Off Script, Marci shares personal milestones, tales of resilience and kindness, dramatic moments from her career as a journalist and insights from the many unforgettable people that she’s met and interviewed. Living off script means having the courage to speak up, trust your voice and follow your own formula for what matters most.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2020
8 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
November 2, 2020
Off Script Marci Ien
I am probaly one of the few Canadians that would have a beer while watching Marci Ien on Canada AM. I would come home in the early morning hours from a movie night shoot in Vancouver or a bartending shift. As those who know, it is hard to wind down being up all night. So, I would crack one beer and turn on Canada AM.
That became routine for some time. I listend to Marci and it made the world a better place. When the show disolved, I felt lost. The morning drink became coffee when I left the film and bartending industry, but morning TV was not the same.
When she arrived in The Social family, I was one of the many that was thrilled. I can hear more about Marci (hello- celeb engagement!) instead of the latest news. I read the book slowly to savour it. I still read it in one day.
When she got raw and honest, I wished I could hug her. It is not right when a parent has to teach their black sons to place their hands where they are clearly visible.
Now, she has moved to politics. Her riding is lucky to have her. The rest of us in Canada miss her. She is on loan, Toronto.
But, wait, Prime Minsiter Ien has a nice ring to it!
I am probaly one of the few Canadians that would have a beer while watching Marci Ien on Canada AM. I would come home in the early morning hours from a movie night shoot in Vancouver or a bartending shift. As those who know, it is hard to wind down being up all night. So, I would crack one beer and turn on Canada AM.
That became routine for some time. I listend to Marci and it made the world a better place. When the show disolved, I felt lost. The morning drink became coffee when I left the film and bartending industry, but morning TV was not the same.
When she arrived in The Social family, I was one of the many that was thrilled. I can hear more about Marci (hello- celeb engagement!) instead of the latest news. I read the book slowly to savour it. I still read it in one day.
When she got raw and honest, I wished I could hug her. It is not right when a parent has to teach their black sons to place their hands where they are clearly visible.
Now, she has moved to politics. Her riding is lucky to have her. The rest of us in Canada miss her. She is on loan, Toronto.
But, wait, Prime Minsiter Ien has a nice ring to it!
January 10, 2021
This book was fantastic. I was hooked from Page 1 and I finished the entire thing in less than 24 hours. It honestly felt like I was having an intimate conversation with Marci over a glass of wine or a warm cup of tea. She did not shy away from sharing her deepest thoughts on the many challenges she has faced in her personal and professional life. I really enjoyed the flow and format as well - super short chapters but each one told such a compelling story and allowed you to get even closer to getting to know the real Marci. Highly recommend!
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May 7, 2025I've watched Marci Ien on television for years and this book invites you to see the parts of the journey you don't get to see. Starting with her early years at the age of 10 on television. The chapters are like snaps shots. We learn about her early days of journalism and the pressure of being one of the few black journalist on one of Canada's biggest platforms. She takes to The Social, the chat show I first saw her and a peek at her next chapter. She invites us in to a bit of her personal life as well. I felt a lot of emotions reading her story. At times I felt a lot of joy. At others anger and sadness at some of her more harrowing experiences. I am very glad I read this.
January 17, 2021
Great read. Marci Ien was so candid in her writing. I really enjoyed reading her book.
December 13, 2020
It’s easy to forget that people who work on TV are real people with real lives. In this book Marci Ien gives the reader an intimate and honest look at her life off camera growing up in Toronto, working in Halifax, working at Canada AM, working with the people of La Loche, and all the interesting people she encountered along the way from her loving sister to Stevie Wonder. A thoroughly enjoyable book about a woman with a big heart who has led a fascinating life. Highly recommend.
May 10, 2021
One of the great things about having a book with short and to the point chapters, is the fact the reader is offered a massive amount of information and facts about a most notable personality. Marci Ien is a most familiar face on Canadian television, having had a career in media that many would envy.
She was seen on television quite early as a child, on the popular children’s program Circle Square. She began her television career early in the 1990’s on CHCH-TV in Hamilton, working her way to a general reporter then a Queen’s Park reporter. Marci talks in detail about these accomplishments working her way up the media ladder to so speak.
She headed over to CTV, with the crowning glory, in becoming the first black news anchor along with Beverly Thomson on Canada AM. She was there for several years until the show was cancelled with another morning news and information package rising from the ashes without any of the previous hosts.
