Rick Mercer
Canada is a nation worth loving—and ranting about.
Host of The Rick Mercer Report for 15 years | Author of Rick Mercer Final Report
Rick Mercer chronicles, satirizes, and ultimately celebrates all that is great and irreverent about this country. A #1 bestselling author, Governor General’s Award-winner for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, and “Canada’s Unofficial Opposition,” Mercer is our most popular comic; a political satirist who knows exactly what matters to regular Canadians and what makes them laugh.
Rick Mercer’s top-rated, award-winning CBC show, The Rick Mercer Report, routinely trampled even its American competitors in the ratings. The show featured Mercer’s trademark rants, satirical newscasts, commercial parodies, and comic encounters with famous Canadians, talking about Canada. More than any other comedian (or journalist for that matter), he talks to Canadian newsmakers with a refreshing candour, and is uniquely able to spin topical hilarity from the people and the things deeply embedded in the national consciousness.
His latest book, Rick Mercer Final Report, a #1 Toronto Star and Globe and Mail bestseller, brings together never-before-published rants from the last five seasons of the show, plus a selection of the very best rants from earlier years. Throughout the book, in a series of brilliant new essays, Mercer shares his hilarious, moving and at times hair-raising memories from the past fifteen years.
Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Mercer has won over 25 Gemini Awards for his top-rated CBC series’ The Rick Mercer Report, Made in Canada, and This Hour has 22 Minutes. Mercer also starred in Rick Mercer’s Talking to Americans, which was watched by millions, attracted attention across North America, and remains the highest-rated comedy special in Canadian history. In 2019, Mercer won the Governor General's Award for lifetime achievement, which recognizes artists who have made an indelible contribution to Canada and the world’s cultural life. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Mercer is the author of four national bestsellers, Rick Mercer Final Report, Streeters, The Rick Mercer Report: The Book, and 2012’s A Nation Worth Ranting About.
“In short, Rick was AMAZING. The clip was awesome, exactly what we had hoped for, and struck all of the right notes. We’ve received some terrific anecdotal feedback from graduating students, admin, and guests who watched. One of my favorite comments came from a graduating student who didn’t grow up in Canada. She indicated that while she didn’t know Rick, she felt like he was speaking to her, and took something away from his keynote. It was perfect, and thank you for helping us to secure it!”
The University of British Columbia“Rick, of course, brought the house down! They were on their feet for him the minute his entrance music started and hung on to every single word he said. And he was an absolute pleasure to work with on-site. Can’t say enough good things about him.”
Alberta Urban Municipalities Association“Rick Mercer was a hit with our membership and he put on a great performance for us. I’m not sure I’ve laughed that hard at one of our events before. It was wonderful speaking with Rick after his presentation and having him mingle with our membership for a good hour after the event—that was a nice bonus. Thank you again for your help to secure Rick for our event.”
EO Edmonton“Rick Mercer opened the March Classic 2019 and we could not have asked for a better way to begin the day. He brought some fantastic memories, many laughs and a good-sized serving of Canadian pride to our event. Rick was wonderful to work with throughout the entire morning and I would definitely recommend any conference celebrating all that is wonderful about Canada, look to Rick Mercer as a speaker.”
Grain Farmers of Ontario“Rick was a big hit with the audience! He was also very gracious during the meet and greet and a real pleasure to work with onsite.”
The Independent Power Producers Society of Alberta“In terms of his performance—it was amazing. Our guests absolutely loved it. Everyone came out feeling positive, laughing, and feeling very proud to be Canadian. We were so happy with Rick and would highly recommend him to anyone.”
SGI Canada“Rick Mercer, as always, was spectacular. Not only was his show fantastic, more importantly, all acts should take a lead from him on how to be a gracious professional! This is our third or maybe fourth time presenting him-and it is always a pleasure. We have a reception at the end of the show that Rick attends, and once again he was the last one to leave. Always a smile, time for a chat and a pic, relaxed and in no hurry, with everyone who came up to him. A genuine class act, and a great representative of what it means to be Canadian.”
