Rick Mercer

Rick Mercer – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life and career of Rick Mercer, the Canadian comedian, satirist, and television icon, known for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Rick Mercer Report, and sharp political commentary. Discover his biography, legacy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Rick Mercer (born October 17, 1969) is one of Canada’s most influential comedic voices and political satirists. Through incisive humor, public rants, and media longevity, he has shaped how Canadians interrogate politics, national identity, and civic life. His ability to blend laughter, critique, and heartfelt storytelling has made him a beloved—and sometimes controversial—figure.

Early Life and Family

Rick Mercer was born Richard Vincent Mercer in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

His mother, Patricia Cook, worked as a nurse; his father, Kenneth Mercer, held a position in the provincial fisheries ministry. MacDonald Drive Elementary in St. John’s and later enrolled at Prince of Wales Collegiate, although he dropped out before graduation, later completing diploma requirements. Royal Canadian Sea Cadets.

From early on, Mercer was drawn to performance, satire, and public commentary, setting the stage for a career that would bridge theatre, television, and writing.

Youth, Education & Beginnings

Mercer’s professional trajectory began in live performance. In 1990, he mounted a one-man theatrical show titled Show Me the Button: I’ll Push It (or Charles Lynch Must Die) at the National Arts Centre’s Atelier in Ottawa. The show was a satirical critique of Canadian politics following the collapse of the Meech Lake Accord, and it brought Mercer national attention.

His next solo stage show, I’ve Killed Before, I’ll Kill Again, appeared in 1992, further consolidating his reputation for blending humour and political commentary.

Scottish-style direct address, biting satire, and theatrical flair would become trademarks of his later television work.

Career and Achievements

This Hour Has 22 Minutes & Early Television

In 1992, Mercer joined the Canadian sketch comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes, working with veterans such as Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones, and Greg Thomey. His segments—for example, “rants” delivered from Parliament Hill—became signature moments.

One unforgettable stunt involved Mercer creating an online petition demanding that political figure Stockwell Day change his first name to “Doris.” The campaign drew widespread media attention and is often cited as an example of Mercer’s creative use of satire.

By the early 2000s, he began shifting focus away from 22 Minutes to other projects, leaving the show in 2001.

Made in Canada & Behind-the-Scenes Satire

In 1998, Mercer co-created Made in Canada (also known internationally as The Industry), a satirical sitcom that skewered the Canadian television industry. He starred as Richard Strong, an amoral producer navigating the world of television.

The show ran for five seasons (1998–2003) and won multiple awards, including several Gemini Awards and Canadian Comedy Awards.

Made in Canada allowed Mercer to satirize not just politics but media culture itself—corporate deals, ratings, production scandals—and to parody the very industry of television from within.

The Rick Mercer Report & National Platform

In 2004, Mercer launched Rick Mercer Report (initially Monday Report), a show that blended political rants, field pieces across Canada, interviews, and comedic sketches.

Over its 15 seasons, The Rick Mercer Report became a cultural institution in Canada, drawing in audiences eager for sharp critique delivered with wit and warmth. The show’s closing episodes aired in April 2018.

Mercer’s on-location reports—visiting corners of Canada often ignored in mainstream media—helped humanize national issues and tied local stories to larger cultural conversations.

In parallel, he wrote several books tied to his television work: Streeters (a collection of rants), Rick Mercer Report: The Book, A Nation Worth Ranting About, Rick Mercer Final Report, and two memoirs: Talking to Canadians (2021) and The Road Years (2023).

Awards, Recognition, and Public Engagement

Rick Mercer has won more than 25 Gemini Awards over his television career. Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award. National Arts Centre Award.

In 2015, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, recognized for his ability to “inspire and challenge Canadians through humour” and his charitable work.

His memoir Talking to Canadians won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour in 2022.

He also holds honorary degrees from numerous Canadian universities and has been honored in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mercer has been active in philanthropy and public causes. He has served as co-chair of Spread the Net, a campaign providing mosquito nets to prevent malaria in Africa, and is an honorary patron of Hope Air, which arranges free flights for Canadians needing medical treatment.

