Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Patrick McKenna: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1911

Episode Date: June 5, 2026

On this 1911th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Patrick McKenna about his start at Second City, landing the role of Harold Green on The Red Green Show and Marty Stephens on Traders, winning a Gemini Award for both, and how being diagnosed with ADHD in his late-40s changed his life.Toronto Mike'd, an award-winning podcast, is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball, Ridley Funeral Home, Nick Ainis, and RecycleMyElectronics.ca.If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good morning, everyone. It's Patrick McKenna here, and I'm so thrilled to be in Etobico. Oh, I'm down from the north, so I'm all sun-tanned and everything. It's been here like six minutes. I think I've got a sunburn, actually. So I'm thrilled to be a first guest, my debut, citing here on Toronto Mike. Welcome to episode 1,911. That's 1-911 of Toronto Mikeed, an award-winning podcast, proudly brought to you, Great Lakes Brewery. Order online at Great Lakesbeer.com for free local home delivery in the GTA. Palma Pasta.

Enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. Visit palma Pasta.com for more. Toronto Maple Leafs baseball. Catch a game at Christie Pitts this summer. No ticket required. I'll be there on Sunday.

Fusion Corps own Nick Aienes. He's the host of Building Toronto Skyline. And Mike and Nick, two podcasts that you ought to listen to. Recycle MyElectronics.C.A. Committing to our planet's future means properly recycling our electronics of the past. And Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. Joining me today, making his Toronto Mike debut, it is indeed Patrick McKenna.

Hello Patrick. Good morning. We only met. Okay, so we're talking on Friday, June 5th, 2026. We met for the first time just this past Sunday. Sunday, yeah, it was at a nice book reading. It was great. It was well attended, heartbreaking.

A friend lost a child, and it was just heartbreaking to see everybody's tears flow up at one time, one afternoon. It was heavy, right? So, again, I was happy for Larry and Arlene, and it was Larry Klopide. The book is called, Why am I here and he is not? A father's journey through grief, love, and what remains. So you're happy for him that he's put out this book that I think is going to help many a parent who has lost a child.

But at the same time, you realize what the book's about, why it was written, and it is incredibly and immensely sad. But I loved seeing that full room. It was the GLB brew pub at Jarvis and Queens Key and so many, like, beautiful faces like yours. So I want to say thanks for being there, Patrick. Oh, it was an unfortunate pleasure. Right, right. And then we got chatting. You were there early.

You bought me a Great Lakes beer. Right? You did. Yes, yes. What did I get? A Sunnyside session. Sunnyside, that's right, yes. I said, this is summer.

I need a sunny side. So I'm just going to return the favor and tell you now, I'm sending you home of some fresh craft beer from Great Lakes. Oh, fantastic. That ought to get me to a boat Brampton. And we should point out you got here at your schedule time. And the guys from Great Lakes were, here recording between two fermenters and they went over time. So you were very gracious and that I made

you basically, I made superstar Patrick McKenna wait. Well, when you got four guys drinking beer at noon, I'm not going to fight with them. There were a lot of beers consumed. There was. There was a lot of empty cans when I got here. I thought, well, I must have been a show last night, but oh no. No, no. It was a wonderful episode of between two fermenters. So an absolute pleasure to meet you last Sunday and it's great that we could so quickly get you in here. Because are you leaving town? Are you, you're out of here soon? I'm starting a film next week, so I'll be gone for like about three weeks after that. So it's really hard to start picking a schedule.

Can you give me details? Are you loud? Yeah, yeah. It's one of the Missletoe Murder series. It's like a hallmark series of films they do. Or like a Christmas thing. Yeah, yeah. And I play a guy who's sort of hiding in the north.

No one knows him. And all of a sudden my delivery truck blows up. And I wake up thinking I'm Santa Claus. Oh, my, really? Yeah. Okay. Well, is that why you decided to say good. buy to your pigmentation, right?

Yes, it's right. And you see a little bit of fur coming in here. They said, you know, let it go as long as you can. It's like, well, it starts next week. I got Irish skin. It's going to be no good. It'll be no good. They'll be gluing something on my face.

Well, I wish, it's funny you said that. My roots are also Irish, but I also have this fantasy where I grow this big, thick beard. And then once in a while, I go for it. And do you remember that Cheers episode with Cliff Clavin trying to grow the beard? Do you remember this? Well, Cliff's beard looks pretty good. Or you remember, like, I don't know, are you a Leafs fan? Yeah.

Like, do you remember when, you know, the Matt Sundeen teams would go into the conference finals? And he try hard to grow the playoff beard. But two things. One is that it was very light, the coloring, so you couldn't really see it. But two, not a great beard. Like Matt Sundeen couldn't grow the playoff beard. No, he had to build it like a mullet in the back and one in the front, too. He's kind of weird looking.

And speaking of leaves, I said Patrick McKenna's coming over. Legend, a legend, Patrick McKenna. And then so many jokes came back. about your quote-unquote nephew or grandson or son or whatever, but Gavin McKenna, because Leif's fans are basically counting the days until Gavin McKenna is the first pick in the upcoming draft. Any relation to Gavin McKenna?

Well, the only relation to have is that we're both going to buy the jersey. Well, he's not going to buy it. Well, you know, it's the Toronto movie. He may have to. Oh, you know what? What's the Keith Pelly? I heard he charges like if you want to get your kid at Center Ice for the to hold a flag or whatever during the national anthems that you can buy that for like 1,500

bucks. I bet you anything they do charge Gavin McKenna for his jersey. He's of no relation to me, but you know, that's going to change soon as he gets popular. I'm going to start, oh yeah, he's my son. Well, he's already popular. You know what Leiths fans are like when they have. I remember when they anointed Pomas Cabrillet, they called, he was the next Bobior. Yeah, there's always a next Bobby Orr.

Yeah. So. Bobby Orr had such a short season. and I don't think those people are going, I don't want to be Bobby O'R. Right, well, yeah, he was done by 30 or whatever. Yeah. With those knees or whatever.

But, uh, okay, so Patrick McKenna, I pulled some clips. We're going to get into it, but I want to tell you yesterday's guest. His name is Kevin Gillis. Do you know that name? I do know that name. Yes, from, uh, the raccoons. Yes, you got it. Okay, you nailed it.

So he's the raccoons guy, but he, I just, at the end of every episode, I say, who's coming up next. And at the end, I just said, join me tomorrow. Uh, Patrick McKenna is. my special guest. And he goes from Atomic Betty. Oh my goodness. Yeah, yeah. I did a cartoon series, Atomic Betty. Yeah. I played it was like a Jimmy Stewart father, I think. Oh, yeah, you'll get in here now and you make sure you're going to bed and been on decent time. It's a bit of Don Knott's and Jimmy Stewart. It's a big, I hear the Jimmy Stewart. He's like,

I thought how this work. Your money's in his house. Exactly. Yeah. I love it. There was always that area for stammering dads, you know, in a kid's cartoon. The parents aren't the smart ones. The mom's clever, but the dad, no. So there's some obvious live action stuff we're going to talk about. But you've had a pretty damn good voiceover career when it comes to cartoons, right? So lucky that way. I can't believe it. Yeah.

Because it's a really hard thing to get into voice. There's a select, it's much better now. But when I was starting, there was like maybe two dozen people working consistently. It was really hard to get in. But once you're in, you know, someone goes, oh, there's an interesting, while you're here, can you do an elephant falling down the stairs? Can you do it? And then you do a couple. I'm like, oh, okay, you got a little bit of talent here.

Well, there's another red-green alumnus who, is it alumnus? Yeah, because alumni is like plural, right, alumnus, who did a whole whack of voiceover work as well, but fellow FOTM. FOTM means friend of Toronto, Mike. Patrick, you're now an FOTM. Okay. Maybe you were after Sunday, actually, when you bought me my Sunnyside session IPA. So, but the fellow FOTM, Jeff Lumby. Oh, yes, yeah.

Yeah, he's been friends. 25 years now, I guess. We met on the Red Ring show. Yeah. And we've been hanging around ever since. Well, until he moved away. Well, has he, here's my question. Big question. This is a heavy one. Has he extended the invitation yet for you to visit him in France? Yes. Okay. Yes. That means you're a real friend. Oh, yeah. But he knows no one's going to come. So you can accept. Except, I can tell you, because I produced the Humble and Fred show. Oh, yeah. They, well, who, uh, who, uh, yeah, Howard, Howard, who was on the air with Jeff Lumby in Montreal, before he came to Toronto to be half of the Humble and Fred show.

They go way back to Moose Jars. They go way back. But he's being to France to visit Jeff Lumby. See, that would be fun in itself. I think there's got to be a sitcom in there, just following Jeff around. He's been there, what, three years, and he still speaks no French?

Well, I think he's working on it. I feel like he's got a coach or something, or he's taking lessons. He's married to a coach. Well, she's carrying the weight on that. Yeah, that's what I understand. She has to do all the paperwork and everything. So what a small world that you were on Atomic

Betty and that's a Kevin Gillis production. Yeah, yeah. Okay. I missed out in atomic Betty, but maybe I'm out of the targeted demo. I think so, yeah. You've got to be about seven for that one, I think.

It really varies. Like I just finished one for Sesame Street and it was like the kids were from zero to three. You know, so everything has to go through a psychologist to make sure you're not saying anything wrong. You know, so you can't change any of the words you've got to do. It's so tight. Well, that's the Sesame Street Way.

