This Hour Has 22 Minutes
A CBC Television Original
This Hour Has 22 Minutes is a weekly CBC satire that lampoons Canadian politics through a hybrid format. Think pretend news broadcast punctuated by sketches, parody editorials, and candid interviews with public figures. It formally began in 1993 during Canada's 35th general election, a moment... Read more
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About This Hour Has 22 Minutes
This Hour Has 22 Minutes is a weekly CBC satire that lampoons Canadian politics through a hybrid format. Think pretend news broadcast punctuated by sketches, parody editorials, and candid interviews with public figures. It formally began in 1993 during Canada's 35th general election, a moment that anchored its political bite in current events. The show builds on a core idea of mixing the seriousness of politics with the silliness of comedy, so jokes land alongside real headlines. Early pillars were Cathy Jones, Rick Mercer, Greg Thomey and Mary Walsh, while later seasons feature a rotating ensemble including Mark Critch, Trent McClellan, Aba Amuandoh, Stacey McGunnigle and Chris Wilson. On-location bits use slanted camera angles to punch up the punchlines. The format keeps the pace brisk and the humor sharp, with the cast playing off topical events and running gags.
Produced for CBC Television, This Hour Has 22 Minutes debuted in 1993 with Mary Walsh, Rick Mercer and Aba Amuandoh guiding the format. It blends news parody, sketches and satirical editorials with a sharp Canadian political focus. It quickly became a fixture in Canadian homes.
This Hour Has 22 Minutes helped shape Canadian political satire, turning current events into compact skits and memorable moments. Its on location segments and recurring cast strengthened a sense that political talk could be funny yet pointed, influencing peers and viewers alike.
The show has earned nominations at Canadian award ceremonies, underscoring its role in elevating political humor on television. Those nominations reflect how the program turned news into accessible, witty commentary while staying anchored in civic discourse.
Critical reception centers on its mix of mock news and sketch comedy. The series uses humor to probe power and media spin, inviting audiences to question headlines without losing entertainment value. The show is rated around 6.6 out of 10 on 52 votes.
Details
- Release Date
- October 11, 1993
- Episode Length
- 22m
- User Ratings
- 52 votes
- Type
- TV Series
- Seasons
- 33
- Episodes
- 494
- Network
- CBC Television
- Status
- Returning Series
- Genres
- News, Comedy
- Country
- Canada
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Mark Critch
Trent McClellan
Aba Amuquandoh
Stacey McGunnigle
Chris Wilson
Created by: Mary Walsh, Rick Mercer, Aba Amuquandoh
Seasons (33 seasons, 494 episodes)
Season 1
20 episodes - 1993
Season 2
21 episodes
Season 3
2 episodes - 1995
Season 4
17 episodes - 1996
Season 5
0 episodes
Season 6
7 episodes
Season 7
10 episodes - 1999
Season 8
13 episodes - 2000
Season 9
4 episodes - 2002
Season 10
21 episodes - 2002
Season 11
18 episodes - 2003
Season 12
11 episodes - 2004
Season 13
21 episodes - 2005
Season 14
20 episodes - 2006
Season 15
20 episodes - 2007
Season 16
19 episodes - 2008
Season 17
14 episodes - 2009
Season 18
12 episodes - 2010
Season 19
21 episodes - 2011
Season 20
22 episodes - 2012
Season 21
20 episodes - 2013
Season 22
21 episodes - 2014
Season 23
23 episodes - 2015
Season 24
22 episodes
Season 25
22 episodes - 2017
Season 26
20 episodes
Season 27
19 episodes
Season 28
19 episodes - 2020
Season 29
24 episodes - 2021
Season 30
24 episodes - 2022
Season 31
24 episodes - 2023
Season 32
27 episodes - 2024
Season 33
16 episodes - 2025
