House of Crouse

On the Saturday May 31, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet one of country music's most exciting and dynamic new voices, Niko Moon. He first garnered attention as a co-writer for Zac Brown Band, contributing to hits like “Homegrown” and “Beautiful Drug.” He has also wrote songs for Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, and Morgan Wallen before breaking out as a solo artist with his 2020 multi-platinum single “Good Time”. His debut solo album "Good Time" showcased his ability to write a catchy-hook and he continued to deliver the optimism and hope he's been known for on 2024 album "Better Days" and on his latest releases, "These Are the Days" and "These Are the Nights." This tour follows Niko's latest EPs "These Are The Days" and "These Are The Nights," which features great tunes like “Money Can't Buy” and “Summer Don't Go”. Then, we'll get to know Pete Crighton. He came of age in the early/mid 1980s in the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Growing up in Toronto, he was terrified that his friends and schoolmates would find out that he was gay at a time when being gay felt like a death sentence. He found comfort in music and eventually curated a massive record collection. That music, and his mid-life sexual awakening, from one-night stands to friendships resulting from app-based hookups, is the subject of his new book “The Vinyl Diaries: Sex, Deep Cuts, and My Soundtrack to Queer Joy.”

On the Saturday May 24, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet Farren Timoteo, star, Co-Creator and Co-Executive Producer of “Made in Italy,” a tour-de-force solo show packed with disco, fantastic singing and a host of hilarious character, which plays at the CAA Theatre in Toronto until June 8, 2025. Based on his Italian family, in particular his father, it's the story of an Italian teenager growing up in Jasper, Alberta in the 1970s, caught between two worlds and determined to make his mark. Farren and the show are the winners of a shelfful of awards, including the Calgary Theatre Critic's Award for Outstanding Performance in a One-Person Show. Then we'll meet Christophe Lebold, the professor of literature, performance studies and rock culture from Strasbourg, France whose book, “Leonard Cohen: The Man Who Saw the Angels Fall,” is being called “an extraordinary piece of work, at every level” and the best book ever written on Leonard Cohen.

On the Saturday May 17, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Keith Elliot Greenberg. Before obtaining a college degree at Queens College in Communication in journalism, this longtime pro wrestling fan began writing pro wrestling stories professionally at age 19. Since then, Keith Elliot Greenberg has become a noted pro wrestling historian, who is also a New York Times best-selling author. His illustrious work includes writing for WWF Magazine and penning the autobiographies of pro wrestling legends, i.e. “Classy” Freddie Blassie, “Superstar” Billy Graham and Ric Flair. Today we're talking about his latest book, "Bigger! Better! Badder: WrestleMania III and the Year It All Changed." It is the story behind Wrestlemania III, told from the perspective of company executives, wrestlers who appeared on the card, fans who attended the show, and other wrestling personalities. Then, we'll meet writer, producer and director Bruce David Klein. His new film, “Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story,” about stage and screen legend Liza Minnelli premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival to rave reviews. The Hollywood Reporter called it a "gorgeous portrait", Deadline called it a "must-see", and The Wrap said it is "delightful." We'll talk about the movie, Liza and find out what makes the film a truly terrific absolutely true story.

On this special episode of "Maple Syrup For Your Eyes" I have an in-depth look at the movie "Blackberry," the lessons learned from the film, about what it means to be Canadian, why we don't celebrate our own stories and much more with the film's stars Jay Baruchel and Matt Johnson (who also co-wrote and directed).

Here's a list of Canadian dramas more flavourful than a bag of ketchup chips. Coming up I have the story of a mystical child on a remote island off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, a journey to justice for Christopher Plummer, the tale of a young women who went from wilderness of Alberta to the wild runways of the fashion world and a young Indigenous woman guided by spirits to exact revenge against a vicious Government Agent. First stop, Nova Scotia.

Here's a list of Canadian zombie movies with both gore and Braaaaains. I'll tell you about a kid friendly zombie flick, heavy metal flesh eaters and a Civil War era zombie story that Variety says merits appreciation for really trying something different.

I present a list of Canadian sports movies guaranteed to light the lamp! From airborne bloody Chiclets and a hockey icon to the story of Saul Indian Horse and an elegy for a man who spent much of his career earning $25 a game, I have a look at Canada's favourite game on the big screen.

On the Saturday April 12, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet artist and musician Sean Ono Lennon. A new documentary called “One to One: John & Yoko,” is a look at New York City in the early 1970s through the actions of two of its most famous residents, John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Newly restored footage, with remastered audio overseen by Sean Ono Lennon, of John Lennon's only full-length, post-Beatles concert is intercut with talk show appearance, home movies and news accounts to create a sense of time and place. In this conversation we talk about the film and how, for Sean, working on it is “almost like getting more time with my dad.” Then, we'll meet the creative team behind an intense new film called “Warfare.” Based on ex-Navy Seal Ray Mendoza's real-life experiences during the Iraq War, “Warfare” is a harrowing portrait of modern warfare that sees a platoon of American Navy SEALs in battle with enemy combatants. On this show we meet co-directors Alex Garland and Rayn Mendoza and star D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.

