Editing Rick Mercer

{{Short description|Canadian comedian (born 1969)}}
{{Infobox person
| name                   = Rick Mercer
| honorific_suffix       = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|OC|ONL|size=100}}
| image                  = Rick Mercer at 2020 CFC Annual Gala & Auction.jpg
| caption                = Mercer in February 2020
| birth_name             = Richard Vincent Mercer
| birth_date             = {{Birth date and age|1969|10|17}}
| birth_place            = [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]], Canada
| spouse                 = Gerald Lunz
| website                = {{URL|http://www.rickmercer.com/}}
}}
'''Richard Vincent''' "'''Rick'''" '''Mercer''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|OC|ONL}} (born October 17, 1969) is a Canadian [[comedian]], television personality, [[Political satire|political satirist]], and [[author]]. He is best known for his work on the [[CBC Television]] comedy shows ''[[This Hour Has 22 Minutes]]'' and ''[[Rick Mercer Report]]''. He is the author of four books based on content from the shows and the two part memoir consisting of ''Talking to Canadians'' (November 2021) and ''The Road Years'' (October 2023). Mercer has received more than 25 [[Gemini Awards]] for his work on television.

==Career==

===Early work===
Mercer first came to national attention in 1990 when he created and presented his one-man stage show ''Show Me the Button: I'll Push It (or  [[Charles Burchill Lynch|Charles Lynch]] Must Die)''<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2022 |title=When Rick Mercer was an 'all-around wunderkind' in 1992 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/rick-mercer-archives-1992-1.6600519 |access-date=June 8, 2024 |website=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> at the [[National Arts Centre|National Arts Centre's Atelier]] in [[Ottawa]].<ref name=canenc>[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/rick-mercer Rick Mercer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065752/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/rick-mercer/ |date=2016-03-04 }} at [[The Canadian Encyclopedia]].</ref> A satirical political commentary on Canadian life after [[Meech Lake Accord|Meech Lake]], ''Show Me the Button'' made Mercer a national star as he toured the show across Canada.<ref name=canenc /> In 1992, he created and performed his second stage show, ''I've Killed Before, I'll Kill Again'' at the [[National Arts Centre|National Arts Centre's Studio Theatre]], which also became a popular touring show.<ref name=canenc />

===''This Hour Has 22 Minutes''===
In 1992, he began to work with former ''[[CODCO]]'' members [[Cathy Jones]] and [[Mary Walsh (actress)|Mary Walsh]], and fellow Newfoundlander [[Greg Thomey]], to create a new television series for [[CBC Television]] which became ''[[This Hour Has 22 Minutes]]''. In the first eight seasons of ''22 Minutes'', Mercer provided some of the show's signature moments, including an Internet petition (on the '' 22 Minutes'' website) to force [[Canadian Alliance]] leader [[Stockwell Day]] to [[Doris Day|change his first name to Doris]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/doris-day-petition-hits-the-mark-1.209426|title='Doris Day' petition hits the mark|publisher=CBC|date=2000-11-16|accessdate=2022-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/22-minutes-reaches-magic-doris-number-1.247532|title=22 Minutes reaches magic 'Doris' number|publisher=CBC|date=2000-11-16|accessdate=2022-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/stockwell-as-doris-would-make-surfers-day/article4168945/|title=Stockwell as Doris would make surfers' Day|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=17 November 2000|last1=Clark|first1=Campbell}}</ref> The website used for the petition was later repurposed as a way to have Canadians send Christmas cards to peacekeepers in [[Bosnia]]. Mercer hand delivered these to the troops in a December 2000 special.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/22-minutes-connects-peacekeepers-with-canadians-1.198866|title=22 Minutes connects peacekeepers with Canadians|publisher=CBC News|date=2000-12-20|accessdate=2022-04-03}}</ref> In 2001, following an incident in which an aide to federal [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|member of Parliament]] (MP) [[Rahim Jaffer]] posed as the politician in a radio interview, Mercer performed a parody rap based on [[Eminem]]'s "[[The Real Slim Shady]]", with the lyrics "Will the real Rahim Jaffer please stand up?