Absolutely. Yeah. and finding a way to communicate to that age versus someone who's four versus five. It's really interesting how the vocabulary just grows exponentially. Right. I'm of an age where I remember when Mr. Hooper died. Oh, my goodness. Oh, wow.

You're going back. I'm going way back with that one. But I remember Mr. Hooper and I remember when he died. And the episode when they tell Big Bird that Mr. Hooper is dead is like they decided they're going to, you know, the actor died. And then the Sesame Street people decided not to. pretend he moved away or, you know, they decided to, in the show, they would explain what death is and Mr. Hooper had passed away. And it's, go to YouTube,

but check out the moment when they tell Mr. I said, when they tell Big Bird that Mr. Hooper's dead. Oh, and they told the count. It was there. One foot down, two foot down. Except the, yes, yes, the count. Yeah. You could do math with it that way. You know, there's always an upside to it. Okay. And snuffalo off, I guess, just so you know, Patrick, you feel you need to know this. He can now be seen by adults. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I think you have a childlike mind, though, maybe. Well, that's me for sure. Okay. So it also, because I dropped the name Jeff Lumby, but just as we get into it, you just filmed with Ron James, F-O-T-M Ron James. Yeah, yeah. We have a series together called Dog Days, and it's coming out July 1st. And I play a guy who moves to a small town

to retire, and then Ron is a fellow who inserts himself into my life as my retirement coach. So he's She shows me how to like get a steal free breakfasts, how you can play, you know, afternoon poker with people, you know. So he's playing himself. Basically, he's just a, you know, the wrong guy at the right time. And he leads me through all these experts.

You know, I go through these series of like the stages of death. We have applied it. So there's anger, denial, bargaining, depression, and finally the acceptance of being retired and that he's my friend. So it's a really fun,

fun series. It's great. And they're only about 10 minutes long. It's like a web series. Oh. Yeah. So, it's like a bell five.

thing? Yes, exactly, Bill 5. Because he's done other shows with Bill 5. Yeah, we did one man's treasure. We did that together and that's really where we started playing because I've known Ron for like 30 years. I used to work the door at Second City when he was on the main stage. And I was just a fan of Ron all my life. So we started when he had the Ron James show in CBC, he invited me to do some stuff and we just played really well together. And same on One Man's treasure. We just had so much fun and it was so easy. Then when I pitched my show, the dog days, I asked Ron if you'd like to be involved. And sure. And the same thing. Ron can, he's so fantastic. You'll work with him all day on a script. And as you go, it just gets a little bit better, a little bit better. He looks in between the lines, you know, suddenly you're doing a whole other script by the end of the day. And it's just fantastic. Because that's where the script kind of belonged. It needed Ron's voice to be Ron.

Well, he's a word smith. Anyone has seen him perform knows that. Oh, he's fantastic that way. And I just, you know, people are like, well, he's off script. It's like let him run. It will be better. Let him cook. Yes. He's like having Ron, like Robin Williams on set. You just got to trust there's going to be some magic. in there. Film it all. We'll edit it later. Yeah, I thought you were going to say he's like Walter White. Let him cook. You'll be happy with the results. There is that. We can go that rude as well, yeah. Ron James. Okay, so now you mentioned Second City. So

can we go back to Second City? Oh, quick question from Lieve-Fumka, which we kind of addressed with the fact you're playing Santa or whatever you're going to play in the Christmas thing. But because I posted a picture of us at the GLB Brew Pub, she saw the picture, Live Fumke, and she

saw that you lack pigment which is a nice way of saying you've got white hair, white beard. So I'm getting there. I'm just a little behind you. I'm sure I'll be there soon. But she wondered aloud, have you ever been mistaken for Dave Foley or Mike Myers to fellow funny Canucks who have seemingly lost their pigmentation?

Not yet. I haven't. No, no. No one confuses me with many people. Maybe they're teacher. They think they might. Well, it's in the eyes. When I, on the Sunday, when I met you,

the eyes give you away. Yeah, that's one thing. It's surprising. People always go, it's your eyes, it's your eyes. And I'm the only one who can't see them. So I thought,

are they bloodshot or what? What's going? No, they're just identifiable. It's interesting, though, my hair going in this color because it was always,

you know, brown. And then when it started to go, it just went in between, I think COVID kind of thing, you know? Oh, interesting. And I dyed it back for a show and they went, no, no, no, go back. We like it that way.

And my wife really likes it like this. So it's all the matters, Patrick. It does. at this point is that yeah keep her happy that's the thing so you know if they want to change I can always change it but it's so much easier this way you know you're

preaching to the choir on that one like once in a while somebody says to me if I consider dying my hair and I don't if you had a professional reason like okay we're going to pay you money to be in this show and we want you to have dark black hair that's a whole different category but in terms of like just vanity

no way no because when you get older and you start dying your hair the face doesn't change so it's like you're wearing someone else's head. You look, you know, I remember, uh, who was it? Colin James, okay, Colin James, not to be confused of Ron James. I don't think there's a relation there, but Colin James, a great Canadian musician.

He came over and he had decided, he just stopped dying his hair. And he said it's because people said he looked like a magician. Wow. Yeah, like I guess there's a, uh, magicians dye their, dye their hair, I suppose. I guess there's that jet black magician look, yeah. Because Colin, I always thought that about rock stars. They got a little harder. You see them oftentimes.

they got to kind of be youthful that they might dye their hair and then spike it up or something like that. Right. I saw Colin James just the other day and like just online, just the idea. I was checking out when you mentioned about his hair and it's like, yeah, I guess it was short and spike. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely.

Shout to Colin James. Yeah, a big fan. Now, second city, but before we get to there, you're a Hamilton guy. Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes, it's amazing how many people are coming from Hamilton and everybody's going to Hamilton. Well, that's because they can't afford to live here. That's what exactly it is.

Yeah. I mean, if they can sell their house here in Toronto. I moved to Hamilton, you live like a king. Well, that's what Ralph Ben-Murgy did. That's right. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely Ralph did. Yeah, he was one of the first, actually. There was a couple of, a lot of people made that ring.

Because we left Hamilton, my wife and I, you know, because when you grew up in a town, you want to get out and everybody else is coming in and watching what they're paying for homes. And you're going, oh, my goodness, that was like the house that we had was boarded up and condemned when we left. And now I see someone else's living in it. You go, oh, I'm sorry. And they probably paid $2 million. Oh, I'm sure they paid a lot more than we sold it for.

So you're back in the. hammer? No, no, no, not at all. We're way up north. Oh, you said north, right. Yeah, yeah, we're up on Mount Forest now up near Orrilla, or sorry, Owen Sound rather. Okay, uh, I got a shout out Nick Aeney's. We just recorded an episode of Mike and Nick and Nick and Nick is a proud sponsor of this show. And he's bought like an old courthouse in Owen Sound that he's converting into like a gathering, a community gathering spot slash, uh, drinking, uh, establishment. Oh, yeah. This is happening in Owen Sound. and he's talking about this kind of this passion project he has developing this old courthouse. Well, I got a friend.

I was just talking about the phone on the way down from Owen Sound, actually. And he was just saying there's so many factories and theaters that have closed up in Owen Sound. The potential is amazing for the downtown area. Like, why aren't we shooting shows up there? It was basically where it started because there's just so much opportunity. Well, when Hamilton becomes too pricey, people can make their way to Owen Sound. Absolutely. It's amazing how that happens.

I remember years ago we started shooting and everything was down in Halifax. You know, in Halifax builds a studio and they take away the grants and then suddenly it's out in Winnipeg. Everyone's moving in Winnipeg. Oh, yeah. And then suddenly this Winnipeg dries up. Hamilton. Let's build a studio in Hamilton. And so, don't, don't.

It's like the 19th century prospectors or whatever. Like, where's the gold? Yes, they're just chasing those tax credits, man. Okay, take me back to Second City. Okay? It's like I really want to know, know, like, how did you get involved with Second City? What were you doing at Second City? This is going to get us to some show called the Red Green Show.

I don't know if it has heard of it. Yes, it does, actually. But give me the Second City. story. The story is I wanted to open my own theater. A teacher took me to Second City in 77 and I was blown away. I had no idea what theater. I thought I had to be like proscenium and leotards and stuff. So I was like, I don't want to do theater. And he said, well, check this type of theater out. So I went and I saw like that night there was Martin Short and Andrew Martin and Catherine O'Hara were on stage doing. I was blown away and I thought that's what I want to do.

So I thought it'd open my own theater and then, you know, being a kid, you realize you can't. So I went to college and I was going to run, like, took hotel and restaurant so I could run a theater because I didn't figure anyone ever hire me. And part of it was placement. You got to work somewhere. So I went to Second City and I applied. And I wore a jacket that day. So they made me a manager. Everyone else was waiters.

