Wednesday, February 17, 2010

S.C.T.V.



I have always enjoyed comedy shows. I haven't really watched Saturday Night Live regularly for years, since it is not as funny as it used to be. My favorite comedy show was SCTV. I started watching it when I was still in Elementary school. It used to come on late Friday nights and I remember how bummed I was when it was taken off the air and its time slot was replaced by a new show called Late Night with David Letterman back in mid 80's. (Yes I am old.)

I have mixed feelings about promoting S.C.T.V. because many people I tell about the show just don't get it or don't appreciate the humor. I think it is an acquired taste. The low budget and the unnecessary laugh track never helped my cause either. Most of skits were funny, but there were also some real masterpieces.

All the performers were very talented. The cast included John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine Ohara, Rick Moranis, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, and Martin Short. Why are there so many funny Canadians? Some of the more popular characters included Edith Prickley, Ed Grimley, Count Floyd, and Bob and Doug McKenzie. My favorites were: Yosh and Stan Schmenge, Bobby Bitman, Rocko from Days of the Week, Jackie Rogers Jr., 5 Neat Guys, and Dr. Tongue.

The show featured funny celebrity imitations and brutal parodies of shows like Fantasy Island, The Godfather, Towering Inferno, Chariots of Fire, Body Heat, and Oceans Eleven. I also loved battle of the PBS Network Stars and CCP1. They also made great spoofs of artsy foreign films. Before Sprockets, there was "Whispers of the Wolf" spoofing Ingmar Bergman films.
Here is a clip from Merv Griffin which also takes on 2001, War of the Worlds, and Close Encounters. Sorry for the poor quality.

5 comments:

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

Some people may not get it but I know all the references you made. Great show that all Canadians know about. Even that first season where the laughtrack is the loudest and the sets are the cheapest has some of the best comedy bits around. I still do lines from skits like 'The Man Who Would Be King Of The Popes' that send my friends into hysterics. Yosh and Stan's movie - The Last Polka is a classic that demands repeat viewing. I could talk SCTV all day my brother.

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

Oh and why are there so many funny Canadians? The popular wisdom is that being cooped up with each other for 7 months of the year means that we must have a great sense of humor to keep from killing each other. Plus we are equally influenced by the best of both British and American comedy that gets show on our TV stations so we KNOW funny.

ShanaM said...

Yay for SCTV !!

Kristina P. said...

I have never even heard of this show. I am lame.

Dr Zibbs said...

One of my favorite shows ever.