Young Rick Mercer explains Newfoundland humour

After 400 years of waking up to a smack in the face, Newfoundlanders have developed a sense of humour like nobody else. In a place so harsh, so bleak, and so beautiful, it's either laugh or seek therapy. In this 1992 rant for the CBC-TV program Newsmagazine, playwright and actor Rick Mercer paces the snowy streets of St. John's to explain what humour means when you live on the side of a cliff.

[@cliveroberts8760]

Damn, Rick Mercer really brings me back. Where has the time gone? Cherish every moment people, time is short.

[@susancrawford2343]

Come back to us Rick - we miss you!

[@intheshedwithjohnnyg8894]

filmed in 1992 and it still true today , still go for a laugh .

[@gcprost]

I loved this and I love Newfoundland.

[@shannondawn44]

Love Rick Mercer

[@robertkennedy5414]

1:21 That was Lar's Fruit Market. My dad used to buy his Camel cigarettes from Lar, he worked at the post office around the corner. Made great custard cones too.

[@TherealSakuraKei]

I'm loving the memories. Rick has always been a bit of a hero for me.
☆

[@DM-rb2qt]

RIP Nfld. She's gone by', she's gone.

[@FirstLast-uj9ud]

Damn, his Newfie accent was a lot stronger back then

[@AnnaLVajda]

Lots of Newfies in Ontario I'm adapted. Irish most of them.

[@gusbeau1]

My dad was a bonified Newf (younger brother, too) dad born in Gambo (1904) brother in Gander ‘44.

[@Paul-nr9ed]

Stay where you're at and I'll come where you're too

[@MrAllan9]

Strange ? I grew up in New Brunswick Ca, and every year a new booklet came out with the latest Newfoundland jokes, and the author was a Newfoundlander.

[@RyanSheppard-tq4pg]

Ya you are strange

[@debbieseitz5979]

Miss Rick on TV.

[@gusbeau1]

My daddy & younger brother were bonified Newfs ! God bless that special island ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@luminyam6145]

Love Rick.

[@seemee548]

you may think it's goofy, but the man on the moon is a newfie.

[@Wanderlustus]

Brilliant.

[@hotrod5853]

Beautiful people!

[@nathansnerdynook]

"...we've never had what you would call a tradition of stand-up comedians." Well that's certainly changed, in no small part thanks to him.

[@amandamoses9564]

This is awesome!

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Part of Ireland, I figure ...Newfoundland 💚 ❤ 😎

[@sheddski2942]

My grandparents came from St. John’s

[@segurosincero4057]

Sookie babies. Haven’t heard that in an age. Right on!

[@MOI-qq8zc]

Gods country

[@seansky2721]

I went to sea once with a couple from The Island. They were a pair of jewels! This young man talks WAY too fast to be from Newfoundland.

[@rastapete100]

It is never called "the Island", that would be PEI.

[@seansky2721]

@@rastapete100 I appreciate your correction, sir! Thanks!

[@susancrawford2343]

But he is!

[@zedhedmusic]

quidi vidi sure is a beaut

[@AnnaLVajda]

Just depressed people trying to make the best of things I guess. They can joke because they are all like that.

[@Momoften2011]

What an accent!!!

[@bondinvisible]

At least now there’s plenty of oil rigs

[@liammcooper]

He almost sounds Irish

[@fireandcopper]

Dærk and hærd

[@charlottejones8903]

Hes annoying af

[@tinaperez7393]

Then why did you click? To be even more annoyed? Or just to spread some good old fashioned cheer? Put out good vibes into the world or nothing at all.

[@charlottejones8903]

​@@tinaperez7393🤪