Ien talks of becoming a guest panelist many times on popular CTV show The Social, filling in often and eventually replacing Traci Melchor. She notes people were skeptical of that role on The Social, some even thinking it as a gossip-fest type show. But the show is much more than that, with important topics of the day, Marci fitting in perfectly with the other four hosts.
Marci’s book is an important work talking of her life, marriage, children, and injustices that she has faced as a black woman in Canada. A most disturbing moment was when she was stopped by police in the driveway of her home, obviously because of the colour of her skin. Marci also talks of teaming with Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors to bring an athletic program to a high school in Saskatchewan after a shooting had killed several people in one of the high schools.
Since the book was released, Marci has gone on to become a Member of Parliament in the riding of Toronto Centre. She may be off television, but her presence is forever felt there.
OFF SCRIPT is certainly on target, a book filled with warmth, hope and eye-opening commentary about the injustices of life.
She was seen on television quite early as a child, on the popular children’s program Circle Square. She began her television career early in the 1990’s on CHCH-TV in Hamilton, working her way to a general reporter then a Queen’s Park reporter. Marci talks in detail about these accomplishments working her way up the media ladder to so speak.
She headed over to CTV, with the crowning glory, in becoming the first black news anchor along with Beverly Thomson on Canada AM. She was there for several years until the show was cancelled with another morning news and information package rising from the ashes without any of the previous hosts.
Ien talks of becoming a guest panelist many times on popular CTV show The Social, filling in often and eventually replacing Traci Melchor. She notes people were skeptical of that role on The Social, some even thinking it as a gossip-fest type show. But the show is much more than that, with important topics of the day, Marci fitting in perfectly with the other four hosts.
Marci’s book is an important work talking of her life, marriage, children, and injustices that she has faced as a black woman in Canada. A most disturbing moment was when she was stopped by police in the driveway of her home, obviously because of the colour of her skin. Marci also talks of teaming with Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors to bring an athletic program to a high school in Saskatchewan after a shooting had killed several people in one of the high schools.
Since the book was released, Marci has gone on to become a Member of Parliament in the riding of Toronto Centre. She may be off television, but her presence is forever felt there.
OFF SCRIPT is certainly on target, a book filled with warmth, hope and eye-opening commentary about the injustices of life.
November 30, 2022
This was a fast read that I read in a matter of days. It is from Marci Ien, best known from The Social, which I have watched and Canada AM (which I never watched). This was written prior to her now being a Member of Parliament and a cabinet minister. It is a series of short stories or vignettes, describing her life; her trials and loves. I have never been married and thus, haves never been separated and divorced, but anyone who has may find her views on it particularly poignant. Anyone from Toronto will also enjoy her many references to the city and surrounding areas. I enjoyed her open candor and her vulnerabilities. She seems like such a warm, giving person; the type of person everyone needs more of in their life, quite frankly. Her marriage sounded particularly hollow and sad. I truly hope that she can get her happier ending in this next stage of her life now. Overall, her stories were engrossing and heartfelt. A worthy read for anyone who knows of her or who is interested in reading about someone from Toronto.
May 2, 2022
Meh. It has taken me way too long to finish this book. I just could not get into it.
I don’t know Marci Ien. I’ve never watched Canada AM nor The Social. So I was really coming into this blind. I picked up this book because I like to read stories about other women; women who are different than me.
The book is casually written, conversational and light, which makes for an easy read. I found that the chapters lacked a thread, something that ties it all together. I was often confused to turn a page and see that the chapter was done. At times, it felt like she was stopping mid-story. As such, the author fail to go deep within and left me wanting so much more.
Even the title… “Off script.” “Living out loud.” There’s no reference to these concepts in the book.
I don’t know Marci Ien. I’ve never watched Canada AM nor The Social. So I was really coming into this blind. I picked up this book because I like to read stories about other women; women who are different than me.
The book is casually written, conversational and light, which makes for an easy read. I found that the chapters lacked a thread, something that ties it all together. I was often confused to turn a page and see that the chapter was done. At times, it felt like she was stopping mid-story. As such, the author fail to go deep within and left me wanting so much more.
Even the title… “Off script.” “Living out loud.” There’s no reference to these concepts in the book.
