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CBC-TV to drop Royal Canadian Air Farce

LEE-ANNE GOODMAN

The Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 12:29 PM EDT 01/04/08

After 15 years on the air, TV series will end with shortened 10-episode run starting in the fall ...Read the full article

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  1. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: You mean it's STILL ON??!!
  2. A A from Canada writes: Too bad. I guess they had a tough time reinventing themselves. I don't watch much tv anymore so I have a question about Air Farce.

    Who plays Obama?
  3. Swifty J from Mtl, Canada writes: This show is just painful to watch. It's enough to make you want to get a life.
  4. Duorp Naidanac from Canada writes: Is the CBC still broadcasting?
  5. Joe Canada from Kingston, Canada writes: Please drop the CBC all together.
  6. JawBone Hamilton from Canada writes: Thank God!
    This show is an embarrassment to all sentient creatures.
  7. david pollack from Toronto, writes: What a shame! This is still a great show. They have new cast members, up to date and very funny. This is a shame. Obviously being on Friday night does not help.
    Yes, the management at CBC are out for lunch. JPOD, a great show, was dropped for no reason. Why would they move a show geared towards younger people, to Friday night??
    I do enjoy the Border, excellent show. Rick Mercer and This Hour has 22 minutes are great as well. This new mini series, Trojan Horse, is excellent. I would suggest anyone who has not seen part 1 to go to cbc's website to watch the episode. Part 2 is on Sunday... a must see.
  8. J M from Realityville, Canada writes: Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.
    Quite possibly the least funny show ever to grace television screens. Even the commercials are enough to make me fall over, hold my ears, and beg to get hit by lightning.
  9. Legman22 In Montreal from Montreal, Canada writes: As anyone who has seen the show (maybe 5 people?) in the past few years, it has gone steadily downhill and the quality of the skits is simply atrocious. The only redeeming value of the show is the New Year's eve special....and only because of the 'Chicken Cannon' where our politicians are skewered relentlessly...as they should be. RIP AF.
  10. Antonio San from Canada writes: Fool's day: they would not drop this claptrap, they rather kill classical music...
  11. William Vander Wilp from Kingston, Canada writes: Not much of a loss. Both 22 Minutes and Rick Mercer are able to cover the same material but to actually do it in a way that is funny.
  12. Andre Poirier from Canada writes: You could actually do a show on the show. I mean here you have a bunch of civil servant actors with their jobs guaranteed for life (well maybe no longer but a lot more guaranteed than the average career artist) and the guy doing Jean Chretien can't even accurately do his accent. I saw an interview with the guy and he was explaining how he got ideas for doing Jean Chretien and a lot of them were out of his head and had no relation to Jean Chretien at all. Jean Chretien was a lot more funny in real life than these guys were imitating him.

    In any case, hats off to Rick Mercer, he is a well established and true funny man. Russell Peters, Sean Majumder and that girl who imitates Celine Dion are also truly comical.

    But the farce... well ... I think it's passed its time ...
  13. Heidi Solberg Viar from Eau Claire, United States writes: How disappointing, that it is getting taken off the air, and that it has gone downhill. I actually found it really very funny when I had the occasion to see it. The only real equivalent we have is when the Capitol Steps get their once-every-so-often TV or NPR specials.

    But please, don't get rid of the CBC. There would be no Hockey Night then. I'd miss Mr. Cherry's suits.
  14. Dan Wilson from Toronto, Canada writes: At long last. This show was excruciatingly embarrassing to watch. Ham-fisted. On the other hand, with another 15 years they might eventually learn to be funny.
  15. Terry Terry from Brantford, Canada writes: This is called mercy killing. I loved the Air Farce on the radio, I used to time some of my drives so I'd be in the car and could listen without interruption. It never worked on TV, as other posters noted it was painful to watch. '...when I regained consciousness'.
  16. J M from Realityville, Canada writes: All hail 22 Minutes as the new reigning least funny show on television. I guess that's what happens when the talent quits and you try to carry on with barely employable low rung 'comedy' hacks.
  17. John Sledzi from Canada writes: Rick Mercer's knowing expressions are getting tired too. And what's with Coronation Street? Whenever it comes on after news I have to lunge at the TV to cut off the dreadful music.
  18. Erik Richards from Winnipeg, Canada, writes: As much as I enjoyed The Farce years ago it has been far too painful to watch in recent years.