Mercer's two-minute "rants", in which he would speak directly to the camera about a current political issue, shot in a style similar to those [[Denis Leary]] used in [[MTV]] commercials, quickly became the show's signature segment. In 1998, he published a book, ''Streeters'', which compiled many of his most famous ''22 Minutes'' rants. It became a national bestseller. In 2007 he published his second book, ''Rick Mercer Report: The Book''.

In November 2010, Mercer contributed a rant he had previously recorded in 2007 on the subject of the [[bullying]] of gay and lesbian teens in high schools to [[Dan Savage]]'s [[It Gets Better Project]].<ref name="It gets better">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/rick-mercer-joins-it-gets-better-campaign-1.967052|title=Rick Mercer joins It Gets Better campaign|publisher=CBC News|date=November 2, 2010|access-date=2015-09-16}}</ref>

====''Talking to Americans''====
{{main|Talking to Americans}}
One of Mercer's comedy routines on ''22 Minutes'' was ''[[Talking to Americans]]'', in which he would travel to a major American city or institution and conduct on-the-street interviews with Americans on topics such as Canadian politics and weather, using the subject's ignorance about Canada for comedic effect. One famous example saw Mercer asking Americans' opinion on whether Canada should change its "20 Hour Clock" to the 24-hour one used by the United States. He received approval from citizens and from the Governor of Iowa, [[Tom Vilsack]]. On another occasion he got the support of [[Arkansas]] Governor [[Mike Huckabee]] in calling on Canadians to save the "National Igloo".

Mercer made international headlines in 2000 when he pulled a ''Talking to Americans'' stunt on then-presidential candidate [[George W. Bush]]. He successfully got Bush to answer questions about non-existent Canadian Prime Minister "Jean [[Poutine]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/22-minutes-star-pulls-prank-on-george-w-bush-1.212339|title=22 Minutes star pulls prank on George W. Bush|publisher=CBC|date=2000-03-22|accessdate=2022-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB951954624643262149|title=George W. Bush gets ambushed by comic in another name gaffe|first=Julian|last=Beltrame|publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=2000-03-02|accessdate=2022-04-21}}</ref> Bush was not amused at the time, but he did make a joking reference to this incident during his visit to Canada in 2004. In the same US election campaign, Mercer asked Democratic candidate [[Al Gore]] to promise to visit the "Canadian capital city" of [[Toronto]] after his election. Gore did not question Mercer's incorrect identification of the capital of Canada.

In 2001, Mercer co-produced a CBC special based on ''Talking to Americans'', which attracted 2.7&nbsp;million Canadian viewers—the highest-rated television special in Canadian history. Later, the respected [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] program ''[[Nightline (US news program)|Nightline]]'' would devote a show to it. This was his last major project related to ''22 Minutes''—at the end of the 2000–2001 season, he announced his departure from that show to focus on his other television show, ''[[Made in Canada (TV series)|Made in Canada]]''. ''Talking to Americans'' was nominated for a [[Gemini Award]], but following the [[9/11 attacks]], Mercer declined the nomination.

===''Made in Canada''===
{{main|Made in Canada (TV series)}}
Mercer co-created the series ''[[Made in Canada (TV series)|Made in Canada]]'', which ran for five seasons on [[CBC Television]] from 1998 to 2003. The show was a fast-paced [[situation comedy]] which [[self-reference|self-referentially]] satirized the Canadian TV production industry, often drawing from details of its own production companies and including thinly veiled parodies of contemporary programs. It was syndicated abroad as ''The Industry'' and won several [[Gemini Award]]s (which were themselves satirized in subsequent episodes).

