Rick Mercer Report

Canadian comedy news program (2004-) hosted by Rick Mercer. Each week's program involves satirical news commentary, sketches, parodies of ads and TV shows, and interviews with political/entertainment figures of the day. In addition, there are longer segments of Rick visiting various people/places across Canada. These segments often highlight ordinary Canadians who do extraordinary things, from Paralympians to the Rangers to giant pumpkin growers to circus performers to lobster fishermen to RCMP trainees.

The tone of the program is quite kind towards the politicians it mocks. Over the years, probably every major Canadian political figure has gone on the show, obviously for the positive publicity of being seen as a comic good sport. Memorable instances include Rick having a burger with Jean Chretien, skinny dipping with Bob Rae, having a sleepover at 24 Sussex (with prime minister Stephen Harper reading bedtime election regislation), having Pierre Burton to demonstrate the correct way to roll a joint of marijuana, or getting every member of parliament to participate in a spoof of the Budlight dude commercial.

The show is a spinoff of sorts from This Hour Has 22 Minutes, where Rick was one of the co-hosts. Unlike This Hour or Royal Canadian Air Farce which derives a major portion of comedy from impressions of public figures, The Mercer Report tends to get the real life public figures to come and make fun of themselves.

This show provides examples of:

 * Canada Eh: Rick loves playing this trope.
 * Canadian Politics: Often joked about. This show has invited many prominent politicians, including previous and current Prime Ministers.
 * Facecam: Mercer's infamous rants (read on).
 * Groin Attack: The Revenue Canada/Capital One parody Knee in my Package.
 * Human Interest Story: The segments of Rick travelling to events (often in small towns) and participating in whatever is going on. Arguably a highlight of the show.
 * Metaphorgotten: (A fake ad for George W Bush): "Some say the glass is half empty, others say its half full. George W Bush says 'that's my glass, keep your hands off my glass or I'll break it and cut you with the glass.' George W Bush. He'll cut ya."
 * News Parody
 * Parody Commercial: one or two an episode, always just before a real ad break.
 * Rant Comedy: A staple of the Report, carried over from This Hour Has 22 Minutes, is "The Rant." Rick has even ranted about how to rant.
 * Tear Jerker: In an episode near Christmas, Rick visited the Canada Post distribution centre in Ottawa and found out that Canada Post replies to letters to Santa in over 20 different languages, including Braille. Rick started to cry.
 * The Slacker: Not being trained to do lifting and other work requiring strength, Rick often leaves it to the real people to do it.