2016 in a nutshell

Greetings from sunny Edmonton. The year isn't over yet but we've got enough information in to be able to compile our annual head-count. Each year (well, starting in 2009, five years into our run) I tally the number of guests we've had in a calendar year. Here's how it's looked each year:

• 2009: 42 shows with guests
• 2010: 38 shows with guests
• 2011: 44 shows with 53 guests
• 2012: 41 shows with 47 guests
• 2013: 35 shows with 37 guests
• 2014: 36 shows with 39 guests
• 2015: 36 shows with 40 guests

So how does 2016 stand up? Colleen Brow fills in and she usually plays comedy clips. She did have Marlene Swidzinski and Lauren McGibbon as guests two of those Sundays but we don't podcast those episodes so they aren't included. Even with them, we would have been a record low. Another factor is, well, it's just one of those years. So here are the numbers:

A record low! Now, there are some factors to consider. Halfway through the year I decided to take the last Sunday of each month off.

• 2016: 32 shows with 33 official guests (36 if you count Vishal Ramesh, who joined in with Chris James, and Siobhan Williams and Pal Mann, who joined in with Steve Bays).

Big thanks to all our guests in 2016:

• Byron Bertram
• Ivan Decker
• Chris James
• Sara Bynoe
• Mike Storck
• Ari Shaffir
• Shauna Johannesen
• Dave Merheje
• Caitlyn Howden
• Ed Hill
• Dino Archie
• Julie Kim
• Richard Lett
• Jessica Holmes
• Camille Mitchell
• Lauren McGibbon
• Glen Foster
• Jeff Cooper
• Grahaeme Cowie
• Simon King
• Jy Harris
• Tim Nutt
• Jason Bryden
• Brett Martin
• Rob Pue
• Efthimios Nasiopoulos
• Sophie Buddle
• Sean Kent
• Steve Bays
• Graham Duffy
• Scott Patey
• Sam Tonning
• Nancy Robertson

Dec. 18: Nancy Robertson

Our last show before Christmas is a goodie. We've got first-time guest Nancy Robertson live in studio. Her hubby, Brent Butt, has guested twice before. She'll be the third former Corner Gas star to grace our studios (Lorne Cardinal was the other). But Nancy is more than Wanda Dollard. She also starred in Hiccups and has acted in other film and television. And if you go back far enough, you might remember her from her work on stage with Vancouver TheatreSports League. We'll cover it all. Promise.

We're on the air at 11 pm in Vancouver on CFRO, 100.5 FM. If you've recycled your radio, you can always livestream us at coopradio.org or on TuneIn Radio.

Podcast episode 441ish: Scott Patey

It's always exciting to have a first-timer on the show. I'd seen Scott Patey perform for years at the Improv Centre on Granville Island with Vancouver TheatreSports League, but I'd never met him until this momentous night. Patey hails from the border town of Lloydminster, Alberta. Or is that Saskatchewan? It's confusing when you can cross the street in your town and be in another province. He explains. We also talked about how his hockey career was cut short by a break-up, his funnier brother, portraying Donald Trump, and what it's like working in movies with celebrities. Most exciting of all, I take him on in a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors (a game he hosts at various venues around town, but mostly at Corduroy in Kits on Monday nights). I've also got him promising me on air that he'd take me to New York City when/if he gets to host Saturday Night Live. I'm holding him to it.

Here's the episode for you. Do with it what you will. I'd recommend listening. You can also go download/subscribe to the show on iTunes or Stitcher. And elsewhere!

Dec. 4: Sam Tonning

We're going to learn all about Sam Tonning tonight. I know him a little bit but not the finer points. I see him out and about at comedy shows and jazz shows. I know he's from my hometown, Victoria. I know he plays the bass a bit. I know he does standup, I know he unironically loves Jay Leno and Ted Nugent. And I know he's the sidekick/second banana to Brett Martin on the live monthly Brett Martin talk show at Yuk Yuk's (next one is next Sunday, Dec. 11). We'll fill in the details tonight at 11 pm if you care to join us.

Tune in to CFRO 100.5 FM or livestream us at coopradio.org. Tonight from 11 to midnight-ish.