In 1992, the group became the first Canadian inductees into the International Humour Hall of Fame. The editors of Maclean’s (Canada’s national news magazine) chose the Air Farce for the 1991 Honour Roll of Canadians who make a difference. The group has won 15 ACTRA Awards (Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists) for radio and television writing and performing, and a Juno Award (Canadian recording award) for best comedy album. In 1993, Abbott, Ferguson, and Goy were each awarded honorary doctor of law degrees by Brock University in St. Catharines.

The Air Farce keeps in touch with Canadians and ensures that the troupe’s humor remains relevant by performing and recording in all ten provinces and two territories. For several years the troupe worked on both radio and television. “We’re reluctant to give up radio,” Ferguson told Toronto Star journalist Phil Johnson. “Radio allows us to showcase new acts and characters.” However, after 24 years, the troupe broadcast its last radio program on May 25, 1997. They generally play in halls that hold 2,000 or 2,500 people, and did so even when taping for radio. This approach creates the need for more visual interest. “I did [former Prime Minister] Brian Mulroney for 20 years—the worst years of my life I might add,” Ferguson told Globe and Mail columnist Liam Lacey. “On-stage, I’d have a long walk over to the microphone, so I’d start from the side of the stage with just the chin first, and then the stuck-out bum would follow. The audiences would be roaring before I reached the microphone. Then we’d edit all that out, and cut to the voice.”

When the Air Farce first tried a television show in 1981, it was shot in advance and produced with canned laughter. The lack of live performance and topicality destroyed the spontaneity that is at the heart of the Farce, and the show failed. Then in 1993, a New Year’s Eve special was made, raking in 2 million viewers, almost 10 percent of the entire Canadian population. Network executive Ivan Fecan approved a series. It became one of the top-20 Canadian shows and one of the CBC’s top five.

Rather than leaning toward a particular point of view, the Farce points fingers at all parties. Skewered politicians and media figures regularly show up in person to do sketches on the show. Individual performers do not even know how the other members of the group vote and would not dream of discussing it. As Liam Lacey wrote in noting that the Farce receives indirect governmental support (by virtue of its airing on the public network CBC), “One would be hard-pressed to imagine another country in the world where purveyors of official disrespect would be regarded with such widespread affection.” Dave Broadfoot used to say, “Do you know what they’d call us in the Soviet Union? Inmates.”