===''The Rick Mercer Report''===
{{main|Rick Mercer Report}}
In 2003, ''Made in Canada'' ended its run, and Mercer began to work on a new CBC series, ''[[Rick Mercer Report|Rick Mercer's Monday Report]]''. Similar in format to ''22 Minutes'' and ''[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]]'', the show debuted in January 2004. Also in 2003, Mercer went to [[Afghanistan]] to visit the [[Operation Athena|Canadian troops stationed there]], resulting in the television special ''[[Christmas in Kabul]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/programguide/personality/rick_mercer|title=Rick Mercer|publisher=CBC|accessdate=2022-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapter/full-episode-dec-18-2021-1.6286603/rick-mercer-s-new-memoir-talking-to-canadians-reflects-on-a-life-building-rapport-with-others-1.6286671|title=Rick Mercer's new memoir Talking to Canadians reflects on a life building rapport with others|publisher=CBC|date=2021-12-17|accessdate=2022-04-21}}</ref>

Despite reports of a long-standing feud Mercer invited Walsh to appear on ''Monday Report'' as a special guest to promote her own series ''[[Hatching, Matching and Dispatching]]''.

At the end of its second season, ''Monday Report'' was the highest rated arts and entertainment show on the CBC. Former Prime Minister [[Paul Martin]] gave him a private tour of [[24 Sussex Drive]] and former [[New Democratic Party of Canada|New Democratic Party]] leader [[Ed Broadbent]] made snow angels with Mercer on [[Parliament Hill]]. Other prominent guests were [[New Democratic Party of Canada|NDP]] leader [[Jack Layton]] (who was Mercer's own MP); [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]] leader [[Stephen Harper]] (former Prime Minister); [[Green Party of Canada|Green Party]] leader [[Elizabeth May]]; then-Conservative MP [[Belinda Stronach]]; Conservative MP [[Peter MacKay]]; former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier [[Danny Williams (Canadian politician)|Danny Williams]]; Olympic gold medallist [[Kyle Shewfelt]]; author [[Pierre Berton]]; recording artists [[Jann Arden]], [[Bif Naked]], [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[bassist]] [[Geddy Lee]], [[drummer]] and [[lyricist]] [[Neil Peart]], and [[Sarah McLachlan]]; publishing mogul [[Conrad Black]]; and former [[prime minister]] [[Jean Chrétien]]. When Mercer hosted a relief [[benefit concert]] for the victims of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|2004 Indian Ocean tsunami]] at the [[Pengrowth Saddledome]] in [[Calgary, Alberta|Calgary]], musical guests [[Barenaked Ladies]] appeared in a segment Mercer shot backstage completely naked.

In 2005, the CBC moved ''Monday Report'' to Tuesday nights, which caused the show's name to be changed to ''The Rick Mercer Report''. On his blog, Mercer wrote of the time slot shift that "we ended the season as the highest rated comedy show on the network. Clearly some drastic changes were needed."

In 2017, it was announced that the ''Rick Mercer Report'' would end production after its 15th season; the last episode aired on April 10, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mediaincanada.com/2018/05/01/mercers-final-rant-gets-big-ratings/|title=Mercer's final rant gets big ratings|website=[[Media of Canada]]}}</ref>

===Other film and television work===
Mercer has hosted ''[[It Seems Like Yesterday]]'', which examines pop-culture from the 1950s to the 1980s. He has appeared in a few films, including ''[[Secret Nation]]'', ''Understanding Bliss'', ''[[How to Be Deadly]]'' and ''[[Bon Cop, Bad Cop]]''.

In late 2014, he guest starred in the second to last episode of the [[Republic of Doyle]] television series.