March 21, 2021
I wasn’t and am still not a morning tv news person, so I never saw Marci Ien on Canada AM but did catch her regularly on The Social during my mat leaves. Because of the nature of the show, viewers got a pretty good sense of where she and each of the other co-hosts stood on various issues and some of what’s in the book will be familiar to fans of the show. She shares more about her upbringing and how that has shaped her, her experiences in tv, journalism and also more personal stories about her family and marriage. A solid read that I really enjoyed.
April 13, 2021
Audio
I’m not sure how I stumbled on this book but I’m glad I did. Marci was very candid and open and it turned a news anchor I used to watch daily on Canada A.M. into an actual person. Her voice is familiar and comforting and easy to listen to. It’s a good reminder of how the stories news people deal with effect them on a personal level. They make friends with their guests they interview, they are scarred by horrified tragedies, they are real people. It also had some insights on racism which I appreciated her sharing.
I’m not sure how I stumbled on this book but I’m glad I did. Marci was very candid and open and it turned a news anchor I used to watch daily on Canada A.M. into an actual person. Her voice is familiar and comforting and easy to listen to. It’s a good reminder of how the stories news people deal with effect them on a personal level. They make friends with their guests they interview, they are scarred by horrified tragedies, they are real people. It also had some insights on racism which I appreciated her sharing.
January 5, 2021
This is an easy to digest book, which is not to say it’s an easy read. Marci does a good job of humanizing a public figure. Sometimes in this age of Twitter and social media, people forget that everyone is human. There are good days and bad days. It’s our experiences that brings us together. Marci delves into those experiences.
February 13, 2021
I like Marci Ien but I was disappointed by her book. It read like something anyone could have written about their own lives. Each chapter was very short, involved a story of something that happened in her life and what she learned from the experience. Again, it was o.k.
February 16, 2021
I enjoyed this book immensely. Such great insightful lessons contained within its pages especially regarding the concept of “loneliness” vs “being alone”. I also loved the flow of the book, it was like having a conversation with a friend. Overall a great read!
March 28, 2021
I never found the book fully captivated me or sucked me in.
However, Marci does share some really interesting stories from her personal and professional life. My favorite story was the story of the dash.
However, Marci does share some really interesting stories from her personal and professional life. My favorite story was the story of the dash.
April 17, 2021
A lovely collection of short stories, from Marci's life and work and the interesting people she has met that have impacted her life. She has impacted other even more people I'm sure of it. I enjoyed the thread of kindness and inspiration throughout.
April 30, 2021
I borrowed this book from my local library. I enjoyed reading it. It is a bio book about Marci ien. She has gone from a former ctv news reporter,co host of the social on ctv and is now a MP for the liberals in a riding in Toronto.
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November 11, 2021Picked up this one to get to know our new Minister of Women and Gender Equality a little better. A very quick and easy read! Have loved watching her over the years on various CTV shows and looking forward to working under her leadership at WAGE.
June 24, 2022
I most think this book just wasn't for me. I did not have an issue with the author, the writing or anything structure wise. I just generally wasn't interested by the book and thus did not enjoy it as much as other people have.
August 1, 2024
Solid 4. What I really enjoyed was the conversational style of writing and stories. I remember her face but couldn't recall her name, watching the news and the social when I was younger. Very enjoyable read.
December 27, 2020
Very interesting and well written. As suspected, Marci is a kind, insightful woman. I hope she survives Ottawa - she's brave enough to take on politics now, and we need her.
January 17, 2021
I read this in one sitting. I really enjoyed learning more about Marci. Knock 'em dead in Ottawa Marci!
March 31, 2021
Short chapters made it an easy read. A glimpse into the life of Marci Ien with great stories on how her life, career and family.
March 31, 2021
I enjoyed this book, it was an easy read and an interesting look into Marci's life both personally and professionally. Recommend!
April 15, 2021
Easy read, insightful dive into the life of a remarkable person.
July 14, 2021
Marci Ien is a gifted writer and storyteller. A positive, forward-moving individual, with a disciplined work ethic, I found her book to be very interesting and inspiring.
January 11, 2022
Excellent. Read the whole book in 4 days. Every time I picked it up, it felt like coming home.
March 15, 2022
Inspiring and insightful.
September 13, 2022
Audiobook. Loved it
January 3, 2023
Interesting
January 21, 2023
Parts were very interesting to me. Parts not so much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews