Tag Archives: TV

Al Rae: Comedian, television writer and Artistic Director of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival

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Al Rae podcast interview, yuk yuks, winnipeg comedy festival, al rae
Comedian, television writer and Artistic Director of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival Al Rae.

Al Rae’s family immigrated to Canada from Glasgow, Scotland when Al was a young boy.

At an early age he gravitated towards drugs & alcohol to deal with his mental health issues.

Al is a recovering alcoholic, who came out of the closet a few years ago, and we discuss how that has influenced his comedy.

Al & I discuss writing & performing comedy for the stage and TV. Al worked on a TV show
with David Steinberg, and Al does a great impersonation of Steinberg, on the set, calling for a lunch break.

He also mentions comedians who influenced him including Ronnie Corbett, Dave Alan, Tommy Smothers and Bob Newhart.

Finally, he mentions how the careers of Burroughs & Bukowski inspire him.

Don’t miss this podcast with one of the most successful guys on the Canadian comedy scene.

Show Notes
Winnipeg Comedy Festival
Yuk Yuks
George Westerholm
Little Mosque on the Prarie

Mike Bullard: Comedian

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Here’s the much sought after Mike Bullard Interview.

Mike is renown for his sharp wit and ability to engage in unscripted banter with his audience. This was recorded in 2015, while Mike was on-air at CFRB NewsTalk 1010. He tells the story of how Program Director Mike Bendixen hired him.

Mike still does stand-up comedy, mostly for private functions.

I was a producer on Mike’s late night talk show. Mike and I spend some time reminiscing about the glory days of Canadian television in the 1990s.

Mike also shares the story of how, after his TV show was canceled, he avoided going out in public for 3 years and the lack of opportunities for comics on Canadian TV these days.

When Mike’s father passed away I attended the funeral. I’ve never laughed & cried so much, anywhere. Mike opens up about how he dealt with the heartbreaking death of his father.

Links from the Podcast
CFRB Newstalk 1010
Mike Bullard on Twitter
Tom Green
Norm Macdonald on Twitter
Lauren O’Neil on Twitter

Nicholas Campbell: Actor

Nicholas Campbell (1)

UPDATE
This episode was recorded in 2013.

Campbell will appear in the 2018 Toronto production of Jez Butterworth’s explosive masterwork “Jerusalem.”

Directed by Mitchell Cushman, “Jerusalem” stars Kim Coates, best known for his film and TV work, most notably as Alexander “Tig” Trager in “Sons of Anarchy.”

“Jerusalem” runs Feb. 13 – March 10 at Crow’s Theatre.
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Actor and director Nicholas Campbell discusses how he switched from studying law to theatre, his love of horse racing, his hopes to do more stage work and the greatly exaggerated rumors about his drug use.

Campbell’s interest in theatre began at Queens University, soon after that he moved to England and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. His early feature films include the Hollywood blockbusters “The Omen” (1976) starring Gregory Peck, “A Bridge Too Far” (1977) starring Sean Connery and “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977) starring Roger Moore.

Campbell is best known for his leading role in “Da Vinci’s Inquest,” a TV series about a hands-on, crime-solving Vancouver coroner.

SHOW NOTES
Jerusalem at Crow’s Theatre
Outside the March – One of Canada’s leading immersive theatre companies
Da Vinci’s Inquest

Bill and Sons Towing
Nicholas Campbell, and the improv group The Imponderables, (Dave Brennan, Tony Lombardo, Jon Smith, Eric Toth), won ‘Best Ensemble Performance in a TV or Web Series’ at the 2013 Canadian Comedy Awards.

Jayne Eastwood and Sonja Smits appear in this episode, “Bill’s 65th Birthday”

Queens University Theatre program
Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts
TV Eh Podcast