Only one of the four members of the Royal Canadian Air Farce, Don Ferguson, was born in Canada. Roger Abbott hails from Birkenhead, England; John Morgan came from Aberdeen, Wales; and Luba Goy is immensely proud of her Ukrainian heritage. Together the Air Farce not only reflect Canada’s multicultural spirit but is also living proof that it is, indeed, possible to achieve superstardom within the country’s borders.
The genesis of the Air Farce dates back to 1970 when Morgan and Montrealer Martin Bronstein formed an improvisational troupe called The Jest Society. Two years of touring led the troupe to CBC Radio, where, joined by Dave Broadfoot, they became the Royal Canadian Air Farce. When Air Farce made its debut on December 9, 1973, no one anticipated that it would become one of the longest-running and most beloved shows in the history of Canadian radio, lasting 24 years and totalling 306 hours of original airtime.
The Air Farce’s first foray into television came relatively early in its radio run. In 1980, the CBC commissioned a one-hour special that was a major ratings winner, landing at No. 2, right behind Hockey Night In Canada. A 10-episode series followed in early 1981, and new specials in both ’82 and ’83.
On December 31, 1992, in what has since become a treasured New Year’s Eve tradition, Air Farce returned to TV with a year-in-review special. Eight months later, on October 8, 1993, Air Farce joined the network’s prime-time lineup. With an incredible 16 seasons, Abbott, Ferguson, Goy, and Morgan have won just about every award and honour in the business, including 15 Actra awards, a Juno award, the Governor-General’s Performing Arts award, honorary doctorates from Athabasca and Brock universities, and inclusion in Maclean’s Honour Roll of Canadians Who Make A Difference.
