After 11 seasons, Rick Mercer no longer worries about what to shoot next
Comedian Rick Mercer cleaned up at the Canadian Screen Awards last week, but the St. John's native didn't always think his show would last this long.
"I've stopped worrying about what to shoot next," he said.
"Year two and year three of this show I was always worried that 'OK, well this is working but we're going to run out of things to do', but we just don't seem to do it."
The show he was talking about is the Rick Mercer Report, currently in its 11th season on CBC Television.
Mercer won three trophies at this year's awards; Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series, Best Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series and Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series.
The 'worry is gone'
Mercer said while he has had a good run with his own show and formerly on This Hour Has 22 Minutes, he never takes anything for granted.
"If you're in show business you never really get comfortable ... because you're just happy to be working," he told the St. John's Morning Show.
Mercer said he remembers being ecstatic from being at the awards when he was just starting out as a young performer.
"It was so exciting, one of the greatest moments ever in my life," he said.
"I thought if we ever go to war, I'll be able to convince the military that I don't have to fight, I can entertain the troops because now I have this silly trophy."
Mercer said the anxieties he had about running out of content for his show have long passed — and he's come to realize there is an almost endless amount of interesting things happening in Canada.
"That worry is gone, and I'm having a lot of fun."
