Monday Morning Critic

Actress Tantoo Cardinal, a Member of the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honors. The Order of Canada recognizes Cardinal for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing arts in Canada.Arguably the most widely recognized Native Actress of her generation; Tantoo has appeared in numerous plays, television programs, and films, including Legends of the Fall, Dances With Wolves, Black Robe, Loyalties, Luna, Spirit of the Whale, Unnatural & Accidental, Marie-Anne, Sioux City, Silent Tongue, Mother's & Daughter's and Smoke Signals. Recent work includes the films Eden, Maina, Shouting Secrets and From Above.Her stirring performance in Loyalties earned her a Genie nomination, American Indian Film Festival Best Actress Award, the People's choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, plus Best Actress Awards at International Film Festivals in Zimbabwe and Portugal.Cardinal was just honored with the 2015 ACTRA Award of Excellence, other honors include Best Actress - Elizabeth Sterling Award in Theatre for All My Relations, First Americans in the Arts Totem Award for her portrayal of the character Katrina in Widows at the Forum Stage in Los Angeles. She won the American Indian Film Festival's Best Actress Award as well as the first Rudy Martin Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Native American in Film for Where the Rivers Flow North, a Gemini Award for North of 60 and a Leo Award for Blackstone.Her television credits include recurring roles on the series: Blackstone, The Killing, Arctic Air, Strange Empire,The Guard, North of 60, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, The Lightening Field, Street Legal, The Campbell's, Gunsmoke, Tom Stone, Myth Quest, Lonesome Dove and Renegade Press.com. MOW's include Full Flood, The Englishman's Boy, Dreamkeeper and the PBS documentary Nobody's Girls.For her contributions to the Native Artistic community, Cardinal won the Eagle Spirit Award. She has also been honored with the MacLeans' magazine Honor Roll as Actress of the Year, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Toronto Women in Film and Television, an International Women in Film Award for her lasting contribution to the arts, and induction to the CBC/Playback Hall of Fame.   Meet: Tantoo Cardinal.

Passionate, authentic and original.   Monday Morning Critic!

A look back at every guest on the Monday Morning Critic, special moments and the future. My year behind the microphone.   Thank you.

Born in the 12th ward of New Orleans, Lance is most widely known for his role as the preacher in the 2008 Academy Award nominated film, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, alongside Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Following the success of this role, Nichols landed a part in the Warner Bros. summer blockbuster THE CAMPAIGN (2012), starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis. Throughout his 30+ years of acting, spanning from the early 80s to present day, Nichols has made over 75 appearances on multiple award winning and critically acclaimed television series including: CHEERS, MURDER SHE WROTE, MATLOCK, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.    Lance is also a passionate New Orleans Saints fan and acting teacher/coach.   Meet: Lance E. Nichols.

Doug and I break down our Top 5 Romantic Movies of all time!

Peter Vecsey has been one of the most prominent basketball columnists in the world for more than 40 years. He has covered the NBA and ABA for decades and been an expert analyst on both network and cable television in the United States. He is best known for his exclusives and biting commentary in his “Hoop du Jour” column that ran for years in the New York Post.Vecsey’s inside information and access to the league’s top players, coaches and executives helped earn him recognition as one of the “Most Powerful People in Sports” by The Sporting News. He was honored with the Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2009 by the Basketball Hall of Fame.In addition to the Post, Vecsey has also worked at USA Today, the New York Daily News, NBC, TNT/TBS, NBA-TV and the USA Network. Active on Twitter since leaving the Post in 2012, Vecsey is now back in the game and covering the NBA.   Meet: Peter Vecsey

Antowain Drurell Smith (born March 14, 1972) is a former American Football Running Back in the National Football League who played nine NFL seasons, most notably with the New England. At 6'2", 232 pounds, Smith's powerful running style made him an effective runner between the tackles. He is a two time Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots and was a huge factor in developing the dynasty the Patriots are today.   Meet: Antowain Smith

