Mike Bullard needs no formal introduction. The Toronto comedian’s late-night television talk show, Open Mike, has become a bona fide hit for CTV, and he’s appeared widely on magazine covers and in advertisements. In Open Book, Bullard attempts to translate his brand of self-deprecating humour and witty insults, which have served him so well on the show, to the page.

The format of the book – Bullard responds to e-mails from followers of his show – will resonate with Open Mike fans. Before you can say, “What a ripoff! He’s using unpaid and uncredited material to bolster his book,” Bullard says it himself, in his own introductory mea culpa. At least he gets points for honesty.

The e-mails that provide a springboard for Bullard’s comedic riffs (which cover Quebec, politicians, and jaywalkers, among other topics) are generally infuriating in their stupidity – rather like those callers who dominate radio talk shows. Bullard, by contrast, comes across as clever, albeit glib. He responds evasively to direct questions, but interspersed between e-mails are longer stories about his family, his start in comedy, and why he hasn’t made it in the U.S. He handles everything with the same smug touch, but occasionally lapses into sincerity (when writing about his brother, entertainer Pat Bullard, for example).

Mike Bullard fans will appreciate the insights into their favourite comedian’s life and times, and his beliefs, amid the guffaws. They may also enjoy his humorous prescription for fixing some of Canada’s faults. Others will likely be left scratching their heads.