On the Saturday May 10, 2025 ediiton of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet a living legend on the Canadian Comedy scene. The Winnipeg born, Chicago bred Kenny Robinson is often called the Godfather of Canadian comedy. His irreverent, socially conscience, intelligent, opinionated and profane style of comedy has made him a fixture and favourite with comedy clubs, festivals, radio, and television audiences for 3 decades. This year he celebrates 30 years of his live show Kenny Robinson's The Nubian Show, a monthly night of live comedy that has been the launching pad for many of Canada's Whose Who of Comedy and featured appearances by heavy weight comics like Dave Chappell, Kevin Hart, Russell Peters. A new documentary, “People Of Comedy: Celebrating 30 Years Of The Nubian Show,” now streaming on Crave, traces The Nubian Show's early beginnings at Toronto's Yuk Yuk's to its evolution into a powerful and unfiltered platform that has launched many careers, all under Kenny Robinson's watchful eye. Then we'll meet Luke Gordon Field, editor-in-chief of the Beaverton website, Canada's most trusted, least accurate news source, and co-executive producer of the critically acclaimed Beaverton television series. He has run The Beaverton since 2012, and is now the host of The Beaverton Weekly Report podcast, available wherever you find fine podcasts. Their press release says, “Every Wednesday Luke Gordon Field will assemble an all-star panel of comedians to talk, mock and riff their way through the news of the week. Their knowledge of the news will then be put to the test in a very important quiz where the stakes couldn't be lower. It's just like watching CNN, only funnier and with fewer erectile dysfunction ads.“

On the Saturday April 26, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll  meet JUNO Award-winning Indigenous artist Crystal Shawanda. Born and raised on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario, Crystal began her career in country music, signing with RCA Nashville. After parting ways with the label, she launched New Sun Records and shifted her focus to the blues. Her highly anticipated new album “Sing Pretty Blues,” blends blues and Southern country soul with Stax, Chess and Motown influences, is available now via her very own label, New Sun Records on all streaming platforms. Then we'll meet actor, comedian, writer and producer Susan Serrao, who started acting at the age of 35 after raising 4 boys. The Calgary based performer always encouraged her kids to go after whatever they wanted in life. Then one day her kids encouraged her to do the same thing, so she finally went after her dream to be an actor. Since then, she's kept busy, appearing on shows like ”Fargo” and “Homeland,” appearing on stages across Western Canada and elsewhere. She has a YouTube channel called Susan Serrao Sketch ‘N Stuff which is home to her sketch series “got milf?,” her podcast “Completely Off Topic, With Susan Serrao.”

From a bloodthirsty brood, to celebrity viruses and a euthanasia program, on this week's edition of "Maple Syrup For Your Eyes" I have a look at two generations of filmmaking Cronenbergs, David, Brandon and Caitlin.

On the Saturday May 3, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet one of country music's most exciting and dynamic new voices, Niko Moon. He first garnered attention as a co-writer for Zac Brown Band, contributing to hits like “Homegrown” and “Beautiful Drug.” He has also wrote songs for Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, and Morgan Wallen before breaking out as a solo artist with his 2020 multi-platinum single “Good Time”. His debut solo album ‘Good Time' showcased his ability to write a catchy-hook and he continued to deliver the optimism and hope he's been known for on 2024 album ‘Better Days' and on his latest releases, ‘These Are the Days' and ‘These Are the Nights.' This tour follows Niko's latest EPs These Are The Days and These Are The Nights (2024), which features great tunes like “Money Can't Buy” and “Summer Don't Go”. Then, we'll meet Keira Jang, star of Can I Get A Witness?” a Canadian eco-sci fi/coming-of-age film now on streaming sevices. It's set in a future where climate change and world poverty have been eradicated. To mitigate these modern-day issues, travel and technology are banned and every citizen must end life at 50. Documenting the process are artists as witnesses, like the character Kiera plays, a teenager on her first day on the job.

On the Saturday April 19, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Dr. Janet McMordie. She is a sports medicine physician who blends her medical expertise with a passion for the arts. During the pandemic, she embarked on a simultaneous journey into storytelling, discovering a revitalized connection to her creativity. She shifted from a tunnel-visioned medical career to explore improv, acting, and producing. We talk about medicine, acting, her award-winning Second Act Actors podcast and much more. Then, David Cronenberg. The Village Voice called him "the most audacious and challenging narrative director in the English-speaking world.” He has directed horror films, dramas, psychological thrillers and gangster films, like “Shivers,” “Scanners,” “Videodrome,” “The Fly,” “A History of Violence,” “Eastern Promises” and “The Dead Zone” among many others. Seven of his films were selected to compete for the Palme d'Or, the most recent being “The Shrouds,” which was screened at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Starring Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger and Guy Pearce, “The Shrouds” explores the future of death. Casserl plays a “an innovative businessman and grieving widower, who builds a novel device to connect with the dead inside a burial shroud. This burial tool installed at his own state-of-the-art though controversial cemetery allows him and his clients to watch their specific departed loved one decompose in real time.” It's an unsettling idea for a film, but it is a powerful and ultimately therapeutic look at grief in its many forms.

Here's a list of Canadian horror films that are scarier than the Frankenstein Burger King on Clifton Hill. I'll tell you about a 3D archaeologist, a werewolf movie that reinvents the genre, the first slasher flick, a vocal virus and much more.

I present a list of Canadian sci fi and fantasy films that will wrap their robotic arms around you in a warm Canadarm hug. I'll tell you about a government manhunt to eliminate the rise of the machine consciousness, a war-ravaged totalitarian future, marginalized superheroes, a slimy bipedal creature and an animated, malevolent rock star.

I present a list of Canadian documentaries that are more fun than a bucket of Beavertails. I'll tell you about a major art forgery, the beginnings of a beloved band, a five-year-old orphan on the streets of Chennai, India, who went on to become one of Toronto's most celebrated chefs and a journey across the 24,000 kilometers of our big, beautiful country. First up, a documentary about a family secret.

Film critic Richard Crouse presents a list of Canadian comedies that are more fun than a two four of Moosehead. We'll meet the “Governor of Givin'er,” a bingo caller named Ned, an obsessive film fan, a free-spirited teen whose birthday mushroom trip brings her face-to-face with her 39-year-old self and writer director Cody Lightning and his film Hey Viktor!

