11 years ago, I jotted down a list of ten attainable guests I was pursuing for Toronto Mike'd. Here's that list.

• Maestro Fresh Wes
• Bob McCown
• Kids in the Hall (any or all!)
• Peter Mansbridge
• Moses Znaimer
• Don Cherry
• Sarah Polley
• Jayne Eastwood
• Ron MacLean
• Dave “Bookie” Bookman

It's time for an update!

Maestro Fresh Wes - Maestro has been on Toronto Mike'd three times, making his debut in September 2016.

Bob McCown - Bob just made his Toronto Mike'd debut and was my guest for episode 2000.

Kids in the Hall - Kevin McDonald was the first KITH to become an FOTM when he visited in 2019. Then, in 2025, Scott Thompson made his Toronto Mike'd debut. That's 2 out of 5, and I'm told Bruce McCulloch is next.

Peter Mansbridge - Peter Mansbridge made his Toronto Mike'd debut in 2021.

Moses Znaimer - Moses Znaimer has yet to accept his invitation to appear on Toronto Mike'd, but it's not too late.

Don Cherry - I wrote Don Cherry a letter, on the advice of Mark Hebscher, and it resulted in a phone call from Don in which he politely declined my invitation for him to appear on Toronto Mike'd because he felt it was a conflict with his Grapeline radio segment with Brian Williams that would air on The Fan 590. Don is no longer making public appearances, so I won't be able to get him on the podcast, but I did recently have a lengthy conversation with his son Tim.

Sarah Polley - Not yet!

Jayne Eastwood - Jayne Eastwood has appeared on Toronto Mike'd twice, including earlier this month when she made her in-person debut.

Ron MacLean - Ron Maclean made his Toronto Mike'd debut in March 2016.

Dave Bookman - Dave declined his invitation to appear on Toronto Mike'd and passed away on May 21, 2019.

I've been getting many questions over the past 24 hours as to how Bob McCown came to be my guest for episode 2000 of Toronto Mike'd. I'm also getting many "has hell frozen over?" comments. So before I get into it, listen to Bob McCown on Toronto Mike'd. I promise you won't be disappointed.

When I was approaching episode 500, back in the summer of 2019, I thought that was pretty cool. At the time, very few podcasts could make that claim. I had always wanted Bob McCown on Toronto Mike'd, because I had spent so many hours commuting home from work, listening to him on Prime Time Sports. And, as I approached episode 500, I had had so many conversations in which he was referenced, and therefore had collected many, many questions for the man. So I asked him if he'd be my guest for milestone episode 500. The tweet below was how he blew me off.

I was surprised by his response. It was as if he had confused Toronto Mike and my blog for another person and site. One theory at the time was that he confused me with "Mike in Boston", a guy who also wrote about Toronto sports radio and was highly critical of Bob McCown's radio show. By the way, I've met "Mike in Boston" for coffee, and he's a swell chap.

So that was 2019, and I found his rejection unnecessarily dramatic and public. I far preferred the Jeff O'Neill email reply of "no thanks". As a result, I didn't ask Bob McCown again until earlier this month, although others lobbied on my behalf.

Found it @torontomike https://t.co/BPR6sFROio

— Brian Gerstein (@RaptorsDevotee) October 24, 2026

So episode 2000 was approaching, and I actually recorded a completely different episode 2000, but during a bike ride I felt like I needed to take a bigger swing. So, for only the second time, and for the first time in over 7 years, I asked Bob McCown if he'd be my guest for a milestone episode of Toronto Mike'd. This time, he replied with a simple "ok".

Of course I wanted Bob in the TMDS basement studio, but he explained that as he recovered from his strokes, it was better for him to do it via Zoom. I agreed to that, we set the date and time, and we chatted for over 90 minutes. I didn't edit a second out of the audio you hear in the podcast feed. As usual, it's completely "live to tape".

The feedback has been extraordinary, and I'm very glad people like it. Many have said it's worth the wait. I agree.

It won't be the last time you hear Bob McCown on Toronto Mike'd.

In this 2000th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Bob McCown about how he ended up in sports media, his start on the radio at CKFH, being the first Toronto Blue Jays public address announcer at Exhibition Stadium, launching Sportsline on Global TV, launching Prime Time Sports on 1430 CJCL, the format change to The Fan 1430 and The Fan 590, his stint hosting mornings on The Fan, his many co-hosts and controversies through the years, why he was fired, and his continued recovery following a series of strokes.  This episode is exactly 1:32:20.