    I believe its best days were on the radio, and that is the show's true medium. I spent many Sunday lunches listening to the RCAF. Their shows were classic and I would love to hear those again. They were Canadiana at its finest, filled with some very good political humour. Unfortunately the move to TV saw the quality of their material slide and now they rely too much on the 'play to the camera' style of acting.
  19. Typical Country Weather from Mono, Canada writes: I too was surprised to learn it was still on the tube. Now if we can just get rid of the 'Just for Laffs' and 'Gags', all would be right in the universe.
  20. Alberto Bayo from Canada writes: Jeez...I never saw it once
  21. Ian Fleming from Toronto, Canada writes: I've always suggested suggested that terrorist suspects be made to watch Air Farce to soften them up before interrogation... May be against Geneva Conventions though...
  22. H M from Canada writes: I haven't seen this show in years, but it did have some appeal to a younger kid, as opposed to 22 minutes which was marginally less blatant. 'Mike from Canmore' always cracked me up, but he's dead and I am no longer 12 years old.

    Dad still won't shut up whenever we drive through Canmore, though. Almost as bad as that Fountain Tire commerical about 'Going to Winnipeg'.
  23. Prairie Boy from Canada writes: As with Wayne and Shuster about 8 years too long.
  24. Heidi Weber from Canada writes: I did enjoy the early years (I'm Mike - from Canmore) but the gradual replacements seemed strained and less effective. A lot of the recent political material was just mean rather than funny but I will miss their visits to Timmy's - oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah.
  25. Mike H. from Canada writes: This must be an April Fools joke. No one at the CBC could be this sensible. It should have been killed years ago.
  26. Sue W from Canada writes: They're the only intelligent and entertaining thing that has ever come out of the CBC.
  27. Midtown Bob from Toronto, Canada writes: Is there anybody from CBC reading these comments?

    Here's my idea for a CanConSitCom:

    Take a rich retired hockey player/executive who made his fortune in America. Think Bobby Clark. He moves back to Flin Flon Manitoba and opens a bar (kinda like but not exactly like Cheers), along with his wife/love interests and an eclectic array of bar regulars and the hardships of a north Manitoba winter, there should be ample ideas for episodes.

    Send all the royalty cheques to Midtown Bob c/o the G M.
    Thank you.
  28. Beer and Popcorn from Toronto, Canada writes: The CBC is the most LIEberally-biased news organization I have ever seen and is the biggest waste of taxpayer money presently being spent.

    It should be shut down immediately in my view..
  29. M Clarke from Canada writes: Good decision - this was a terrible show - not funny at all, in fact, embarrassingly bad.
  30. S L from Canada writes: maybe an American network will pick it up...
  31. Michael M from Ottawa, Canada writes: I agree with Erik from Winnipeg that Air Farce was better suited to radio. If he thinks AF was classic, I wonder if he remembers 'Inside from the Outside', which I think was a superior effort, led by Max Ferguson and writers Rick Salutin, now a columnist with the Globe, and Gary Dunford of the Sun chain. The satire never missed and the CBC was often skewered savagely. The Corporation tried to kill it by moving it from the Sunday spot later held by Airfarce to late Wednesday evening, before it eventually faded into oblivion as the last half hour of As it Happens on Friday evening. Long live AF! Long Live IFTO! Three cheers for Rick Mercer and This Hour has 22 minutes! Don't let the Canadian tradition of satirical comedy die.
  32. Eric White from Springfield, Ill., United States writes: As an American who has seen and heard the Air Farce occasionally over quite a few years, I have to say that the program has long struck me as past its prime. (For one thing, the guy doing George W. Bush sounds like George Bush, the father.) I love '22 Minutes' and 'Rick Mercer'and wish 'Double Exposure' were back. Having said that, I'm always a little sorry to see a harmless institution die. Just showing my age, I guess. And I was usually in Canada, when the season premieres aired. Those shows seemed to have a little thought and effort lost in the weekly grind.
  33. Chris H from To, Canada writes: I used to find Air Farce hilarious, I still love Luba Goy and the addition of Jessica Holmes a few years ago brought back some of the funniness in this show, but I have to agree that its time seems to have passed. Lately when I watch it I found the sketches either not funny or even mean at times. Every great show has its day - and unfortunately I think this one has passed. Still 15 years is a great run and nothing to be ashamed of.
  34. Juan Valasquez from Scarborough, Canada writes: This is the greatest gift anyone could ever give me.
    Seriously.
    Thank you to whoever made this possible.