On the Saturday April 5, 2025 edition of The Riuchard Crouse Show we'll meet writer, radio host, television personality, and public speaker Bee Quammie. She was the co-host of the Kultur'D podcast on Global News Radio and is a regular guest on The Social. Her writing has been featured in publications including The Globe and Mail, Maclean's, Chatelaine, Ebony, Flare, and Hazlitt among others, and covers topics spanning race and culture to parenthood to health and wellness. Her latest project is “The Book of Possibilities,” which shows us how small acts of bravery and paying careful attention to our inner voice can open up a world of opportunity and lead to a fulfilling life. Then, we get to know British novelist Natasha Brown. Her debut novel “Assembly” was shortlisted for many awards and she was named one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists in 2023 and one of the Observer's Best Debut Novelists in 2021. Her new novel “Universality” tells the story of a young journalist who sets out to uncover a murder mystery and winds up drawing connections between an unsympathetic banker landlord, a larger-than-life columnist, and a radical anarchist movement. She solves the mystery, but what she uncovers unearths a deeper web of questions. Elle calls “Universality” an “instant classic,” and “The Bookseller” calls it “a pin-sharp, savagely funny tale of class, wealth and manipulation.”

On the Saturday March 22, 2025 episode of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Emily Diebert. She is a Science Fellow at the Gemini South Observatory in Chile, where she writes children's books by day and works as an astronomer by night. Her debut novel is “Bea Mullins Takes a Shot,” a novel about a 7th grader who, after being forced to join her school's hockey team discovers unexpected friendships and a budding crush on the team captain. Then, it's National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a month-long campaign aims to educate Canadians about colorectal cancer and encourage screening. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada but can be effectively treated when detected early. To help me raise awareness is Dr. Peter Stotland, chief of surgery at North York General Hospital and the surgeon who did my colon resection when I was diagnosed with colon cancer twelve years ago.

On the March 15, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Atom Egoyan and Amanda Seyfried of the new film “Seven Veils.” In this a new psychological thriller, now playing in theatres, Seyfried is Jeanine, a director dealing with repressed trauma as she mounts a production of her mentor's most famous work, the opera “Salome.” Rich with metaphor and suspense “Seven Veils” is an intellectual thriller about art imitating life. We also meet Sonequa Martin-Green. You know her from “Star Trek: Discovery,” “New Girl” and “The Good Wife.” She also played Sasha Williams, a main character and a survivor of the outbreak in “The Walking Dead.” Today we'll talk about her new film, the dark comedy “My Dead Friend Zoe,” now playing in theatres. In it she plays an Afghanistan veteran haunted by her late best friend Zoe. Now in civilian life, she searches for a way forward as she suffers from PTSD and tends to her retired Lieutenant-Colonel grandfather played by Ed Harris. Then we meet Keira Jang, star of Can I Get A Witness?” a new Canadian eco-sci fi/coming-of-age film now playing in theaters. It's set in a future where climate change and world poverty have been eradicated. To mitigate these modern-day issues, travel and technology are banned and every citizen must end life at 50. Documenting the process are artists as witnesses, like the character Kiera plays, a teenager on her first day on the job.

On the Saturday March 8, 2025 edition of “The Richard Crouse Show” we'll meet Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. You know the Canadian Screen Award winner as family patriarch Appa on “Kim's Convenience,” and as Inspector Albert Choi, the new head of Station House No 4, on “Murdoch Mysteries” and as Captain Captain Carson Teva on the Star War series “The Mandalorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Ahsoka.” Today we'll talk about all that and his new film “Night of the Zoopocalypse,” a new animated adventure now playing in theatres, a space virus turns the animals at Colepepper Zoo into gummi-bear looking zombies. As an animal apocalypse develops, a timber wolf and a mountain lion search for a cure and a way to stop Bunny Zero, leader of the mutants. Then, we'll meet British actor Lucien Laviscount, star of “Emily in Paris” and the new rom com “This Time Next Year.” It's the story of two Londoners, Quinn and Minnie who meet by chance and realize they were born in the same hospital on the same day, a minute apart, but their lives have gone in different directions since that day

On the Saturday March 29, 2025 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we'll spend some time with Rik Emmett. He is a solo artist, a guitarist, a poet, a song writer, a teacher, a Canadian Music Industry Hall of Famer who is probably best known as the co-singer and guitar player of Triumph, the gold and nine platinum selling rock trio who lit up radios in the 70s and 80s. Rik left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career, and released records in a variety of styles, including rock, blues, jazz, classical, bluegrass, and flamenco. He's he won the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year and now has written a new book called “Ten Telecaster Tales: Liner Notes for a Guitar and Its Music,” available now wherever you buy fine books. In the book Rik delves into the creative process — the roots, influences, philosophy, and spirituality involved in writing and recording. Then we'll meet Hill Kourkoutis, a multi-hyphenate, award-winning songwriter and producer, who recently earned a well-deserved JUNO Award nomination for the Recording Engineer of the Year Award. This recognition comes for her work on “Ghost” by Sebastian Gaskin and “Should We” by Emi Jeen.

On the Saturday March 1, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a trailblazing physician recognized by the TIME magazine as a Next Generation Leader and an advocate for equity in healthcare. In her new book, “Unlike the Rest,” she shares her inspirational journey, from her childhood dream of wearing the white coat to overcoming systemic barriers to becoming a doctor. Her story is one of resilience and determination and she joins me via Zoom to talk about her life, her book and what it is like to be honored in Mattel's #ThankYouHeroes campaign with a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll made in her image to commemorate her contributions as a frontline healthcare worker. Then we'll hear the remarkable story of Sash Simpson. These days Sash is the owner/operator and Chef of Sash, a beautiful, fine dining restaurant featuring his distinctive, signature blend of globally inspired, locally-sourced ingredients. He's also the subject of a new documentary, now on Crave, called “Born Hungry.” In the film, director Barry Avrich tells Sash's triumphant and challenging story from a five year old orphan on the streets of Chennai, India, to establishing himself as one of Toronto's top celebrated chefs.