You can listen to this episode in a variety of ways:

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Follow on Amazon Music
• Subscribe on Podcast Addict
• Subscribe via Overcast
• Listen on tunein
• Subscribe directly to the feed at https://www.torontomike.com/podcast/rss/

There is a version of Toronto Mike'd without programmatic ads available to all Patrons. Consider becoming one at https://www.patreon.com/torontomike.

Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Electronic Products Recycling Association, Palma Pasta, Nick Ainis and Ridley Funeral Home.

Welcome to this week's Open Mike. I'm Mike and I'll be your master of ceremonies for the day.

Feel free to use this space to vent, rant,  share a story and/or ask a question of the FOTM hivemind.

Tom Skerritt was the prolific actor perhaps best known for film appearances in “Alien” and “Steel Magnolias”. He won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actor in "Picket Fences".

In this 1999th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with The Toronto Star's Ed Keenan about what's making waves in Toronto, especially Monday's big municipal election which has Mayor Olivia Chow in a statistical tie with challenger Brad Bradford. Mike and Ed also talk about some heated races for city council, the removal of Bloor bike lanes by the provincial government, and the passing of Renata Ford. This episode is exactly 2:03:14.

You can listen to this episode in a variety of ways:

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Follow on Amazon Music
• Subscribe on Podcast Addict
• Subscribe via Overcast
• Listen on tunein
• Subscribe directly to the feed at https://www.torontomike.com/podcast/rss/

There is a version of Toronto Mike'd without programmatic ads available to all Patrons. Consider becoming one at https://www.patreon.com/torontomike.

Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Electronic Products Recycling Association, Palma Pasta, Nick Ainis and Ridley Funeral Home.

Ron Duguay played 12 seasons in the NHL, scoring 274 goals and 346 assists for 620 points.

I feel like I've been talking about this 2018 SCTV Reunion, directed by Martin Scorsese and recorded at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto on May 13, for... over 8 years now. Scorsese lost interest in the project, and the footage just sat on a hard drive getting dusty. In the meantime, I'd talk to people who were there, from Jayne Eastwood to Ron James, and it sounded pretty awesome. All living principles were in attendance, even the reclusive Rick Moranis.

Next week, Netflix will show SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of. Yes, that's a terrible title for us Canadians, but clearly this documentary isn't for us. What I learned yesterday from The Toronto Star in an article written by FOTM and fellow Power grad Bill Brioux is that Jimmy Kimmel, who took over the project from Scorsese, deemed the 2018 footage too old and didn't use any of it. Instead, he caught up with the living principles in 2025, so that means no Joe Flaherty, who passed away in 2024.

None of the 2018 SCTV reunion footage shot by Scorsese will be seen in the new SCTV doc

— Toronto Mike (@torontomike.com) October 21, 2026 at 8:02 PM

If ever there was an example of why it would be wise to secretly record something like this, just in case, this is that. Leak the reunion footage!

When the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Hearing: Valentyne v. Corus Entertainment Inc. concludes, I'll have much more to say about it on Toronto Mike'd, but in the meantime, I attended the hearing yesterday and listened closely to John Garbutt's testimony. John Garbutt is currently employed by Corus as he's 1/3rd of the Q107 morning show, along with Ryan Parker and Shawna Whelan. Prior to joining Q107 as Technical Producer for John Derringer's morning show, Garbutt worked at AM640, another Corus-owned radio station in Toronto.

If you want to hear me discuss what I witnessed, I popped on the Humble and Fred Show this morning to chat about it with Humble Howard Glassman, Maureen Holloway, and Dan Duran.

What's key here is that Jennifer Valentyne's complaint against Corus is based on gender discrimination. I understand a human-rights claim generally requires a connection to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Based on what I heard from John Garbutt, Corus is hammering home the fact that John Derringer didn't just abuse his women colleagues, but he abused his men colleagues as well. In other words, Derringer didn't have a women problem, he had a people problem.

Garbutt, spoke openly about his "terrible" time working with Derringer. He gave multiple examples of specific instances in which he was, in my words, the victim of severe workplace bullying. Derringer was described by Garbutt as a "snappy" guy who would snap at anyone in the room. In one example, Derringer verbally attacked Garbutt on the streets of London, England because he didn't agree with his chosen wardrobe. This left Garbutt crying in sight of Q107 listeners.

