This Hour Has 22 Minutes

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This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Image:Thishourhas22mintues25225.gif
Format Comedy
Created by Mary Walsh
Starring Cathy Jones
Mark Critch
Shaun Majumder
Gavin Crawford
Geri Hall
Country of origin Canada
No. of episodes 22-24 per season, 15 seasons
Production
Running time 23 Minutes
Broadcast
Original channel CBC
Original run 1993 – Present
External links
Official website

This Hour Has 22 Minutes is a weekly Canadian television comedy that airs on CBC Television. Launched in 1993 during Canada's 35th general election, the show focuses on Canadian politics, combining news parody, sketch comedy and satirical editorials. Originally featuring Cathy Jones, Rick Mercer, Greg Thomey and Mary Walsh, the series featured satirical sketches of the weekly news and Canadian political events. The show's format is a mock news program, intercut with comic sketches, parody commercials and humorous interviews of public figures. The on-location segments are frequently filmed with slanted camera angles.

Its name is a parody of This Hour Has Seven Days, a CBC newsmagazine from the 1960s; the "22 Minutes" refers to the fact that a half-hour television program is typically 22 minutes long with eight minutes of commercials.

Jones and Walsh had previously worked together on the sketch comedy series CODCO, on which Thomey sometimes appeared as a guest. Mercer had been a notable young writer and performer on his own, touring several successful one-man shows of comedic political commentary.

Salter Street Films produced the series until the 2003–2004 season. Salter Street was acquired in 2001 by Alliance Atlantis, and production of the series was transferred directly to Alliance Atlantis in the twelfth season. Since 2005, Halifax Film, a new company formed by Salter co-founder Michael Donovan, has produced the show.

Recognized with 24 Gemini Awards and 11 Canadian Comedy Awards, 22 Minutes is broadcast on the CBC Television network. It is taped before a studio audience in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The series, which originally aired on Mondays for several seasons and later on Fridays, currently airs Tuesdays at 8:30pm on CBC. The first two seasons have been released onto DVD, and are available for purchase from Halifax Film.

Episodes of the current season, Season XV, are available for download through iTunes Canada.

Contents

[edit] Cast

Although each cast member's real name was always shown at the beginning of each episode, at the end of most episodes prior to 2006, one cast member would sign off using their anchor character's name, which is noted below where known. This has now been discontinued, and anchors now regularly address each other by their real names.

  • Cathy Jones (1993– ) as anchor (formerly Sydney Dubizzenchyk, a reference to former CBC anchor Tina Srebotnjak, who had become the host of Midday in 1992) and various correspondents and sketch characters
  • Shaun Majumder (2003– ) as anchor (formerly Tucker T. Bartlett) and various correspondents and sketch characters.
  • Mark Critch (2003– ), as anchor (formerly Bas MacLaren, apparently in homage to two well-known Newfoundland radio announcers, Bas Jamieson and George MacLaren) and various correspondents and sketch characters.
  • Gavin Crawford (2003– ), as anchor (formerly Gavin Cooper) and various correspondents and sketch characters.
  • Geri Hall (2007– ), as anchor and various correspondents and sketch characters. Hall had previously been a fill-in anchor in fall 2004 and March 2007.
  • Nathan Fielder (2007– ), as special correspondent

[edit] Former members

  • Rick Mercer (1993–2001) as anchor J.B. Dickson and various correspondents and sketch characters. Mercer left the show to devote more time to Made in Canada; after that show ended he launched Rick Mercer Report, a series very similar to 22 Minutes and Comedy Central's The Daily Show.
  • Colin Mochrie (2001–2003) as anchor Anthony St. George and various correspondents and sketch characters. Mochrie left the show after two seasons to pursue his own projects and other movie roles, although he returned as a guest star on the January 27, 2006 episode.
  • Mary Walsh (1993–2004) as anchor Molly McGuire and various correspondents and sketch characters. Walsh appeared less often in season 11 and left the series to pursue her film career and to host Mary Walsh: Open Book, a CBC series in which she moderated a celebrity panel discussing books and literature.
  • Greg Thomey (1993–2005) as anchor Frank MacMillan and various correspondents and sketch characters. Thomey appeared less often in season 12 and left the show in 2006.

