ARTS Episodes

Actor Singer Songwriter Greg Evigan talks about BJ and the Bear, working with a chimpanzee, turning DOWN Knight Rider (which launched the career of 'The Hoff' David Hasselhoff), My Two Dads, working with Paul Reiser and William Shatner, Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, competing in Network Battle of the Stars, writing a song for Meghan Trainor, his interactions with Mr T John Travolta Mickey Rooney Chuck Yeager Buddy Hackett Norman Lear Howard Cosell Claude Akins, and recording an album at Abbey ...

In case you missed it, from April 2025: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stunt double Peter Kent talks about the OTHER Peter Kent (and meeting his brother the ‘Scud Stud’ Arthur), getting hired by fellow Canadian James Cameron for a little film called The Terminator (for $40/day), his working and personal relationship with The Austrian Oak on 14 films over 14 years, the pressure of standing in for the 7-time Mr Olympian championship bodybuilder, his interactions with Tom Cruise Richard Dawson Carl Weathe...

Superstar Songwriter (and former Prism drummer) Jim Vallance shares his stories working with Bryan Adams, Tears Are Not Enough, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Gene Simmons, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Joni Mitchell, Ann & Nancy Wilson, Ozzy Osborne, Glass Tiger, Larry Gowan, Rick Springfield, Tina Turner, Bruce Coburn, Neil Young, Quincy Jones, Martin Short, David Foster, Bruce Allen, Bruce Fairbairn, Bob Clearmountain, Dan Aykroyd and Bananarama!


For everything Jim Vallance, please visit http://...

Musical genre defying multi-instrumentalist Johnny Manchild talks about his new album, his North American tour that dips up into Canada, the learnings from his previous tour composed of fan-hosted shows, collaborating with No Doubt’s Adrian Young and Sublime’s Todd Foreman, the vital importance of beef snacks while on the road, and his upcoming Toronto show at The Monarch Tavern!


For everything Johnny Manchild including his August 12th show in Toronto at The Monarch Tavern, please visit https...

Gemini Award winning actor Peter Keleghan talks about playing the original Lloyd Braun on Seinfeld, bureaucracy preventing him from reprising that role in future episodes, taking over Mike Myers spot at Toronto’s Second City, his work on The Red Green Show and Murdoch Mysteries, working with George Clooney Jennifer Aniston Ted Danson Candice Bergen Jerry Seinfeld Michael Richards Jerry Stiller Steve Martin Hilary Duff, how at every Hollywood casting call he seemed to be up against Jon Hamm and B...

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet co-founder and Author Don Pyle talks about his new memoir, their iconic instrumental ‘Having an Average Weekend’ serving as theme song for the Kids in the Hall, not being a favourite of Lorne Michaels, beating out David Foster and Liona Boyd for a Juno award, being at The Ramones first Toronto gig in 1976, catching reunion shows of Iggy Pop/The Stooges and the Sex Pistols, getting Mike Myers and Paul Myers mixed up at an REM show, hanging out with The B-52s Fred S...

10,000 Maniacs co-founder Dennis Drew talks about the band’s 45th anniversary, their roots just across the border from Toronto in Jamestown NY, coming up on a parallel path with Michael Stipe and REM, the impact of former lead singer Natalie Merchant, their landmark 1993 performance on MTV Unplugged, opening for the Grateful Dead in front of 80,000 at the Buffalo Bills old home at Rich Stadium, their appearances on Saturday Night Live The Tonight Show Late Night with David Letterman The Arsenio ...

Former Blue Rodeo/Wilco’s Bob Egan talks about forsaking corporate riches to jump on Wilco’s tour bus at age 38 (on the advice of Johnny Cash and at the request of Jeff Tweedy), touring Norway with Bazil Donovan before joining Blue Rodeo for 17 years, bonding with Gord Downie while playing on the Tragically Hip’s Juno-award winning Bobcaygeon, his upclose and personal interactions with Keith Richards Sheryl Crow Gary Oldman William Shatner, playing on Austin City Limits with both Billy Bragg and...

