Use of debate footage curtailed

The use of debate footage is a traditional element to news parody shows. But this election in Canada is going against that tradition.

An agreement between Canada's main television networks and its largest political parties blocks the shows from using film clips from the televised leaders' debates (although the film is still available to conventional news and current affairs shows).

This affects Canadian shows such as the long-running "The Royal Canadian Air Farce," which has been on the CBC for 26 years, and "This Hour Has 22 Minutes."

Rick Mercer, host of "The Rick Mercer Report," a current-affairs parody on CBC, said the arrangement was unacceptable. "The reality is that when three or four networks are at the table with three or four political parties, someone is going to be the victim," Mercer told The New York Times.

Mercer said that he did not use any debate clips, but not because of the ban. "The whole idea of calling it a debate is contemptible. They may as well have just run the parties' infomercials."

The politicians have made their own situation worse, by acknowledging that the parody shows get to them. By calling attention to those who joke about them only pours fuel on the fire.