I just want to be a waiter to get the cash for there. No, no, you got a jacket. You had the jacket. You were halfway there. Yeah. It's like, you know, Greg Brady. Suddenly you fit the clothes, man. So I feel like, I know not to interrupt you, but who else did I know that was, somebody was working.

in there. Was it Catherine O'Hara who started working there, like serving drinks there or something, before she got on stage? Nea Vardales. Yes. It was in the coat room, yeah. Okay, the big fat Greek wedding there. Yeah, yeah. So it's a possibility, but because on the door, I got to watch the show every night. You know, I was never an actor or anything. I just was in love with it. And then they had a general audition one Saturday afternoon. It was my job to go set up the theater so they could have these auditions. But it was so general, they didn't even know I was there. So they said, six people up on stage and six people. And this, how would they do it? And they say, fine, you know, you stay and four come down and they'd make the troop. And at the end of the day, I'd snuck in and

kind of, I was up there. It was Mike Myers and I were like the last two. We got hired on the same day. Whoa, whoa, whoa. And here is leave a fumka wondering if you're being confused with Mike Myers. Okay. That's a mind blow. So that's a mind blow. Yeah, it was, it was so weird. I went from being like the door guy to, I'm in the touring company. So I had to phone my girlfriend and say, you know, are you cool with this? Because we're supposed to get married in like four months. She goes, that's what you should be doing. Okay.

So we were off and running. And then things just kind of took place. I was working. I was trying it. I wasn't very good, you know, but I was hidden away for a while. And so they could kind of work with these people like Linda Cash and. Linda Cash, who's also an FOTM? Yeah.

Oh, one of my longtime loves. We've been together forever, the two of us doing things together. So that sort of worked out. And one night I was finally got promoted after years to the main. main stage and Steve Smith happened to come see the show one night and I was doing the Harold character in the show but it was a different name and so on and he just loved it and he contacted me afterwards and he said you know what do you think I'm doing this new show I'd love to have that guy standing beside me because I just I just talk I don't know you're very physical

right okay all right let's do that so for a week I went to Hamilton and we shot in the studios no audience no nothing just the two of us right and that was the show and then I go back to Second City at night, do the show at night, shoot the show during the day, go to the show at night. And we made the one season with that, well, that's that. And we got canceled right away. I already hated it. Where did the first season of the red green show air? Just on CHCH.

CHCH. Okay, because they had Max and me and Smith and Smith. Exactly. Yeah, like Steve really had a great track record there. That's why they were able to say, sure, let's see this red green thing. But when it got canceled because it was so goofy, he went in with a hockey bag full of letters and just said, you pick any letter out of that bag and that'll be my pitch. for a second season.

It was that immediate that the fans reacted to it. Whereas people like the decision makers in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, they're like, no, that's goofy, corny stuff. But people really liked it. So it was amazing how quickly caught on. And then the PBS people caught on

because it's very specific niche marketing down in the States. And the way it works here is if somebody in the States thinks you're good, suddenly everybody thinks you're good. What's up with that? I don't know what that was. That was, this is what, 93 or so, 94? It just took off that way.

and suddenly PBS stations were like, oh, it's inexpensive and it's funny. We could buy it. So we were getting all these PBS stations picking up the show, which gave us this credibility here at home. And then CBC finally came in and said, you know, maybe you could come finally work with us. Because we were just on CH and we went on CTV for a while. We were on global.

We were on the comedy network. We got canceled up every network in the country. You were like checking them all. Like there's a list of all the broadcasters in Canada. Oh, and CBC would not see us at all. until the Airfarse said, there's this show, this red green show, this should be our lead in. And they had enough power at the time to say,

they went, okay, we'll try it. And then, you know, we started getting better numbers than Airfarse. Okay, shout out to FOTM, Don Ferguson. Oh, the best, the best, because they'd have me on the show so often and just cross-marketing that way. Like, CBC was so open to that great stuff at the time, because I was doing another show, traders on Global. You know, and oftentimes Global and CBC wouldn't complement each other.

But they were like, the show was so popular, traders and it's like come on over do that character on airfarse as well as the red green character that you're doing and we'll combine them to so we had all these different mash inclamations of what I could do that today like today could you have could you be starring on a CBC show today and also a global show at the same time I wouldn't think so no I don't because lately like even if I go to do anything they go know your contract is you have to do this that's how Tom Selleck lost out in Indiana Jones he had a contract with CBS magna PIA wouldn't let him do it they wouldn't let him go and suddenly you're wonk, right?

So it's a really hard thing to do, but, you know, no one thought red green was anything. And that's not even another, like that's a movie. Like, because I, the famous,

uh, family ties story is that Michael J. Fox was, uh, was of course Stephen, uh, what was his name again? Alex P. Keaton.

Right. On family ties. But he's also like, when he's not doing the sitcom, he's filming back to the future. Right. Right. He was doing McFlyatt.

So you'd think, you'd think that Tom Selleck would be allowed to make a movie. Yeah. I don't know why. They just, They mentioned that they grabbed him right away. As soon as they announced that he was cast, CBS went, no, he's not. But because everyone underestimated red-green, they didn't even worry about it at Global.

They thought, you know, it's nothing. Because they canceled us, so they didn't think it was much. And then they both took off at the same time. And oddly enough, because I was starring in both shows, I was the lead in both shows. Right. I ended up getting awarded in both shows. I became like the only guy in history to ever get the best lead drama actor and best lead comedy actor. Right.

And that night, they were announcing the awards like, holy smoke, I've won both categories as the lead. So that kind of changed my career in one night. Well, it sounds like the night that actually changes your career is at night at Yucky, not Yucke, almost called the, at Second City. Yeah. When Steve Smith catches you and what was the name of the character that became Harold? Just Patrick. I was playing like a kid doing a school presentation and I was so nervous and, you know,

shaking and shivering and trying to do all those things. So, okay, so of course your character's name, on Red Green. The Red Green show is Harold Green. This is the nephew of Red Green. I'm just going to play a little clips in case, as if my audience doesn't know Red Green, but here's a little clip. You know, they have those companies that put on seminars for people who like to spend all their time figuring out how come they never get anything done? Well, apparently they're sending a bunch of them up here to Possum Lodge. I mean, I always think that self-help companies are a waste of money, but it's fine if they're going to waste it here. Oh, Uncle Rand. This is so exciting.

Boy, all my. Aren't you excited? It's so exciting because these are very successful people were coming up here, you know? Yeah, these are movers and shakers. Oh, yeah. Movers and shakers, losers and fakers, Harold. You know?

Who cares as long as the check clears? Huh? Boy, these are the top CEOs in the country. Yeah. I'll finally have someone to talk to. Well, that'll be good for all of us, Harold. Hey, you know, if these are high rollers, maybe I should get in a couple of kegs and a bunch of cigars and set a room full of poker tables.

No, no, no, no, no. They're here to explore nature. Well, those things are my nature. There's a little taste. That was a blast, yeah. Every one of them brings back a memory. We did a thing, unfortunately, Graham Green passed away, who was also in the show. So Steve and I were invited to his celebration of life. And we haven't stood beside each other in 20 years, you know,

and suddenly they said, would you guys do the characters? I don't know, man. It's like, I'm old. Steve looks the same, but I look old. And they said, well, just for fun. So we went out and did it. And man, it was like riding a bike. Both of us were laughing our heads off going, I was doing the voice.

He was doing the voice. We're dressed up. I was like, here we are, man. It really resonates with people. Like Toronto Boris wrote in when he heard you were coming on and said, make sure to ask him if women find him handsome or handy. They will find me. Oh, boy, they don't even find me.

I would probably go with handy more than handy. handsome, I think. And he, of course, he wants to know how it was to work on the red green show, but it sounds like it was pretty damn fun. It was amazing. You know, 15 years we did that show, and there wasn't one squabble. There wasn't one bad day at all. It was like, if we don't have fun, we're doing something wrong. It was amazing when we started shooting out in London, we brought in the live audience, and the live audience was like, oh my goodness, this really changed because now we have rhythms and timing off the audience versus. Well, you can hear it in that clip. Exactly, right? And it was so exciting because they tell you what the joke worked.

You know, and it was amazing how many of them were working, you know, before we were just in a vacuum assuming it was funny. But when they started laughing on, this is amazing. But we knew we would never go back to not having an audience because they were the one who just told us constantly whether you're on the right track. And there was nobody, what is it? On Larry Sanders show, they had, uh, Hank Kingsley would have this on. Oh, it says apples sauce.

Yeah. And that was, that was the sweet thing too. We had no signs or anything like that. It was like, if they don't laugh. So that's organic. That's every laugh you hear is the audience laughing. There's no sweetening, no nothing. because it was something about that show caught on with people.

There was bust loads of people dressed up like us when they'd come from the states and everything. It was just incredible. Well, Boris, Toronto Boris, goes on to say he has many fond childhood memories of watching the red green show. And he wonders, do you keep duct tape on you at all times? You have to. Even if it's a red green show or not, my trunk is full of the stuff. The worst thing is in my little town, if I go to buy duct tape, it's spread all over town. Harold bought duct tape today at the home home hardware.

Oh, bad. They all want to photos of you buying duct tape. Oh, yeah. It's those type of things you forget. You know, I'm just dragging myself through a store and you forget that everyone's staring at you and buying duct tape. So PBS is airing this show. Like, and that, I'm assuming that enables you to go to like comic cons and different kind of conventions of that nature, like for the rest of your life. It would. I'm not that kind of guy, but it would. And it does because when this, the PBS was really interesting that we got to travel a lot.

You know, so we're down in Iowa and we're down in Iowa. and we're down in Iowa. Oh, for like pledge weeks? Yeah, and that kind of thing, you know. And then we got exhausted because Steve was like, he's a busy guy. So he's made the idea of, why don't we shoot here in Hamilton and we'll make a competition out of these guys, Iowa versus Idaho and so on,

and we'll just stay here. And they phone in. We had the pledge drive in Hamilton. We did it that way. And we raised more money than like Pavarotti or anything. They've all been, the Red Green's been the highest earning show on PBS ever. You guys kick the antique road show's ass.