In case you missed it, from November 2024: Canada’s Folk Singer Valdy talks about touring the world for over 50 years, criss-crossing our country coast-to-coast-to-coast at a clip of about 200 shows per year, his guest spots on The Beachcombers (Relic was a gentleman) and Front Page Challenge, his interactions with Steve Martin Quincy Jones PM Paul Martin Karen Kain Kenny Rogers Glen Campbell Murray McLauchlan, why he prefers using a chainsaw for his woodworking projects, and why you shouldn’t c...

Singer/Songwriter Marc Jordan talks about his ongoing work with Sir Rod Stewart, playing alongside Ian Thomas Murray McLauchlan and Cindy Church in Lunch at Allen’s, writing his breakout song Marina Del Ray after a Telly Savales sighting, his status within the world of Yacht Rock, keeping the music in-house with his wife Amy Skye and their two singer/songwriter children, his work with Alan Frew David Hasselhoff Don Johnson Olivia-Newton John, the epiphany he achieved while stoned in a cow field ...

Netflix global smash success ‘Finding Her Edge’ Showrunner Jeff Norton talks about his roles as CEO of the Show and Keeper of Tone, the exceptional timing of a figure skating-centred series airing just after Heated Rivalry and just ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, the story inspiration coming from a combination of Jane Austen plus Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, cameos from Elvis Stojko, Piper Gilles, Paul Poirier, his happy place within the Netflix family, the blizzard of unsolicited pitches he no...

In case you missed it, from March 2023: Hollywood Macher Paul Reiser talks about casting Helen Hunt as his Mad About You wife with his actual wife’s approval, stumbling into his breakout role in Barry Levinson’s ‘Diner,’ seeing George Carlin/Robert Klein/David Brenner/Robin Williams/Billy Crystal/Rodney Dangerfield live in the local NYC clubs, sharing the set with Carol O’Connor/Carol Burnett/Mel Brooks, using his son as cultural canary in the coalmine to accept the role of Dr Sam Owens on ‘Stra...

Edmonton transplant/singer/songwriter Moe Berg talks about the ongoing concern that is The Pursuit of Happiness (TPOH), his supergroup Trans-Canada Highwaymen (TCH), meeting Jeff Bezos, the rocketship that was I’m An Adult Now, touring with Duran Duran/Eurythmics/The Replacements, meeting his idols Todd Rundgren/Alice Cooper/Jeff Lynne, the nemesis that was The Parachute Club, his love for the Chicago Blackhawks, throwing out the first pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game, his multiple appearances ...

Martha and the Muffins co-founder Mark Gane talks about his debut solo album called Garden Music, his creative and life partner Martha Johnson, their song Echo Beach putting him into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, being signed to Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin UK record label, sharing a Juno Award with Anne Murray, having three albums produced by Daniel (then Danny) Lanois, touring with the Eurythmics, why they changed their name to M + M (and subsequently back to Martha and the Muffins), ...

Canada’s Metal Queen Lee Aaron talks about her childhood interactions with Burton Cummings, the genesis of her Lee Aaron pseudonym (Aaron Spelling?!?!), getting assistance on her first album from Triumph’s Rik Emmett, playing the Gasworks and Canada’s Wonderland, a racquetball injury leading to super producer Bob Ezrin parachuting in to finish her album, touring with Bon Jovi, playing with Heart and meeting her idols Ann & Nancy Wilson, her enshrinement on Canada’s Walk of Fame, and her ongoing ...

Television Producer Mitch Azaria gives his elevator pitch for the TRIPPING doc series, introduces the latest episode as a 3hr immersive boat ride through the Muskoka Lakes, shares the saga of kidnapper Three-Fingered Abe and his victim John Labatt, shares memories from his former life working on Sportsline with Bob McCown/Jim Tatti/Mark Hebscher/Dave Hodge/Bill Bird, and warns about the challenges of working with a non-union Red-Tailed Hawk [Diva alert!]


For everything TRIPPING, please visit ...

