In the 100TH Episode of Tobin Tonight, we celebrate Christmas, a very different kind of Christmas, Christmas in COVID.
We reached out to past guests and got their input on what Christmas means to them. What are some of their favorite traditions, their favorite Christmas songs, and movies, and their favorite Christmas Memories?
So sit back and relax as Tobin and his guests try their best to spread some holiday cheer! See you in 2021 :)
Musicians
Sarah Wickett, was raised in Beaverton, Ontario. Her time spent, hunting, fishing, and watching sunsets on the water was intertwined with a distinctly musical upbringing, surrounded by a family who shared her passion. Her small-town roots inspired her songwriting as she was growing up, while artists like Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera helped to shape her sound and feed her creativity
Musician
Rachel Cousins is a singer-songwriter from Newfoundland, Canada. She made her debut in her teens with guitar based, folk-esque original songs written with legends on her home base of Newfoundland. Her songs continue to place on a top 100 East Coast music list. In 2020 two songs were included, one at #2 and one at #12.
Broadcaster/ Journalist
Lisa Laflamme is a Canadian television journalist, and currently the chief anchor and senior editor of CTV National News. She replaced Lloyd Robertson in this role on September 5, 2011.[1] LaFlamme previously served as the news international affairs correspondent and substitute host for CTV National News
Musicians
Sons of Daughters are a contemporary country duo (Chrystal Leigh and Jimmy Thow) hailing from Vancouver, now based in Nashville, Tennessee. Their debut EP Love In A Bar was released in 2019, and features their top 15 single “Ain’t Gonna Be Lonely Long.” Thow and Leigh co-wrote each song with the exception of the haunting Metallica cover “Enter Sandman.”
Since their move to Nashville, the duo has collaborated with numerous Grammy-nominated hit songwriters, and have showcased at several iconic venues, including The Bluebird Cafe, The Listening Room, and Nashville’s favourite Monday night party, Whiskey Jam. They have performed at large-scale festival gigs such as CMA Fest and Boots & Hearts.
Sons of Daughters were semi-finalists for Sirius XM’s Top of the Country competition, were part of CTV’s The Launch, and were chosen as iHeart Radio’s Future Star. Their newest single release “Drinks Well With Others” is available now.
Musicians
NewLaw is a Canadian band consisting of three brothers, Cayd, Ty, and Dayne. The Three grew up among foothills and prairies in Calgary, Alberta.
Their 2015 debut EP, “Show You There’s Hope” was followed by a successful second EP two years later called “You + Me.” One of their more current singles, “Next to Me”, reached the Canadian Country Billboard Charts and the CBC Country’s Top 40 in 2020. NewLaw has received nominations from the Gospel Music Association, YYC Music, and WCMA for their work and was even invited by America’s Got Talent to audition for the judges and America on NBC.
Musician/Actress
Chloe Caroline is an American Singer and guitarist who has built a fan base online with indie-pop tunes like "Indian Summer," "Ready to Come Home" and "A Kiss Don't Lie." Her songs have received heavy rotation on Radio Disney, Nickelodeon, Radio One Australia and more
Broadcaster/ Journalist
Peter Mansbridge is a British-born Canadian retired news anchor. From 1988 to 2017, he was chief correspondent for CBC News and anchor of The National, CBC Television's flagship nightly newscast. He was also host of CBC News Network's Mansbridge One on One. Mansbridge has received many awards and accolades for his journalistic work, including an honorary doctorate from Mount Allison University, where he served as chancellor until the end of 2017. On September 5, 2016, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation announced that Mansbridge would be stepping down as chief correspondent and anchor on July 1, 2017, after the coverage of Canada's 150th-anniversary celebrations
Musicians
With a Juno Award, SOCAN Award, multiple East Coast Music Awards, and Music Newfoundland and Labrador Awards, The Ennis Sisters are Maureen, Karen and Teresa. Their extensive discography spans multiple musical explorations: including; Stages (2015), The Fortunate Ones (2012), Lessons Learned (2009), Be Here For Awhile (2007), Can’t Be The Same (2003), Ennis Sisters (2001), Three (2000), Christmas On Ennis Road (1998), and Red Is The Rose (1997). Their video “Sing You Home,” was featured for The Rooms’ 100th Anniversary of WW1 Battle of Beaumont Hamel Campaign won provincial, national, and international awards.