In 2022, he launched ''[[Comedy Night with Rick Mercer]]'', a [[CBC Television]] series showcasing stand-up comedy performances by emerging Canadian comedians.<ref>Greg David, [https://www.tv-eh.com/2022/06/01/cbc-unveils-2022-23-programming-slate/ "CBC UNVEILS 2022-23 PROGRAMMING SLATE"]. ''TV, eh?'', June 1, 2022.</ref>

==Books==
A book by Mercer, ''Rick Mercer Report: The Book'', based on his television program, was published on September 25, 2007, by Doubleday Canada. This was Mercer's first book since ''Streeters'' of 1998, and contained a collection of Mercer's rants from the first four seasons of ''Rick Mercer Report'', together with moments from interviews for the program and other writings by Mercer. On CBC Radio's ''Sounds Like Canada'' on September 21, [[Shelagh Rogers]] said of the book that "it's the most fun I've had in bed in a long time." The book entered the ''Globe and Mail'' books chart on October 6 at number three. It was number one in the ''Globe'' bestseller list in the week before Christmas 2007, and reprinted eight times.

An expanded and updated paperback version of ''Rick Mercer Report: The Book'', called ''Rick Mercer Report: The Paperback Book'', was published by Anchor Canada on September 16, 2008, and immediately entered the top ten of the ''Globe and Mail'' bestseller list. It has been reprinted several times.

Mercer's next book, ''A Nation Worth Ranting About'', was published by [[Doubleday Canada]] on September 18, 2012. It was also a bestseller.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/216973/a-nation-worth-ranting-about-by-rick-mercer/9780385676823|website=[[Penguin Random House Canada]]|access-date=3 November 2021|title=A Nation Worth Ranting About by Rick Mercer}}</ref>

''Rick Mercer Final Report'' was published by Doubleday Canada in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahearn |first1=Victoria |title=Rick Mercer reports he's 'less interested in politics' these days |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2018/11/07/rick-mercer-reports-hes-less-interested-in-politics-these-days.html |access-date=5 January 2019 |work=Toronto Star |date=7 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/588035/rick-mercer-final-report-by-rick-mercer/9780385692496|website=[[Penguin Random House Canada]]|access-date=3 November 2021|title=Rick Mercer Final Report by Rick Mercer}}</ref>

''Talking to Canadians: A Memoir'' was published by Doubleday Canada on November 2, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/658339/talking-to-canadians-by-rick-mercer/9780385696234|website=[[Penguin Random House Canada]]|access-date=3 November 2021|title=Talking to Canadians by Rick Mercer}}</ref>

''The Road Years: A Memoir Continued'' was published by Doubleday Canada on October 31, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/725679/the-road-years-by-rick-mercer/9780385688901|website=[[Penguin Random House Canada]]|access-date=13 February 2024|title=The Road Years by Rick Mercer}}</ref>

==Awards==
Mercer has received more than 25 [[Gemini Awards]] for his television work. He has also won the [[Peter Ustinov|Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award]], presented to him at the 2003 [[Banff Television Festival]]. In 1993, Newfoundland premier [[Clyde Kirby Wells|Clyde Wells]] honoured Mercer with the Newfoundland Arts Council's Artist of the Year award. In 2004, Mercer was presented with the [[National Arts Centre]] Award, a companion award of the [[Governor General's Performing Arts Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Rick Mercer biography|url=http://ggpaa.ca/award-recipients/2004/mercer-rick.aspx|publisher=Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> He donated his $15,000 cash prize to the LSPU hall, the theatre in Newfoundland where Mercer performed his early work.

He holds [[honorary degree]]s from [[Laurentian University]] in [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]], [[Memorial University of Newfoundland]] in [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]], [[Brock University]] in [[St. Catharines]], [[McMaster University]] in [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]], [[Bishop's University]] in [[Lennoxville]], the [[University of British Columbia]], the [[University of Guelph]], the [[University of Western Ontario]] in [[London, Ontario|London]],<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://communications.uwo.ca/western_news/stories/2014/March/western_to_honour_global_players_at_303rd_convocation__.html |title = Western News - Search| date=23 July 2018 }}</ref> and the [[Royal Military College of Canada]] in [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.rmcc-cmrc.ca/en/royal-military-college-canada-honorary-degree-recipients | title=Royal Military College of Canada Honorary Degree Recipients| date=2016-07-19}}</ref> He received an honorary high school diploma for his outstanding efforts and determination from [[Landmark East School]] in [[Wolfville, Nova Scotia]] in 1999.<ref>Reader's Digest, 2002</ref>