[edit] Substitute anchors/Special correspondents

Substitute news anchors on the series are people who "guest star" on the series for when series regulars are away (from Season 10 onwards).

[edit] Regular characters and segments

Talking to Americans
Rick Mercer tours the United States, talking to Americans as if from a Canadian news program, asking them about "Canadian issues." The object is to see how little some Americans know about their northern neighbours. The piece was so popular that the CBC had Mercer create a one-hour TV special based on the segment. It became the highest rated comedy special in Canadian television history when it aired on Canada Day, 2001. Some truly memorable bits include Rick Mercer getting Americans to say "Congratulations Canada on legalizing VCRs!" and getting a professor at Princeton University to sign a petition against the re-starting of the Annual Toronto Polar Bear Hunt. In an election 2000 segment, he convinced then-Governor of Texas George W. Bush that Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was named Jean Poutine and that he was supporting Bush's candidacy. The success of the CBC special got Mercer attention on numerous American media outlets, including ABC News Nightline. Mercer abandoned the concept after Sept. 11, 2001.
No Pun Intended
A Ludacris-ish Indian rapper/politician played by Shaun Majumder who frequently raps about election issues and what he will do if elected.
Babe Bennett
A 22 Minutes "sexual affairs correspondent" played by Cathy Jones, Babe is a sassy suffragette, 1940s style, who talks about sexual matters. She ends each segment by saying "I'm just goofin' around!"
Marg Delahunty
Mary Walsh crashes press conferences, hosts a "sleepover" for the nation's leading female (and gay) politicians, and threatens to "smite" the likes of politicians as "Marg Princess Warrior" (a loose parody of Xena).
Mark Jackson
22 Minute's Teenage correspondent that talks to politicians and who is played by Gavin Crawford. (The character is carried over from The Gavin Crawford Show.)
Bas MacLaren
A 22 Minutes correspondent portrayed by Mark Critch. He talks to politicians about current events and is also one of the 22 Minutes anchors.
Misses Enid & Eulalia
Two elderly women who talk about daily events (portrayed by Cathy Jones and Mary Walsh, respectively). Upon Walsh's departure from the show, Jones has appeared alone as Miss Enid. (The characters were normally introduced as "the Misses Enid and Eulalia", meaning "Miss Enid and Miss Eulalia", but this was frequently misunderstood by viewers as "Mrs. Enid" and "Eulalia" without an honorific.)
Streeters, aka The Rant
A weekly commentary on current events and political issues, which quickly became the show's most famous feature, by Rick Mercer in black and white presentations. This segment was later used in colour presentations on the Rick Mercer Report series. (Streeters clip)
Max Pointy
A spoof of CBC personality Rex Murphy's political commentaries for The National, performed by Colin Mochrie. Max would start off with a legitimate political issue but end up on an unrelated and generally inane point by the end of his rant.
That Show Sucked!
with Ma and Eddie Reardon (portrayed by Mary Walsh & Greg Thomey) who make fun of TV shows, with Ma saying that whatever show that Eddie watches "Suck" and constantly demanding that he give her "the G.D. clickerbox".
The Quinlan Quints
four quintuplets (the fifth one went missing and has never been found) who live in Buchans, Newfoundland and Labrador; portrayed by Cathy Jones, Rick Mercer, Greg Thomey and Mary Walsh (Colin Mochrie plays Mercer's quint role for seasons 9 and 10).
Inside Media Counter-spin
A satirical talk show with the host portrayed by Cathy Jones. The host makes blatantly stereotypical statements about her guests.
Panic Room with Betty Hope
Host Betty Hope (played by Cathy Jones) parodies Nancy Grace in "breaking news" style segments, in which she interviews someone knowledgeable about a given threat and then spins the facts to make them sound more dramatic and dangerous.
The Right Answer
Two conservative commentators (played by Rick Mercer and Greg Thomey) debate various issues in the news. When one of them makes a point, they hit a chess timer.
The Special Eds
Mercer and Thomey portray two members of the RCMP - Special Constable Ed Cochrane and Special Constable Ed Codner - with questionable ethics.
Nathan Fielder On Your Side
Nathan is a reporter for 22 Minutes asking the strangest questions in one-on-one interviews, as well as questions you wouldn't expect to be asked in a TV interview. His segments usually start with a shot of people walking along a street. He talks almost exclusively in a monotone and has laughed once, to date. He also claims to be allergic to dogs.