Actor
Bryton McClure also credited as Bryton James and mononymously as Bryton, is an American musical theatre, film and television actor and singer. As a child actor, he played Richie Crawford on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters. He currently plays Devon Hamilton on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless in which he won two Daytime Emmy Awards.
Musician
Jimmy Rankin is a Canadian country and folk artist. A member of The Rankin Family, Rankin has also released seven solo albums: Song Dog (2001), Handmade (2003), Edge of Day (2007), Forget About the World (2011), Tinsel Town (2012), Back Road Paradise (2014) and Moving East (2018). Rankin's solo and Rankin Family awards include 5 Junos, 27 East Coast Music Awards, 9 SOCAN top radio play Awards, 7 Canadian Country Music Awards, 2 Music NS Awards, and 2 Canadian Radio Music Awards
Broadcaster/ Journalist
James Cybulski is a Canadian broadcaster. He is currently the play by play voice for the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League and the NHL video game franchise from EA Sports. Cybulski also worked as host of The Starting Lineup on Sportsnet 650 Vancouver from 2017-2021. Prior to his role on Sportsnet 650 Vancouver, he hosted Cybulski and Company on TSN Radio 1050,[1] and worked as a television sportscaster and reporter for SportsCentre on TSN and Sportsnet Central on Sportsnet Pacific.
Musician
Adam Gregory is a Canadian country music singer-songwriter and actor. Active since 2000, he has recorded four studio albums to date, including The Way I'm Made (2000) and Workin' on It (2002), both on Epic Records, and a self-titled album in 2006 on Mensa Records. He has charted several singles on the Canadian country music charts, including two singles that were also Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the United States. In 2010, Gregory starred in WWJD, a film based on In His Steps by Charles Sheldon
Actor/Comedian
Mrk Critch is a Canadian comedian, actor, and writer. He is best known for his work on the comedy series This Hour Has 22 Minutes, initially as a writer and then as a regular cast member beginning in 2013. Mark has also gone on to star in his own series called, Son of a Critch based of the book with the same title.
Broadcaster/ Journalist
Natasha Staniszewski is a Canadian sports reporter and former anchor on SportsCentre, TSN's flagship news and information show
Broadcaster/ Journalist
James Duthie is a Canadian sportscaster for TSN and the host of TSN's hockey coverage. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Carleton University
Comedian
Rick Mercer is a Canadian comedian, television personality, political satirist and author. He is best known for his work on the CBC Television comedy shows This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Made In Canada and Rick Mercer Report. He is the author of four books all of which have been national best sellers. Mercer has received nearly 30 Gemini Awards and Canadian Screen awards for his work on television. His CBC Television special Talking To Americans remains the highest rated Canadian comedy special ever with 2.7 million viewers.
Rick holds Honorary Doctorates from Memorial University, Laurentian University, University of British Columbia, McMaster University, Bishop's University, Brock University and the University of Guelph. In 2014, he received Honorary Doctorates from the Royal Military Academy and from University of Western Ontario and York University.
He is on the board of directors of Historica Canada, an organization dedicated to promoting Canadian history, identity and citizenship. They are the "Heritage Minute" people.
He is a recipient of the Governor Generals Performing Arts Award for lifetime achievement and in 2014 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
He is a native of St. John's, Newfoundland
Actor
William Daniels is an American actor, who is best recognized for his television roles, notably as Mark Craig in the drama series St. Elsewhere, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards, the voice of K.I.T.T. in the critically acclaimed television series Knight Rider and as George Feeny in the sitcom Boy Meets World, which earned him four People's Choice Award nominations. He reprised the role in its sequel, Girl Meets World.