    That show made two and a half men look brilliant.
  35. Sober Second Thought from Toronto, Canada writes: They should have brought in new writers and talent a long time ago. The old guard was too stale and always overshadowed the new faces on the show.
  36. Stewart Baker from Ottawa, Canada writes: For me, the downhill slide started with the loss of Sgt Renfrew and later Jock McBile and of course Mike form Canmore. I never really thought lampooning our Queen was kosher, but Jug-Ears Charles was always fair game.
  37. William Muller from Vancouver, Canada writes: I see the right wing CBC bashers are out in full force again. They prefer enlightening shows on the other 'Canadian' networks such as Big Brother, Who's Smarter Than a 5th Grader (any of you??) and American Idol. Please leave the CBC to those of us who enjoy comedy relating to Canadians and thought provoking documentaries as shown on The Passionate Eye, The Lens, Docs Zone etc. plus in depth national news programming the commercial stations can't even hold a candle to.
  38. The Shadow from Montreal, Canada writes: William Muller from Vancouver, Canada writes: I see the right wing CBC bashers are out in full force again. They prefer enlightening shows on the other 'Canadian' networks such as Big Brother, Who's Smarter Than a 5th Grader (any of you??) and American Idol. Please leave the CBC to those of us who enjoy comedy relating to Canadians and thought provoking documentaries as shown on The Passionate Eye, The Lens, Docs Zone etc. plus in depth national news programming the commercial stations can't even hold a candle to.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Respectfully, any network that thinks Air Farce is funny and yet cuts an amazing show like Intelligence doesn't deserve the tax dollars it's getting.
  39. Stephen 62 from Vancouver, Canada writes: I agree that the show lost its way years ago. Its best days by far were its early years on radio, with the hilarious Dave Broadfoot. Still, I think that a lot of the comments posted here are cheap and downright nasty!

    I have a lot of affection for Luba Goy, Don Ferguson, and the rest of the crew. My best wishes to them all.
  40. Paul Jacobson from Toronto, writes: I remember some of the great skits from earlier radio years when the imagination seemed stronger. The great Trudeau skit when he went for a walk in the snow will remain one of the classics. I will miss the Canadian-ness of the show. I agree that Jock McBile and Mike were wonderful creations but all of the originals did some great things. I hope that the younger members have a chance to build a new show that works as well. I hope that the team will remember that humor can be subtle.
  41. Pete Kauchak, Green Tory from Cascadia, Canada writes: William Muller from Vancouver, Canada writes: I see the right wing CBC bashers are out in full force again. They prefer enlightening shows on the other 'Canadian' networks such as Big Brother, Who's Smarter Than a 5th Grader (any of you??) and American Idol.

    The only thing Air Farce conveyed about being Canadian was that we aren't all that funny.
  42. J. Bergin from Canada writes: The only reason this show is still on is because the CBC relies on the tax payers money instead of putting out quality shows that actually require people to watch.
  43. IC Weiner from Senatorsville, Canada writes: Ok, this one's easy. Air Farce was a total turkey from day 1, including the radio broadcast. I mean, who in god's name found this stuff funny? What kind of demographic enjoys watching these lamos (except the blonde hotty) week after week? If we're paying for the CBC to the tune of $2 billion a year, shouldn't we get to say what's watchable? And I'm not talking that Can Con crap. If the frenchies get to watch National Treasure in prime time, why can't the anglos? Ah, that feels better...
  44. Chris H from To, Canada writes: Eric White from Springfield, Ill., United States, I loved Double Exposure when it was on the radio. I made it a point to be at home and in front of the radio every Saturday at 6:30 to listen to it. However, I found it did not make a good transition to television and - sadly - it never returned to radio.
  45. Pete Kauchak, Green Tory from Cascadia, Canada writes: J. Bergin from Canada writes: The only reason this show is still on is because the CBC relies on the tax payers money instead of putting out quality shows that actually require people to watch.

    I liked Doctor Who but that was a joint effort with the BBC.
  46. Pete Kauchak, Green Tory from Cascadia, Canada writes: Chris H from To, Canada writes: Eric White from Springfield, Ill., United States, I loved Double Exposure when it was on the radio. I made it a point to be at home and in front of the radio every Saturday at 6:30 to listen to it. However, I found it did not make a good transition to television and - sadly - it never returned to radio.