[edit] Crawford's characters

Stuart McLean
Based on the CBC personality.
Uwe Meyer
a fashion correspondent that Gavin Crawford portrays. (The character is carried over from The Gavin Crawford Show.)
Gunter Wilson
a computer whiz who hosts the segment "Computer Corner".
Natasha Stillwell
Based on the former co-host of Discovery Channel's show Daily Planet.
Mark Jackson
The teen correspondent of the program, has severe acne and is repeatedly picked on, also talks with a basic braces lisp.
Rob Boberston
an artist that does a segment called Art Break, a parody of the classic art series The Joy of Painting.

[edit] Critch's characters

Rex Murphy
Based on the CBC personality.
Danny Williams
Based on the premier of Newfoundland & Labrador. On the October 16, 2007 episode, the real Danny Williams kicked him off and took over his seat in the news desk during the show's first segment.

[edit] Hall's characters

Avery Adams, Single Female Voter
A prospective voter who confronts politicians about potential "relationships". Perhaps best known for her first appearance in October 2008, in which Hall / Adams was apprehended by security during a Stephen Harper press conference, she also later attracted some controversy when Ontario MPP Peter Kormos shouted her out of a press conference with Premier Dalton McGuinty.

[edit] Jones' characters

The Campbell Files
With Sandy Campbell who talks about the entertainment industry
Joe Crow
An Aboriginal environmental "correspondent" who talks about the environment and the Canadian government's relation with Native peoples. Each segment ends with Crow blowing out his campfire with a single puff.
Miss Enid
An elderly lady with plenty to say about many different issues.

[edit] Majumder's characters

Raj Binder
a sweaty soft-spoken Indian sports nerd portrayed by Shaun Majumder, who has also been used as a behind-the-scenes interviewer on Just For Laughs. (View Raj's Website)
Ian Hanomansing
Based on the CBC personality.

[edit] Mercer's characters

Billyatropia "Billy" Smithopolis
An "outstanding" Canadian sports athlete. Billy has a fear of heights and, according to one skit, is the only Canadian going to the 2008 Olympic Games for sure.

[edit] Mochrie's characters

Max Pointy
Based on CBC radio personality Rex Murphy
Peter Mansbridge
Used in Mansbridge One on One parody skits, where "Peter" has insightful interviews with himself.

[edit] Thomey's characters

Jerry Boyle
a Newfoundland separatist whose campaign slogan is "If you can mark an X, you're my kind of people!" The character was created as a recurring character on CODCO.
Ottawa Gargoyle
A gargoyle who sits on top of the Parliament buildings and satirizes politicians, occasionally throwing hot oil on them.
Tim MacMillan
Foreign correspondent who's (almost) never where he's supposed to be. He's also Frank MacMillan's brother. His segments would open with a recurring style of dialogue. "Hello, Tim?" "HELLLOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" "Are you in Geneva?" [pause.] "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

[edit] Walsh's characters

Connie Bloor
A 22 Minutes Prairie correspondent played by Mary Walsh, who reports from a donut shop. Introduced in each segment by the line: "She's flat as the prairies and twice as wide," she wears a tuque and earmuffs, and her speech is punctuated with a series of snorts. One of her recurring gags involves feeding paper printouts of celebrities and politicians through a paper shredder.
Dakey Dunn
A 22 Minutes "Male Correspondent" played by Mary Walsh, replete with gold chain, hairy chest, cigarette and beer, who regularly lays out a macho view of economic and cultural matters. This character was earlier used in the CODCO series. Dakey also once accosted Margaret Atwood at a book signing, reciting one of her most famous poems over and over again.

