Tag Archives: Rick Mercer

Ring in the new year with Rick Mercer, host of CBC’s coast-to-coast New Year’s Eve celebration

From a media release:

This New Year’s Eve, join CBC and Rick Mercer to ring in 2023 with a national celebration featuring fireworks and performances from across the country. CANADA’S NEW YEAR’S EVE: COUNTDOWN TO 2023 will be broadcast on CBC TV and CBC Gem on Saturday, December 31 at 11 p.m. (11:20 p.m. AT, 11:50 p.m. NT).

Hosted by Rick Mercer from The Blue Mountains in beautiful Grey County, the all-Canadian lineup includes performances by Devon Cole, JJ Wilde and OKAY TK from Halifax, NS; Vincent Vallières from Quebec City, QC; Chad Price, Kardinal Offishall, and Savannah Ré from The Blue Mountains, ON; James Barker Band from Saskatoon, SK and Leela Gilday from Aurora Village, NWT. There will be fireworks from cities across the country, including Kelowna, BC and St. John’s NL.

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Preview: Rick Mercer returns to CBC with Comedy Night

Rick Mercer is back on the CBC, and all is right in the world.

I’ve felt a Mercer-sized hole in the network’s primetime schedule since 2018, when The Mercer Report made its final, well, report. Since then, there has been a global pandemic, dozens of political gaffes and untold silly situations that could have used Mercer’s wry take on.

Let’s get things out of the way first. His first series back on the CBC, Comedy Night with Rick Mercer is not The Mercer Report. The veteran funnyman isn’t behind a desk, by himself, reporting on the world while starring in short skits. And that’s totally OK.

Debuting Tuesday at 9 p.m. on CBC, the eight-episode Comedy Night with Rick Mercer is a great comedy showcase, with Mercer stalking the stage of theatres across Canada, performing standup.

“I’ve done two tours of Comedy Night in Canada, and they are big tours, going from St. John’s to Victoria, 28 rooms, 1,000 to 2,000 seats,” Mercer says.

These tours and this show, of course, offer him the chance to talk about what’s been going on with his life since COVID-19 emerged and observations about the world at large. And, it’s a showcase for Canadian comedians, who perform sets in front of the live audience before sitting down with Mercer for one-on-ones. The project is something Mercer has been doing for years, albeit the first with cameras rolling for TV.

“We’re not reinventing the wheel here,” Mercer says. “There have always been comedy showcases. The difference is, there hasn’t been a comedy showcase in primetime in a very long time.”

Comedy Night with Rick Mercer airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of JFL.

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Join Rick Mercer to say goodbye to 2020 with CBC’s New Year’s Eve special

From a media release:

This New Year’s Eve, join CBC and Rick Mercer to (finally) ring in 2021 with a national celebration that Canadians can enjoy from home. CANADA’S NEW YEAR’S EVE – A COUNTDOWN TO 2021 will broadcast on CBC TV and the free CBC Gem streaming service on Thursday, December 31 at 11 p.m. in every time zone. 

Hosted by Rick Mercer, the all-Canadian lineup includes performances by multi-platinum recording artist Tyler Shaw joined by Simone Denny; alt-pop duo Neon Dreams from Halifax, NS; folk singer-songwriter William Prince from Winnipeg, MB; Alan Doyle and friends from around Newfoundland and Labrador; folk/rock group The Jerry Cans and special guests from Iqaluit, NU; pop icon Lights and producer Felix Cartal performing together in Vancouver, BC; country star Brett Kissel from Flat Lake, AB; hip-hop/electro trio Random Recipe from Montreal, QC; and the Maritime Bhangra Dancers from Halifax, NS.

The annual special will also include a look into some of the intimate celebrations Canadian families are having across the country this year.

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Link: Rick Mercer’s last rant

From Tony Wong of the Toronto Star:

Link: Rick Mercer’s last rant
“I have chairs. Do you want some chairs?”

Rick Mercer points to the studio floor, then looks at me expectantly with that famously arched eyebrow.

We are seated at his anchor desk in the 10th-floor studio at CBC’s Toronto headquarters. “I can sell you them for $20 each. After this week, they have to go.” Continue reading.

 

 

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Rick Mercer announces final season of Rick Mercer Report

From a media release:

In one of his signature rants, Rick Mercer today announced that RICK MERCER REPORT will launch its 15th and final season (22 x 30) tomorrow (Tues. Sept. 26) at 8 p.m. ET (8:30 NT) on CBC and cbc.ca/watch. Since the launch of the award-winning hit series in 2004, Canadians have followed the political satirist and Newfoundland native across the country for his one-of-a-kind perspective on Canada and the top news of the week. When Season 15 wraps in spring 2018, 277 episodes of the half-hour comedy will have aired since its debut.

“RICK MERCER REPORT has evolved over 15 years but one thing that has always remained consistent is that I have always known that I have the best job in the country,” said Mercer. “That has never changed. I can’t tell you how much fun it’s been. As far as what’s next I have no idea, all I know is that the entire team is hard at work and we have started shooting what I think will be our best season yet.”

Throughout the final season of RICK MERCER REPORT, Mercer will be back on the road with more cross- country exploits and learning experiences, from the Sea Cadet National Regatta in Kingston, Ontario and a shipwreck Festival in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, to the Confederation Bridge in PEI and the Calgary Zoo with Jann Arden, to name a few. In tomorrow’s Season 15 premiere, Mercer makes a stop in Ottawa to train with athletes headed for Toronto’s Invictus Games before heading to a wildlife rescue centre on Vancouver Island.

Returning this season is one of the most popular features in every show – Mercer’s rant – where he expounds on anything that might be on his mind. Also back are regular segments including the creative Photo Challenge, cheeky RMR parodies of TV commercials and political messages, and RMR’s weekly target practice on newsmakers, The Front Page.

RICK MERCER REPORT is the recipient of 4 Gemini and 12 Canadian Screen Awards for television writing and performance and, in 2015, Mercer was once again awarded the Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series.

Mercer began his career in comedy performing and writing in his hometown St John’s, Newfoundland with a series of one-man stage shows. In 1993, he launched his television career on CBC as one of the creators, performers and writers on the hit topical weekly show THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES. In 1998, he joined Gerald Lunz and Michael Donovan to create the satirical dramatic series Made In Canada, where he again starred and contributed as a writer. In 2001, his CBC special Talking To Americans became the highest rated Canadian comedy special ever with 2.7 million viewers. On July 1, 2014, it was announced that Rick was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and he was inducted in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in September 2015. This past Canada Day, Mercer hosted the three-hour CBC special Canada Day 150! From Coast to Coast to Coast featuring performances in every province and territory across the country.

 

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