As a senior at Arizona State University he was a Heisman Trophy and Doak Walker Award candidate, and was one of the premier kick returners in the country. He ranks third in ASU history with 3,299 career rushing yards. His total career yardage ranks 26th in Pac-10 history. Redmond is best known for his role on the 2001 New England Patriots. Redmond caught three passes in the Patriots' game-winning overtime drive during the famous "Snow Bowl" playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. Most famously, in SuperBowl XXXVI, with the Patriots on their own 30-yard line with 41 seconds left, Redmond caught a 3-yard dump-down pass from quarterback Tom Brady, dodged a tackler to pass the first down marker and then dragged a second tackler to the sideline, extending the ball out of bounds to stop the clock. The stopped clock allowed the Patriots to keep the drive alive and led, plays later, to a Patriots victory on an Adam Vinatieri field goal. Charlie Weiss, the Patriots offensive coordinator at the time, has said that he would have recommended playing for overtime had Redmond not gotten the first down or failed to get out of bounds and stopped the clock.   Meet: JR Redman.

Actor/Writer Doug Hutchison break down the top movies of the year!    

Ron Thomas is internationally known for his portrayal of Bobby Brown, the Cobra Kai bad guy who hurt Daniel-San’s leg in the original and iconic film, The Karate Kid. He’s achieved numerous successes in a town where most fail and, having done so, has had the privilege of working with some of the best and biggest names in Hollywood. Ironically, Ron is a real-life martial artist and true “Sensei.” He’s a high-ranking black belt, 2-time world champion, and former member and trainer of the United States Sport Ju-Jitsu Team. Sensei Ron founded the World Class Training Center in Los Angeles where he personally mentored and trained several national and world champions, priming not only their physical game but their mental game as well.   Meet: Ron Thomas.

Lois Lowry (born Lois Ann Hammersberg; March 20, 1937) is an American writer credited with more than forty children's books. She has won two Newbery Medals, for Number the Stars in 1990 and The Giver in 1994. As an author, Lowry is known for writing about difficult subject matters within her works for children. She has explored such complex issues as racism, terminal illness, murder, and the Holocaust among other challenging topics.  A film adaptation of The Giver was released in 2014.

Interview with Andy Weir,  Andy is the author of the Golden Globe winning, and Academy Award nominated blockbuster "The Martian" starring Matt Damon. Andy has also won many literary awards.    Andy and I talk about the writing process, NASA, Science Fiction, and everything under the Sun (and around it) and we even mange to sprinkle in some Star Wars, Star Trek and Interstellar!   Meet the very funny and bright: Andy Weir.

Xander Berkeley is a fantastic actor who has had significant parts in some of the best movies in history, a few of which were Academy Award winning movies. Some of Xander's filmography includes: Terminator 2, A Few Good Men, Heat, Apollo 13, Leaving Las Vegas, Air Force One, Gattaca, Amistad, Taken, Kick-Ass, Faster and currently Proud Mary.   Xander is involved in many projects, most notably as Gregory, Mayor of the Hilltop on The Walking Dead (and he's phenomenal).   Meet the very funny and talented: Xander Berkeley. 

Monday Morning Critic welcomes actor Faran Tahir!  The very talented Faran Tahir talks about his Pakistani roots, being an actor who is Muslim,  his unique journey into acting and his amazing life. We talk movies, TV, Bollywood, theater, Iron Man, Star Trek, Elysium and so much more.    Meet the very humble: Faran Tahir

Back by popular demand, actor Jayson Warner Smith, graciously joining us for a second appearance. Jayson has acted in many roles, and currently portrays Savior,  "Gavin" on The Walking Dead.  Jayson and I spend some serious time breaking down and going into depth into The Walking Dead, Negan, Rick, Scott Gimple, the Saviors everything that's "The Walking Dead"-under the sun!    We also talk about how his portrayal as Bill Cooper in "American Made", the 2017, hit movie with Jayson acting along Tom Cruise and Domhnall Gleeson recently of The Last Jedi.   Say Hello to Jayson Warner Smith, again!