Thunder Bay Blues Festival“Rick was phenomenal to work with and probably one of the most down to earth Canadians ever. He engaged our audience with hilarious anecdotes and some scenes from The Rick Mercer Report and kept the room in stitches for a solid hour and a half.”
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Canada Coast to Coast to Coast
Rick Mercer is offering an epic new keynote that will make you appreciate, as never before, this unique nation we all call home. It’s a heart-soaring and laugh-out-loud funny affair, and a perfect way to celebrate what our great country has to offer.
Few people know Canada like Rick Mercer knows Canada. Whether prodding at our institutions, celebrating our unsung heroes, or illuminating everything wonderful and weird about our country, Mercer is a galvanizing speaker. He’s our fiercest critic, our sharpest mind, and our most hilarious comic. This is a one-time talk that gathers together all his—and our—strengths. It is a talk that connects to the past, evaluates our present, and looks forward, hopefully, into the future.
Featured Books
The Books That Have Us Thinking, Talking, and Debating Right Now
Related Links & Articles
RickMercer.com
Why I rant. And why you should too.
Rick Mercer’s Online Comments Rant Calls on Media to Shut Down the Hate
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Rick Mercer Hosts the Upcoming Just For Laughs Comedy Tour Across the Nation
The last time Rick Mercer hosted the iconic comedy showcase was a whopping 16 years ago. On October...
Rick Mercer Final Report is a Toronto Star and Globe and Mail #1 Bestseller
Rick Mercer’s new collection of essays, never-before-published rants, and greatest hits—titled Rick...
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On the morning of the eve of his final show, beloved reporter and satirist Rick Mercer joined host...
"Put regular folks on TV, tell interesting stories”: Rick Mercer Report Returns Tonight
Canada’s favourite comic—the one-of-a-kind Rick Mercer—returns to CBC tonight (Oct 4) for the...
Why Rick Mercer Won't Be Pursuing A Career In Politics Anytime Soon
"The rants are the part of the show that’s completely personal because I write the rants myself,"...
Why's Rick Mercer Wearing Pink Today? To Put A Stop To Bullying
Rick Mercer is wearing pink today. While the celebrity speaker and host of the Rick Mercer Report...
Celebrity Speaker Rick Mercer Snags 3 Canadian Screen Awards
It looks like celebrity speaker and television host Rick Mercer is going to have to clear out some...
Rick Mercer: Why He Loves His Job & Being A Political Satirist [VIDEO]
"I would be a fool not to be excited to go to work everyday," Rick Mercer says in a new interview. "...
Celebrity Speaker Rick Mercer Sounds Off On His Rant-Writing Process
There are few YouTube videos, aside from those by Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, perhaps, that have...
In Defense of Canadian Humour: Rick Mercer
Celebrity speaker Rick Mercer, master of the rant, might have a bone to pick with anyone who thinks...
Rick Mercer On CBC: "A Nation Of Ranters Makes For A Better Country"
"I always liked politics as my sport," celebrity speaker Rick Mercer says in a new interview on the...
Hazlitt Compares Celebrity Speaker Rick Mercer's Rants to Verbal Jazz [VIDEO]
Linda Besner, of Hazlitt Magazine, recently likened the art of ranting to "verbal jazz." It's no...
Celebrity Speaker Rick Mercer Rants about Ranting in Maclean's
"The danger in not ranting is dire," Rick Mercer warns in a recent Maclean's article. The celebrity...
“Ranting Is What Keeps Me Sane”: Celebrity Speaker Rick Mercer, on His New Book
“A good rant is cathartic,” Rick Mercer writes in the forward of his new book, A Nation Worth...
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Rick Mercer recently took to The Rick Mercer Report to talk about “the best high school in Canada,”...
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“The state has no business in the hard drives of the nation,” Rick Mercer said on his top-rated Rick...
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On The Rick Mercer Report this week, Mercer turned his trademark Rant into a rousing call to action...
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Rick Mercer: To Canada's Politicians, Young Voters Might as Well Be Dead.
Rick Mercer's trademark rants are all infectious energy and stinging truth wrapped up in 28 layers...
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