Totally. We are the antique road show's. So it's perfect that way. But it was really surprising to see how people were really engaged. They donated like crazy. They loved playing the game. The competition was fun for them. They loved it.

And of course, there's a feature film, duct tape forever. Yeah, that was another fun. When Steve got stabbed in the hand and lost mobility in his hand when we were shooting. And I fell out of a van. Who stabbed him? He did. Stabbed himself. He was pointing with a knife.

I went right through his hand. Oh, my God. Yeah. That was one of those. And we kept filming. We didn't even know until afterwards. And he went, and I think my hand is kind of kind of. there's a knife in it, Steve.

And I threw my back out being thrown out of a van. So it was one of those that we were doing everything ourselves. You know, it's a very, you know, guerrilla theater. I will remind the listenership that there is a Steve Smith episode of Toronto Mike. He actually zoomed in. He didn't make the trek to the basement. So I just want to say, I really appreciate that you're here. Because, you know, you're not one of those big, you know, big, I was going to say Hollywood,

but a big Canadian superstars who are like, I'm not going to yourself atobical basement. I'm going to do this remotely. You're here, man. Well, I didn't know Zoom was an option. It wasn't, actually. Well, you made it to Jarvis and Queens Key on Sundays, so I knew you had it in you to get you.

Oh, I don't mind. You know, it's one of those things. Once I moved up north, it's like, it's my obligation to get there. So I don't mind going to places. And Steve's got a few years on you, so you get some extra credit when you're in your 80s for sure. Okay.

But also, just a quick pause here because we got to talk, about Marty Stevens. There's so much ground I've got to cover here. But I do want to tell the listenership and tell you, Patrick, that I'm at Christie Pitts on Sunday, 2 p.m. for the first pitch, Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball. Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball. Yassie Luege is in the lineup. Always exciting to watch him at Christy Pitts. And you can grab yourself a hot dog and a Leafs logger, get a comfy spot on the hill at Christy Pitts and just take in the baseball. It's the best value in the country. That's a great afternoon. It is. It is. I can't wait.

So 2 p.m. Sunday I'm there. Check out Maple Leafs Baseball.com for the schedule. I have a book for you, Patrick, to take home with you, take it back to Owen Sound. The history of Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball, you can read up on this great history. The Butler Brothers, who are coaches on the team now. So you can have that book, and I already told you I've got the fresh craft beer for you. But I also want to shed out Palma Pasta, because they sent over a frozen lasagna for you to take home with you. You're going to love this lasagna.

Do you like Italian food? I love Italian food. You're going to love it. You're going to love it. Mike, that's the best Italian, that's the best lasagna I've ever tasted that wasn't made by somebody's nona. I always say it wrong.

I say nona, and then I get corrected by people of Italian descent. Nonia. Nonia? I don't know. Don't quote me on that one. I'm no Patrick McKenna. But I know the Italian food is delicious at Palma Plasta. They're going to feed us at TMLX22,

which is taking place June 25th from 6 to 9 p.m. at Great Lakes Brewery. I know you'll probably be filming a Christmas movie for, who makes these movies? I believe it's, I don't know. You lost track, you won't say. You won't say. You're going to say the H word and then you might be wrong.

Right, exactly. I don't blame you. You know, we don't want to get you in trouble with your agent. But okay, so explain it to me again. Break it down for me again. Well, maybe I'll play this clip. It will get into this. Listen to this wonderful performance by Patrick McKenna on a show called Traders.

It's not that we don't appreciate the fine job being done by you, great security. Commission agents, you know, that is my job to pursue all plausible leads. Listen, we just went through a merger, okay? We've been raped over with a fine, too. Pome. Marty? Oh, great, you woke up, Mom. Way to go, Pally. Sally Rawls. May I help you?

Oh, I see. Investigations. I'm pursuing a tip about stock churning. Do I look like the kind of schmuck who's going to needlessly buy and sell grandma stock for what? A commission? Well, last year you were suspended for front running. There is a big difference, pal. Is it really necessary to come in here and make public allocations? Based on a rat?

I just wanted to ask a few routine questions. It's Mr. Stevens who started yelling and waving his arms, so we'll do it the hard way. I want all trading information for the last 48 hours. Forget it. 72 hours. Is 10 o'clock tomorrow morning soon enough? There you go, man. I'm all psyched for the rest of the episode.

I know. That was a long time ago. I forgot about that. But I do remember that was, you woke mom way to go, Pally. That was improvised. Oh, that's a fun fact. Yeah, I always love,

I would try to squeeze in as many Sinatraisms as I could. And I remember one, the very first line I had walking across was, when I say jump, down here I'm Sinatra. When I say jump, you jump. And they were like, you can't say Sinatra. And I said, well, why?

And then the producer came down, no, no, I really like that. Do more of that. Yeah, but why couldn't you say Sinatra? It's not like it's a brand name or is not Coca-Cola. Oftentimes writers get very, you know, I didn't say Sinatra. I didn't write that.

So you actor boys stop thinking on your own. And that happens sometimes. And I'm fine to dump it, but it really gave the character momentum and attitude and presence and all that. And it was like a simple thing that once you adopt Sinatra, nobody else matters in the room to you, you know? Right. And again,

you're Patrick McKenna. You were on stage at Second City with Mike Myers, okay? You should be given some license to improvise the funny. I have been. And it's, I'm surprising. I don't really realize that a lot of times. Like I did a show Remedy and I improvised a little bit and they went, no,

there is no improvising on this show whatsoever. And then I got a note going, other than you. And it was like, okay, but I'm going to be very gracious with it because people know you're not supposed to improvise. So I'm not going to run around doing,

you know, solo songs or anything. But it was really interesting that they allowed me to be, bring what I can bring to it. They see talent. They identify talent. You don't want to pollute that process. But it's it.

Now I'm thinking about, there's a show I watched on CBC called the newsroom. Yes. Yeah. Peter Callahan and Finkelman, Ken Finkelman would write everywhere to that show. And I have in my calendar and in real time I'm going to tell people when this is happening.

I'm excited to report that I have an episode. I'm recording on June 15 with Karen Heinz. Ah, Karen. We were in Second City together. We're on the main stage together. Get out of here. Yeah. Yeah.

See, it's such a small world, right? Like, I had no idea you were on. you were at Second City of Karen Hines, but I know Karen Hines was in the newsroom, and I'm going to be pestering here with questions about working for Ken Finkelman, because my understanding is no improvite. You had to read it as written on the page.

I don't know. You know, it was odd that I did an audition for him for, yeah, I think it was a newsroom, actually. Yes, it was for the role Peter Callahan got. And so I'm auditioning, and it went on like two hours, and it was all improv. And at one point I said, you know, I could do this character,

but have you seen a guy, and Peter Callahan. And he looks at me and he goes, why? And I said, because Peter is this guy? I don't know if you've seen him or not, but I would recommend Peter Callahan. And I phoned Peter and I said, I just did this audition. I think it's for you. And he goes, I've been in seven times.

I went, oh, sorry, man, but I just mentioned your name. I hope it works out. And then he got it. And it was nothing to do with me, just that idea of I knew Peter was the right guy. And Peter was so funny in that character. It was hilarious. So recently, fairly recently at the Paradise Theater, I was there because they had they had Karen. Oh, the Q&A? That was at the Q&A. So I was there because I hadn't, I, a little behind

the scenes action, I've wanted Ken Finkelman on Toronto Mike for years. And I couldn't seem to, I couldn't dig him up. Like I mean, he's a bit of a crusty pants. Yes, he is. And I, you know, funny, I just asked Peter about what's he been doing. And I guess he's still here in Toronto. And he was at this event. And that's why I went to the event because I had to see this man at the similar. There he is. Like he's still alive. He's on the stage talking. But he, Ken Finkelman told a story about how Peter got the gig. And the story was that Peter, after, I don't know, I guess after auditioning quite a bit,

called up Ken Finkelman and said, you're going to hire me. I'm the right, like he sort of did this call that Ken was talking about this call. He got from Peter. And that's why he got the gig. And then later, though, Peter said that never happened. Oh, really? Yeah.

Because, you know, that is a very Peter thing. He's confident with himself. Well, maybe he blocked it out because Ken told this story. Peter said that never happened. It's a he said he said and I don't know who's telling the truth. But what a small world that you said to you were auditioning for that role and you said, Peter's your guy. Peter got the gig and yeah, he,

he was great. He's great. It was just, you know, sometimes you read a character and the best you can do is impersonate the person who should be doing it. You know, when you're auditioning for something going, oh man,

this is like Peter or this is Sean Collin. You know, there's certain people you just picture doing. Yeah, me too. Like you can picture doing it. And if I'm auditioning, it's like, well,

if they're going to do this way, I'll try this. I'll do something opposite. But you know who I would. And we're going to get back to Traders in a minute here. We're doing newsroom talk here. But you would have been great, although he was great too, had him on a couple of times. But the Jeremy Hott's role could have been you.

Yeah, yeah, that's true. It could have been that. Yeah. Absolutely. And, you know, and Jeremy is just a different energy altogether, too, his speech, his pattern. You know, he's got such a funny presence that I think it's enjoyable to watch and have around that group, too. It all worked out. But back to Traders.

