#veronicamars

Of the 137 podcast episodes I've done here over the past four-plus years, the most amazing conversation might be the second one we recorded. That was with one of my favourite actors, Enrico Colantoni.
The man has done very well since he left Etobicoke for the Big Apple as a student at the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts. Distinguishing himself there led to memorable roles in "Galaxy Quest," Just Shoot Me, Veronica Mars, Flashpoint, "A.I.", "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" and on and on.
We pick up where we left off with this episode as Rico talks about his latest project, playing a well-seasoned police officer mentoring a keen new recruit (played by Supinder Wraich) in the new procedural Allegiance (premiering Wednesday, Feb. 7 on CBC and CBC Gem).
Rico throws himself into a conversation the same way he tackles a role. He is 100 per cent all in and, as a result, up goes everybody else's game. We go all over the map as usual, talking hip replacements, his re-teaming with showrunners Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern (the husband and wife team behind Flashpoint) and, of course, Apache Burger. He even shares a story about his late-great Just Shoot Me colleague, George Segal. Please join us.

We start season 2 with veteran showrunner and novelist Rob Thomas.
We get straight into it with the crushing blow of losing an overall deal with a major studio, a hellish year of development and concerns that his most recent show might be his last.
Rob explains how he went pretty much straight from Dawson’s Creek writer to showrunner, what he learned along the way and how he is a bad consultant but a great boss.
In an honest and revealing interview he tells us what he is worrying about, shares some simple but powerful advice and explains the pleasure he gets from seeing his old assistants win awards.
Fascinating insights from the creator of multiple shows.