Rick Mercer pays a visit to McMaster

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/RickMercer108.jpg” caption=”Rick Mercer, Canadian comedian and political satirist and McMaster President Peter George. Photo by Dave Fraser. “]McMaster University will be the focus of the hugely popular The Rick Mercer Report, which is set to air Tuesday evening on CBC.

Rick Mercer – Canadian comedian and political satirist – was on campus last week for a full day of filming, which included a conversation with McMaster president Peter George, some scuffles on the squash courts, a brush with a bat, a simulated operation with McMaster's robotic patients, some laughs with professor-astronaut, Dr. Dave Williams, and plenty of gags with the students.

“McMaster is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in the country, but for some reason is often under the radar,” says Mercer. “When we started
researching the school, it was obvious why it is ranked so high. All the cutting edge medical science programs, the very intriguing doctors, the expert on all things to do with bats and a bona fide Canadian astronaut on faculty, makes for a great story. Cool stadium too.”

Rick Mercer plays squash with the women's squash team at McMaster. Photo by Matt Terry.

Kristina Taylor, captain of the women's squash team, was one of four players, including team coach Doug Hamilton, who rallied with Mercer – blindfolded, of course – on the courts.

“It was a real thrill to be able to get on the court with Rick,” she says. “He's as funny in person as he is on the show. It was certainly an experience that I will not soon forget.”

The Rick Mercer report is seen by more than two million viewers each week. It airs on CBC Tuesdays at 8 p.m., and is rebroadcast Friday evenings at 8 p.m. Videos from the show are also posted on http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/.