Another example that showed Derringer would be ruthless with everyone, regardless of gender, was that of his brother, radio veteran Bill Hayes. Bill Hayes was added to the Q107 John Derringer morning show and during their very first morning on the air, was asked to name his favourite band. Bill's answer made Derringer irate because it wasn't one of the classic rock staples like Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin. Garbutt explained it was all downhill from there, but the beginning of the end of Bill's time on the show was when Bill attended a farewell gathering for a popular receptionist at Corus who had been let go. Derringer, apparently, did not care for this person, and that was it for poor Bill on Q107.

One nickname Derringer had for Garbutt was "Chaz Bono". When asked why he didn't go to Human Resources regarding Derringer's treatment of him at Corus, Garbutt explained that others had complained to HR and had ended up removed from the show, and he didn't want to lose his job.

Maureen Holloway was lauded for her professionalism as Garbutt said she "made the show better", but this seemed to be used by Corus as a contrast to the "disengaged" Jennifer Valentyne who was "always on her phone".

The final witness in this hearing has now been called and all that remains is Jennifer Valentyne's attorney's final arguments, Corus's attorney's final arguments, and then the last word from Jennifer Valentyne's attorney. Then, we'll finally get a decision.

It is interesting to me that John Derringer, who is not on trial here, may aid Corus by not only treating women colleagues poorly, but colleagues of all genders. An equal opportunity offender, if you will.

More from me when this concludes.

On this 1998th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Cameron Hawkins about forming FM with Nash the Slash, Phasors on Stun, Just Like You, the TV Ontario special, their rotten luck with record labels, and the newly reformed FM. This episode is exactly 1:38:50.

You can listen to this episode in a variety of ways:

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Follow on Amazon Music
• Subscribe on Podcast Addict
• Subscribe via Overcast
• Listen on tunein
• Subscribe directly to the feed at https://www.torontomike.com/podcast/rss/

There is a version of Toronto Mike'd without programmatic ads available to all Patrons. Consider becoming one at https://www.patreon.com/torontomike.

Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Electronic Products Recycling Association, Palma Pasta, Nick Ainis and Ridley Funeral Home.

Richard Riehle is the actor I know best as Tom Smykowski, inventor of the "Jump To Conclusions" mat in Office Space.

On this 1997th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Choclair about his key role in the 2nd wave of Canadian hip-hop, Northern Touch, Let's Ride, working with Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates, and Director X, and so much more. This episode is exactly 2:29:45.

You can listen to this episode in a variety of ways:

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Follow on Amazon Music
• Subscribe on Podcast Addict
• Subscribe via Overcast
• Listen on tunein
• Subscribe directly to the feed at https://www.torontomike.com/podcast/rss/

There is a version of Toronto Mike'd without programmatic ads available to all Patrons. Consider becoming one at https://www.patreon.com/torontomike.

Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Electronic Products Recycling Association, Palma Pasta, Nick Ainis and Ridley Funeral Home.

Today I watched Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald. When I first heard Judd Apatow talking about this documentary, and how it's entirely told using archival footage, I was concerned. But now that's I've watched it I can't imagine it being done any other. Kudos to the filmmakers.

I've always loved Norm Macdonald. Like many of you, I first saw Norm as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. He'd eventually host Weekend Update until he made a powerful enemy with his relentless jokes about OJ Simpson. Then there was Dirty Work and The Norm Show and I was there for all of it, but my favourite Norm anything was when he'd appear on a late night talk show. There was no better guest.

Norm and Courtney Thorne-Smith talking about the Carrot Top film Chairman of the Board is now the stuff of legend, but I caught it on Conan during the initial airing and knew I was witnessing history.

The doc is very good, and a big recommend from me. What seems to be the problem, moth?

Sam Ferrara was a former member of Toronto punk bands the Ugly, the Viletones, and Screamin Sam, as well as a prolific metal sculptor.

Bruce Cockburn's Toronto Mike'd debut is episode 1996. Choclair makes his debut on Monday, so he'll be episode 1997. Cam Hawkins from FM visits Tuesday, so he'll be episode 1998. Then Thursday, it's Ed Keenan from The Toronto Star making his quarterly visit to set us up for the big municipal election, making him #1999.

Episode 2000 should drop next Friday morning and will feature a very special guest. This got me thinking about independent podcasters who have recorded more than 2000 episodes of a single show.

I could find one example: How to Protect the Ocean by Andrew Lewin. I see Andrew dropped a 13-minute episode entitled "How to Read the Seafood Counter Like a Marine Biologist" mere hours ago. That's his 2046th episode.