Once Upon a Time in Hollywood North

John Tartaglia, Creative Supervisor for Fraggle Rock, joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about The First Snow of Fraggle Rock and the enduring legacy of Jim Henson’s Fraggle universe.We talk about John’s extraordinary start as a 16-year-old puppeteer on Sesame Street, the mentors who shaped him, and what it means to inherit a creative tradition built on empathy, humour, and emotional honesty.Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/cw/knockaboutmediaWritten & Hosted by Ryan BarnettProduced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia GemmitiA Knockabout Media Production*This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the 50-year legacy of Toronto’s kids’ programming — from Uncle Chichimus and Canadian Howdy Doody to Razzle Dazzle, Today’s Special, The Kids of Degrassi Street, and the birth of YTV. Ed and Ryan discuss the early days of CBC children’s programming, the influence of Sesame Street, Francophone broadcasting in Ontario, and even the role of Christian programming in shaping the media landscape.If you love production history, nostalgia, and behind-the-scenes stories of classic CanCon, this episode is for you.Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/knockaboutmediaOrder Ed’s book, Imagination: The Golden Age of Toronto Kids’ TV, from Dundurn Press or your favourite bookseller.Written & Hosted by Ryan BarnettProduced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia GemmitiA Knockabout Media ProductionArchival audio courtesy of Retrontario.*This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your middle school English project became a published book? That’s exactly what happened to Gordon Korman. At just 12 years old, he turned a classroom assignment into This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall—the start of a legendary career in children’s literature.Featuring insights from cultural historian Ed Conroy (Retrontario) and Gordon Korman himself, this episode is a nostalgic, funny, and inspiring look at how a kid from Thornhill, Ontario became a household name in children’s literature.For more reading:Snoop by Gordon Korman here.Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/knockaboutmediaImagiNation: The Golden Age of Toronto Kids' TV by Ed Conroy available here.Follow us on our socials: Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTubeWritten & Hosted by Ryan BarnettProduced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia GemmitiRecorded by Tyler RaumanFeaturing Gordon Korman & Ed ConroyA Knockabout Media ProductionAdditional audio material:Newspapers.com, CBC*This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rejecting Monty Python

Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/knockaboutmediaAuthor Paul Myers talks about his new book John Candy: A Life in Comedy—exploring what made Candy funny, with anecdotes about Chevy Chase, Richard Pryor, Dave Thomas, and more.Paul Myers is a Canadian writer and musician living in Berkeley, California. His previous books include The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy, which was the source for the Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks from Amazon Studios, and the critically acclaimed A Wizard a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio; It Ain’t Easy: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues; and Barenaked Ladies: Public Stunts, Private Stories.More About:John Candy: A Life in ComedyDrawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews with many of Candy’s closest friends and colleagues, including Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, and many more, John Candy: A Life in Comedy celebrates the comedian’s unparalleled talent, infectious charm, and generosity of spirit. Through ups and downs, successes and failures, and struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, Candy faced the world with a big smile and a warm demeanour that earned him the love and adoration of fans around the world.Get the book!Written & Hosted by Ryan BarnettProduced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia GemmitiRecorded by Tyler RaumanA Knockabout Media Production*This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.