Moosebridge and Murdoch

Those of us living in Canada are familiar with the CBC's long-time (over 40 years!) institution, journalist and news anchor, Peter Mansbridge who has just been inducted into the Canadian News Hall of Fame. Like many other Canadian "fixtures" Mansbridge has had his share of being the target of jokes and pokes, all good-natured of course.

This time, Mansbridge has agreed to have a laugh at his own expense when he voices a character in the upcoming movie, Zootopia.

Yup! He's going to voice the character of Peter Moosebridge, created intentionally with Canada in mind. How kind is that!

It's only a cameo role, so don't blink when you're at the theatre. Apparently P.M.'s grandkids are pretty excited by his upcoming role. Opens in March 2016.

Here's the trailer (P.M. not included) for Zootopia, so you can get a feel for it:

Oh, and by the way? For all the Murdoch Mysteries* fans out there, Mansbridge also has a small part coming up on that series' very first Holiday Special, A Very Murdoch Christmas. Also appearing on the same show will be veteran actor Ed Asner, British actor, Brendan Coyle (valet John Bates on Downton Abbey) and Kelly Rowan (the O.C.) along with the regulars, Yannick Bisson, Hélène Joy, Jonny Harris and Thomas Craig. It will be a 2-hour special airing Dec. 21 and will also feature a very special connection to the Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) in Toronto which is celebrating 140 years of excellence.

It's little things like this that make me a very happy Canadian.

*Murdoch Mysteries: extremely popular Canadian detective series, now in its 9th season. Set in Victorian Toronto, the series has excellent writing and is all the more interesting thanks to the use of period persons of note, such as Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier, US President William McKinley,who was assassinated in nearby Buffalo, New York, Mark Twain, Arthur Conan Doyle and others, often played by prominent contemporary actors.

The series also brings early 1900's current affairs, issues, inventions etc. into the plots, so there are many layers to the series, making it all the more amusant. The hairstyles and costumes are also noteworthy. The dialogue is often tongue-in-cheek.

When I went looking at the Murdoch Mysteries website to check facts, I also discovered tons of extra behind-the-scenes clips and also an interactive episode called The Infernal Device
which is still available online.