Rick Mercer, Proud To Be Canadian
The Ottawa Sun, October 2, 1998
By Shannon Hawkins
Well, not the real Mercer, but his character on his newly created show Made in Canada, premiering on CBC Monday at 8:30 p.m.
Mercer, along with This Hour Has 22 Minutes producer Gerald Lunz and co-chairman of Halifax's Salter Street Films, created this satirical look inside the world of television production.
Mercer stars as Richard, a stifled script reader with big dreams of a promotion to the executive offices.
Talking to the camera, as if whispering to friends, he shares with the audience his behind-the-scenes impression of the people he crosses, or who cross him.
And watch out, this is one guy who's guaranteed to get even.
As second fiddle to the head of TV production, who also happens to be his brother-in-law, he needs him to move on or out before he can rise up the corporate ladder.
In the debut episode Mercer drugs his boss, gets him fired and sleeps with the daughter of the president of the fictional Pyramid Production company.
Not bad for a few hours work.
"I think it lives out a lot of people's fantasies," says Mercer with a snicker.
"We all think that we could use these sinister traits to get ahead in the world if we wanted."
Made in Canada has all the makings of a hit. With witty humor, believable characters and a plot line that some can only dream about, CBC has backed the program in an unprecedented move, renewing the show beyond the six-week pilot series for 13 more episodes without it even being aired yet.
"We've created a really good, solid show," says Mercer.
"More and more Canadian television programming is able to compete on the international markets."
For Mercer, Made in Canada moves him one step closer to his career goals.
The 28-year-old Newfoundland native started out in 1991 with his own one-man show at the NAC -- Show Me the Button, I'll Push It; or Charles Lynch Must Die -- a collection of political rants on post-Meech Lake Accord.
The show's critical acclaim launched two others, I've Killed Before; I'll Kill Again (critiquing the Mulroney administration) and finally A Good Place to Hide in 1995.
It was then he joined the cast of This Hour Has 22 Minutes giving him a true outlet for his political commentary.
Earlier this week he flew to Washington for a "streeters" segment of This Hour with his view of what's going on in President Bill Clinton's life now.
In the new year, Mercer will take a break from This Hour to concentrate on the production of Made in Canada.
"It's kind of a sabbatical," he says. "I know it's a fancy word that high school dropouts use, but it applies."
For now, Mercer is basking in the glory of having creative control of Made in Canada with co-writer Mark Farrell.
"It's a great luxury to be able to write a show and act in it the same time," says Mercer.
"I've surrounded myself with great actors, who knows where this could lead."
Perhaps CEO of Pyramid Productions?