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Announced in September his departure from Salter Street Films-CBC's news spoof This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Will be leaving after the show's New Year's Eve special. Recently wrote, with Mark Farrell, the series Made In Canada, a Salter Street-CBC production that satirizes a Canadian film and TV company. Mercer stars as a script reader who uses Machiavellian tactics to rise to the top of the company.
SCENE
Sept. 23, 1998. Mercer is at his desk at the 22 Minutes production offices in CBC's Halifax building. These are far from the sleek, big-windows and pine-floor space seen in Made In Canada. Do your readers know this place? asks Mercer. On being told no, he offers this description of the 22 Minutes offices. To wit, a haphazard collection of ATCO trailers with plywood corridors and grubby furniture in the parking lot of the CBC-television building. Mercer claims the trailers keep the 22 Minutes cast humble. "It's hard to get a swelled head in the middle of February when there's a snowdrift in your dressing room." He's writing material for the first episode of the sixth season of 22 Minutes, while still putting the final touches to the first six episodes of Made In Canada.
ROB MAGAZINE Why are you leaving This Hour Has 22 Minutes?
MERCER I guess you could say I'm taking a sabbatical. In case your readers don't know, "sabbatical" is a fancy term that us high-school dropouts use. No matter what happens, I'll always be part of the 22 Minutes team and would love to show up on occasion.
ROB MAGAZINE Have any of your colleagues at 22 Minutes said, "Please don't go!" or, maybe behind your back, "The only way out is in a box"?
MERCER Well, to my face they were nasty and vicious. Behind my back, they cried and said wonderful things.
ROB MAGAZINE What did 22 Minutes teach you about running a TV show?
MERCER Surround yourself with people who are far more talented than you are.
ROB MAGAZINE Behind the scenes at 22 Minutes, what were the best and worst moments?
MERCER Best? Having burgers with Chrétien at Harveys. He gave me a ride back to Parliament Hill in the Lincoln. It was just 10 simple minutes, but I couldn't help but think, "Shit, I'm a kid from Middle Cove in the back of a Town Car running red lights with the Prime Minister."
Worst? I guess the day I said to myself, "Rick, the drugs, the parties, the prostitutes, the never-ending laughter, the access to obscure Reform Party backbenchers, is it worth it?" I'm sorry, that was the best, again. What was the question?
ROB MAGAZINE What are you taking with you from the 22 Minutes office?
MERCER An education. My BA in Badness.
ROB MAGAZINE How long can 22 Minutes last without you?
MERCER When I told my dad I was thinking of leaving, he said, "Winston Churchill was replaceable. You sure as hell are." So how long can it last without me? As long as it wants, easily as long as it did with me.
ROB MAGAZINE Your new series, Made In Canada, is about greed, manipulation, lies, womanizing and making mindless TV junk in Canada for an international audience. Are you biting the hand that feeds you at Salter Street Films or giving it an affectionate kiss?
MERCER It's a slap in the face with a velvet glove.
ROB MAGAZINE Is the use of lies, manipulation and drugging your boss the best way to get ahead in television?
MERCER Worked for me.
ROB MAGAZINE Why did the title of Made In Canada change from Casting Couch?
MERCER Casting Couch was always a working title only, but it's not about casting, plus Benny Hill wasn't available.
ROB MAGAZINE Ever seen a real casting couch?
MERCER Just Michael Donovan's. (Donovan is chairman and CEO, Salter Street Films, and executive producer of This Hour Has 22 Minutes.)
ROB MAGAZINE Your character on Made In Canada says, "Television is about making one thing only – money." How much money have you made from television?
MERCER None of your business.
ROB MAGAZINE You're only 29 years old. What else do you want to do?
MERCER Oh, the usual. See world peace in my lifetime, or at least 15% annually, amortized over the next 25 years.
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