[edit] Other notable segments

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (October 2008)
  • 1997 - Paul Martin puts Greg Thomey in a headlock.
  • 1997-98 - Rick Mercer goes to eat at a Harvey's fast food restaurant with Jean Chrétien
  • 1998 - Rick Mercer parodies Canadian figure skater Elvis Stojko's groin injury at the 1998 Winter Olympics, his status as spokesman for McCain, and his appearance in an infamously ineffectual anti-tobacco advertisement. Mercer received backlash for what some considered a harsh depiction of Stojko.
  • 1999-2000- such luminaries as Walter Cronkite put Greg Thomey in a "celebrity headlock"
  • 2000 - Rick Mercer and many prominent members of the Canadian House of Commons lip sync to Trooper's "Raise a Little Hell" on Parliament Hill to promote voting in the 2000 federal election. (view clip)
  • 2000 - Rick Mercer proposes a referendum to make Stockwell Day change his first name to Doris, after actress Doris Day.
  • 2001 - Following an incident in which an aide to federal MP Rahim Jaffer posed as the politician in a radio interview, Mercer performs a rap based on Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady", with the lyrics "Will the real Rahim Jaffer please stand up?"
  • 2001-02 - Colin Mochrie's Christmas at Parliament-- Twas' the Night before Christmas is re-interpreted by MPs, often airing out their partisan complaints about Paul Martin's 2002 budget
  • 2003 - Chrétien announces that Marg Princess Warrior (Mary Walsh) had decided to run for the Liberal leadership
  • 2002-03 - Misses Enid (Cathy Jones) and Eulalia (Mary Walsh) visit and talk to Paul Martin
  • 2002-03 - Colin Mochrie's "Apology to America"
Mark Critch (left), Carolyn Parrish (right) and a Bush doll, in a skit that led to her dismissal from the Liberal caucus.

[edit] Famous stunts

[edit] Jean Poutine

1999-2000 - During the 2000 American election, Rick Mercer approached Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush on a campaign stop in Michigan, asking for comment on the news that Bush had received the endorsement of Canadian prime minister "Jean Poutine". The then-prime minister's name was Jean Chrétien, and he had not endorsed Bush — it is standard practice for the Canadian government not to endorse anyone in a foreign election.

Bush – who had previously stated that "you can't stump me on world leaders" – accepted the endorsement with a short and grateful speech to the 22 Minutes cameras, which aired as part of the show's regular Talking to Americans feature.

In his first official state visit to Canada four years later, Bush joked that his "one regret" about the visit was that he'd "hoped to meet Jean Poutine."[1]

[edit] Stockwell/Doris petition

2000-01 - Often cited as the show's best joke, the sketch was aired during the 2000 federal election campaign, and consisted of a staged rant by Rick Mercer.

When former Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day ran for Prime Minister of Canada, he proposed a mechanism to call for a referendum. A petition on any particular subject which gathered at least 350,000 signatures of voting age citizens ("3% of the electors") would automatically trigger a national referendum.

Mercer's "rant" asked viewers to log on to the 22 Minutes website, and sign an online petition asking the party leader to change his name to Doris Day (after the singer/actress). Producers claim to have obtained in excess of 1,200,000 online votes. This was cheerfully admitted to be a stunt unhampered by the rigours of an Elections Canada-controlled petition. Although the skit had no effect on Alliance policy, it did obtain international publicity for the show and contributed to the general air of farce surrounding Day's election campaign. Day did, however, have a very appropriate response to the petition: "Que será, será."[2]

[edit] Oilers vs Canadiens

2003-04 - Shaun Majumder, in character as "Raj Binder", was sent to report on the 2003 outdoors Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens old timers game, preceding the night's actual NHL regular season game, which was the first NHL game to be played outdoors (at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton). Raj actually snuck into all the team photos, causing uproar from the event's unwitting organizers in the days after, when the photos were released to the press.[3]

[edit] Specials

[edit] References

  1. ^ President Discusses Strong Relationship with Canada
  2. ^ "'Doris Day' petition hits the mark", cbc.ca, November 16, 2000.
  3. ^ view clip

[edit] External links

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