On the Saturday February 22, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet director Ali Abbasi. His film “The Apprentice,” which was recently nominated for two Oscars, is a controversial coming-of-age look at Donald Trump's early years under the mentorship of lawyer Roy Cohn. It paints a picture of the future president of the United States as an ambitious, if slightly awkward guy, who came to believe that there are only two kinds of people in the world, “killers and losers.” Ali Abbasi joined me on the phone to discuss his six year journey to getting this film made and released and much more. Then we'll meet Nick Newman, author of several children's novels including “Witchborn” and “In the Shadow of Heroes,” which was shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book Award. He has previously worked as a teacher, musician, and stand-up comedian. Today we're talking about his latest work, the eerie, hypnotic and darkly beautiful novel “The Garden,” which is about two elderly sisters living alone at the edge of the world and how their lives unravel when their sanctum is breached.

On the Saturday February 15, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet Holly Brickley, her debut novel “Deep Cuts” is earning rave reviews. “Booklist” called it a “dazzling debut,” “Publisher's Weekly” called it “a banger” and author Claire Dederer, national bestselling author of “Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma,” said, “I wish I'd written that,” which is pretty much the highest praise one writer can pay another. Brickley's novel focuses on the relationship between music fans and Berkeley college students Percy Marks and Joe Morrow from their first meeting at a bar nearby. Joe — an aspiring songwriter — asks Percy for feedback on a song he worked on, which begins a passionate, multi-year musical partnership that skyrockets Joe into indie-rock stardom. Then, we'll get to know author Haley Mlotek. Her work has appeared in everything from the New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker to Harper's Bazaar and The Nation. Today we'll talk about her latest work, “No Fault,” an intimate and candid account of one of the most romantic and revolutionary relationships: divorce.

On the Saturday February 8, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we spend some time with 8x JUNO Award-winning and multi-Platinum selling blues-rock artist Colin James who recently kicked off his “Chasing The Sun” Canadian tour which will make stops across the country including additional shows in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Check your local listings for a date near you. Colin James released the first of his eighteen albums in 1988. He's had international hit singles like “Five Long Years,” he's worked with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bonnie Raitt, Albert Collins, Pops Staples, Robert Cray, Albert King and Mavis Staples to name a few. He appeared on an episode of the television program Corner Gas and gave a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II. Today, we talk about his first band, his new record “Chasing the Sun,” the impact Stevie Ray Vaughn had on his career, working with regular collaborators like Tom Wilson and Colin Linden… and the car accident that sidelined him last year. Then, we'll meet director Tim Fehlbaum. He's an award-winning Swiss filmmaker whose previous films, like “Tides” and “Hell,” focused on post-apocalyptic and science fiction stories. He returns to the real world with “September 5,” a new thriller starring Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin, and now playing in select theatres, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Actor Tyrone Savage talks about being a child actor and his new show "15 Dogs."

On the Saturday January 18, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we get to know filmmaker, writer, visual artist and community organizer Rebeccah Love. Rebeccah is an advocate for people with mental and physical disabilities as she personally experiences both. Rebeccah has a history of psychosis and experienced institutional violence as a psychiatric patient. She also has a physical disability that affects her mobility and how she walks. Her new film is “Fortescue.” It touches on questions relating to the underlying tensions in female friendships, the male gaze and violence against the mentally ill. Rebeccah will take her film on a national tour this year, starting in February where the film will be screened in Vancouver, Victoria, Halifax, P.E.I and Toronto (more dates TBA). Then, I'll take you to a little piece of France located 90-minute ferry from Fortune, Newfoundland. It's Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, the location of a new CBC television show starring Allan Hawko, you know him and love him from “The Republic of Doyle,” among many other things, and “Death in Paradise” star Josephine Jobert. Called “Saint-Pierre,” the show is a police procedural set on the island involving Donny "Fitz" Fitzpatrick a police officer sent there to work after one of his investigations got uncomfortably close to the corruption of a powerful local politician on the mainland. Exiled to the French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, he partners with local police officer Geneviève "Arch" Archambault to solve local crimes.

On the Saturday February 1, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet Giacomo Gianniotti. He starred for seven seasons as “Dr. Andrew DeLuca” on ABC's hit drama Grey's Anatomy and has worked with everyone from Shelley Winters and Susan Sarandon to Zoe Saldana and Dustin Hoffman. Born in Rome, but raised in Canada, he works in both Italian and English and recently played the lead role in Netflix's Italian mini-series “Deceitful Love.” Today we talk about some of that, and the second season of his new show “Wild Cards,” which can be seen on CBC and CBC Gem. He plays Cole Ellis, a demoted cop who arrests Max Mitchell, a transient con woman played by “Riverdale's” Vanessa Mason. While in custody and being held at the station, she helps him solve another crime. The pair are offered an opportunity at redemption – Ellis a chance to get back his detective badge, and Max a chance to stay out of jail – they just have to pair up and work together. Then we get to know Timothy Caulfield. He is a university professor who specializes in legal, policy and ethical issues in medical research, and is also a best-selling author of books like “Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: When Celebrity Culture and Science Clash.” He joins me later in the show to talk about his latest book “The Certainty Illusion: What You Don't Know and Why It Matters.” It's a fascinating read that asks the question, “In a world where there is so much conflicting information about how we are supposed to live, what can we really know?”

