Rick Mercer ending Report after 15 seasons
When Rick Mercer Report returns to CBC Tuesday night, the opening headline will be “Final Season.”
The Canadian comedian has decided to end the show in March after 15 seasons and 277 episodes.
Rick Mercer says there was no “seismic event or epiphany that this should be the end. It’s still the best job in the world.” It was simply the right time.
Mercer, who turns 48 next month, posted his announcement Monday in a specially taped rant to his 1.3 million Twitter followers.
It will be one of 264 rants he will have performed since the series premiered on Jan.12, 2004. So why walk away from the best job in television?
“I’ve done this before,” said Mercer, who was one of the founders of This Hour Has 22 Minutes. That series returns Tuesday night for its 25th season right after Mercer Report.
Mercer swears he’s not leaving to write a book or accept a Senate appointment. He’s not angling for a raise or “looking to spend more time with my family.” And he promises he won’t grow a giant beard like David Letterman.
He doubts he’ll change his mind, either. “There’s a lot of people who’ve worked on this show for a long time,” he said. “They’re like family in many ways. They deserve the heads-up.”
Mercer talked it over with his partner at home and work, executive producer Gerald Lunz. It was their call to go out on top.
“You leave to protect the legacy of the show,” he said. “That’s what you have to do.” What will he do next? “I honestly don’t know the answer,” Mercer said. “Right now, I just want this to be the best season ever.”