On the September 16, 2023 edition of the Richard Crouse show we’ll meet Jon Heder, Jon Gries and Efren Ramirez, the stars of “Napoleon Dynamite,” the movie Jim Carrey said “changed comedy movies.” The story of a listless and alienated teenager who decides to help his new friend Pedro win the class presidency in their small western high school, while dealing with his bizarre family life back home, is one of the most quoted movies of all time, and now you can revisit the fun when the stars bring "Napoleon Dynamite" to Toronto for a special screening and Q&A at the Elgin Theatre as part of Just For Laughs Toronto on September 27.  

Then, we’ll get to know comedian Ronny Chieng. You know him as a senior correspondent on The Daily Show, the star of Ronny Chieng Takes Chinatown, one of the stars of “Crazy Rich Asians” and the recent blockbuster “M3GAN,” and as one of the most I demand comedians out there. Today we’ll talk about why he waited until he was in university to give stand-up comedy a try and why he says, “I'm still trying to figure out if I am funny,” despite selling out theatres across the world, including two shows at the Meridian Hall in Toronto on September 23 and 24th as part of Just For Laughs Toronto.

On this episode of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet award-winning country artist Jason McCoy. He has racked up multiple CCMA and CMA awards along with a Gold album and CMA Global Artist Award (Nashville CMA). As the creator and front man of the best-selling band in Canadian Country Music history, The Road Hammers, Jason embarked on a journey through the Country Rock genre and guided the band to unprecedented success throughout Canada and the United States. Along the way, the band earned a Canadian Platinum-certified album, secured three CCMA Band of the Year awards, and a JUNO award. Jason McCoy joins me today to talk about being inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame and much more.

Then, we’ll meet Claudia Dey. She is a best-selling author, playwright, actor and the co-designer of women's clothing brand Horses Atelier. Her books have been listed as one of the Most Anticipated Books by Entertainment Weekly, The Millions, Publishers Weekly (starred review) and BuzzFeed. Her latest book is “Daughter,” a searing and hypnotic tour de force about a woman, long caught in her charismatic father's web, who strives to make a life—and art—of her own.

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we get to know American film director, production designer, and screenwriter Catherine Hardwicke. Her directorial work includes “Thirteen,” ”Lords of Dogtown,” the megahit “Twilight,” “Miss Bala” and “mafia Momma” among many others. Today she’s here to talk about her latest film, “Prisoner’s Daughter,” a family drama starring “Succession’s” Brian Cox as a father hoping to reconnect with his estranged daughter and her son.

We’ll also meet author Wayne Ng. Wayne is an an award-winning short story and travel writer who was recently nominated for the Guernica Prize for his latest book, a family drama called THE FAMILY CODE, which was, in part, inspired by his 30 year career as a social worker.

Finally, we meet Phil Dellio. His new book, “Happy for a While: "American Pie," 1972, and the Awkward, Confusing Now,” is a look at the famous Don McLean song and how to approach great art made by people whose personal transgressions become a matter of public record.

Welcome to the 800th episode of the Richard Crouse Show. Today, we’re getting nostalgic. I’ll have a look back at my favorite moments from 216,000 seconds and 800 episodes of the show.

Slash from Guns ‘N Roses talk about how his parents gave him a love of horror movies; show business legend Ann Margaret tells us how she got the nickname Slugger; Hugh Jackman reveals how he overcame his fear, onstage and off; Jodie Foster tells me about how she chooses the movies she wants to make; Eric McCormack talks about what he learned from his every first play, when he was in grade one; Malcolm McDowell on life as an actor; Michael Caine talks about being an icon and much, much more.

Some of these interviews were done in studio, many of them were done in hotel rooms in lots of different cities, and at least one of them was done in the back of a cab. The thing that binds them all is great conversation and hopefully, some insight into the lives of the people you know from television, movies, music or literature.