On the Saturday January 11, 2025 edition of "The Richard Crouse Show" we meet Mark Critch, star of "Son of a Critch," now entering its fourth season on CBC and CBC Gem. Developed from his 2018 memoir, “Son of a Critch,” which was in turn based on his real-life experiences growing up in Newfoundland, the series is an entertaining look into the life of a kid who is much older than his years. Young Mark is played by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Claire Rankin (Mary, Mark's mother), Sophia Powers (friend and love interest Fox), Colton Gobbo (Mike Jr., Mark's older brother), Mark Rivera (best friend Ritche) film legend Malcolm McDowell (Pop) and Mark plays his late father, Mike Critch, a popular local radio host. The first three seasons saw young Mark face awkward crushes, near-death experiences, family tensions and grapple with needing glasses. With comedy, self-depreciation and heartfelt authenticity, the show now enters into its fourth season. Drawing heavily on his own life for inspiration Mark Critich the new season sees young Mark on the bottom rung in Grade 10. There Mark meets a teacher who ignites his love for acting, leading him to start a sketch comedy troupe, Cat Fud. His mom Mary, facing menopause and a mid-life crisis, goes back to school for a fresh start. Brother Mike Jr. embarks on a radio career, joining Magic 97, a new FM radio station, and finds himself competing with his father, Mike Sr. who struggles to feel relevant when a new owner buys the radio station VOCM. I chat with Mark, then go to the vault for an interview with his co-star, the legendary Malcolm McDowell who plays his grandfather on the show.

As you may or may not know, when I'm not here talking to you on my show, I can be seen on the CTVNewsChannel and loads of other places talking about movies. I saw almost three hundred movies this year, wrote reviews for two hundred of those and there were high highs and the very lowest of lows. I rate my movies on a scale of 10 to 5 stars. I never a full 5 stars because nothing is perfect, but this year there were several 4 ½ star movies. The lowest rating I have ever given was "Minus Infinity x 10" for a movie whose name I will never mention again. Most movies fall into the 3 to 3 ½ star category, but there is a fairly wide range. Ten percent of the movies I see every year are terrible, ten percent are great but 80 percent fall into that mushy middle. Good to almost great. I don't care about the box office. I love it when a movie makes a lot of money because it means the industry is healthy and people are supporting theatres, and that's a good thing, but just because a movie makes bank doesn't mean it is a good movie. Every now and again, though, there are movies that, for whatever reason, are great, but don't connect with audiences. There have been a few of those this year, and for every movie that took a well-deserved dive, like “Joker: Folie a Deux” or “Borderlands” there were others that should have found an audience. On this show I'll tell you about those movies!

On the Saturday December 21, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet Bette Reynolds. She's Everyone's Favourite Granny and if you've been on line in the last few months—and who hasn't?—you probably saw her performance on The Voice UK. Earlier this year she became the show's oldest contestant ever when she did her rendition of The Sugarhill Gang's, Rapper's Delight in an effort to get coaches Sir Tom Jones, Will.i.am, LeAnn Rimes and Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones to turn their chairs. She became a sensation, and she joins me today top talk about being on the show, doing a duet to Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling, with the song's writer Will.i.am and her new Christmas single “Grandma's Christmas Escape.” Then, we'll take a deep dive into Christmas horror stories with author Joshua Millican. Over the past decade-plus, Millican has proven himself to be a horror expert of the highest caliber. He is one of the genre's premiere journalists, and today we'll talk about the best Christmas horror movies and his two new books, “All Through the House: The Novelization” and “Chopping Mall: The Novelization.” Finally, I'll share my conversation with one of the world's most successful music stars, Robbie Williams. He found fame as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995, launching his mega successful solo career in 1996. By 2008, he had sold more albums in the UK than any other British solo artist in history and right now his record sales stand at over 77 million worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time, and now his wide ride to fame has been captured in a new movie called Better Man, which comes to select theatres on Christmas Day before opening wide on January 10.

On the Saturday January 4, 2025 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet Anna Lambe, an actress and television host from Nunavut. You've seen her in the feature film “The Grizzlies,” which earned her a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Most recently she appeared in HBO's highly anticipated fourth season of “True Detective,” starring opposite Jodie Foster. Today we talk about her new project, “North of North.” In the CBC, Netflix and APTN series she plays a young woman who wants to build a new future for herself after a spontaneous — and extremely public — exit from her marriage. But it won't be easy in her small Arctic town where everybody knows everyone's business. Then we'll meet RaMell Ross, artist, writer, documentarian and director of “Nickle Boys,” an intriguing movie that was named one of the top 10 films of 2024 by the American Film Institute. It has also received several accolades, including a nomination for Best Motion Picture – Drama at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, and five nominations at the 30th Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Picture. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys chronicles the powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida and it opens in theatres in Canada on January 10. Finally, we'll meet director Tim Fehlbaum. He's an award-winning Swiss filmmaker whose previous films, like “Tides” and “Hell,” focused on post-apocalyptic and science fiction stories. He returns to the real world with “September 5,” a new thriller starring Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin, and now playing in select theatres, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

