Rick Mercer

Early Career and Breakthrough

Rick Mercer first captured national attention in 1990 with his one-man stage show Show Me the Button: I'll Push It, a satirical commentary on Canadian life after the failure of the Meech Lake Accord. Performed at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the show's success led to a national tour and established Mercer as a rising comedic voice. He followed this in 1992 with a second touring stage show, I've Killed Before, I'll Kill Again, which also originated at the National Arts Centre. That same year, he collaborated with comedians Cathy Jones, Mary Walsh, and Greg Thomey to develop a new series for CBC Television, which became the landmark news satire program This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Mercer's tenure on the show, which lasted eight seasons, introduced several signature elements that would define his career and resonate with a national audience.

His most famous contribution was the 'Talking to Americans' segment, where he travelled to the United States to interview citizens and politicians, exploiting their comedic ignorance about Canada. In a notorious 2000 stunt, he got then-presidential candidate George W. Bush to comment on the policies of a fictitious Canadian prime minister named 'Jean Poutine'. In the same election cycle, he asked Democratic candidate Al Gore to promise to visit the 'Canadian capital city' of Toronto. The segment's popularity culminated in a 2001 CBC television special that drew 2.7 million viewers, making it the highest-rated special in Canadian history at the time. The American news program Nightline later devoted an episode to analyzing the phenomenon. Mercer also pioneered the rapid-fire, direct-to-camera 'rant', a style borrowed from Denis Leary's MTV commercials, which became a staple of Canadian political comedy. His 1998 book Streeters compiled these rants and became a national bestseller.

Television Success: Made in Canada and Rick Mercer Report

While still on 22 Minutes, Mercer co-created the satirical series Made in Canada, which aired on CBC from 1998 to 2003. The show was a meta-comedy that skewered the Canadian television production industry, often parodying real programs and the politics of funding and awards. It won several Gemini Awards, which were themselves satirized within the show's episodes, and was syndicated internationally as The Industry. After Made in Canada concluded, Mercer launched Rick Mercer's Monday Report on CBC in January 2004. The show blended political satire, field segments, and interviews, similar in format to The Daily Show but with a distinctly Canadian focus on travel and grassroots stories. Its debut followed a 2003 trip Mercer took to Afghanistan to visit Canadian troops, which resulted in the television special Christmas in Kabul.

The show was renamed The Rick Mercer Report in 2005 after a timeslot change to Tuesday nights, a move Mercer wryly noted on his blog after ending a season as the network's highest-rated comedy. It quickly became a ratings success, often ranking as the CBC's highest-rated comedy or arts and entertainment program. A key feature was Mercer's cross-country adventures, where he would try everything from working in a maple syrup bush to training with the Canadian Armed Forces. The show also featured interviews with a wide array of prominent Canadians, including every living prime minister, opposition leaders like Jack Layton and Stephen Harper, and cultural figures from Geddy Lee and Neil Peart of Rush to author Pierre Berton. Memorable segments included a 2004 tsunami relief concert in Calgary where the musical guests Barenaked Ladies appeared backstage with Mercer completely naked. After 15 seasons, Mercer announced the show would end in 2017, with the final episode airing on April 10, 2018.

Literary Work and Memoirs

Rick Mercer has authored several bestselling books, primarily collections drawn from his television work. His first book, Streeters, published in 1998, compiled many of his famous rants from This Hour Has 22 Minutes. He followed this with Rick Mercer Report: The Book in 2007, which contained rants from the first four seasons of his show along with interview moments and other writings. This book entered the Globe and Mail bestseller list at number three and reached number one before Christmas that year, requiring eight reprints. An expanded paperback version was released in 2008 and also immediately entered the national bestseller top ten.

In 2012, he published A Nation Worth Ranting About, and in 2018, Rick Mercer Final Report marked the end of his flagship series. He then turned to memoir, publishing the two-part Talking to Canadians in November 2021. The book chronicles his early life and career up to the launch of The Rick Mercer Report. It won the 2022 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The sequel, The Road Years: A Memoir Continued, was published in October 2023 and details the experiences and adventures from the height of his television career, completing his personal account of his life in comedy.