So on the live stream at live. tronomac.com, St. Catherine's Chris writes, great get. He was, and think that's because I was at a book, a book launch, and he was just there.

And I said, you're coming to myself, the topical basis. But at some point, Arlene was your agent, right? Yeah, yeah.

When I was in Second City, they opened a company in London, and that's where Linda Cash and I got together because she was in that company as well. And Linda had an agent, and I didn't. Like I said,

I was brand new. So she goes, you know, my agent's coming to the show tonight, you know, if you want to meet her. I went, oh, yeah, okay, that'd be nice. I don't know what agents do, I don't know.

And then I met her, and she goes, that's great. You want to be on my roster? And I said, sure, I don't know what a roster is. What was like, okay. And then it was like, suddenly, I get a phone call, get on a train from London and come on down to Toronto and audition for this commercial. I was like, oh, oh, this is going to be like this. So Arlene was fantastic.

I loved her. And she got me so many things. She got me the red green show. She got all that stuff going. And then she took a break for a while and she was leaving. And then so she recommended I go with this other agency who was her dear friend, Gail Abrams over at Oscar Abrams. And so I went over there, sight unseen.

And I brought the red green thing with me, so I guess it was good for them too. And then life took off from there because Gail is fantastic. She worked so hard to get me traders because no one would see me once I was doing red green. They would not see me for anything. Well, that's a perfect segue. And again, small world. Like just a small world because of the way I met Arlene through Larry.

And then, of course, people heard the great Scott Thompson episode of Toronto mic last year and that was like an Arlene to her client and friend Scott saying you're going to visit a South Atobicoe basement very nice. Yeah. And because Arlene is just one of those people. She's just so matter of fact and so right.

You know, it's just you love following her direction. I miss her desperately. She's a wonderful lady. Okay, so I haven't even finished this St. Catherine's Chris comment, but he says, he was fantastic as Marty on Traders. The intro music for that show haunts me to this day.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Yeah, it was haunting one, that's for sure. That was an interesting audition though because no one would see me. So when they called me in, they said, you know, there's one guy. I said, there's got to be one guy who makes people smile in this show. It can't be that heavy. And they said, well, there's this one character, but he's like 6-4-260, blah, blah, blah, blah. So, you know, you can come in for that guy.

So I get there. And sure enough, there's a room full of a guy. So they were, you know, 6-4-260 and me. And they were all wearing suits and they all look like Bay Street traders. So I thought, oh, man, I'm, I'm. dead. So it was also the last day, last audition, which means, you know, I'm not even sure if they're going to turn the machine on. So I went into the men's room, took off my blazer and all that, loosened my tie, threw coffee on my shirt, took the shirt out of the thing, out of my

pants and kind of messed myself up completely opposite than all the other guys. And I thought of Sinatra. And I went in there and I did the whole Sinatra thing. And then I said, thank you very much. Okay, great. I leave. And I went, okay, that's that. Then I get a call back to come back. And I went, wow, that's weird. And Hart Hanson, who created bones and the whole thing, He was the creator of the show at the time. I did about three auditions more. And he said, you know, you had it the first day. We're just checking other people with you.

And each one, I thought it was about me. So I was just paranoid and all that. And it's like, no, you had it the first day. From me saying, I'm the last guy on the last day. No one wants you there. It was amazing that that turned around to be the confidence of just saying, no, I really want this. I want this.

That was the only time that's ever really worked for me. And, you know, Harold Green is one thing. But Marty Stevens, like, you got to have some acting chops here. Like this is a quite a stretch for you and you, uh, as you said, you are, I can say this definitively, I've done my homework. You are the only Canadian actor who's won both drama and comedy in the same year at the Gemini Awards, which I guess now are Canadian Screen Awards, but the Gemini Wars, this is back in 98. Like you won for both characters. Yeah, it was an amazing night because, I mean, we just won for the comedy and I was, you know, beyond thrilled because to be able to be able to say

that I did that in my life was amazing. And then, And Bruce Gray, oddly enough, from Traders, was announcing the winner for best lead actor because he'd won the year before. And all of a sudden, you're, Patrick, McCona! I was like, what? I couldn't believe it.

I didn't have a speech prepared. Nothing was, like, I really, I mean, the stack against me was, I mean, Paul Gross was in the group. It was a really good group of people that I had no right to be there. Other than, there was a time of celebration in Canada with people. And I happened to be on that ride where, like, I was on the cover of TV guides. I was all this, because they were celebrating,

Look at this guy on two different shows. Look, look what's happening. So I had momentum kind of going. And so I put that into the equation as well that people in the jury went, I recognize that name. Sometimes that's all it takes. But I was thrilled. And that suddenly I get calls from the states, you know,

you want to come down, you want to audition, you want to do this, you want to do that. It was one of those nights you go, oh, things just changed dramatically. Okay, so on traders, there's a guy named David Hewlett. Yes. Jansky. Right. And then at some point you would,

you'd be on Stargate. What was it? SG1. SG1, yeah. Like, so you did, you got on into the, that also I think lets you go to like comic cons.

Yeah. And particularly that character. Again, they brought in this character that was so, he's obsessed with SG1 and he's like over the top obsessed. And we had to rescue them and everything. And I worked with a guy out of the States from Star Trek, John Billingsley.

We were like a comic duo. And we had such a blast. It was incredible. And about four months later, I got a phone call from them and going, would you like to come back? And it's like, yeah. So I get on set and I go, where's John? John's not coming.

It's just you. He's like, oh, okay, we really liked what you did. So let's do more. Oh, okay, great. Which suddenly, as you say, now you can go to Comic-Con. You got a couple episodes where people go, oh, Felger. Now, I know that story. Right, Dr. Jay, yeah.

Yeah. One is a little hard. Two is week. Three, you can kind of go, now I can go. But two is the character was so bizarre and funny that it was just, easy to go. I never did because I don't like those things myself, but it's that type of opportunity. Yeah, you're not that kind of guy, but you can get in there for the red green show. You can get in there multiple ways. I don't think Traders gets you into these comics. No, it doesn't. That one doesn't carry a kitchen. Get you into Bay Street restaurants pretty nice though. Right. But Traders, just for the youngsters, I remember Traders. In fact, when Ed Keenan from the Toronto Star came over and he told me he was recently getting into Traders. So he was talking about the reality show, Trators.

Yes. Okay. But I heard traders. And then I went into this thing about traders. And I think that's the first time I had really thought about traders in some time. But remind the listenership, this was a global show, right? It was global and it was all about the stock market. And like at that time, Brexit was a really big discussion.

Like the money was in the news all the time. Oh, was Brexit even this before? Because I had never heard the term Brexit when traders was on. It was, yeah, we did a bunch of episodes on it. Actually, it was so good because we had so many. I should have been paying attention. Well, no, actually, because we had so many Bay Street people, we were just a little bit ahead of the curve. So we were talking about Brexit before Brexit kind of hit the papers, but we were doing things like that where, you know, even my current broker thinks I know what he's talking about.

Because the character was like, it was all written down, you know, and basically it was one of those things I would say, is this a good thing or a bad thing? They say it's a good, all right, then I'll say it energetically. Right. You know, I had no idea. It was like a new language. No, it was a new language of what this was, you know. So, but once I got the hang of it, it was like, this is a blast. And I'm just telling everybody.

And the background performers were so fantastic. If my character yelled, they jumped and ran and did it. We were a tight group for like five years, you know, the great background gig. Okay. So if you could only be one of these characters, who do you choose being Harold Green on the Red Green show or being Marty Stevens on traitors? Marty Stevens. Okay. Yeah.

It's just closer to me. I think you're going to upset a lot of people with that answer. I know, I know, but it's just closer to me. You know, Harold is definitely a part of me, but he's the guy in grade six who's afraid of everybody whereas Marty's the guy that's grown up and a little more confident. Oh, he's got the swagger. Yeah, and I like to breathe into that a little bit better, more confidence than

the not. No, I can, I think I like your answer and why. You still pissed off a lot of people with that answer though, because you know, duct tape forever. And that's the thing. I can drop into that character in a heartbeat. It's so easy because like I said, it's a part of me. And I know how to play it and be it and respond in that character. Once you own that person, same as Marty. I could walk into a room

and someone says, be Marty, I could be Marty. I could be Harold because they're just so grounded. Such a breadth of acting ability to play both characters. I just think that's amazing. So fairly recently, Cynthia Dale came on, and I asked her about the street legal reboot. Did you know they brought back street legal? I figured they would eventually.

Well, they did, but she said it didn't last very long the second time, and she was very disappointed with, you know, how it was handled and promoted and marketed and everything. Like she had a bad bittersweet. It wasn't a good vibe she was getting from this reboot. Any thoughts on rebooting traders? Do you know anything about this? They've talked about it occasionally, you know,

because Sonia Smith is so popular. And there's still, everyone's still around, but unfortunately Bruce Gray has passed away. But the opportunity is still there. But I don't think that I'll ever build again. If it does, it'll be a different group,

a different way, because the subject is still hot. But it could be crypto, this. Yeah, it really could. And I would love to do it because it'd be great to see where are these characters 20 years later. Right. NFTs, you know, Marty's selling NFTs. Yes, exactly. It was wonderful. You know, they had a whole thing of I was selling books, my character, and I had a stalker and so on. It was like, it was great. My son got to play my son in the show. It was a good time. Oh, that is, that is cool. Your son, Gavin McKenna, Future Toronto, please. Yeah, that's what we'll tell people. Oh, they're going to just say it anyway. Okay. Here's a clip from a, so the, I'm going to play the clip, but we just to talk about this.

my Confederation ideas. We're already pursuing Rupert's land and odds in space. That's not enough. I want to pursue dominion over the British North American territories, including the colonies. Yes, well, the problem is the other colonies likely have their own ideas, called? What idea is greater than a single continental British North America? It's a grand idea. And I'm all for it.