On this edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet multi-award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster Carol Off. For almost 16 years, she co-hosted CBC Radio's flagship current affairs program, As It Happens. As a television journalist, writer and radio host it's estimated she did 25,000 interviews with newsmakers and noticed that as politics became more polarized than ever before, words that used to define civil society were being put to work for completely different political agendas. In her new book, “At a Loss for Words: Conversation in the Age of Rage,” she analyzes six terms—freedom, democracy, truth, woke, choice and taxes—and how their meanings have been twisted. Then, we meet a guest who began his career as a child actor, appearing in everything from “Back tio the Future II” to Internal Affairs opposite Richard Gere. He became an international star after playing Frodo Baggins in the acclaimed "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. He's Elijah Wood, and his extensive filmography now includes “Bookworm,” an intriguing film about a 12-year-old named Mildred whose life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise, played by Elijah Wood, comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding -- a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther. Finally, we meet director Tim Fehlbaum. He's an award-winning Swiss filmmaker whose previous films, like “Tides” and “Hell,” focused on post-apocalyptic and science fiction stories. He returns to the real world with “September 5,” a new thriller starring Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin, and now playing in select theatres, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet musician, broadcaster, photographer, empresario, and author who joins me today to talk about his newest book “Rollin' Through the ‘70s. Weed, Woman and Song.” Born in Indiana, his recording career began in 1965 with a cover of jazz great Bobby Timmon's song “Moanin'” by his band The Chateaus. Since then, he was mentored by jazz legend Oscar Peterson, and worked with everyone from Janis Joplin and The Pointer Sisters to Linda Ronstadt and Howdy Doody. I've had a remarkable life, he says, and he joins me today to talk about Vietnam and his arrival in Canada, smoking hash and many other stories from his book “Rollin' Through the ‘70s. Weed, Woman and Song.” Then we get to know Christophe Lebold, a professor of literature, performance studies and rock culture from Strasbourg, France, joins me to talk about his book “Leonard Cohen: The Man Who Saw the Angels Fall.” It's an intriguing, massive, 543-page compendium that takes a deep metaphysical dive into the late Montrealer's world.

On the Saturday November 30, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Ronnie Shuker, author, editor, freelance writer, and an editor-at-large for The Hockey News. He has traveled to places such as North Korea, Chernobyl, Transnistria, and the Himalayas, where he took part in the Guinness World Record for the highest altitude hockey game ever played. He stayed closer to home for his new book, “The Country and the Game: 30,000 Miles of Hockey Stories.” In the waning days of the pandemic, sportswriter Ronnie Shuker stuffed his skates, sticks, and backpack into his faithful automobile, Gumpy, named for legendary goaltender Gump Worsley, and set off on a 30,000-mile, coast-to-coast-to-coast investigation of the many ways hockey touches the lives of Canadians. Then, we'll meet Vass Bednar is the executive director of McMaster University's Master of Public Policy in Digital Society program, a contributing columnist to The Globe and Mail, and the host of its podcast Lately. Today we talk about her new book “The Big Fix,” co-authored with Denise Hearn. The book examines how corporate concentration is growing across many industries, leading to higher prices for consumers, lower worker's wages, more inequality, fewer startups, less innovation, and lower growth and productivity.

On the Saturday November 23, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet Dale Dickey. You know her as a formidable character actor, known for her Independent Spirit Award winning performance in “Winter's Bone,” and appearances in more than 60 movies, like Iron Man 3 and Hell or High Water, and television shows like My Name Is Earl, Breaking Bad and True Blood. Her latest film is the dark thriller “The G.” In the movie, she plays a grandmother looking for vengeance with the help of her granddaughter Emma (Denis), who calls her "The G," after a corrupt legal guardian puts her in a care home in order to take her property. Then, we'll hear the remarkable story of Sash Simpson. These days Sash is the owner/operator and Chef of Sash, a beautiful, fine dining restaurant featuring his distinctive, signature blend of globally inspired, locally-sourced ingredients. He's also the subject of a new documentary, now on Crave, called “Born Hungry.” In the film, director Barry Avrich tells Sash's triumphant and challenging story from a five year old orphan on the streets of Chennai, India, to establishing himself as one of Toronto's top celebrated chefs.

On the Saturday November 16, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and pianist Laila Biali. She has headlined festivals and venues spanning five continents from New York City's Carnegie Hall to Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Washington Post says she “masterfully mixes jazz and pop, bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs that are concise and catchy.” Her latest album “Wintersongs,” is her 10th recording as a bandleader and her first release in almost 2 years. Best described as a musical love letter to winter, it's an entirely fresh and original offering, composed from a serene cabin surrounded by snow-capped mountains during a writing retreat in the heart of Canada's Rocky Mountains. We will talk about “Wintersongs,” how a car accident altered the course of her career, singing with Sting and much more. Then, we get to know documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist Roxana Spicer. Her new book “The Traitor's Daughter,” is about her decades-long quest to understand her extraordinary mother, who was born in Lenin's Soviet Union, served as a combat soldier in the Red Army, and endured three years of Nazi captivity.

On the Saturday November 9, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show I'll tell you about the new psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, “Heretic,” now playing in theatres. In the film, door-to-door Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton are lured into a theological cat-and-mouse game by the curious (and possibly deadly) Mr. Reed, played by Hugh Grant. Grant is remarkable in the film. It's really something different for him, and I had the chance to talk about the movie and that performance with the film's two other stars Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, and the film's directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Then, we'll meet Afro-Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer Kofi, who releases his newest album, “Pettyboy” on November 15th via Red Bull Records / The Orchard on all streaming platforms. We'll learn how he balances life as a musician and professional volleyball player. Finally, we'll get to know meet Sol León And Paul Lightfoot, choreographers who have been at the forefront of dance creation in Europe for over 35 years. This month they come to the National Ballet in Toronto for the first time with Silent Screen, a profound theatrical experience that brings a silent film to life, set to the music of Philip Glass.

On the Saturday November 2, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a trailblazing physician recognized by the TIME magazine as a Next Generation Leader and an advocate for equity in healthcare. In her new book, “Unlike the Rest,” she shares her inspirational journey, from her childhood dream of wearing the white coat to overcoming systemic barriers to becoming a doctor. Her story is one of resilience and determination and she joins me via Zoom to talk about her life, her book and what it is like to be honored in Mattel's #ThankYouHeroes campaign with a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll made in her image to commemorate her contributions as a frontline healthcare worker. Then, we'll meet Marc Garneau, the first Canadian astronaut to go to space and, from 2001 to 2005, the president of the Canadian Space Agency. As a federal politician, he has served as Liberal house leader, Minister of Transport and Minister of Foreign affairs. He adds author to his resume with the release of a new memoir, “A Most Extraordinary Ride.”

