It's the week beginning March 28th.

Coming up on The Hour this week...

Monday, March 29th

She's baaaack...actress, author and health care advocate Suzanne Somers.

Musician Lyle Lovett.

Co-star of the soon to be released film The Last Song, Liam Hemsworth.

Tuesday, March 30th



US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Wednesday, March 31st

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Leader of the Official Opposition, Michael Ignatieff.

Okay, confession time. Growing up I loved The Brady Bunch. Likely it had to do with the fact I was an only child and enjoyed watching the escapades of the six Brady children. Can you name them? I'll give you a hint...Peter Brady aka actor Christopher Knight.

Film director, producer, actor, screenwriter and composer, the legendary Mel Brooks.

Thursday, April 1st

Durham County and True Blood actress Michelle Forbes.

Senior science and technology reporter for CBC News Online, Peter Nowak. Peter has just released a book entitled Sex, Bombs and Burgers.

Friday, April 2nd

The Best of Show includes...

Juilette Lewis, Peter Sarsgaard and Michael Moore.

In other news...

Have you been watching the documentary Love, Hate and Propaganda? There are only two more episodes to go. This Thursday the winner of the contest associated with the series will be revealed. Check out some of the entries here. If you have missed an episode, you can watch them online. It is an excellent documentary series! Also, the DVD can be pre-ordered through the CBC Shop Online.

This week from the Montreal Gazette...George Stroumboulopoulos will be participating in the localsknow.ca Canadian tourism campaign this summer.

The Hour is a star.

Hard Core Logo is arguably among the best Canadian films ever made.

The Mockumentary is about a famous punk rock band getting together for a final tour that ends in disaster. This 15 year old film has a loyal cult following. The first film stars Hugh Dillon(Flashpoint), Callum Keith Rennie (Battlestar Galactica) John Pyper-Ferguson (*Score: A Hockey Musical) and Julian Richings (in both HCL's among many other things) .

So this year Bruce MacDonald, the busiest film director in Canada, just finished filming
Hard Core Logo 2.

The second film focuses on a punk rock band channeling the spirit of Hugh Dillon's character Joe Dick from the first film. It stars Bucky Haight (Julian Richings), who is the bands mentor in the original, becomes one of the major characters in the new film. Care Failure and her band Die Mannequin play themselves — they’re recording an album with Bucky while Bruce MacDonald, who plays the documentary director, documents it.

The principal filming of the sequel was done in Watrous and Manitou Beach, about 120 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Read more about that here from CBC News.

There is no movie trailer available for Hard Core Logo 2 as production is just wrapping up but the film will be ready for release this fall. Show your support for Canadian film by catching it in the theaters.

How is The Hour involved?
This past Wednesday, a scene of the film was filmed in the CBC studios of The Hour.
In the scene an actor, who plays a TV actor named Rufus, is being interviewed in the red chairs by George Stroumboulopoulos, who plays himself. I won't say more than that because I played an audience member in the scene and signed a waiver that asks me to help keep the movie magic a mystery. But I can say George has played himself in another film directed by Bruce MacDonald, The Tracey Fragments.

George has a lot of experience playing himself in Canadian films and television.

*more on Score: A Hockey Musical and George's roll in that on another post soon...

What is on The Hour 22 to 26?

This just in
Georges personal website Strombo.com has been updated with a new look.
Check it out!
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This week in Strombo

The Strombo Show

Sunday night from 8 to midnight in any Canadian time zone.
You can leave you song request all week long via skype (strombo show)
or call 416-205-6226

Four hours of music selected or approved by George Stroumboulopoulos
featuring the Dirty Dozen, the top 12 songs.
The Sad Off with Bob Mackowycz Jr and a selection of songs with Rich Terfry
Is CBC Radio 2 your new favourite music station?