I'll make an official policy and work to promote it. No, just promote it, pursue it. Of course, as it becomes possible. It is possible. You just have to ask. Okay, that's from Trudeau. No. No?

What is that from? That one is... That wasn't Trudeau. No, that was... Oh, my God. Okay. It was the other one. It was like that.

Oh, you know what? My, I... For some reason, I thought... What is that from? What the hell did I just play? That was from my... George Brown and McDonald's were arguing. Johnny McDonald.

Johnny McDonald. That's what it was. The Johnny McDonald. Yes. Quick aside. Then back to you, I'm sorry for pulling the wrong click. I screwed up the clip. I won't fix that in post.

Don't worry. But I was just in Montreal. on there was a park at I was at on my way to see I wasn't in the building I couldn't afford to take it but the Habs game four in the conference final there I was going to where outside the Bell Center this is just last week actually

but they had this place where Johnny McDonald's statue was but Johnny's not there like they removed the statue yeah yeah that was it was interesting you know during the making of the movie it's that's when you find out the history you didn't find out in school right because when you started doing a little more in depth reading about the characters and so on.

It's like, oh, that's not nice at all, is it? Oh, handing out the blankets to miserable blankets. Not good, not good. But I remember, like, they said, you know, you're playing John Galt. And I was like, oh, I know Galt, the area, you know, from Waterloo and so on. And so on, and said, okay. But when you started reading it, but I don't know what he sounds like or what he's, all I had was that he was Scottish.

Right. So it's like, all I could do is doing that, you know, going there and play it solid and strong. You convince me. And it was great. Well, I had some Scottish friends. And I would say, can you just read this? allowed. And so they read my little text that I had, you know, and be like, and so I'd hear where they rolled the R's a little bit or where they went up and down and kind of use it as music,

you know. I have the name of this movie, CBC movie. It's called John A, birth of a country. And it's fantastic. It's really, really good. And Trudeau with Colm Fior, is another great one. That was so well done. So there, I got my Canadian prime ministers crossed, basically, of course. But chronologically, you started correct. So, yeah, the Trudeau mini-series. And, yeah, so these are more opportunities for you to show, hey, I'm not, I can act. Yeah, and it was great because I got to work with Colin Fior, which is, you know, he's, you know, to me, the top. So we had a really good relationship and in our exchange of characters.

So my character was sort of his, you know, arguing post, you know, so I was in a lot of scenes with him where we got to play and work and just interact a lot. So it was a blast. It happened during 9-11. which was odd. I was in Ottawa at 9-11, and I was walking through a mall. And suddenly, you know, you're going through the wall. And all these screens are going, boom, they're closing up. And I go, oh, my God, what's happening today? And I walked through, you know, and everyone just closing up, I step out the other end of the mall. And there's police and dogs and posted. Like, 9-11 happened so quickly. And that, it happened from one end of the mall that I got in, by the time I got outside,

the whole town was shut down. It was amazing how well that place is covered. Wow. Wow. Within maybe, you know, 38 seconds of me crossing through. Boom, police everywhere, dogs. Well, I guess once the second plane hits, everybody kind of simultaneously connects the dots. Well, I was going over to one of those internet cafes to have my script printed. So I'm standing in the line and there was a TV and I'm just watching the TV and you see the second plane go in. And I thought, oh, it was a clip of the first plane. So I'm just watching, oh, yeah. And everybody's freaking out because I missed the story as I'm walking.

I didn't know the specifics. Right. Just watching this all unfold in lifetime was amazing. Like, what is going on? I just want my script printed. Yeah. So, I mean, that day, I'll never forget that day. I was working for a software company in Thornhill, so just north of here.

But I, you know, there's, there's only one, as far as I know, they've only got one piece of footage of that first plane hitting because there was a French crew that was here filming a document, not here, in New York City, not in Toronto. But this French, this is from France. A crew was filming a documentary in New York City, and they could hear the plane, because obviously it's so low, and they angle the camera. up and that's the only footage I know of that exists of the first plane

hitting the tower. Amazing. Yeah. And of course, they didn't have it that day. It was only uncovered. It was only shared after that. But so that's why, of course, and all cameras in the world are on Twin Towers to see the second plane hit. But what did you have, like I look back. I hadn't

yet had a child. There was a child baking in the oven at that time. Actually, it came out in January 2002. But I look back at that 9-11 and that day, And it's kind of surreal. And it's such a generation defining moment and everything thereafter was different. Very much. Like from my industry, it's been for some reason, actors, we can't pay you any more than scale.

And everybody in the beginning kind of, we get it. We're building the industry back up. You know, it went from, we're never going to work again to. We're going to build it back up. And it's never gone back. And it's the only line on all the cost sheet that hasn't changed. Whereas, you know, cameraman's making the same as he was before 9-11, but not actors. And it's one of those things that's never really changed since 9-11.

It's been bizarre. Well, they found an excuse to pay you less. Pay less, exactly. Well, that sucks. It really does suck. It's been amazing to watch that. And everyone you talk to kind of go, so you're getting scale or double or?

There's no double. Most you can do is overtime and, you know, get your own Winnebago. Hopefully it's got good craft service. Yeah, yeah. But, you know, that's the thing about Canada. You don't come here to be a millionaire or a star. You come here to work. You know, and if you really want to be an actor and just work,

Canada's great. If you have other goals, then you might want to go somewhere else. I wouldn't even say the States now, but, you know. But you're right. That was the model. I mean, that's like Ron James will tell you. He went to L.A. to be, to be the big, to make the big bucks and be a big star. He eventually came back and realized he could make a good living, you know, focusing on his,

his home and native land here. But you're right, that was the move to go to the States like what Mike Myers did. Everyone does it. I mean, you're supposed to. There's a ceiling here. That's one thing because I lived up in Vancouver for a while doing jobs. but you know you're always cop number one lawyer number two everything had a number after it was no leads so i was like well got to get back to toronto if i want to play leads right and even that had a ceiling of

okay you've been in a series you've done a movie where do you go from there what do you want to do well in the states it would carry on to something else you know or at least financially would set you off forever if you did those two shows i did but i'm not here it's just working money so but when i did win those awards i got invited down in the states so i went down and i did auditioned and oddly enough i got the first gig i got a show on my very first audition and my manager down there's kind of going, oh, we're not going to take it. It's the first swing at the bat.

You can get anything you want if you're going to be this good. I was like, oh, well, okay. Didn't get anything else after that. But I did have this job. So it was like, well, okay, we're going to be living in L.A. doing this job. Let's take a look around. So they told you the money we're going to have.

And I thought, well, that means we could live here. Right. My son will be going to that school and this, you know, setting up life. And you realize, well, my son's just going into high school, man. They got like a gun thing there and, you know, metal detectors. And it's L.A., right? And it's like after Rodney King and it's just alive. It's like, you know, if I want to work, I got two shows back in Canada versus this one that probably will be canceled in three years.

And then I'm right back to where I am like every other actor. Let's just go home. This isn't, LA's not for us. Well, money is not everything. No, it's not. It, you know, it just doesn't change that much. It's just, you know, we're all going to have a roof enclosing this and how much of that's up to you. But I'm fortunate enough that I haven't had that stress.

But that reality of not having the stress, if I have to stay, I have to make a point of this. It changed where I'd just happily go home and never thought of it again. Wow. Okay. Now, I know exactly where I want to go now, except first I just want to shout out a couple of partners of the program. So Ridley Funeral Home, they've got a great podcast called Life's Undertaking. We record every two weeks. Pause this episode of Toronto Mike and subscribe to Life's Undertaking from Ridley Funeral Home.

They have sent over a measuring, it's not duct tape, but it will be helpful to you. I almost called you Harold. That is a measuring tape from Ridley Funeral Home. More swag for you, Patrick. That's fantastic. You didn't know you were getting all this swag. No, a Funeral Home giving a tape measure. That's nice.

There's actually a funeral home up near us called Gitty Funeral Home. Oh, just it. And I thought that's a wonderful name for a funeral home. Gitty. Getting giddy. So shout out to Ridley Funeral Home and recycle my electronics.ca, because if you have old electronics, old devices, old cables, Don't throw that in the garbage, Patrick.

Go to Recycle My Electronics.C.A. Put in your postal code and find out where you can drop that off to be properly recycled. That's your marching orders. That's a great idea. Absolutely. Okay. This is where I want to, so we've obviously Patrick McKenna, a comedic actor can also do the dramatic roles. Where are your Gemini Awards?

They're in my office in a box somewhere. I don't have to go out. I don't like to hear that, Patrick. Get out of my basement. I know it's my wife. Be proud of them. Like put him on a mantle or something. Well, I did for a while.

Then it just felt weird because everyone would come, oh, there they are. It's like I had to talk about that. It's like I just, you know, it's been, I hear you.

You're such a humble man. You were embarrassed by the, the praise people would keep upon you and they saw your hardware there. I get it. So Canadian of me. Yeah, that is, that is actually.

