Here’s Mike: And Junkyard Granny, Whistling Bernie Smith, the Robertson Screwdriver, Pancakes & Eternal Truth by Mike McCardell. (Harbour Publishing, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Here’s Mike

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

For the fifth year now, around this time of year, just before Christmas, I get to talk to the great Mike McCardell. It might be an overstatement to call him ‘great,’ but it’s not. He happens to have a book out around this time, but he’s always welcome on this program. He’s the marvellous storyteller seen at the end of Global’s News Hour. He’s out now with his seventh book, again a wonderful collection of stories we’ve seen on television, as well as anecdotes he’s collected over his many years of reporting, meeting the colourful, interesting, fascinating people throughout the city and its environs. The book is called Here’s Mike: And Junkyard Granny, Whistling Bernie Smith, the Robertson Screwdriver, Pancakes & Eternal Truth. It’s from Harbour Publishing, and if you buy the book before 29 February 2012, partial proceeds will go to Variety—The Children’s Charity. These books of Mike, all bestsellers, have raised over $75,000 for Variety. www.globaltvbc.com is the website for Mike’s pieces. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Mike McCardell; Good morning, Mr. McCardell.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Chris Gailus joins me now. The Global BC personality anchors the landmark News Hour broadcast weekdays at 6.00pm here. He joins me today to talk about news, being the anchor, BC’s anchor if you see him across town on billboards and the sort. He began his career in Calgary and went to work in Dallas, anchoring there, before co-anchoring the morning program Good Day New York, in well, New York City. He returned to Canada in 2006 as a weekend anchor, and transitioned in as the lead anchor around 2009-2010 when Tony Parsons left Global BC. He’s a new dad too, his wife Jane Carrigan, also at Global, have recently adopted. The website is at www.globaltvbc.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Global BC News Hour anchor Chris Gailus; Good morning, Mr. Gailus.

Oliver’s Twist: The Life and Times of An Unapologetic Newshound by Craig Oliver. (Viking, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Oliver’s Twist

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

This has been a heavy season for political books, what with the major biographies on Macdonald, King, John Turner, Thomas D’Arcy McGee, among four major releases this fall. There are also popular political books, like Peter Newman’s on the Liberal Party, as well as memoirs; the one from Allan Fotheringham was a notable read. The one that I found a great read, not just because it had analysis of politics and media over the last couple of decades, but also because it has gossip is Craig Oliver’s book. In Oliver’s Twist: The Life and Times of An Unapologetic Newshound you get funny, candid, and fascinating stories, but you also get the deeply personal story of the famed television journalist. You read the heartrending story of Mr. Oliver’s childhood in Prince Rupert, BC, about his bootlegger father and his alcoholic mother. You read about being abandoned as a child, his beginnings in broadcasting, right up to today where he’s one of the most recognised, respected, and beloved journalists in Canada. He lived this remarkable life having to deal with failing eyesight. In those passages about finding out about losing his eyesight, you glean courage, but also lessons in not feeling self pity. It’s a great book, and published by Viking. Craig Oliver is the chief parliamentary correspondent for CTV News, and the co-host of Question Period. He’s won a multitude of awards. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program in Ottawa this day, Craig Oliver; Good morning, Mr. Oliver.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The filmmaker Vikram Jayanti joins me now. He’s been responsible for a number of well-known documentary films. One of his most recent, Rolf Harris Paints His Dream has screened here at the Vancouver International Film Festival. It’s a fascinating, lively, compelling sketch of the Australian born entertainer, Rolf Harris, who is a fixture on British television entertaining as a singer and comedian, as well he’s a noted artist. In this movie, Harris reflects on his life and careers as it were, and paints a number of models depicting scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Harris wrote many songs, including ‘Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport,’ as well he is credited with the invention of the wobble board, and the Stylophone. Harris, now 80, is also noted for his playing of the didgeridoo. Vikram Jayanti produced and directed this movie. He also produced The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector, Lincoln, When We Were Kings, and one of my favourite documentaries, The Man Who Bought Mustique, which was about the late Lord Glenconner, the former Colin Tennant. I’m very pleased to welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Vikram Jayanti; Good morning, Mr. Jayanti.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

I’m very pleased to be joined now by Graham Kerr. Internationally known for his legendary television program, The Galloping Gourmet, Mr. Kerr has been on television since 1960 in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, here in Canada, and around the world. He is also a bestselling author, and an award-winning culinary personality. Next month, here in Vancouver, Mr. Kerr will be one of the personalities headlining the EAT! Vancouver Food and Cooking Festival, June 10th, 11th, and 12th. Check out their website at www.eat-vancouver.com for more information. The Galloping Gourmet program was known for its humour and generous use of butter, cream, fat and alcohol. Now, Mr. Kerr and his wife Treena, who produced the television programs are promoting less hedonistic values. I’ll ask him about his goals to increase vegetable and fruit consumption and reduce portion sizes. His website is at www.grahamkerr.com. His latest book is called Growing at the Speed of Life: A Year in the Life of My First Kitchen Garden. From Mount Vernon, Washington, please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Graham Kerr; Good morning, Mr. Kerr.