Awards and Honours

Rick Mercer's contributions to Canadian culture have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. He has won more than 25 Gemini Awards for his television work. In 1993, Newfoundland premier Clyde Wells honoured him with the Newfoundland Arts Council's Artist of the Year award. A decade later, he received the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award at the Banff Television Festival. The following year, he was honoured with the National Arts Centre Award, a companion award of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards, and donated the accompanying $15,000 prize to the LSPU Hall in St. John's, where he performed his early work.

On June 30, 2014, Governor General David Johnston appointed Mercer an Officer of the Order of Canada for his ability to inspire and challenge Canadians through humour and for his charitable work. He was formally invested in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in September 2015. In 2019, he received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. Mercer also holds numerous honorary degrees from universities across Canada, including Memorial University of Newfoundland, the University of British Columbia, McMaster University, and the Royal Military College of Canada. In 2007, he was named honorary colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force's 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron. In 2023, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, adding a provincial honour to his national accolades.

Philanthropy and Public Advocacy

Beyond entertainment, Rick Mercer has been a dedicated advocate for several charitable and social causes. He served as co-chair, alongside former MP Belinda Stronach, of the Spread the Net campaign launched in 2008, which provides insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria in Africa. In December 2004, he appeared in government commercials promoting the 'One-Tonne Challenge' for environmental action. The following year, he became the national spokesperson for the 2005 Walk For Life, a series of 132 fundraising walks across Canada that raise money for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Mercer has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and youth. In November 2010, he contributed a rant against the bullying of gay and lesbian teens to Dan Savage's 'It Gets Better' project. Since 2011, he has served as the honorary patron of Hope Air, a charity that arranges free non-emergency medical flights for Canadians in financial need. His advocacy work is often integrated with his public profile, using his platform to support hospice care, having directed his fees from a national clothing ad campaign to Toronto's Casey House AIDS hospice. He has also narrated an animated science video on climate change for Science North in Sudbury and was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in 2015.

Later Projects and Recent Work

Following the conclusion of The Rick Mercer Report, Rick Mercer has remained active in television and live performance. In 2022, he launched Comedy Night with Rick Mercer on CBC, a series of one-hour specials featuring stand-up performances from emerging and established Canadian comedians. His most recent major project is the Rick Mercer: Stand Up For Canada comedy special and nationwide tour. The one-hour special premiered on CBC and CBC Gem, featuring Mercer alongside comedians like Sophie Buddle, Mayce Galoni, and Julie Kim for a sharp comedic look at the country. The accompanying coast-to-coast comedy tour began in the fall of 2025, with dates extending into 2026, including a stop in Kelowna at Prospera Place on September 20, 2025. This marks a significant return to live performance for Mercer, blending stand-up with his signature observational humour about Canadian life. In 2026, he also participated in celebrations for the 35th anniversary of the Heritage Minutes, contributing to a new video series featuring Canadian voices sharing their favourite historical vignettes. These projects demonstrate his enduring role as a commentator on and participant in Canadian cultural life, continuing to engage audiences through live events and new television formats that highlight both his own work and that of other comics.

Personal Life

Rick Mercer was born and raised in Newfoundland, attending Macdonald Drive Elementary and Prince of Wales Collegiate in St. John's before leaving prior to graduation. His mother, Patricia Cook, was a nurse and his father, Kenneth Mercer, an executive in the provincial fisheries ministry. As a teenager, he was a member of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, an experience that later informed his respectful and frequent interactions with the Canadian Armed Forces on his show. Mercer has been married to television producer Gerald Lunz since 1990. He has been publicly open about being gay since early in his career, though he has consistently maintained a clear boundary between his private life and his public comedic persona.