Mercer was awarded the 30th Annual [[Robert Chambers Edwards|Bob Edwards]] Award in Calgary.<ref>{{cite web |author=Nolan LewisGauntlet Entertainment |url=http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/4492 |title=University of Calgary Gauntlet article |publisher=Gauntlet.ucalgary.ca |date=2004-09-30 |access-date=2009-02-04 |archive-date=2008-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605045406/http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/4492 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2007, he was named [[Colonel (Canada)#Honorary ranks and appointments|honorary colonel]] of the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]'s [[423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron]], based at [[CFB Shearwater]] in [[Shearwater, Nova Scotia]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/that-s-col-rick-to-you-mercer-gets-a-military-gig-1.644662 |title=That's Col. Rick to you: Mercer gets a military gig |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=2007-01-24 |access-date=2015-09-16}}</ref>

On June 30, 2014, Mercer was appointed an Officer of the [[Order of Canada]] by [[David Johnston (governor general)|David Johnston]], [[Governor General of Canada]], for "his ability to inspire and challenge Canadians through humour" and his work with charitable causes.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15694&lan=eng |title = The Governor General of Canada| date=20 September 2017 }}</ref> He was formally invested into the Order in a ceremony at [[Rideau Hall]] on September 23, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rick Mercer, Chantal Kreviazuk, Sarah Polley inducted into Order of Canada|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/order-of-canada-investiture-1.3240117|access-date=25 September 2015|work=CBC News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref> The same year, he was inducted into the [[Canadian Disability Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Previous Hall of Fame Inductees|url=https://www.cfpdp.com/previous-hall-of-fame-inductees/|website=Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> In 2019, Mercer received the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award as part of the [[Governor General's Awards|Governor General's Performing Arts Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ggpaa.ca/award-recipients/2019/mercer,-rick.aspx|title=Award Recipients - Governor General's Performing Arts Awards (GGPAA)|website=ggpaa.ca|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref>

His memoir ''Talking to Canadians'' was the winner of the 2022 [[Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour]].<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2022/09/17/rick-mercer-wins-the-leacock-medal-for-humour-for-memoir-talking-to-canadians.html "Rick Mercer wins the Leacock Medal for Humour for memoir ‘Talking to Canadians’"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', September 17, 2022.</ref>

In 2023, he was appointed a Member of the [[Order of Newfoundland and Labrador]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=21 July 2023|title=Seven People to be Inducted Into Order of Newfoundland and Labrador |newspaper=VOCM |url=https://vocm.com/2023/07/21/seven-people-to-be-inducted-into-order-of-newfoundland-and-labrador/}}</ref>

==Spokesperson and endorsements==
Mercer is co-chair, along with [[Belinda Stronach]], in the [[Spread the Net]] campaign, partnered through [[UNICEF]], which kicked off at [[Brock University]] on September 10, 2008. Spread the Net provides bed nets for $10 each to prevent the spread of malaria among children in Africa.

In December 2004, Mercer appeared on the commercials advertising the [[One-Tonne Challenge]] for the Government of Canada. Mercer also appeared as a model in a national ad for men's clothing store, [[Harry Rosen Inc.|Harry Rosen]], wearing a Canali suit. All of Mercer's fees for the campaign went to [[Casey House (Toronto, Ontario)|Casey House]], a hospice in [[Toronto]] for people living with [[AIDS]]. Casey House was founded by [[June Callwood]], who appeared as a celebrity guest on ''Monday Report''.

In September 2005, Mercer became the national spokesperson for the 2005 Walk For Life, a series of 132 fund-raising walks across Canada that raise money for people living with HIV and AIDS. The Walk for Life is a project of the [[Canadian AIDS Society]].

Mercer has narrated an animated science video on [[climate change]] for [[Science North]] in Sudbury.