    I like the 'Frantics' on radio. They were hilarious.
  47. W. Mayne from Canada writes: Harper gets his way! Next on his list is Rick Mercer and also This Hour Has 22 Minutes!
  48. leo bloom from radisson, sask, canada, Canada writes: This is a mercy kill. Jessica Holmes was the only funny one left - but the writing was dreadful and the new 'live' format a bust. Jessica will do okay, but the rest should retire to some southern haven. RIP RCAF...
  49. Pete Kauchak, Green Tory from Cascadia, Canada writes: W. Mayne from Canada writes: Harper gets his way! Next on his list is Rick Mercer and also This Hour Has 22 Minutes!

    Another Non funny show since Rick Mercer left.
  50. Save our Planet from Toronto, Canada writes: Make room for more 'Little Mosque on the Prairie' - and less archaic traditional Canadian humor (or lack thereof)
  51. Colleen McIntosh from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada writes: Helllo, Question is...when do they cut the CBC, altogether...waste of taxpapers monies, in my opinion.

    Anyone who wishes to support the CBC, should subscribe and then the average Canadian would not be stuck funding this pro-liberal propanganda machine.
  52. globefan Eh from Canada writes: Bush gutted PBS ..I'm not at all surprised that Harper is working hard to decimate the CBC..and any criticisms of his government and certainly RCAF has been critical of politicians..Clearly the Conservatives have much much thinner skin.

    Anyone noticed the ads on PBS lately..Raytheon, McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, Kerr McGee..and so it goes.
  53. Bob Lawblaws from Canada writes: Now if CTV would only cancel Corner Gas..........
  54. Brit . from Canada writes: Privatize the CBC and give the money to the national film board.
  55. ginny ! from Canada writes: Their audience died off years ago.
  56. Betty Davis from Toronto, Canada writes: I used to enjoy the show and made a point of getting out to a couple of tapings a year. The past few years I've lost interest. The skits are the same over and over and the new cast members are not funny. As much as I hate to say it I think the time has come to end it.
  57. Matthew Thiesen from vancouver, Canada writes: I listen to CBC 2 every morning. It is great! I think people forget that there is a benefit to a national broadcaster that is not controlled by Bay Street or internationals.

    I do agree that CBC needs to do some deep thinking around its format and delivery of service. Perhaps CBC should be integreating more education and studies into thier offerings. I think this would then be put to use in the elementary and secondary schools of the nation. We need Canada wide institutions that are useful and used.

    I don't like Air Farce. 22, but i will definitely miss the Stephen Harper skits with 1950's like robot sparks coming out of his back. LMAO
    How realistic that must be, we have been definitly been seeing smoke come out of him.
  58. David Harrison from Canada writes: I agree that the radio days were the best. I still remember their signon: one of the men saying 'This is the Royal Canadian Air Farce', which was quickly followed with Luba saying 'Ici Farce Canada'. That quite effectively skewered the most ridiculous aspects of official bilinguism, in a simple and effective way.

    Unfortunately, on television, their humour became broader and broader, and was increasingly targeted to the lowest common denominator. I used to watch regularly, but haven't done so in several years and from what I've seen the occasional time I've caught it, I haven't missed much.

    Still, regardless of any justifiable criticisms, a team that can sustain a comedy career for over thirty years deserves praise for doing something right. Lets hope that a replacement series is found. Our tradition of political comedy during prime time is well worth preserving.
  59. Juan Valasquez from Scarborough, Canada writes: Next up Corner Gas. Only in Canada would a face like Brent Butt's get on TV.
    Such insipid and vapid television.
  60. Wilf Kruggel from Canada writes: If the Saturday night hockey were moved to TSN, the CBC, would never get watched in this house, so CAN it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wilf
  61. Paul Meyer from Trail BC, Canada writes: When most of your jokes are about bashing the right (22 minutes also comes to mind) you alienate a lot of the people who ultimately are paying your salary. The relentless abuse of the Reform party and Preston Manning in particular was what turned me off the show. No equivalent abuse was ever aimed at the Libs or the NDP. For all the Third Reich imagery and allusions they made agaisnt Reform, I can't recall once ever seeing Stalin, Pol Pot or Mao shown on screen with a leftie.

    Seems odd that this is being announced just days after they cut the Radio ORchestra. Is there some sort of anti-middleaged-white-lib-left move afoot at the CBC?
  62. Erik D. from Ottawa, Canada writes: I guess Harper didn't like the fact that what he and his fellow Con MPs are doing provide such a rich source for a lot of good humour. Must be stage 2 of his strategy, after stage 1 of muzzling his own MPs, he's now into muzzling Canadians as well.
  63. Milos Gravity from Canada writes: This show isn't on my Directv. So, whatever.
  64. Peter Rembrandt from The Hammer, Canada writes: The humour of Steve is good enough for me...let's hope his backers agree to 15 years for him too....not likely.
  65. Rona Baird-Zundel from Arvida, Canada writes: Bashing the right??? Bashing knuckle-draggers, yes but not the legitimate right wingers. Perhaps Dion is a closet right-winger with the many skits done at his expense?
  66. Kevin McDougald from Winnipeg, Canada writes: It looks as though there was, in addition to the cast, a staff of four writers working behind the scenes.

    Once you get that many people involved in the creation process, you're looking at a final product that can be classified as 'design-by-committee'.

    And if there's anything committees excel at, it's the stifling of originality and innovation. The fewer people there are involved in the writing process, the better.

    As well, Canadian comedy has tended to do well when it was a bit edgy, taking the chance of creating an outrage. The last time I watched Air Farce, it seemed to be risk-averse.
  67. Saskatchewan Seal Hunter Club from Canada writes: Who cares........nobody I know watches CBC anyways, or very little of it. If it were not for government handouts to CBC....it would be gone in a blink of an eye.
  68. Al MacDonald from Cathedral of Hockey, Canada writes: Finally! Now could you please stop televising so many Toronto Maple Leaf games as well. Haven't Canadians suffered enough already.
  69. Adrian Howell from Toronto, Canada writes: Having watched the show for many, many, years...I agree with most of the posters--it had gone on too long, and no longer had the verve the earlier seasons had with the 4 main characters: Luba Goy, Don Ferguson, John Morgan ( deceased) and Roger Abbott. Actually, the show 'jumped the shark' when John Morgan retired from the show in 2001, and never really recovered. It will be missed, but its time was done. See...writing a post that's ON TOPIC can be done!!!
  70. Randal Oulton from Canada writes: >> David Harrison from Canada writes: I agree that the radio days were the best. I still remember their signon: one of the men saying 'This is the Royal Canadian Air Farce', which was quickly followed with Luba saying 'Ici Farce Canada'. That quite effectively skewered the most ridiculous aspects of official bilinguism, in a simple and effective way.

    Yes. That was them at their best. To really get it right, though, they needed to dodge the Canada part by saying 'farce nationale' or something. But the Air Farce has been, sadly, tired for decades. Next on the list needs to be '22 minutes'. It is also very, very tired, and is now cringingly in the TTH ('tries too hard') category.
  71. golfer golfer from Vancouver, Canada writes: I agree that Air Farce passed it prime a few years ago. Now if CBC would get rid of the Farce that the NHL calls hockey they would really be doing us a favour
  72. Sue City from Canada writes: Well, I for one won't miss it... especially Luba Goy. I'm sorry, but was she ever funny?!?

    Replace it with extra episodes of This Hour Has 22 Minutes!!
  73. C. O. from Toronto, Canada writes: I think any CBC bashers are uncultured self-loathing troglodytes! Their comments should be removed.

    The CBC is such a great institution that helps define us as a country.

    All you boo hoo anti everything your own country produces should do the rest of us a favour and MOVE!
  74. Celine Brown from Canada writes: The only real question is: What took the CBC so long?
  75. Pepper Gee from Toronto, Canada writes: About time. This show has never been funny - just embarrassingly stupid. I agree with the other readers about getting rid of CBC too. There is only one show I watch on that channel and I could do without it.
  76. Juan Valasquez from Scarborough, Canada writes: C.O>
    Give your head a shake.
    The CBC produces some good shows like the passionate eye and the fifth estate.
    However their roster of unbearable shows is about as long as the Mississippi.

    Kenny Vs. Spenny was the greatest show come out of CBC in the last 10 years. And what happened?

    CBC dropped it for some reason, Showcase picks it up and now they are on Comedy Central in the states with Matt Stone and Trey Parker as Exec. producers. Well done CBC...keep that tradition of insolence alive and well.
  77. Philip Yu from Toronto, Canada writes: C.O., there'll never be any pleasing them. Growing up, people were more apt to keep such opinions to themselves, but then '93 came and they've been adamant since. Don't bother.
  78. Terry F from Edmonton, Canada writes: Bury it in the same pit as 'This Is The Law' and 'The Whiteoaks Of Jalna.'
  79. Harbinger from Out West from Prince George, Canada writes: If we had a parallel Smithsonian institute we could install the 'chicken cannon' for the upcoming generations to muse about. What a shame. Not that the show is going off the air, but the fate of the chicken cannon. How about putting it in the foyer of the House of Commons. After uttering the most stupid comment by someone in Question Period, the MP could be placed blindfolded in the foyer and could be shot by it.
  80. Bill H from London, Canada writes: Yes, Air Farce has long since passed its best before date. Air Farce on radio was absolutely hilarious. Dave Broadfoot and John Morgan were exceptional comics. Who could ever forget Bobby Clobber and Sargent Renfrew? For some reason, Air Farce did not make the transition to TV very well. Luba Goy did some excellent take-offs of the Queen Mom and John Morgan continued to do well. But with Morgan's retirement, the whole thing went downhill very quickly. I don't know if was the talent (yes, Jessica Holmes has some good moments, but Luzon and Parks just don't have it and Roger Abbot has lost what he once had) or the writers, but the whole show has become a depressingly crude attempt at satire that just can't get off the runway. In a word, they simply aren't funny anymore. ............... Double Exposure was another incredibly funny radio satire show that could not survive the move to TV. I guess that some things are just better off left alone. ........ I don't even like 22 Minutes since Mercer and (forgive me, but I'm having a seniors moment and I've lost her name) left. They also seem to have lost the knack for truly creative satire and descended into crude bathroom/schoolyard humer. Rick Mercer Report is now the only really funny and entertaining show that remains.
  81. BiB AmomA from Canada writes: Good. I never liked the Air farce.

    I isn't funny, satirical, topical, it isn't anything.

    Good riddance.
  82. saucer mcsaucerton from Canada writes: Next up: 22 minutes.

    The CBC doesn't know comedy - stick to news and sports!
  83. Jerry Cutler from Delta, BC, Canada writes: SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!
  84. albert rose from Canada writes: Luba Goy was bad enough. Jessica Holmes was the kiss of death. Like Sean Cullen, some 'comedians' just shouldn't be on TV.
  85. M Lee from Canada writes: I am amaze that so many right wingers/neo con are reading G&M. Maybe I am missing something, has G&M replaced National Post as the ultimate right wing media outlet? I have an idea, if you guys don't want to fund CBC let's not fund health care too, isn't universal health care also a socialist conspiracy?
  86. Political Junkie from Canada writes: Lost interest in the program about ten years ago. Haven't missed much, I guess!
  87. Bubbles McBubbles from Trawna, Canada writes: 22 Minutes needs to be euthanized next.
  88. Stephen Harper from Canada writes: I saw Luba Goy a few weeks ago at the Mandarin at Yonge and Eglinton.

    Just sayin'
  89. Sue Hickey from Grand Falls-Windsor, Canada writes: I never liked Air Farce on television. It, and Double Exposure, were much better on radio - radio forced intelligent listeners to use their imaginations! I didn't really like RCAF, didn't find it very funny. But then again I am a Newfoundlander, where we pretty well wrote the book on biting, funny satirical humour. I remember watching a programme co-hosted by Cape Breton's Bette MacDonald and Rick Mercer. Bette reminded me that Nova Scotians and Capers in particular aren't funny! And after you watch 22 minutes and Rick's report, I get the same reaction from RCAF. It just isn't funny.
  90. Paul Meyer from Trail BC, Canada writes: Rona Baird Zundel: Preston Manning can hardly be considered a 'knuckle-dragger.' He's had more positive effect on Canada than most PMs for a long time.

    Neither Stephen Harper nor the other members of the CPC have a problem being made fun of (witness his appearance on Corner Gas; Canada's most popular non-sports program, BTW). But when it's so blatantly unbalanced (like RCAF or 22 minutes), it loses its humour and simply turns into partisan propaganda. One cheap shot at Dion or Svend doesn't make up for 100 at Manning.
  91. Juan Valasquez from Scarborough, Canada writes: M Lee. You have it twisted.
    Health care is something we cannot live without.
    The Air Farce and CBC are definitely things we can live without.

    And perhaps there are so many 'right wingers' on these boards because the article has to do with the demise of yet another Communist Broadcasting Corporation show.
  92. Jake ---- from Canada writes: The original cast was funny, Mike from Canmore was a classic. Since the old cast has retired they have lost their way.
  93. J K GALBRAITH from Canada writes: The show has been less funny for the last few years and the live versions this year demonstrated the benefits that taping can do to give people more time to think through skits and make the program smoother. Is its decline about the writing, performances, more biting commentary from other shows (22 Minutes, Rick Mercer)
    or the fact that as many political commentators have suggested our federal politicians have less personality and therefore it is harder to satirize them?
  94. Georges Clermont from Canada writes: Could it be that the CBC is listening?
    Is it becoming customer oriented?
    More likely that someone rolled the dice!
    Who cares anyway... nobody gives a hoot about the CBC but nobody seems to realize that our taxes are going down the drain.
  95. Nature Lover from Two Hills, Canada writes: I love this show. I have watched it most Friday nights for the last 2 years. They really put together current affairs fast and funny. Craig does a great Stephen Harper. Thought Jpod was stupid and the secret lives of hockey wives absolutely tragically abysmal.

    To each his own I guess. Sorry to see it go and I don't imagine it would be much good in reruns. The current edge is what I like about it. Who can say Jessica Holmes didn't play Belinda Stronach to the T. Or how about that Mayfield Hotel hooker from two weeks ago, whatever her name was. Jessica did her funny!

    Remember when they took Don Messer's Jubilee off T.V. even though half the country was watching it? Not the image CBC was trying to project. CBC repeatedly tells us what it is NOT, but it has yet to determine what it IS. Sad for taxpayers to be paying for this quagmire.
  96. Vincent D from Canada writes: People calling for the end of the CBC....

    Do you have no pride in Canada's instituions? The CBC has been around longer then everyone here and is part of the fabric of Canada. You can not carve out the CBC without leaving a gaping whole in the soul of this country. The CBC symbolizes why people have fought and died to defend free speech.

    Calling for the CBC to be sold is un-Canadian and un-patriotic.
  97. bob miller from Canada writes: The show has long since passed its shelf life.... the veterans of the show are painful to watch and the newcomers (with the possible exception of Jessica Holmes) are about as funny as gout.
    I thought the retirement of John Morgan was the real nail inn the coffin.....he was the only one of the original four who retained any comediac value....in my opinion.
    Bye bye.....
    dodger
  98. Vincent D from Canada writes: 'Bashing the right...'

    Please... Why is it that the right ALWAYS cry foul? When 22 Minutes started we had the Liberals in power for 10 years and 22 Minutes was always 'bashing' them as well. Mercier was... mercilous. But the Liberals never threatened them and never complained. Jean C even went on several times and played along.

    It's a satirical news show. What did you think they were going to do?

    But apparently Conservatives don't have a sense of humour...
  99. M S from Ottawa, Canada writes: Oh well. This show used to be hilarious. The stunts were just great. Now, it's got more of a 'meh' feeling. They've replaced most of the cruel satire with easy slapstick humour. I guess it's time to move on.
  100. Greg Van Zandt from Canada writes: ITS ALL THE LEAFS FAULT!!!! lol

    CBC programming director Kirstine Layfield already stated that if the Leafs failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs this year, the public broadcaster's arts and entertainment division would take a $10-million hit that would put some of the network's much-heralded new shows at risk.

    'Ultimately our revenues pay for our programming and a lot of what we make depends on how hockey performs..'

    'The ad revenue that would have come in for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs would have been significant to the network, so that makes sense,' he (J.B. Sugar, executive producer of 'JPod) said. 'I know that hockey certainly drives the schedule over there and possibly the finances too.'

    http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080310.wsptleafstv10/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home
  101. John Rowell from Nelson, B.C., Canada writes: I agree that the show has steadily been going downhill, and I think the reason is that contemporary politicians are just too boring, shallow, and characterless to be successfully parodied. When Jean Chretien and Joe Clark were around, the show was hilarious.
    Geez, well for sures and that I guess the CBC does not have the budgie to the The Farce going.
  102. The Commentator from TO, Canada writes: April Fool's? I hope not. Nevermind political criticisms - the show just isn't funny, and that's probably the worst thing you can say about a comedy.