Daniels' film roles include the father of Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) in The Graduate, Howard in Two for the Road, John Adams in the musical film 1776, Carter Nash in Captain Nice, and as the voice of KITT in Knight Rider 2000. He was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1999 to 2001 and led the union's efforts during the 2000 commercial actors strike
Entertainers
Splash'N Boots is a Canadian children's music duo consisting of Nick Adams (Splash) and Taes Leavitt (Boots). Adams and Leavitt formed Splash'N Boots in 2003 as a class project while studying at Queen's University, in Kingston, Ontario.
In 2014, Splash'N Boots were nominated for their first Juno Award for Children's Album of the Year for their album Coconuts Don't Fall Far from the Tree. They have since been nominated in 2015 for Happy Times, in 2016 for Songs from the Boot, in 2017 for Big Yellow Tunes[6] and in 2018 for Love, Kisses and Hugs and won the award in 2019 for You, Me and the Sea.
In 2007, 2012, and 2014, Splash'N Boots won the SiriusXM Independent Music Award for Children's Artist/Group or Duo of the Year.
Splash'N Boots have a TV series which airs on Treehouse TV.
Musician
Isabel Ritchie is a violinist based in Toronto. Classical, country, bluegrass, Celtic... she does it all. She is better known as one of the members of the Canadian band, The Strumbellas.
Musician
Jeremy Drury is a Canadian Drummer in the band, The Strumbellas.
Before joining The Strumbellas, Drury spent almost 10 years in and out of various bands in Toronto's club scene, playing with indie, alt-rock, folk, and punk groups. He lets this melting pot of influences show in his songwriting. From The Travelling Wilburys to Propagandhi and Fred Eaglesmith to Pink Floyd, the result is a folk-rock sound leaning into the alternative that occasionally sticks it's toes in Americana, structured with a pop sensibility, complete with big hooks and sing-along choruses.
Entertainers
Emm Watkins is an Australian singer, actress, and dancer, best known as a former member of the children's group the Wiggles
Broadcaster/ Journalist
Lindsay Hamilton is a Canadian Sports Journalist who works at TSN. She joined TSN in September 2016 and is an anchor for SportsCentre.
Hamilton started working in broadcasting at a young age, becoming the first host of the Family Channel in 2008. For more than five years she interviewed entertainment icons, athletes, and musicians across North America, including Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and One Direction.
While pursuing a double major in communications and film at McMaster University, she created, produced, and hosted various MacTV segments – a digital television outlet covering both sports and local entertainment. During her time at McMaster, Hamilton also created, produced, and hosted a sports radio program at CFMU.
In 2012, Hamilton hosted events during the 100th Grey Cup Anniversary Week, and by 2014 she joined Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment as a host for Toronto Marlies, IIHF World Juniors, and Toronto Maple Leafs games and team events. The year following, Hamilton hosted the 2015 Pan Am Games torch relay across Ontario and the artistic gymnastics during the Games in Toronto.
Hamilton joined CBC Radio as a sports reporter in March of 2016. During the Rio 2016 Olympics she was part of the CBC News Network team delivering national sports updates each morning of the Games.
Hamilton competed in a variety of sports while growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, including playing varsity lacrosse at McMaster University and competing on Team Ontario. Today, Hamilton keeps busy with squash, tennis, water-skiing, and running.<…
Broadcaster/ Journalist
Rick Campanelli is a Canadian television and radio personality known for his work as a VJ and host for MuchMusic and for co-hosting ET Canada. He joined Z103.5FM CIDC-FM in November 2021, and is currently co-host of the morning show
Actor/ Improv Comedian
Colin Mochrie is a Scottish-born Canadian actor, writer, producer and improvisational comedian, best known for his appearances on the British and US versions of the improvisational TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway?