Actor, writer, and host extraordinaire Alan Thicke at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival

Starting out his show business career in Ontario in the early 70s, Alan Thicke has gone from behind-the-scenes writer for top comics and performers, to writing some of the most iconic TV theme songs of all time, to appearing in one of the top-rated shows of the 80s (Growing Pains). In recent years, besides his many on-camera appearances (jPod, How I Met Your Mother, The Goods, and an upcoming Showtime series), he's also written two books about his own experiences with family and raised a superstar son (R&B star Robin Thicke). In advance of his appearance at this year's Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Paul Little spoke with the iconic performer about his early years in the business, what it was like being on one of the top shows on TV for so long, and the many projects he has on the go right now.