On the Outside Looking Indian: How My Second Childhood Changed My Life by Rupinder Gill. (McClelland & Stewart, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: On the Outside Looking Indian

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

There’s a hilarious new book out, one that’s difficult to put down, and one that’s quite thoughtful too. It also has a hell of a title, On the Outside Looking Indian. Rupinder Gill is its author, who joins me now from here in Vancouver as she promotes it. It’s been compared to the comedy of Russell Peters in some parts, but what it has are the ruminations of someone trying to come to terms with her Indian heritage and that of the North American culture she grew up in, in Ontario and that which she saw on television. See, good Indian girls stayed home, cleaned and took care of their siblings, and didn’t sleep over at friends houses, go to Disneyland, or take piano or dance lessons. So at 30, Ms. Gill decided to do the things she missed out on growing up, and the journey is at once reflective as it is funny. It’s a great book. On the Outside Looking Indian: How My Second Childhood Changed My Life is highly relatable whether you’re Indian, or like me the son of immigrants, or if you were babysat by reruns of television sitcoms and dramas. It is published by McClelland & Stewart. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Rupinder Gill; Good morning, Ms. Gill.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Once again, I’m joined by an old friend of the program, David Berner. The former radio host, columnist and performer is back with a new television series on SHAW TV Community Channel 4. He’ll ask the tough questions on a wide variety of subject: politics, health care, law and order, education, and get them answered with his guests. The first guest is Globe and Mail columnist Gary Mason, they’ll talk politics provincially. There’s much to talk about. The show airs today Mondays at 4.30am, Tuesdays at 10.30pm, and Wednesdays at 8.30pm, and Fridays at 2.30pm. www.davidberner.com is his website, and the blog is at http://thebernermonologues.blogspot.com. Please welcome back to broadcasting and the Planta: On the Line program, David Berner; Good morning, Mr. Berner.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

CTV British Columbia’s Mike Killeen and Tamara Taggart join me now. They’ve been anchoring CTV’s News at Six on channel 9 for a couple of weeks now, succeeding Bill Good and Pamela Martin. Debuting on the 3rd of January, they’ve long been well-known and long-time figures in the media market in this part of the world. Mike Killeen is an award-winning reporter, who’s reported around the world, most recently as CTV’s Vancouver 2010 Reporter. He’s also the former weekend anchor of the CTV News at Six. Tamara Taggart is perhaps the most recognisable personality in television in BC. The long-time weathercaster, has been an audience favourite, topping the polls and the sort. She’s co-hosted with Regis Philbin, and is the mother of three children. Mike’s got two sons as well. www.ctvbc.ca is the website, where you can watch the broadcast. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Mike Killeen and Tamara Taggart; Good morning, Ms. Taggart, and good morning, Mr. Killeen.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Charles Demers joins me again. The comedian, author, and activist is on to catch up on all sort of current events. Charlie will be appearing with SFU Urban Studies professor Matt Hern on Thursday the 27th of January at SFU Harbour Centre at 6.00pm. It’s all part of SFU’s history department’s year-long lecture series on the city and its history. They’ll be discussing the question, ‘Vancouver: The Greatest Place on Earth?’ And Charlie would be an ideal person to discuss and debate that question, as he’s the author of one of the best books on the city, Vancouver Special, which was shortlisted for the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize. He’s also the author of a novel, Prescription Errors. Charles Demers appears on CBC Radio’s The Debaters, and was co-host of CityTV’s The Citynews List. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Charlie Demers; Good morning, Mr. Demers.

Everything Works by Mike McCardell. (Harbour Publishing, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Everything Works

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

It’s always delightful to have Mike McCardell on this program. He’s got a new book out, Everything Works. It’s a collection of pieces like the ones he presents at the end of the top rated News Hour on Global BC. After the scandals, political intrigue, and crime stories they present on their broadcast, Mr. McCardell comes on at the end with his light-hearted, often amusing, sometimes heart-rending pieces that more often than not reminds us that life’s pretty good, and yes, everything works. The book is published by Harbour. www.globaltvbc.com is the website where you can see a lot of Mike’s pieces. As always, proceeds from sales of these books will go to the Variety Club. His five previous books have raised some $70,000 for Variety previously. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Mike McCardell; Good morning, Mr. McCardell.