In November 2010, Mercer joined the [[It Gets Better]] campaign, a series of videos that aim to help gay and lesbian youth overcome bullying.<ref name="It gets better"/>

Since 2011, Mercer has been honorary patron of [[Hope Air]], a charity that provides free non-emergency medical flights for people in financial need.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151018122920/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/27/idUS165818+27-Sep-2011+MW20110927 Reuters] {{Retrieved|access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Mercer was born in [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]] and raised in [[Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove|Middle Cove]]. His mother, Patricia Cook, is a nurse and his father, Kenneth Mercer, is an executive in the fisheries ministry.<ref>{{cite news|author=Posner, Michael|date=2012-10-04|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/rick-mercer-the-man-behind-the-rants/article4589671/|title=Rick Mercer: the man behind the rants|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|access-date=2012-10-12|location=Toronto}}</ref> Growing up he attended Macdonald Drive Elementary and dropped out of Prince of Wales Collegiate in St. John's before completing his diploma requirements. He was a member of the [[Royal Canadian Sea Cadets]] during his teen years.

Mercer's spouse since 1990 is television producer Gerald Lunz. Although the romantic relationship came first, Lunz is also Mercer's long-time partner in business, who discovered him, fostered his career, and was the executive producer of ''Rick Mercer Report''. He regards his personal life as private and says little about it in public beyond acknowledging that he is gay;<ref>{{cite web|author=Jonathon Gatehouse |url=http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20040216_75361_75361 |title=Rick's Shtick |work=[[Maclean's]] |access-date=2009-02-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929030358/http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20040216_75361_75361 |archive-date=September 29, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.fabmagazine.com/features/329/mercer.html |title=Feature |work=[[Fab (magazine)|fab]] |access-date=2009-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Gordon Bowness |location= Toronto |date=September 26, 2007 |url=http://www.dailyxtra.com/toronto/arts-and-entertainment/majestys-loyal-opposition-9481 |title=Her majesty's loyal opposition |work=[[Xtra!]] |access-date=2015-09-16}}</ref> in a 2011 interview on [[CBC Radio One]]'s ''[[The Current (radio show)|The Current]]'', he clarified that he tries "to live [his] life as an out gay man" but doesn't specifically mention his sexuality on ''Rick Mercer Report'' because it's just "not what the show is about".<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1076950--rick-mercer-comes-out-again-after-his-rant-goes-viral "Rick Mercer comes out — again — after his rant goes viral"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', October 27, 2011.</ref>

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book |last=Mercer |first=Rick |year=1998 |title=Streeters : rants & raves from "This hour has 22 minutes" |publisher=[[Doubleday Canada]] |isbn=9780385257176 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/streetersrantsra0000merc }}
* {{Cite book |last=Mercer |first=Rick |author-mask=2 |year=2007 |title=Rick Mercer Report: The Book |publisher=[[Doubleday Canada]] |isbn=9780385665186 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rickmercerreport00merc }}
* {{Cite book |last=Mercer |first=Rick |author-mask=2 |year=2008 |title=Rick Mercer Report: The Paperback Book |publisher=[[Random House of Canada#Anchor Canada|Anchor Canada]] |isbn=9780385665193 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rickmercerreport0000merc }}
* {{Cite book |last=Mercer |first=Rick |author-mask=2 |year=2012 |title=A Nation Worth Ranting About|url=https://archive.org/details/nationworthranti0000merc_y0h7 |publisher=[[Doubleday Canada]] |isbn=9780385676816 |url-access=registration }}
* {{Cite book |last=Mercer |first=Rick |author-mask=2 |year=2021 |title=Talking to Canadians |publisher=[[Doubleday Canada]] |isbn=9780385696234}}
* {{Cite book |last=Mercer |first=Rick |author-mask=2 |year=2023 |title=The Road Years |publisher=[[Penguin Random House Canada]] |isbn=9780385688901}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*{{official website|http://www.rickmercer.com}}
*{{IMDb name|0580300}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercer, Rick}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
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[[Category:20th-century Canadian comedians]]
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