I apologize for winning. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for winning both for red green show comedy and for drama on traitors. My bad. Yeah, my bad. Oh, so before I turn the channel to something I'm very interested in for personal reasons, did you ever have, and you're very Canadian and humble, so I'm going to guess the answer in my head, but I want to ask you,

like, so you're on stage at Second City, you're kind of tied to Mike Myers, and then Mike Myers ends up on Saturday Night Live, and then the rest is history. There's Wayne's World, and then eventually Austin Powers, and now he's too big to come on Toronto Mike. That's what happens there. Although his brother's been on.

Paul Myers. Paul? Yeah. Please, and that comes back to the kids in the hall because Paul wrote the definitive book on the kids in the hall. Was there ever a moment of jealousy or how, look at what Mike is now, superstar Mike Myers in L.A., having the number one movie at the box office.

Like, did you ever feel any envy? No, because Mike was like, 16 or 17 when he got hired. And I was 21, I think. So we both, we got in a truck and we drove to London because we're going to be in a London company. It was with their starting together. And they let Mike go. They, because he was underage.

Oh, he was too young to get into like a bar. Yeah, like really, there's going to be liquor served here and you're a little bit too young. So they let him go. And Mike was devastated. He was devastated because he was just the talk of the town of this kid, this kid, this kid. Martin Short recommended him specifically. so he got he moved to england and it was in england that he came up with austin powers and all these things and and then he came back well like mike uh it would be uh wayne campbell first right yeah well because he had

that growing up mean way way i had harold character right in your back pocket from growing up he would do it with christopher ward yes on the city limits yeah yeah even like that was a part of his audition and everything mike was doing that character so when he was let go i didn't see mike in five years or no there was no jealousy whatsoever because he was just a year you young kid who went off and had an other career over there, you know, it was, that kind of stuff happens. It happens all the time, like Colin Mockrey and I are great friends. And Colin and I were the main stage together.

And Colin was a guy, just, he didn't talk. You know, he'd had to get up and do it. He wouldn't talk about it. So when you're writing shows, Colin's so quiet. You know, I noticed, because I had Deborah McGrath and Colin on together, but they were at their home and it was a remote for Toronto Mike. And they run. And I definitely noticed that you almost like that red light has to come on and Colin

comes alive. But I guess it was no red light for Toronto Mike because he was really low key. He's very low key. He's a very internal guy. It's really when the light comes on. Absolutely. And the same with like, then I got a job out doing Second City for the Expo 86 out in Vancouver.

And Ryan Stiles was in the company. And Ryan and Collin are best friends from Vancouver. So it was like a really easy thing to go, Hey, Colin. Oh, hey, come on. So Ryan was doing standup most of the times. And I was doing Second City. He was so new to Second City that he was kind of like,

I don't know what's going on. And I didn't know stand-up. And he said, you know, come to this club punchlines. This is where I do my stand-up. So I went there and did that. And then the owner was a great guy. And he said, you want to try some? You know, blah, blah, blah.

And I said, well, we'll see. Because when Expo ended, it was like six months gig. You know, Ryan was there and he was great at Second City. And so I started doing stand-up. I thought, well, I'm out of work. I'll do stand-up. I did stand-up, like, for five years down in the States and across Canada, touring, you know, just by myself.

And then I think Ron mentions this, too. It's the loneliest job in the world because you're by yourself all the time. You entertain, you know, four to 500 people in a bar or something that night. Then you go back to the hotel and you're by yourself. You know, helping strippers load their carpet under the bus in the 6 o'clock in the morning to get out of town, you know, for the next gig somewhere. It's just as a married man with a father, it was in a father. It wasn't a great world for me.

So when it came back to Toronto, happened to me that Andrew Alexander from Second City saw my standup and said, you know, you everything come back to Second City. And that's how I got the main stage. Okay. That fills in some cracks. It's weird that, you know, sometimes you have to leave Second City to get your success. you know, and as did Mike, as did myself, you know, and same with Ryan Stiles.

And, you know, he went off and did the television show and boom, way he goes. True Carrie show. Yeah, exactly. You know, so everybody's got their kind of the path they like to take, you know, and what fits for them. And Linda Cash got to be the angel in the clouds for Philadelphia Cream Chief. Yes, absolutely.

And Linda, like she was in that original London company, too. So we were always doing scenes together. First time I ever did TV, we did her and I were a comedy team for variety tonight on Global. And we just did a bunch of scenes together. And people were just like, you guys are great. And we've been friends forever. I was looking at footage of you two in bed together naked and you do the nude dance.

What was that from? That was from a second city scene. But that was actually on Variety Tonight. That was the scene we took there. You have a couple that have a one-night stand. Right. And you do some goofy nude dancing. Yes.

That appeals to people. Yes. It was fun back then when I was young enough to take my shirt off and pride. I'm going to play actually. You'll tell me, I believe I know what this is from, but just one last clip before I talk about something else. Occupy the streets. Occupy the streets. What are they so mad at?

Banks. Good. Is it because they're open too late? Who knows? They complain, but they don't have a clear message. That's our job. No. They must be upset about something.

Blame the one percent. Blame the one percent. What? They're mad at skim milk? I think it's 1% of the population that controls 99% of the wealth. What? Are you drunk? Rick Mercer.

Yeah, okay, I remember the ads that they're parodying. Yeah, the TD Canada Trust or whatever they were. But, okay, that was from Rick Mercer. Yeah, that was another one that they, for some reason, they foamed me to do a sketch. And it was like, okay, great. And you do one and everybody has such a good time that you're back doing two, three, four. It was really a gracious place. Rick is one of those guys when he has fun.

He keeps having fun. Okay. And you got Bob Ray to get naked and swim with him. Yeah, exactly. That's how persuasive he is. Oh, yeah. I love that guy. All right.

Now, this is going to be a different conversation here on our way out here. You've been amazing, by the way. Thank you for doing this before you disappear into Santa land or whatnot. But the PBS documentary, ADD, and loving it. But I don't know how to say loving it because it's a question mark and an exclamation mark. So, yeah. ADD and loving it? Right, that's how you say it.

ADD and loving it? Yeah. Okay, so you have ADHD. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And I've always had it, but it didn't really have a name. And then Rick Green from the Red Green show, he did all the black and white video and some those things,

adventures with Bill. He has it as well. And he was doing a documentary, putting it all together and trying to get some education out about it. And he said, you know, he looks like you have it. And I said, well, I think I do, but he goes, would you be interested in hosting? So I said, okay, but as part of it,

I took the test. And, you know, I was the poster boy all of a sudden. So it was like, okay, I'm, I got ADHD. And it was one of those where I couldn't turn back. After they told me that I had it, it just changed my life. It wasn't like, hey, I'm not slow or procrastinating or stupid or this. It's like, I have all this chemical stuff working against me. So we started doing, I got really excited and started doing some shows with Rick.

We did them out at the science center and it was like 900 people showed up in the afternoon. You know, and suddenly it's supposed to start at three. and I'm going, man, it's like 20 after three, why aren't we going? It goes, it's ADD people. They don't show up on time. And it was sure enough, it was like, more shows we did that would be like, we're going to start about 25 minutes after we're supposed to watch. Everyone was like that.

But once I was started doing the touring, I could see in the audience, I could see lights turning on and people's eyes going, that's me, that's me, that's me. And I'm telling them, minute it's labeled, you can relieve yourself of all that guilt that you've been carrying around going, why am I so different than everybody? And just knowing that suddenly gave me this, boundaries to work within and beyond. You know, so, like, I, I take medication because I need it, but I don't recommend it for everybody.

You know, everyone has their own journey because it's a spectrum kind of thing. Right. But my son has it, you know, my wife has it. So it's one of those where you kind of go, okay, this explains a lot. I don't have to be angry at people for doing things or at myself. There's, there's a reason in this current environment the way it's set up. It's not set up necessarily for ADD people. You know, it's a lot of lineups, a lot of waiting.

We're not good at that. Okay. So you were well. to your 40s when you got this diagnosis. Yeah, yeah. But did you always suspect? Like, I know we didn't have this language because I'm a little younger than you, but this language didn't seem to emerge.

I didn't, I didn't know this language as a, as a young man. And then we started to talk about it in, what is ADHD, etc. And when I was young, until 1972,

it was known as mildly retarded, was the official thing. So, and having ADHD, I remember my parents said, well, maybe you have to go to a special school because I was just so different. and I was jumping and leaping and this and that and all those things.

But they said, you know, he's not mildly retarded enough to go to a special school. He'll have to go to the regular school. Too mild. Too mild. Because it was ADHD. It's not necessarily that far on the spectrum that you have to be, you know, chaperoned all the time. But it did make it very difficult to be in a regular system trying to sit still, sit in a row,

hand this in on time, do all these things that are really beyond an ADHD mindset. You know, so school wasn't my thing, but I became the class clown out of that. you know, so there's a, there's a reaction to the action all the time. And I think most people that you see that are comedians will probably have ADHD. Prisons are full of them, you know, because I want that now. You know, there's no weighting, impulsivity. And improv is great for impulsivity. I didn't know I had it, but I think that's what may be such a good improviser as well is impulsivity.

I react, I react, I react, I react. So what kind of a test is it for somebody in their 40s? It's the very same test of, you know, what, what, how do you read, how do you respond, you know, do you do this, do that? a lot of series of questions. And if you get over a number of like out of nine, if you pass six, you're pretty much on the spectrum and so on and so on as it built.