He also participated in Christmas in Kabul, a CBC special in 2003 that brought holiday cheer to Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Mercer’s early theatrical satirical work came at a time when Canadian constitutional debates (e.g., Meech Lake, Charlottetown) made national identity and federal politics urgent public topics.

• His satire on This Hour Has 22 Minutes and later Rick Mercer Report contributed to the normalization of politically engaged comedy in Canadian media.

• By turning national attention toward regional stories—remote towns, indigenous communities, and overlooked provincial issues—Mercer expanded the narrative scope of Canadian media.

• His use of digital media, petitions, and social commentary anticipated modern intersections of comedy, activism, and audience engagement.

Legacy and Influence

1. Political Satire with Reach
   Mercer showed that biting, informed comedy could reach broad mainstream audiences, bridging the gap between late-night politics humor and Canadian sensibility.

2. Amplifying Regional Voices
   Through his field pieces, Mercer brought attention to lesser-known communities, shining light on local challenges and triumphs.

3. Hybrid Maker — Comedian, Host, Writer, Advocate
   His career spans theatre, television, publishing, and public advocacy, making him a multi-platform storyteller and influencer.

4. Inspiring Civically Engaged Media
   Many Canadian comedians and satirists who followed cite Mercer as a model for how to blend humour and commentary responsibly.

5. Normalization of Diversity & Visibility
   As an openly gay man who discusses his identity publicly while not prosecuting it as his defining characteristic, Mercer has contributed to broader social acceptance and representation.

Personality and Talents

Rick Mercer is known for his razor-sharp wit, ease of on-camera presence, and a style that blends sarcasm with sincerity. He often leans in to “rant” segments—direct address monologues where he speaks directly to issues, political or social.

He is admired for meticulous preparation—fact-checking, scripting, and structure—despite the appearance of spontaneous humor.

Mercer balances satire and seriousness; while he critiques institutions, he often affirms democratic ideals, encouraging civic participation, empathy, and accountability.

Though private about his personal life, he has acknowledged his sexuality. He married longtime collaborator Gerald Lunz, who has been a producer and creative partner.

Famous Quotes of Rick Mercer

• “I like to think of myself as an equal opportunity offender.”

• “Here’s to democracy. May we get the government we deserve.”

• “Do the unexpected. Take 20 minutes out of your day, do what young people all over the world are dying to do: vote.”

• “The United States is our neighbour, our ally, our trading partner—and sometimes we’d like to give them such a smack.”

• “It’s no longer good enough for us to tell kids who are different that it’s gonna get better. We have to make it better now.”

• “In Canada you grow up — we’re next to the United States. We’re watching whatever you’re watching. We’re following your news.“

• From The Road Years:

  “What does it mean to be a Canadian? Not only is it a wildly pretentious way to start a book … we are nothing if not self-deprecating. We pride ourselves on not taking ourselves too seriously.”

These quotes capture his voice: pointed, reflective, playful, and engaged.

Lessons from Rick Mercer

1. Use humour to engage, not alienate
   Mercer illustrates that satire can be incisive while still maintaining connection to audiences. His rants provoke thought rather than simply mock.

2. Go to places others ignore
   His fieldwork across Canada models how to find stories in overlooked communities, broadening the horizons of national discourse.

3. Stay grounded amid criticism
   As a public commentator, Mercer has weathered controversy—but remained rooted in his core principles of democracy, civic duty, and accountability.

4. Versatility strengthens impact
   By working across media (stage, TV, books, philanthropy), Mercer sustained relevance and amplified his voice beyond a single platform.

5. Visibility matters, but let the work define you
   While he is one of Canada’s prominent public figures, Mercer’s impact rests more on sustained body of work than celebrity.

Conclusion

Rick Mercer’s journey— from satirical stage shows to shaping the political-cultural conversation in Canada—is a remarkable blend of humour, critique, empathy, and activism. He reminds us that a comic voice can be a civic force, that laughter can amplify truth, and that national identity is best explored through stories, satire, and solidarity.