Toronto crack-smoking mayor off booze, and TV

who admitted to smoking crack cocaine and binge drinking, stepped up the battle to reclaim his reputation Tuesday in a series of extraordinary television interviews. But he was handed a setback when his own, much-billed television talk show was swiftly cancelled after the airing of its debut episode. Ford, civic leader of Canada's biggest city, has been stripped of most of his powers by outraged councillors, but has not given up hope of recapturing public affection after his hell-raising antics. In interviews with US broadcasters aired Tuesday, Ford denied he had an alcohol problem, but vowed to mend his ways in the wake of a scandal that continues to engulf him. "I've embarrassed not just myself, my family, my friends, my supporters, the whole city," Ford told NBC's Today show. "I take full responsibility for that. We've all made mistakes ... I'm not perfect." However, when asked if he was in an alcohol treatment program, the mayor said: "No. I have a weight issue. Have been training every day." In remarks to ABC's "Good Morning America", he pledged to reform his behavior, though admitted that such "talk is cheap." "Come back in five months. If you don't see a difference, you can say, Rob, I don't believe you," he said. "Go take a drug test or urine test or alcohol test. No problem." Ford told Canada's public broadcaster he was moved to change his behavior after seeing a friend, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, pausing to hold back tears when asked to comment on the mayor's antics. Ford acknowledged that he is not a religious man, but that "Jim moment" or "Jesus moment" had made him realize the impact of his downward spiral on those close to him. In the CBC interview, aired late Monday, Ford said he had not touched alcohol in three weeks and would never drink again. The same night, the mayor hosted with his brother Doug their first talk show on Canadian television. But despite record ratings, upstart Sun News pulled the show, saying it was too expensive to produce -- reportedly taking five hours to record, and another eight hours to edit, blamed on the Ford brothers' relative inexperience with the medium. The pair had previously hosted a weekly radio show but it was cancelled after Ford admitted to smoking crack. A top government minister meanwhile broke ranks Tuesday to chide Ford for bringing "dishonor" to his office. "I wish he had taken a leave of absence some time ago to deal with his personal problems," Jobs Minister Jason Kenney said in Ottawa. "But not having done that, I personally think he should step aside, and stop dragging the city of Toronto through this terrible embarrassment." Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office had said previously it does not condone drug abuse but would continue to work with Ford. On Monday, in the latest chapter of an embarrassing saga in Canada's economic hub, Ford was largely reduced to a figurehead by the city council -- but he again refused to step down. Ford has threatened to take court action and said the only judgment he should face is that of voters at the ballot box next year. "This is going to be outright war," said the mayor, who has faced outrage over a litany of misdeeds, both admitted and alleged, since police revealed they had video footage of him smoking crack. Ford admitted he had smoked the drug and apologized for his behavior, including what he dubbed his many "drunken stupors." New allegations of misconduct and his lewd remarks in denying sexual harassment claims deepened the problems. While the council overwhelmingly voted to cut the mayor's budget and staff on Monday, a few dissenters expressed concern, branding "illegal and anti-democratic," the de facto removal of Ford from office. The mayor now maintains a smaller office budget and a handful of aides, and keeps a seat on the city's executive council. He can also still attend official functions as mayor. But his deputy assumes most of his other responsibilities.