And I think the test keeps changing to be more specific. You know, it used to be kind of brush strokes and you fell into it a little bit. But now everyone's going, well, isn't everybody 8 HD? It's like, no, everybody's stressed.

But not everybody is constantly 24 hours a day, completely freaking out inside overwhelmed. So what has changed for you when you started being medicated for ADHD. Anxiety, for one thing. Everything now is not so anxious and determined my driving is completely changed. I'm not road rage anymore. I leave on time instead of five minutes late where I'm blaming everybody else in the road

for making me late. It's like, no, I left late and now I'm blaming them. That's a lot of road rage for ADHD. It's like, just leave on time, you know, and that'll be okay. That's why you said you're on time today. Like I'm doing more of those things now or therefore I'll have to leave it this time, therefore, therefore. So I've got way more control over my life because I don't blame things or I don't put it off going,

no, that's ADD telling me I can relax. Get up out of the couch and let's get moving. And I can catch the triggers now. Okay. So what is the difference though? Because we use these two alphabet soups here. And I'm the president of the Alphabet Soup fan club, FOTMs, TMLX, you know, TMDS. So ADD versus ADHD, is that the same thing?

It is the same thing. Okay. Yeah. It's sort of advanced once they, found out that they're afraid to put in hyperactivity because not everybody's hyper. Like women, they experience it completely different. They'll curl their hair and stare out a window when they're young,

whereas guys bounce around. But the hyperactivity is that you're not able to govern your emotions. So, tell me if I'm off, so I won't, you know, docs anybody on it, but somebody very,

very close to me was diagnosed as ADHD. And my curiosity, and then they had a frank, and I won't reel too much here, but they had a very frank conversation. with me about me, okay? So, but where I, so there's an anxiety component and there's a hyper active component and it's a vast spectrum and everybody's different. But is it, so is it, it is possible to be fully loaded on like the hyperactive side and not so much on the anxiety

side and vice versa. Is this? Absolutely. Yeah, because it's, it's made up so many different things because the comorbidities, they call them like, you'll also have a different experience growing up in your house than I did with mine. So how does your ADHD react to that? Does it hide from anger? Does it run towards anger? Does it hide from this or move into that? Those, that's why it gets so different in everybody, because you've learned to live with it and to it put it into yourself. Coping mechanism. Coping, yeah. So that that's why it's not, it's hard to say, you got that because there's so many comorbidities that go with it. It's not a one size fits all here. No, but it generally there is some things. And I could see you being on. Okay. So I'm trying to out somebody else, but like, uh, I've been told

for a very long time by people close to me that I'm like textbook 8 HD and I've never been tested and I resist this for a couple of reasons. One of which is when I would read about it, like I would Google it and I would read about it. First, I'll just tell you I'm never late. I have a lot going on in my Google calendar and I nailed them all. Like even though Great Lakes went a little over time, we were still ready to go. But that was beyond my control. Like I have lots and lots going on and I'm never late. And I'm also able to focus on many things at once and complete them, exceed expectations. So I always felt like it wasn't fair to people who are afflicted with ADHD for me to even consider myself in that club. Well, it's interesting because

you're also in a world that allows you to do what you're loving. So that makes it much easier. But only since 2018. But if you took your same symptoms and you worked at Belcana in a cubicle, it might be much more difficult. Except. I worked in a cubicle from 1998 until, well, until 2011, and then I worked from home for a German software company full time until 2018. So this whole world you're seeing in now, which I call the TMDS universe, has only existed for the past, when was 2018? Eight years.

Yeah. I don't know. I know. I know. Well, you're not my doctor. No, I wouldn't. I don't want to be on the air either. But I mean, it doesn't much matter because if you're finding what you love and you found ways to

cope, that's great. Well, that's the other thing. So just the, because I said, you don't. You don't, it doesn't have to be a negative. Right. And it doesn't have to be trained. It doesn't have to be controlled. That's how we're going to,

that's, so that's exactly where I wanted to go to closest is that if, let's say I did do the testing and found out, because somebody who has, who explained it to me, this person close to me said, oh, you're me times 100 on all these different things. And then this person was diagnosed and then said like, you're those things times 100. So of course, you know, whatever. But then my thought initially was,

because you are on the medication for anxiety, and I don't actually feel I have any anxiety. I don't think I have anything in that column. So I would say, why would I ever want to treat this? Because whatever this is is my superpower, and I dig it. So then what is the point of wasting anyone's time getting the diagnosis if I don't want to treat it?

Yeah. Except the only thing I think that you nailed, and this is where we're going to close with you, is that it would explain 100 things that you never understood. And that truly was the light bulb moment for me because I'm not going to take any grief for who I am, because I'm happy with where I am in life and who I'm with and my life's working out. So I'm okay. A lot of times divorce is big on people's lives and things like that. They've got to figure that stuff out that they're harder to live with and so on. But because everyone experiences it different. And if it's not an issue, don't make it one. Because it's really who you are. You know, it's the way you see life. It's the way you approach life. And it's always that hunter-gatherer things that we were the, you know, the hunters and the other guys would go gather it. there's an elk over there and there's a deer there, shoot it quick. You know, I see all this stuff. You don't see it.

In ADD and loving it, I'm trying to say it properly. ADN loving it? There, I think I nailed it there. Yeah. I would get a gig on traders with that delivery there. Okay. You explained like that the, some of the, you know, positives and the negatives of ADHD without making, I don't want you to repeat the documentary here, but since you've been

so open about this, like in a nutshell, could you explain maybe, just a couple of like the positive aspects of your affliction with ADHD and then maybe just a couple of the negatives that you've been addressing? Well, they kind of coexist because for me, the positives are my impulsivity, my ability to speak up, my ability to believe in the moment, the ability to believe in my ideas, the ability to share those ideas, to be creative, to trust my creativity, to think outside the box, to find different. solutions to situations that other people are narrowing in. Those are all, I find positives for me. The negatives are that sometimes you don't know when to be quiet and that's hard for conversations

to let things go. It can be, procrastination can be an issue for some people that that's, you're always late. That can be a bad thing very much so. Speaking your mind all the time without sometimes thinking of other people's feelings. The lack of filter. Yeah, the filter is the big one sometimes for people too, you know, like the time and place, the vocabulary you choose, you know, let your excitement overwhelm the idea and then you're suddenly swearing it in the middle of mass, you know, that kind of thing. So there's a lot of negatives with the impulsivity section, too, driving fast, responding incorrectly to a, you know, a cop, you know. The impulsivity, which would explain why you said in prison there are so many men afflicted.

Yes, and that idea of I want something now, and especially people who are untreated and grew up in a system that was always frustrating to them. They grow up frustrated. You know, and I see a lot of that of people, when you tell them that and they let it go, that's where the shame and the guilt comes in. They're looking, I was such an a-hole all my life, and I didn't have to be.

You know, if I knew this, I would have been able to do that. I would have went to this school. I would have married that girl. I would have done this. That kind of stuff is what lives with people. You know what you're doing right now is you're convincing me I should probably explore this and see if it explains some of the unexplainables in my life.

but Patrick McKenna, you were fantastic in your Toronto mic debut. Thank you so very much. I hope there's a second round. Should I have recorded this? Just kidding. Okay, I did record it. Hold on now I made myself nervous here. I got to check it out.

Okay. Do I have squiggly lines? Yes, I do. I actually did record this. In fact, I have a backup recording. That's how professional I am. Two recordings of this just in case. So thanks for doing this.

Good luck with this Santa Claus thing. I love, I can't wait to see this thing. you did with Ron James? Dog days. Come on out. Love that guy. Could I tell you, I hope he's listening. Is there any chance he got to the hour 17 mark of this episode? He's just coming, he's landing in from Ireland right now. I'm going to see him this afternoon, but he's...

Okay, tell him, and I did text him our photo. Oh, okay. From the GLB brew pub. I just said surprise, and he was very happy to see us together. But just tell Ron James, forget fan of his creativity and his great work. I like this guy. I like how he thinks. I like chatting with him, even when it's not recorded. I just like this guy. Yeah, he's a great guy.

You're a great guy too. Thank you. So thanks for doing this. And I guess we're connected by Arlene, so we'll dedicate this episode to Arlene. Indeed. Lover. And that brings us to the end of our 1,000-911th show, 1911. Go to TorontoMike.com for all your Toronto Mike needs.

Put in your calendar right now that TMLX-22. A free event, an unticketed event, is taking place at Great Lakes Brewery at 30, Queen Elizabeth Boulevard, on June 25th, 2026, at 6 p.m. It runs till 9 p.m. and Palma Pasta will feed you, so come hungry, and your first beer is on the house. Much love to all who made this possible. That does include Great Lakes Brewery,

Palma Pasta, Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball, fill the hill on Sunday, Nikainis, Recycle MyElectronics.C.A., and Ridley Funeral Home. See you all going to my calendar again, second time today.

You would have thought I checked this out earlier. Okay, the next guest on Toronto Mic. Okay, so on Monday, a musician named Jennifer Foster, drops by. And on Tuesday, David Ryder, who writes for the Toronto Star. And this is exciting. Wednesday, I'm recording live from the Joe Carter Classic at Glen Abbey Golf Course.

And I'm going to have as many celebrities as I can on the show. So you never know who will be on that episode. See you all. Then.