Folks have a fear and fascination with bloodsuckers like Count Dracula and Akasha, the ancient vampire Queen of the Damned and others, so, to celebrate Halloween I'm bringing in vampire expert Prof. Stanley Stepanic of The University of Virginia to, not exactly shed some light one the subject, because, according to lore, that might make the vampires burst into flames, but to give us a lively history of the undead. To date he has published three textbooks that have been released in recent editions - these are "Dracula or the Timeless Path of the Vampire," "Russian and East European Film", and "Russian Folklore". His latest book, a novella titled “A Vamp There Was,” is set in 1920s Virginia, and looks at the vamp archetype… that of a desirable woman who manipulates men. A young man from Virginia investigates the secrets of her past and the devastating effect on the men who fall for her. Professor Stepanic teaches a popular class on Dracula at The University of Virginia which covers the history of the vampire from pre-Christian Slavic belief to the present and often appears on lists of students' favorite University courses. Then, at the end of the show I share a taste of an interview I did with director Matt Reeves. He's directed movies like “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “War for the Planet of the Apes” and “The Batman” with Robert Pattinson, but here we talk about his unique vampire film “Let Me In.” It's a remake of a Swedish film, but unlike so many remakes, this story of a bullied young boy who befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian, really works and is perfect Halloween viewing.

On the Saturday October 19, 2024 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet director Ali Abbasi. His film “The Apprentice,” which is now playing in theatres, is a controversial coming-of-age look at Donald Trump's early years under the mentorship of lawyer Roy Cohn. It paints a picture of the future president of the United States as an ambitious, if slightly awkward guy, who came to believe that there are only two kinds of people in the world, “killers and losers.” Ali Abbasi joined me on the phone to discuss his six year journey to getting this film made and released and much more. Then, Elijah Wood stops by. He began his career as a child actor, appearing in everything from “Back to the Future II” to “Internal Affairs” opposite Richard Gere. He became an international star after playing Frodo Baggins in the acclaimed "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. His extensive filmography now includes “Bookworm,” an intriguing film about a 12-year-old named Mildred whose life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise, played by Elijah Wood, comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding -- a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther. It's a lovely film and it was lovely to speak with Elijah Wood about it and his secret regarding “Lord of the Rings.” Finally, we'll meet Jenny Heijun Wills. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, raised in Southern Ontario, and currently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is the author of Older Sister. “Not Necessarily Related.: A Memoir.” As a self-described transnational and transracial

On the Saturday October 12, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Paul Gilligan. He writes and draws the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café with Andrews McMeel, which runs in over 250 newspapers around the world and has been twice nominated by the National Cartoonist Society for best strip. He is also the author-illustrator of Pluto Rocket: New in Town, King of the Mole People and its sequel, Rise of the Slugs. Today we'll talk about his new book the graphic memoir Boy vs. Shark. In the book, ten-year-old Paul is terrified of sharks, but when he forces himself to see the movie Jaws to keep up with his more daring friends, he is traumatized into imagining a shark living in his bedroom. Then, we'll spend some time with Victor Garber. On the big screen, you know the London, Ontario born actor from his roles in Godspell, Titanic, Sleepless in Seattle, The First Wives Club, Legally Blonde and many others. On television, he is best known as Jack Bristow in the ABC series Alias, and he originated roles in the Broadway productions of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Noises Off, Lend Me a Tenor, Arcadia and Art. This month he will receive a Lifetime Achievement in Entertainment Award from The Forest City Film Festival in his hometown.

On the Saturday October 5, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Zac Hanson, drummer for the 3x Grammy® Award-nominated, multi-Platinum pop-rock trio, Hanson. The band are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their landmark third album “Underneath” with a new expanded version of the album and a North American tour. The, later in the show we'll meet author Jennifer Whiteford. She writes regularly for Razorcake, a long-standing punk publication and was also a founding member of the "all girl, all rock" band Sophomore Level Psychology. With those rock 'n roll days behind her, she says she now mostly stays home and reads and writes novels like her new one, “Make Me a Mixtape.” In the book a guarded punk-rocker-turned-barista meets a big-hearted sound tech who charms his way into her life and helps her revisit her musical past in this truly charming, cozy romance.

On the Saturday September 28, 2024 episode of The Richard Crouse Show we get to know Mike Downie, director of “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal,” the definitive four-part documentary series about the band who, as the programmers of TIFF noted earlier this year, “went on to make music that defined Canada to the world and, more importantly, Canada to Canadians.” The four-hour Amazon Prime docuseries combines never-before-seen archival footage with new interviews with the band, family, friends, and famous fans including Will Arnett, Dan Aykroyd, Jay Baruchel and Geddy Lee, to create a joyful and moving look at The Tragically Hip, their music and the personal tragedies that defined the band. It's the story of a band of brothers, produced and directed by Mike Downie, brother of the band's frontperson Gord Downie. Then, we meet Maisy Stella and Megan Park, the star and director respectively of “My Old Ass,” a wonderful coming-of-age story about a free-spirited teen whose birthday mushroom trip brings her face-to-face with her 39-year-old self, played by Aubrey Plaza, who delivers some choice advice and words of warning that transform her relationships with her family and friends. Finally, Divesh Subaskaran stops by. He's the star of “Life of Pi” currently on stage at the CAA Ed Mirvish theatre in Toronto. Based on the best-selling novel, this story of adventure and discovery is an epic journey about a young man who survives a disaster at sea and forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger. We'll find out what it is like to do this demanding show night after night and why his acting teacher at RADA—the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts—told him he should behave like a rockstar.