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Michael Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies. The an alternative country and folk rock band have been together, producing albums and touring, since 1985. Early on their version of the Velvet Underground song “Sweet Jane” earned them critical success and, the song’s writer, Lou Reed claimed that their version of "Sweet Jane" was his favourite. They are back with a new record called “Such Ferocious Beauty,” the band’s first release of new material in five years and follows their heralded 2022 collection of covers, “Songs of the Recollection.” It is a mix of styles Alternative? Rock? Americana? Roots? And a rumination on aging, losing parents and facing mortality.

The we get to know director, actor, writer Sharon Lewis. She talks about her documentary “With Wonder,” an intimate look at the journey of members of the Queer, Christian community of colour and their attempts to answer the question: Can you be both Christian and Queer? We’ll talk about her personal experiences and how she extended the documentary into a multipart series on YouTube called WITH WONDER: Untold Stories.

Finally, improviser and comedian Kris Siddiqi. In addition to his work as an improvisor at Second City and in clubs, the Canadian Comedy Awards nominee who has played a role in the Gemini winning Showcase series ‘Cock’d Gunns’, has written for and hosted YTV’s Saturday morning show CRUNCH!, the Showcase series Almost Heroes & Lost Girl, MTV’s Scare Tactics, My Babysitter’s a Vampire, and Disney’s Life with Boys. Kris is now one of the stars of the new Family Channel show "I Woke Up A Vampire.”  

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Kevin Hegge, director of the documentary Tramps, which is now playing in theatres. His film has an up-close-and-personal look at the New Romantics, the countercultural scene that emerged in late 1970s’ London. It united outsiders, misfits, and bohemians like Boy George, the scene’s most famous member. It is a look back at a time when the artists starved but looked fabulous, but it’s also a portrait of artists and their unswerving need to create, whether the canvas was the outrageous clothes they wore, the jewelry that adorned them, or the music they listened to. Tramps does a deep dive into the New Romantics as an art movement rather than solely a pop-cultural one. If you, like me, read magazines like New Musical Express, Face magazine or ID, you saw the photos and read the stories. Tramps brings the scene to vivid life. 

Then, we get to know Belinda Carlisle. As the lead singer of the Go Gos, who produced hits like "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat," she fronted the most successful all-female rock band of all time. As a solo artists, she topped the charts with songs like radio hits such as "Mad About You", "I Get Weak", "Circle in the Sand", "Leave a Light On", and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” Her new record, “Kismet,” marks her first new English language studio recording since 1997 and the triumphant reunion with hot making songwriter Diane Warren.

Finally, I’ll introduce you to Chris Nielsen and Bart Batchelor, the Vancouver based co-creators of “Psi Cops,” a new series on Adult Swim Canada and Stack TV. It’s the animated story of two paranormal investigators at a company called Psi Cops, who investigate alleged sightings of aliens, ghosts, demons, and other hocus-pocus nonsense. Imagine Mulder and Scully from the X-Files… if they were played by Abbott and Costello. It’s a fun show, and we’ll tell you all about it, and how Chris and Bart made the leap from advertising to the world of animation.

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet Kevin Hegge, director of the documentary Tramps, which is now playing in theatres. His film has an up-close-and-personal look at the New Romantics, the countercultural scene that emerged in late 1970s’ London. It united outsiders, misfits, and bohemians like Boy George, the scene’s most famous member. It is a look back at a time when the artists starved but looked fabulous, but it’s also a portrait of artists and their unswerving need to create, whether the canvas was the outrageous clothes they wore, the jewelry that adorned them, or the music they listened to. Tramps does a deep dive into the New Romantics as an art movement rather than solely a pop-cultural one. If you, like me, read magazines like New Musical Express, Face magazine or ID, you saw the photos and read the stories. Tramps brings the scene to vivid life. 

Then, we get to know Belinda Carlisle. As the lead singer of the Go Gos, who produced hits like "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat," she fronted the most successful all-female rock band of all time. As a solo artists, she topped the charts with songs like radio hits such as "Mad About You", "I Get Weak", "Circle in the Sand", "Leave a Light On", and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” Her new record, “Kismet,” marks her first new English language studio recording since 1997 and the triumphant reunion with hot making songwriter Diane Warren.

