Kinda Sorta Maybe Like a Podcast

Shortly before beginning his Just for Laughs-sponsored cross-Canada tour ("The Magical Misery Tour"), Jeremy Hotz joins Paul Little to talk about the place he is in his career, the significance of the CBC show The Newsroom, his upcoming work on Call Me Fitz, and some interesting encounters he's had recently at Hollywood's The Laugh Factory.

Apologies for the abrupt beginning to the interview (we had some audio troubles), but hopefully you'll enjoy the 15 minutes or so remaining of our fun chat with Canada's most "miserable" comic.

Shortly before Jeremy Hotz began his cross-Canada tour, Paul Little spoke with the comedian and actor about the place he is in his career, the significance of The Newsroom, his upcoming work on Call Me Fitz, and some interesting encounters he's had recently at The Laugh Factory. Unfortunately, as the interview intro will explain, there were some audio issues which made the first couple minutes of the interview unusable, so it kind of picks up partway through a question about getting the odd bit of negative reaction from an audience.

If you've ever been to Las Vegas, you are probably well aware of Cirque du Soleil. One of the mainstays of the Vegas strip and the originator of the big spectacle circus show, it has been delighting audiences for years. Formed in Quebec, Canada in 1984, it has grown over the years from one show to about 20 regular Las Vegas and touring shows, and at any given time employs upwards of 4000 people.

Throughout the years, various productions have been shot for television and the screen, but never before in this way. Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away is a big screen extravaganza like no other. Producer James Cameron and director Adam Adamson take you where the stage show can't: beneath the water, high in the air, and in glorious digital 3D. Bringing viewers into this world directly is star Erica Linz who, takes the audience through the worlds of "KA", "O", "The Beatles: Love", and many more. Mark McLeod had the chance to speak with her in advance of today's release.

A week before heading down to Montreal for the 30th Anniversary of the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, Paul Little speaks on the phone with stand-up comic Brendon Walsh about his early years touring with Doug Stanhope (whose career he admires and looks up to), connecting with fans via Twitter (@brendonwalsh) and podcasts (Brendon's is "The Bone Zone"), and why regardless of the rest of the options in the entertainment world, it all comes down to stand-up. I also fill him in on where he's performing at JFL.

A week before heading down to Montreal for the 30th Anniversary of the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, Paul Little speaks on the phone with stand-up comic Brendon Walsh about his early years touring with Doug Stanhope (whose career he admires and looks up to), connecting with fans via Twitter (@brendonwalsh) and podcasts (Brendon's is "The Bone Zone"), and why regardless of the rest of the options in the entertainment world, it all comes down to stand-up. I also fill him in on where he's performing at JFL.

Toronto-based singer/songwriter Emma-Lee has been recording music for nearly a decade, and just released a new full-length album, Backseat Heroine. Over the years, while her songs have slipped into genres from jazz and pop to country and soul, her unmistakable and remarkable voice has stayed strong -- even through a couple vocal cord surgeries that put her singing future in doubt.

Emma-Lee chatted with Paul Little over the phone on the day of her album's release (also her birthday!) about the recording process for the new album, the difficulties of pushing through the endless stream of music out there today, balancing music with a photography career, and why having a diverse sound might not always be a positive in the music industry.

Toronto-based singer/songwriter Emma-Lee has been recording music for nearly a decade, and just released a new full-length album, Backseat Heroine. Over the years, while her songs have slipped into genres from jazz and pop to country and soul, her unmistakable and remarkable voice has stayed strong -- even through a couple vocal cord surgeries that put her singing future in doubt.

Emma-Lee chatted with Paul Little over the phone on the day of her album's release (also her birthday!) about the recording process for the new album, the difficulties of pushing through the endless stream of music out there today, balancing music with a photography career, and why having a diverse sound might not always be a positive in the music industry.

Rebecca Kohler is incredibly funny -- which, oddly enough, is a great thing when making a living as a comic. Jumping between performing on stage and stepping behind the scenes to write for television, Kohler has appeared on CTV's Comedy Now!, Much Music's Video on Trial, and The Jon Dore Television Show while writing for children's program Scaredy Squirrel and CBC's This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Kohler spoke to Paul Little in advance of her appearances at this year's Winnipeg Comedy Festival about her early interest in comedy, her relationship with stand-up as a career, and what she has on deck for the next little while.

Rebecca Kohler is incredibly funny -- which, oddly enough, is a great thing when making a living as a comic. Jumping between performing on stage and stepping behind the scenes to write for television, Kohler has appeared on CTV's Comedy Now!, Much Music's Video on Trial, and The Jon Dore Television Show while writing for children's program Scaredy Squirrel and CBC's This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Kohler spoke to Paul Little in advance of her appearances at this year's Winnipeg Comedy Festival about her early interest in comedy, her relationship with stand-up as a career, and what she has on deck for the next little while.

David Steinberg is one of the most respected names in comedy. Besides being second to Bob Hope in appearances on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson", he's written or directed TV episodes spanning 45 years, such as "The Smothers Brothers", "Newhart", "Seinfeld", "Mad About You", "Friends", and "Curb Your Enthusiasm".

With David returning to his hometown for his first show in Winnipeg in 11 years, Paul Little spends nearly 30 minutes hearing a string of fascinating tales of Johnny Carson, Larry David, perseverence through failure, his new show "Inside Comedy", and why Winnipeggers tend to be pretty funny.