On the Saturday September 21, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Colin Mochrie actor, writer, producer and improvisational comedian, from the British and American versions of the improvisational TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” In this interview we talk about improv, working with the late great Richard Simmons in one of the funniest improvised scenes ever and his new show, “Old Enough.” It's based on the hit Japanese show of the same name and it follows kids (3-6 years old) as they head out by themselves and get their first taste of independence by running everyday errands for their parents. You can see the show on TVO and it is available to stream across Canada on the TVOkids streaming app and TVOkids.com. Then, we'll meet musician and songwriter Diane Tell. From beginning her musical career at the age of 6, she has had many, many hits in Quebec, France and worldwide since being discovered by Radio Canada as she sang in the streets of Montreal during the Olympic Games. Today she joins me from her home in Switzerland to talk about songwriting, her life and being inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame this month.

On the Saturday September 14, 2024 edition of the Richard Crouse Show we'll meet Mike Ayley, bass player from the multi-platinum bland Marianas Trench. The band's sixth studio album, “Haven,” is available now wherever you legally buy and download music. They are also launching their North American “Force of Nature” this month, which will make stops across the US and Canada, culminating with the tour's final stop in the band's hometown, Vancouver, BC. Then, we'll meet actor, author and musician Paul Spence. Best known for his portrayal of hard-luck metalhead Dean Murdoch in the 2002 mockumentary film "FUBAR: The Movie," which he co-wrote with friends Dave Lawrence and Michael Dowse. He also reprised the character in the sequel film FUBAR 2, and the television series Fubar Age of Computer. In a new stand-alone movie called “Deaner ‘89” he revisits the character, uncovers his Métis heritage, starts listening to his father's heavy metal albums, dressing in his clothes, angers a biker gang, steals a bus – and much more.

On the Saturday September 7, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Barbara Adhiya. In her 20-year career as an editor with newswires CP/AP and Reuters, she says she never lost her hope and faith in humanity. Her new book as an editor, “Hope by Terry Fox,” is a testament that sentiment. Through over 50 interviews with people throughout Terry's life — ranging from his siblings, nurses, and coaches to volunteers during the Marathon of Hope —Barbara discovers how Terry was able to run a marathon a day. Through their stories, passages from Terry's marathon journal, and over 200 photos and documents, Hope shows that with enough resilience, determination, humility, and support, ordinary people can do impossible things. Then, we'll meet Anne Allan, a theatre director, a producer, artistic director, and educator. Her career began as a classical dancer, training on scholarship at the Royal Ballet School in London, England. After becoming ballet mistress for London City Ballet, she was invited to become the private dance teacher to Her Royal Highness, Diana, Princess of Wales and did so for 9 years. She writes about that experience in her new book “Dancing with Diana.”

On the Saturday August 31, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet Amanda Marshall. You know the name, but could be forgiven if you wondered what happened to her. After hits like her 1996 single, "Birmingham", which reached number 3 in Canada and charted on the US, and diamond and certified 3× platinum albums, she disappeared from the charts and the music scene for more than 20 years. She says the legal battle with her former manager that kept her away from the spotlight for two decades “turned out to be the very best thing that ever happened to me.” We'll find out why in this interview. Then, we'll meet three-time Academy Award nominee for Best Actor Viggo Mortensen. From his film debut in 1985's “Witness” to the “Lord of the Rings” movies that made him a superstar to his more recent work, like the Oscar winning “Green Book,” he has been a constant, welcome presence on screens for 40 years. Joins me today as the writer, director, star, and composer of “The Dead Don't Hurt,” a great new Western now available on all major platforms for Digital Purchase and Digital Rental. Then, we meet Salah Bachir, author of a new memoir, “First to the Leave the Party: My Life with Ordinary People Who Happen to Be Famous,” available now wherever fine books are sold.

On the Saturday August 24, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we'll meet David Huebert. As the author of two books of short fiction, two poetry collections, and the new novel, Oil People, described by Quill and Quire as “inventive,” “hallucinatory,” and “lushly poetic,” The Literary Review of Canada called him “One of the most captivating authors of the last decade.” He says that after many years of research, writing, and editing, his debut novel, “Oil People,” is now ready for readers. We'll also get to know Ruth Reichl, the New York Times bestselling author of five memoirs, the novel “Delicious!,” and the cookbook “My Kitchen Year.” She was editor in chief of Gourmet magazine, and previously served as restaurant critic for The New York Times, as well as food editor and restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times. She has been honored with six James Beard Awards. Today we'll talk about her new book “The Paris Novel,” which follows Stella St. Vincent, an introverted thirtysomething, who finds purpose in a search for art, fashion and food on a 1983 Paris trip.

On the Saturday August 17, 2024 of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Michael Hirsh. He is a co-founder and the CEO of Nelvana, and one of the driving forces behind Canada's animation dominance. His new book, “Animation Nation” is his behind-the-scenes account of working with such famous cartoon franchises as Babar, The Adventures of Tintin, Franklin, The Magic School Bus, and Beetlejuice, and larger-than-life personalities including Roseanne Barr, Mr. T., Deborah Harry, and Tim Burton. The book is a frame-by-frame account of how creative talent and entrepreneurial zeal built a global cartoon empire. Then, we meet Caroline Suh and Cara Mones, co-directors of a documentary Louis CK's fall and return to the spotlight called “Sorry, Not Sorry.” The film, whoch is available on several streaming services, features interviews with fellow comedians and women who spoke up about his sexual misconduct.