Network: CTV Television Network
Broadcast Run: 1997 to 2004
Broadcast Medium: Television
After many years on the road as a stand-up comedian, one-time policeman and Bell Canada employee Mike Bullard was tapped to host his own late-night talk show on the CTV-owned Comedy Network, starting in the fall of 1997. So successful was the show that in April 1998 it was transferred to the full CTV Network, and in September 2002 it began its sixth season.
Once it got into its stride, Open Mike rapidly overtook shows like Leno and Letterman to be the most watched late-night talk show in Canada. A string of major entertainment, political and sporting personalities appeared on the show, including such diverse names as Burt Reynolds, Nicholas Cage, Kathie Lee Gifford, Jean Chretien, Colin Mochrie, Ken Howard, Frank Sinatra Jnr., and Jamie Sale and David Pelletier.
Orin Isaac and his Open Mike Band backed the show, which was produced at CTV’s Masonic Temple studios in Downtown Toronto. The one-hour program aired from midnight to 1:00am Monday through Friday, with repeats on the Comedy Network.
n August 2003 it was announced that the Mike Bullard show would be moving over to the Global Television Network. Bullard said that a key reason for the move was the prospective of his doing more original episodes, with less repeats being broadcast. Its final broadcast on CTV was in September 2003.
In March 2004, Global announced the cancellation of what was now The Mike Bullard Show, because of disappointing ratings.