George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight: Dec 24-28

On behalf of everyone at The Stroumboulopouli, I would like to wish everyone happy holidays. This week's line up on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight features a holiday special and the best of the season. 

MONDAY 24 DECEMBER 2012

Dolly Parton is a country music icon who is most known for her hits I Will Always Love You, Jolene, and 9 to 5. She has also starred in several movies including Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk.  She began composing music when she was four years old. She can also play the autoharp, banjo, drums, dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, flute, pennywhistle and piano. Not only is she one of the bestselling artists of all time and has her own theme park, her work has been adapted for the stage and featured on American Idol. Listen to her talk to George about country music, holidays, life story, charity work, and her new book.

Michael J Fox will be sharing a holiday memory. He is an Emmy and Golden Globe winner who is most famous for his work on Family Ties, Back to the Future, Spin City and guest roles on Boston Legal, The Good Wife, Scrubs, Curb Your Enthusiasm,  and Rescue Me. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1991 and disclosed his condition in 1999. He has received honorary doctorate degrees for his work advocating a cure for Parkinson’s.

The panel will feature Mamma Yamma.

MammaYamma is the host of KIDS CBC and is portrayed by puppeteer Ali Eisner. Mamma is a yam who represents Ontario as the owner of a fruit and vegetable stand in Toronto's Kensington Market. She has mentioned her crush on George in her videos and tweets. She recently posted a sweet picture of George giving her a kiss on her twitter feed.

Also, tune in for a special presentation of Choir!Choir!Choir! singing. The Choir not only features previous and current members of the George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight crew, but has a rotating membership of 3000 members. 

TUESDAY 25 DECEMBER 2012

CBC will air festive programming tonight, but audiences can take this moment to enjoy George’s radio show that broadcasted on Dec 23.

This Sunday’s broadcast was one of the best of the season. George speaks about his first Christmas without his Baba (grandma), memories of the 24^th and holidays, putting Christmas lights in his car and a little tree in his house, his take on Instagram, and hear him sing a Tom Waits song. Some of the songs played during the broadcast include:

Burl Ives – Overture and a Holly Jolly Christmas

The Moonglows – Hey Santa Claus

Stevie Wonder – Someday at Christmas

Dolly Parton – Hard Candy Christmas

Donny Hathaway – This Christmas

Sinead O’Connor – I Believe in You

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (excerpt)

Run DMC – Christmas in Hollis

Daryl Hall and John Oates – Last Christmas

Bob & Doug McKenzie – The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Darkness – Christmas Time

Tom Waits – Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis

Kermit The Frog and Tiny Tim – Christmas Scat

The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl – Fairy tale of New York

Harry Belafonte – Mary’s boy child

Tom Jackson – The Huron Carole

The Beatles – All You Need is Love

Bahamas – Christmas Must Be Tonight

Sarah McLachlan – Wintersong

Coldplay – Christmas Lights

John & Yoko Ono & The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir – Happy Christmas (War is Over)

You can listen to the broadcast on Strombo's mobile app or his website. 

 WEDNESDAY 26 DECEMBER 2012

Cesar Millan is a Mexican born American who taught himself to train and communicate with dogs. He focuses on rehabilitating aggressive dogs and has written three books that has sold over two million copies and available in 14 languages. He has a monthly magazine and TV series Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. 

Jonny Harris is on the panel tonight. He is a Canadian comedian from Pouch Cove, Newfoundland and can be seen on Murdoch Mysteries. He has also appeared on the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Halifax Comedy Festival, The Debaters and The Sketchertons.

THURSDAY 27 DECEMBER 2012

Ron MacLean and Don Cherry are on tonight. Ron McLean is a CBC Broadcaster and host of Hockey Night in Canada. He was born in West Germany and has lived in Nova Scotia, Yukon, and Alberta before starting in radio in 1978. He is joined by his co-host of Coach’s Corner, Don Cherry. Don’s rise to fame and life was featured in the tv movies Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story and The Wrath of Grapes: The Don Cherry Story 2.

Darrin Rose can be seen as Bill on Mr. D. Audiences may also know him from his time on Videos on Trial.

 FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian and literary icon. She is a poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. She holds a degree from University of Toronto and Harvard. She’s lived around the world, shaped Canadian identity, influenced politics and feminism, and her work has been translated into 40 languages. She is here to speak about her latest novel.

Arthur Simeon is on the panel tonight. He is a Ugandan Canadian comedian with a degree in Economics from Trent University. He has appeared at Yuk Yuks Comedy Club, Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, Halifax Comedy Festival, The Debaters and Funny as Hell.