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stunt double Peter Kent talks about the OTHER Canadian Peter Kent (and meeting his brother the ‘Scud Stud’ Arthur), getting hired by fellow Canadian James Cameron in 1984 for a little film called The Terminator (and getting paid a flat $40/day), his working and personal relationship with The Austrian Oak on 14 films over 14 years, the pressure of standing in for the seven-time Mr Olympia and greatest bodybuilder in history, his interactions with Tom Cruise/Richard Dawson/...

Music Promoter and Merch Impresario Norman Perry talks about cutting his teeth at Pink Floyd’s 1971 Montreal show, unveiling Brian Johnson with AC/DC on their 1980 Canadian tour, why Disney & the NFL are better marketers than Gene/Paul/KISS, continuing to honour the legacies of David Bowie/Tom Petty/Miles Davis, his surprisingly successful collaboration between AC/DC and Gucci, why his goal is to 'feed you what you want, when you want it,' and how he has succeeded for over 50 years with the simp...

Canada’s Folk Singer Valdy talks about touring the world for over 50 years, criss-crossing our country coast-to-coast-to-coast at a clip of about 200 shows per year, his guest spots on The Beachcombers [Relic was a gentleman] and Front Page Challenge, his interactions with Steve Martin/Quincy Jones/PM Paul Martin/Karen Kain/Kenny Rogers/Glen Campbell/Murray McLauchlan, why he prefers using a chainsaw for his woodworking projects, and why you shouldn’t confuse him for Vi-Valdy!


Valdy will be a...

Singer/Songwriter/Broadcaster Talia Schlanger talks about creating her debut album Grace For The Going, hosting NPR’s World Cafe and CBC’s Q, her musical theatre experiences with Queen’s We Will Rock You/Green Day’s American Idiot/ABBA’s Mamma Mia, her productive educational experiences at Ryerson/TMU, her 3 years living and working in Philadelphia, meeting Willie Nelson/Brian May/Roger Taylor/Macy Gray/KD Lang, why Missy Misdemeanor Elliott is on her interviewing bucket list, and why Alec Baldw...

Art of Time Ensemble's Artistic Director Andrew Burashko talks about his debut as a concert pianist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at age 17 [under the baton of John Williams!], his 80 projects and recordings over 25 years with the group, working with singers Steven Page/Craig Northey/Chris Murphy/Andy Maize, collaborating with Margaret Atwood/Branford Marsalis/Pinchas Zukerman/Sir Andrew Davis/Jukka-Pekka Saraste, his 'pinch-me' moments meeting Neil Young/Catherine O’Hara/Michael Ondaatje,...

Actor Sergio Di Zio talks about FLASHPOINT being shot in Toronto, his over 100 credits in TV/film/theatre, working the stage with Megan ‘Anne of Green Gables’ Follows, his movie debut in National Lampoon’s Senior Trip with Jeremy Renner & Tommy Chong, his interactions with Russell Crowe/Ron Howard/Jeff Daniels, why he is NOT a huge fan of AI, and who he sometimes gets mistaken for!


Sergio stars with Megan Follows in “Four Minutes Twelve Seconds" until May 12 at Tarragon Theatre’s Extraspace.....

Canada’s Artist Charles Pachter talks moose, hockey murals and why the Queen WAS amused!


Charles shares the stories behind meeting his husband Keith Lem [Orillia aristocracy!], the inspiration from his lifelong friendship with ‘Peggy Nature’ [Margaret Atwood at Camp White Pine], his mother’s reaction to his Leafs/Habs murals going up in the TTC College Street subway station [“it’s the basement, but at least it’s permanent!’], opening the ‘other Shaw Festival’ and then building his ‘palace’ in...

Christmas Singer/Songwriter Kristian Noel Pedersen confirms his middle name is legit and not a marketing tool, talks about the release of his 15th annual original Xmas album ‘A Christmas Around Town,’ shares his love for 'Bandcamp-Heads' & Mariah Carey, and extols the virtues of apparently silly projects being able to bring people together!


For the full Kristian Noel Pedersen Experience, please visit https://akristiankindachristmas.bandcamp.com/
TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum a...