In a 2011 interview on CBC Radio's The Current, he stated that while he lives as an out gay man, he deliberately did not focus on his sexuality in his television work because it was not the subject of The Rick Mercer Report. He regards his personal life as private and says little about it in public beyond acknowledging that he is gay. He prefers to keep the focus on his work and the charitable causes he supports. For instance, he is the honorary patron of Hope Air and has been a national spokesperson for the Walk For Life fundraiser for the Canadian AIDS Society.

Other Film and Media Appearances

Outside of his own series, Rick Mercer has made several notable appearances in other film and television projects. His film roles include appearances in Secret Nation, Understanding Bliss, How to Be Deadly, and the bilingual hit Bon Cop, Bad Cop. On television, he hosted the series It Seems Like Yesterday, which examined pop culture from the 1950s to the 1980s. In late 2014, he guest-starred in the second-to-last episode of the popular Newfoundland-based series Republic of Doyle. Mercer has also been a frequent guest and commentator across the CBC network and other Canadian media, with his voice and perspective regularly sought for discussions on politics, comedy, and national identity.

These varied appearances underscore his status as a versatile performer whose expertise extends beyond the satirical format he is most famous for. He has contributed to documentaries, scripted drama, and cultural retrospectives, such as hosting It Seems Like Yesterday, which examines pop-culture from the 1950s to the 1980s. His work as a narrator for educational content, such as an animated science video on climate change for Science North, illustrates the breadth of his engagement. His participation in events like the 2004 tsunami benefit concert in Calgary, where he hosted a relief benefit, further shows his involvement in Canadian media and public life.

Questions about Rick Mercer

What is Rick Mercer best known for?

Rick Mercer is best known for his work on the CBC Television comedy shows This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Rick Mercer Report. He is particularly famous for his comedy routine Talking to Americans and his two-minute political rants on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. His television work has earned him more than 25 Gemini Awards. He is also a bestselling author of several books based on his shows.

What awards has Rick Mercer won?

Rick Mercer has received more than 25 Gemini Awards for his television work. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2014. He won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour in 2022 for his memoir Talking to Canadians. He received the National Arts Centre Award in 2004 and the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award as part of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards in 2019. He was also appointed a Member of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2023.

What is Rick Mercer doing now in 2025 to 2026?

In 2025 to 2026, Rick Mercer is leading the Stand Up For Canada Comedy Tour across the country. He premiered a one-hour CBC comedy special called Rick Mercer Stand Up For Canada, where he is joined by other comedians. He continues to host the CBC Television series Comedy Night with Rick Mercer. In 2026, he also participated in a new video series celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Heritage Minutes.

What charities does Rick Mercer support?

Rick Mercer is actively involved with several charitable organizations. He is the honorary patron of Hope Air, which provides free medical flights. He co-chaired the Spread the Net campaign with Belinda Stronach to fight malaria, was national spokesperson for the Walk For Life for HIV/AIDS support, and has supported Casey House hospice by donating his modelling fees. He also advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, contributing to the It Gets Better project against bullying, and has worked with the Canadian AIDS Society.

Is Rick Mercer married?

Yes, Rick Mercer has been married to television producer Gerald Lunz since 1990. He generally regards his personal life as private and says little about it publicly, though he has acknowledged that he is gay. In a 2011 interview on CBC Radio One's The Current, Mercer clarified that he tries to live his life as an out gay man. However, he stated he does not specifically mention his sexuality on his show, the Rick Mercer Report, because it is simply not what the program is about. This approach reflects his desire to separate his personal identity from his professional work as a political satirist and comedian.

How many books has Rick Mercer written?

Rick Mercer has authored four books based on content from his television shows and a two-part memoir, totaling six major publications. His show-based books are Streeters (1998), Rick Mercer Report: The Book (2007), A Nation Worth Ranting About (2012), and Rick Mercer Final Report (2018). Additionally, an expanded paperback version of his 2007 book was released in 2008. His memoir is published in two volumes: Talking to Canadians, released in November 2021, and The Road Years, published in October 2023. His 2021 memoir, Talking to Canadians, won the prestigious Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour in 2022.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.