Q: Six years ago, Joe Canadian helped make drinking Molson Canadian synonymous with national pride. Are you a Canadian drinker?
A: Actually, I prefer a cold Corona or Coors Light in the summer time, and there are times when I really enjoy a good pint of Guinness, so those would be my first choices. But if it came down to choosing between Molson Canadian and an American beer, it’d be the Molson hands-down every time. I’ve probably drunk a boat load of it, really.
Q: There was recently a case in the US where a bud employee was seen drinking a coors light and was fired. Was that a concern for you?
A: Really? That’s crazy. Any of the events I attended as Joe Canadian were Molson events, like the Molson Indy, so the only beer you could buy were Molson products. Of course, if there was a photo op and I had a Corona in my hand, there was always some PR person there ready to surreptitiously switch the Corona for a Canadian.
Q: Cans, bottles or draft in plastic cups?
A: Oh, cans. I like my beer as cold as possible, and nothing gets colder than a can. As for draft in plastic cups…I think that beer’s unpasteurized, it makes me sick. Although, as much as it hurts, sometimes there’s no replacement for a pint of draft in a glass. A nice glass of Guinness, some Newcastle Brown…when I lived in Halifax I used to go to Maxwell’s Plum a lot. That and the “draft wars.” The different bars would offer 80 cent pints of what they called “double draft.” That was heaven for a university student. Well, heaven and hell.
Q: Do people still know you as “Joe”?
A: No, not really. Did people ever recognize me as Joe Canadian? I’m not sure, I can’t ever recall that happening. Here in Canada, there’s a vague recognition, but it’s more like they’re looking at you and thinking, “Where do I know that guy from?” Unless you’re Don Cherry or Evan Solomon or Ben…what’s his name? Ben Mulroney. See what I mean? That commercial meant different things to different people. But as an actor in Canada it’s all about starting over, starting fresh. And that’s good. I mean, just ask Mel Gibson what he thinks about being able to start over, eh?
Q: You’re working with History TV now, hosting two shows. Tell me about that.
A: It’s a big departure from what I did before—dramatic stuff—but I’m really enjoying it. Things that Move is just going into its second season, and the new show, Ancestors in the Attic, airs in October. With TTM, it’s been so interesting to see that no matter how odd the vehicle is, there’s someone who loves it. Even moving sidewalks. Someone’s crazy about them. It blows my mind.
This article appears in Aug 10-16, 2006.