Also of note: there is a new Strombo Show Chat group hosted/monitored by dedicated fans available on skype under the name Strombo Show Chat open Sundays as the show broadcasts. Check it out them and join in the conversation

This week on The Hour
It takes a nation to raise your kids continues.
your participation is encouraged!
See The Hour's website for more details

MONDAY MAR 22

Director Michael Moore talks about health care

Then
a chat with acclaimed horror author and comic book writer
and son of Stephen King
Joe Hill

TUESDAY MAR 23
Olympic Skeleton gold medal Champion Jon Montgomery

and

Director of Chloe

and director of many other great Canadian films
Atom Egoyan

WEDNESDAY MAR 24
Musician Dan Hill

and
If not Wednesday maybe soon....
Former senior writer of The Hour and star of Dan For Mayor
Paul Bates
who we featured in the previous post.
also
Wednesday evening The Hour studio is being used as a set in a movie.
More on that in another post soon.

THURSDAY MAR 25

24 years with Hockey Night In Canada, Coach Don Cherry
&
from the Brady Bunch, Actor Christopher Knight

FRIDAY MARCH 26

Armenian Canadian film Director Atom Egoyan,

A little sex therapy with Singer Robin Thicke

Singer and King of the Dance Chubby Checker

Paul Bates in a new job

Paul Bates makes an appearance at The Hour
Recently I was in the audience of a taping of The Hour and they had an old friend dropping by to have a chat on the red chairs with George Stroumboulopoulos about his new hit show.
Toronto born, Second City alumni Paul Bates who was the senior writer of The Hour for three seasons. You may have seen him in many of the cold openings and other sketches in his time at The Hour.
After his interview he told one or two Best Stories Ever. He then hung out to chat with his old co-workers who were very happy to see him again and glad to catch up.
Keep an eye out for a BSE from Paul coming up on The Hour.
A funny story, very well told!

Paul was in the studio to talk about his new job, as he has recently been seen staring in a new sit com, Dan For Mayor (CTV) on Monday nights. If you have not caught an episode yet you can catch up online.
See Dan For Mayor link
Paul Bates plays Jeff the manager of a copy shop who becomes the campaign manager for his bartender friend Dan (Fred Ewanuick) . Paul proves he is not just a very good writer and sketch player but an excellent comedic actor.

I really like Paul's comedic style and got to chat with him then take this picture at the CBC when he was in line to fondle the Stanley Cup a couple of years ago.

I have also seen him live on stage a number of times in acts around Toronto such as the Williamson Playboys and The Panel Show.
He is home now with a new baby boy who was kind enough to be born after Dan For Mayor's first season was finished filming.

March Break? Nah... Fresh Shows this Week, Kids!

Daylight savings time giving you a kick in the ass? Yes. Me too! Springing ahead is not all it's cracked up to be. I think now that I've finally set clocks/microwaves/cars/phones, I might just have it nailed! Regardless of the time zone you may be in, why not kick off your week with some great tunes, fun conversation with George Bob and friends on CBC Radio 2? If you're busy or still unclear of the actual time, then just pick a time zone...any time zone and tune in online.

Monday March 15th

SLASH

Even to music fans who aren't partial to the genre's of metal and hard rock tend to know and appreciate the incredible guitar talent embodied in one of the most recognizable and versative guitarists of the modern era... Slash. While he'll forever be known as a founding member of Guns 'N Roses, he's never stopped working on high profile session work and side projects like the highly successful Velvet Revolver. His latest solo work 'Slash' will include an appearance by Ozzy Osbourne --- excited --- and Fergie. Whaaat? Really? I'll reserve judgement on that one.

JOHN ROBERTS

He's come a long way from being one of the original, mullet headed VJ's at MuchMusic when he was known as JD Roberts to being a distinguished and serious anchor on CNN. Never shying away from his past, Roberts' time at Much saw him helm The New Music -- a show no longer in production but one that was a standard bearer for indepth, meaningful coverage of the music business that recognized and respected the power of what had already happened in music and what was ABOUT to happen.

Tuesday March 16th

BRET HART

Have you ever felt pressure to join the family business and follow in your folks' footsteps? Many have. Imagine though that your parents are in the Wrestling game... Canadian and former WWF Champion Bret Hart doesn't have to imagine it. He lived it. His brother and fellow wrestler was tragically killed while working on staging a wrestling move. His life is one of dramatic highs and lows... one day a Champion and the next, the victim of incredible betrayal by the owner of WWF - Vince McMahon who blindsided Hart when he was not allowed to follow through with an agreed upon exit strategy that would allow Bret to retire with some dignity.