Finally, I’ll introduce you to Chris Nielsen and Bart Batchelor, the Vancouver based co-creators of “Psi Cops,” a new series on Adult Swim Canada and Stack TV. It’s the animated story of two paranormal investigators at a company called Psi Cops, who investigate alleged sightings of aliens, ghosts, demons, and other hocus-pocus nonsense. Imagine Mulder and Scully from the X-Files… if they were played by Abbott and Costello. It’s a fun show, and we’ll tell you all about it, and how Chris and Bart made the leap from advertising to the world of animation.

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we get to know Paul Langlois. Best known as the guitarist and songwriter for the Tragically Hip, he was asked to play the closing ceremonies of the Canada Summer Games in Niagara Falls in August of 2022. That gig got him playing again after Gord Downey’s passing, and the break up of the Hip, and rekindled his love for songwriting. From there, the collection of songs that became his new solo record “Guess What” emerged.

We’ll also meet best-selling author Tom Rachman, the author of four works of fiction including the latest one, “The Imposters,” the story of an aging and embittered novelist who knows her mind of going. She is determined, however, to finish her final book, and reverse her fortunes, before time runs out. Alone in her London home during the pandemic, she creates, and is in turn created by, the fascinating real characters from her own life.

And later in the show we’ll meet Carly Stone and Amanda Fix, the director and star of “North of Normal,” the true story of Cea Sunrise Person, who, at age 15, was working as a high-fashion model in Manhattan and Paris. The new movie tells the story of her unconventional childhood with free-spirited mother Michelle, played by Sarah Gadon, and the journey from the wilderness of Alberta and British Columbia to the runways of the fashion world.

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we get to know Paul Langlois. Best known as the guitarist and songwriter for the Tragically Hip, he was asked to play the closing ceremonies of the Canada Summer Games in Niagara Falls in August of 2022. That gig got him playing again after Gord Downey’s passing, and the break up of the Hip, and rekindled his love for songwriting. From there, the collection of songs that became his new solo record “Guess What” emerged.

We’ll also meet best-selling author Tom Rachman, the author of four works of fiction including the latest one, “The Imposters,” the story of an aging and embittered novelist who knows her mind of going. She is determined, however, to finish her final book, and reverse her fortunes, before time runs out. Alone in her London home during the pandemic, she creates, and is in turn created by, the fascinating real characters from her own life.

And later in the show we’ll meet Carly Stone and Amanda Fix, the director and star of “North of Normal,” the true story of Cea Sunrise Person, who, at age 15, was working as a high-fashion model in Manhattan and Paris. The new movie tells the story of her unconventional childhood with free-spirited mother Michelle, played by Sarah Gadon, and the journey from the wilderness of Alberta and British Columbia to the runways of the fashion world.

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, collaborators on a new album called “Death Wish Blues.”

Samantha Fish, a guitarist, songwriter and singer, voted by guitarworld.com as oner of the 10 best blues guitarists in the world today joins us. Calling her a blues guitarist is a little misleading because in a career spanning over 10 years, the Kansas City, Missouri musician music features multiple genres, including blues but also rock, country, funk, bluegrass and ballads.

Jesse Dayton boasts an exceptional resume as an acclaimed solo recording artist, collaborator with artists such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Duff McKagan, a touring guitarist for seminal punk band X, teammate with Rob Zombie on the soundtracks for his iconic horror films, and as a radio show host on Gimme Country.

We’ll also get to know Ore Agbaje-Williams. She is a British-Nigerian writer from London who has written for gal-dem and Glamour. Her new novel, “The Three of Us” now available wherever fine books are sold, tells the story of long-standing tensions between a husband, his wife, and her best friend, that finally come to a breaking point in this sharp domestic comedy of manners, told brilliantly over the course of one day.

We round things out with Joy Fielding, the New York Times bestselling author called "an ingenious master of domestic suspense," joins me to talk about her new novel “The Housekeeper.” It’s a suspenseful story about a woman who hires a housekeeper to care for her aging parents--only to watch as she takes over their lives.