    And no, it has nothing to do with today's politicians - see 22 minutes and Rick Mercer, both of which are actually funny.
  103. Tobin Manley from The Bronx, NYC, United States writes: It's been stale for years.
    Mercer is clearly witty, but his smarmy, ever-so-ironic pose
    is a wearing thin too.
    By the way, I remember a CBC kids show where an 11 year old girl went to a big sales expo in Ottawa asking Canadians basic Canadian history questions; most responses were embarrassingly wrong. But alas, that sort of thing wouldn't get the ratings of Talking To Americans.
  104. David Stevens from Montreal, Canada writes: Institution or not the show has overstayed its welcome. The comedy budget of the CBC should be pulled from tired shows like Air Farce and This Hour has 60 minutes.

    Mercer Report is pretty good but could be edgier. Bring back sharper comedy like Kids in the Hall and Four on the Floor. Still Canadian but not not such ho-hum humour.

    If there is one thing Canadians can do well it is comedy. We have to cease being afraid of anything that isn't strictly 'family-hour' and view it as an export.
  105. sue boohoo from Canada writes: Uh Oh!They speak English, a minority linguistic group in Canada now.
  106. Barbara E. from Calgary, Canada writes: UNBELIEVABLE!

    I'M READING ALL THESE POSED COMMENTS FROM THE SAME OLD CONSERVATIVE WEB-BLOG TROLLERS .. THOSE WHO POST SO-CALLED-COMMENTS, OVER AND OVER, TO TRY TO CREATE THE PUBLIC IMPRESSION THEY ARE AVERAGE CANADIANS VOICING 'OPINIONS'. IT'S SICKENING!

    NO DOUBT THIS FINAL SOLUTION CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR .. LET'S SEE, TWO YEARS?

    ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE HAS INCREDIBLY TALENTED WRITERS AND COMEDY ACTORS AND ACTRESSES. I LOVE RCAF! I LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVERY WEEK! WE, OUR EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALL LOVE THE SHOW, AND WE WATCH EVERY SHOW, SOMETIMES TWICE.

    THE ONLY REASON IT IS BEING CANCELLED IS BECAUSE STEPHEN HARPER CAN'T STAND BEING MADE FUN OF, AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THE TOLERANCE TO HAVE HIS ACTIONS SO HUMOROUSLY DETAILED. THEY PUT THE LIGHT ON HARPER'S HYPOCRISY, SO NOW HARPER IS SHUTTING THEM DOWN. MAYBE RCAF HAS BEEN THREATENED WITH A LAWSUIT?

    PLEASE DON'T FALL FOR THE MANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS POSTED HEREIN. IT'S THE NEW TREND OF NEW TRICKSTERS.

    THESE SAME PEOPLE POSE AS UNBIASED COMMENTERS, DOING MASSIVE CAMPAIGNS ON BEHALF OF HARPER'S PUBLIC RELATIONS GOONS. IT'S BEEN UNCOVERED IN MANY OF THE POLITICAL AND OTHER BLOGS, PLUS IT'S BEEN ADMITTED BY THEM. THE CONSERVATIVES HAVE A WEB SITE FACILITATING AND SUGGESTING TO THEIR TROLLS HOW TO SEND LETTERS, ETC. AND DROWN OUT ACTUAL PUBLIC OPINION. EVEN THE RECENT TORY FLYERS ARE PROOF OF THESE UNUSUAL NEW POLITICAL TRICKS, POSING CLOSED QUESTIONS AND TRYING TO GET YOU TO RETURN YOUR NAME TO THEM.

    I'D POST THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL SITE, BUT AFRAID IT WOULD ONLY CREATE EVEN MORE PHONEY POSTERS DUPED INTO THIS TRAGEDY AGAINST FREE SPEACH.

    VERY SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS CANADA HAS GOT ITSELF INTO WITH OUR NEW DICTATOR AND HIS ZOMBIES WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT HISTORY COULD TEACH THEM. HITLER WOULD BE PROUD. SO MANY MINDS ARE CLOSED, SO THEIR TACTICS DO WORK.

    WHERE DID HONESTY GO?
  107. Nature Lover from Two Hills, Canada writes: Rick Mercer was funny when he wasn't so full of HIMSELF. HE worked as a quirky team player, but solo, he's just too 'entitled.'