Wednesday, March 17th

BUFFY SAINTE MARIE

Icon. It's a title that is thrown about a bit too freely. Buffy Sainte Marie IS an icon. She's known for her music, her pursuasive and determined advocacy for aboriginal issues. She is timeless... even after being a performer for over 40 years. Her devoted following ensures she can tour as she wishes, playing to appreciative houses throughout North America and the World.

Thursday March 18th

Mystery and Intrigue...

Check The Hour's site at www.cbc.ca/thehour

Friday, March 19th

Best of Friday Show featuring previously loved interviews with:

SLASH

JAMIE FARR

ENRICO COLANTONI

Who will George be wearing?

Oscars Vs. Strombo Show? Which did you partake in?
Me? Last half hour of O's, kids to bed, a bit of couch bliss, then some quality George/SS/music to accompany Blogger-time.
For anyone that hasn't, the show is definitely worth checking out on a Sunday night.

George is enlisting new troops for his Strombo Show army on Radio2, so when you go to your real & electronic pals, help spread the word.

This Week on The Hour:

Mon, Mar 8
Rufus Wainwright

Award winning singer/songwriter promoting his new album:
'All Days Are Nights : Songs For Lulu'.

*Lionel Tiger, on Monday's show, gave such an interesting interview promoting his book & theories on how our brain & it's chemical reactions are what lead us to religions. If you didn't get a chance to see it, you can watch it on The Hour's website.

Tues, Mar 9
Don McKellar

A Canadian writer, filmaker & actor promoting his new film; "Cooking With Stella", a social-satire filmed in India.

Wed, Mar 10
Greg Campbell

Author of 'Blood Diamonds: Tracing The Deadly Path Of The World’s Most Precious Stones' utilizes his knowledge of the diamond trade in his new co-authored book, 'Flawless: Inside The Largest Diamond Heist In History.'

Engelbert Humperdinck (What a name - love it!)

After 4 decades of performing, he is currently on a romantic tour-de-force promoting his new CD: “Legacy of Love”.

Thur, Mar 11
Dave Stewart

Previously the guitarist half of the Eurythmics, Stewart is currently teaming up with Bollywood super-composer AR Rahman to work on the score for an upcoming film on the street dancing scenes in Singapore and New York.

Fri, Mar 12

Lee Daniels, Mindy Cohn and Dave Stewart

*Did you catch last week's "Faith Friday"? Any thoughts on the different views & opinions of George's guests? To stay with that theme, I personally found Anne Graham Lotz from last Monday's show totally mesmerizing. Not from what she was preaching......I just couldn't stop staring at her hair!

Love, Hate and Propaganda

prop·a·gan·da [prop-uh-gan-duh]

- noun

1 The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.

2 Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda.

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Starting tomorrow night (March 4), be sure to check out the six-part CBC documentary

Love, Hate and Propaganda,

narrated by The Hour's George Stroumboulopoulos.

Check out the series promo .

From the documentary's website:

"Love, Hate and Propaganda...will bring the most important war (WW II) in history into sharp focus through the lens of propaganda. This was the first modern war in which all combatants bombarded their citizens with messages: through newsreels and posters, radio addresses and songs, speeches and rallies. The great - and the evil - minds of that era knew propaganda could awaken powerful passions: love, devotion, anger, and hatred. They employed truth, half-truths and sometimes outright lies, used powerful symbols and persuasive words to sway entire populations. Today's viewers, familiar with every kind of messaging, will discover how war was sold around the world by these early practitioners of mass propaganda. Every movie house, school, newspaper and radio became a forum for persuasion and manipulation."

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If you are creative secondary or post-secondary school student, there is a contest associated with the doccumentary! Pick a cause you strongly believe in and create either a poster or video to support it...generate your own propaganda! Click here for more information.