Comedian Brent Butt will be hosting the 2005 Juno Awards, Sunday, 03 April 2005. The co-creator, producer and writer of Corner Gas, the popular CTV program, spoke with Joseph Planta about hosting the Junos, Canadian music, performing, and the much-anticipated third season of the hit, Corner Gas.
Freedom of the press is under seige. Throughout the world, but in particular the United States and Canada there are glaring examples of where your right to know is seriously being challenged. Tanya Churchmuch is the Canadian president of Reporters Without Borders, an international organisation advocating for greater freedom of the press worldwide, and she talked with Joseph Planta about examples in Canada and beyong, like the case against Juliet O’Neill and more.
The First Weekend Club is an effective grassroots organisation promoting Canadian films. Its Executive Director, Anita Adams talked with Joseph Planta about the organisation and the work they do, as well as the state of the Canadian film industry.
Dan Hughes, the producer of the 25th Annual Genie Awards previewed the awards telecast on Monday, and talked with Joseph Planta about the Canadian films nominated.
From Ireland, where he’s on holiday, John Aimers, the Dominion Chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada talked with Joseph Planta regarding the wedding of Charles and Camilla; what it means for Canadians, and how times have changed for the Royal Family.
Brian D. Johnson, the senior entertainment writer and film critic from Maclean’s magazine talked with Joseph Planta about the cross-country In Conversation with Maclean’s series, which kicks off in Vancouver on Monday, 14 March 2005 at the Stanley Theatre. Johnson will host the acclaimed filmmaker Atom Egoyan, and actor/producer/director Paul Gross.
Pierre Bourque, Canada’s internet guru of Bourque Newswatch talked politics with Joseph Planta, as well as his art career and more.
In wide ranging chat, Global National’s Kevin Newman talked with Joseph Planta about the role of an anchor in television news in Canada and the United States, his role as an MS Ambassador for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, as well as what it was like interviewing Margaret Thatcher.
Ben Mulroney, the host of CTV’s eTalk Daily talked with Joseph Planta about Canadian Idol, which he also hosts. They hold their auditions in Vancouver this Friday, 11 February, 2005. He previews Idol’s third season, and provides an entertaining chat about Idol, his dad’s book, as well as colleagues Jon Dore, Tanya Kim, and Craig Norris.
Former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, the Hon. Sinclair Stevens talked with Joseph Planta about the Gomery inquiry, as well as the nature of public inquiries, as well as the Progressive Canadian Party, of which he is the Chair of the Macdonald-Cartier PC Fund.
Link Byfield, Chairman of the Citizens Centre for Democracy and Freedom, columnist for the Calgary Sun, and an Alberta senator-in-waiting, talked with Joseph Planta about the Citizens Centre’s campaign for a same-sex referendum, as well he shared his thoughts on the Gomery inquiry.
The Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform was charged with looking at British Columbia’s electoral system. They’ve recommended that the current system be replaced with a new scheme, BC-STV. Frankie Kirby co-represented Vancouver-Kensington as a member of the Citizen’s Assembly, and she talked with Joseph Planta about the assembly’s recommendation.
Ken Tucker, the film critic from New York magazine, and formerly the television critic from Entertainment Weekly, talked with Joseph Planta about his new book, Kissing Bill O’Reilly, Roasting Miss Piggy: 100 Things to Love and Hate about TV (St. Martin’s Press, 2005).
The writer-director-actor Don McKellar spoke with The Commentary’s Joseph Planta about his new film, Childstar, which opens nationwide on Friday, January 28, 2005. McKellar also stars in the film along with Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mark Rendall, Brendan Fehr, Kristin Adams, Dave Foley, Peter Paige, Gil Bellows, and Alan Thicke.
Gregor Robertson, the BC NDP candidate in Vancouver-Fairview for the upcoming provincial election, talks to Joseph Planta about why he’s entered the political arena, after years of success running Happy Planet Foods.