Royal Canadian Air Farce

The Royal Canadian Air Farce was a satirical sketch comedy troupe best known for their long-running shows on the CBC, first as a weekly radio program (1973–97) and then as a TV series (1993–2008) and an annual New Year’s Eve special (1992–2019). The Air Farce routinely lampooned Canadian politics and politicians, current affairs and pop culture, among other subjects. It began as an improvisational stage revue focused on topical humour and evolved over time into rehearsed sketch comedy. In addition to radio and television, the troupe produced home audio and video releases, books, live stage productions and national tours. The troupe has been inducted into the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame.

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The Royal Canadian Air Farce at the 1986 ACTRA Awards
(L–R) John Morgan, Don Ferguson, Luba Goy, Dave Broadfoot and Roger Abbott hold their trophies at the first annual ACTRA National Radio Awards at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre, 2 December 1986.
(photo by Dick Loek, courtesy Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Background History

The Royal Canadian Air Farce traces its roots to an improvisational theatre troupe called The Jest Society — a pun on Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s stated objective of creating a “just society” in Canada. John Morgan and Martin Bronstein founded The Jest Society in Montreal in 1970.

Founding members Don Ferguson and Roger Abbott met in the 1960s while attending Loyola High School in Montreal. Their friendship continued through their time at Loyola College (now Concordia University). Morgan and Bronstein recruited Abbott, along with early members Patrick Conlon and Gay Claitman. The troupe’s satirical revue was so well-received in Montreal that they were offered a residency at Toronto’s Poor Alex Theatre. Relocating to Toronto caused some personnel changes and ultimately led Abbott to recruit Ferguson.

Radio

By 1973, the troupe’s reputation had grown and caught the attention of producers of The Entertainers, a CBC Radio program. Newly renamed as the Royal Canadian Air Farce, the troupe began a regular radio program under that name on 9 December 1973. It was on the air for 24 years and totalled 306 hours of content. It stands as one of the most popular programs in Canadian radio history.

Initially, Don Ferguson was recruited as a writer. But when founding member Martin Bronstein decided he wanted to focus on journalism, he and Ferguson switched roles, with Ferguson taking up performing duties.

The Air Farce’s original cast included Don Ferguson, Luba Goy, Roger Abbott, John Morgan and Dave Broadfoot. In the early years, the Air Farce toured across the country, recording their radio program from various locations. The Air Farce also issued seven comedy albums between 1978 and 1994.

Television

The Royal Canadian Air Farce’s first exposure on television was in 1977, on the CBC TV program Crazy House. In 1980, they returned to the CBC with a one-hour special. It was a hit for the network, landing just behind the ratings powerhouse Hockey Night in Canada. The CBC commissioned a 10-episode TV series in 1981. Two more television specials followed in 1982 and 1983.

The Air Farce got a toehold with television audiences with their 1992 special Year of the Farce. This led to the development of a series that began in 1993 and lasted until 2008. The troupe concurrently produced New Year’s Eve specials each year until 2019.

The Air Farce benefitted from two veteran comedy writers — Rick Olsen and Gord Holtam — who worked with the troupe from 1977 through to the television program’s conclusion in 2008. Don Ferguson once quipped that “Air Farce provides a mirror — slightly cracked — for the nation.”

Principle TV Series Cast Members

Don Ferguson (1993–2019)
Luba Goy (1993–2019)
Roger Abbott (1993–2019)
John Morgan (1993–2019)
Craig Lauzon (2002–2019)
Alan Park (2004–2014)
Jessica Holmes (2001–2019)
Penelope Corrin (2006–2014)

Dave Broadfoot was a founding member of the original radio series and continued working with the Air Farce until his semi-retirement in 1988. He made special guest appearances on the TV series until it ended in 2008.

Live performance was an integral part of the Air Farce experience. Whether for radio or television, the troupe always recorded in front of a live studio audience. These live tapings were occasionally used to raise funds for local charities.

The Air Farce wasn’t only enjoyed in Canada. The program was dubbed in foreign languages and broadcast around the world.

Honours and Awards

The Air Farce won the 1979 Juno Award for Best Comedy Album. In 2001, the troupe was inducted into the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame.

As a CBC TV program, the Royal Canadian Air Farce was nominated for 14 Canadian Comedy Awards between 2000 and 2006. It was nominated for five Gemini Awards (now Canadian Screen Awards) between 2001 and 2007, winning the Viewer’s Choice Award in 2001. In 2005, Ferguson and Abbott were presented a special Humanitarians of the Year award at the Geminis. They have also won 15 ACTRA Awards and were named to Maclean’s honour roll of “Canadians Who Make a Difference.”

Four foundational members of the Royal Canadian Air Farce — Don Ferguson, John Morgan, Luba Goy and Roger Abbott — were awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 1998. In 2000, Ferguson, Morgan, Goy and Abbott were inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.

The entire body of the Air Farce’s work was recognized in 2000 when the troupe won the Earle Grey Award for lifetime achievement in Canadian television at that year’s Gemini Awards. They also won the Gemini’s People’s Choice Award for favorite television program the same year.

Abbott, Ferguson, Goy and Morgan have received honorary doctorates from Athabasca and Brock universities. Two Canadian Comedy Awards are named after Air Farce members Dave Broadfoot and Roger Abbott.