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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 5, 2021 23:54:52 GMT -5
We've kind of hijacked the "There I said it about comics" thread with talk of SCTV. So, I set this up to discuss the greatness that was SCTV, from the early syndicated days, to NBC, to cable.
Here's Taxi Driver, with some recasting...
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 6, 2021 0:05:07 GMT -5
Monster Chiller Horror Theater meets Bergman....
Rarer 3rd Season sketch, with Cooking with Marcello, with Tony Rosato as chef Marcello, and Robin Duke as a stuntwoman...
Duke grew up with Catherine O'Hara and was in Second city and was recruited for the 3rd season, as they had some cast shortfalls. She then went on to SNL, but occasionally popped back in with SCTV related stuff, like The Last Polka.
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 6, 2021 0:13:06 GMT -5
William F Buckley defeats Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden...
Mrs Falbo's Tiny Town, with special guest G Gordon Liddy...
The saga of Tex and Edna Boil...
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Post by berkley on Mar 6, 2021 22:34:32 GMT -5
I was a big fan and as many have said here preferred it to SNL, though I liked that too and recognise that they had a tougher job in many ways, performing live and writing a new show every week. I saw more of the earlier years SCTV, when it was a half-hour show. Once it moved to American cable I missed a lot of stuff, can't recall exactly why, after all these years. Perhaps because I didn't always have access to cable tv? I missed a lot of SNL too, so that could be it. But I seem to remember Canadian tv showing some of the American SCTV episodes too, so I'm not sure.
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Post by badwolf on Mar 6, 2021 23:07:39 GMT -5
I didn't realize they did so many Taxi Drivers! I only remember the Woody Allen one. Those are great.
"I know you think my idea of violence is a pink shirt with purple pants."
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Post by Duragizer on Mar 6, 2021 23:33:20 GMT -5
Never watched a full episode, but it's on my watchlist.
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 7, 2021 12:48:19 GMT -5
Never watched a full episode, but it's on my watchlist. In the early syndicated version, it was supposed to be a day's programming at a small tv station, starting with Sunrise semester... Then, various sketches, with everything from promos for movies (spoofs) to DIY shows & educational programs...... There would be the Melonville news, with SCTV news anchors Floyd Robertson (aka Count Floyd) and Earl Camembert.... The NBC years consisted of repeats of old sketches, mixed with new conceptual material, much of it "behind-the-scenes", like Johnny LaRue pleading with Guy Caballero for a second chance, after cost overruns on Polynesian Town. They also did longer form sketches, like the Network Wars spoof of the Godfather, Zontar, etc... Some of that started with the 3rd season, when Rick Moranis joined the group and Dave Thomas was head writer. You also had commercial spoofs throughout, with a lot of recurring characters, like Dave Thomas' Harvey K-Tel, John Candy's The Guy With A Snake On His Face, celebrity impersonations (Brenda Vacarro). There would also be phony movies, like one with Captain Combat (a spoof of Captain Kangaroo), that was a parody of WW2 movies or Ben-Hur, with Curly Howard (John Candy) of the 3 Stooges. |
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Post by tartanphantom on Mar 7, 2021 22:50:41 GMT -5
I am a huge SCTV fan. I really love the early stuff for its creativity. But when they expanded the cast in the NBC cycles, it really took off. And it got kinda weird at times... Like the Fellini-esque episode, "Rome Italian Style".
But The Schmenge Brothers Leutonian Christmas is one of my favorites... Me and some of my friends still celebrate Christmas Leutonia-style with the annual "Changing of the Socks".
Then, there are the "commercials" and show "promos"...
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Post by badwolf on Mar 8, 2021 10:12:59 GMT -5
Hahaha the news crew fight was one of my favorites!
How about when the Russians took it over and turned it into 3CP1!
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 10, 2021 18:49:32 GMT -5
Catherine O'Hara wrote my favorite sketch of all time: High Q...
That was followed by Night School High Q...
and Halfwits....
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 10, 2021 18:51:17 GMT -5
One of the best conceptual sketches they did, Rick Moranis as Michael McDonald, singing one line of the refrain of Christopher Cross' "Ride Like the Wind."
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 10, 2021 18:54:49 GMT -5
ps...
"Vudeo...."
Love Gerry Todd!
Pre-MTV, too!
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Post by Batflunkie on Mar 10, 2021 18:56:49 GMT -5
As I've mentioned before, SCTV was one of my many comedy bibles growing up. When you think about it, it's kind of a weird premise; Canadians lampooning American TV
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Post by berkley on Mar 11, 2021 1:40:20 GMT -5
As I've mentioned before, SCTV was one of my many comedy bibles growing up. When you think about it, it's kind of a weird premise; Canadians lampooning American TV
It is weird, but unfortunately Canada doesn't possess a strong tv culture of its own. Not that there haven't been many great Canadian tv shows over the years, but in terms of what the population watches and is most influenced by, it's overwhelmingly American product. Obviously the US pop culture influence is strong everywhere, but I doubt there's another country in the world that is so completely under its thumb as Canada is.
Having said that, several of the most prominent SCTV performers were transplanted Americans, IIRC - e.g. Flaherty, Martin.
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Post by tartanphantom on Mar 11, 2021 1:50:25 GMT -5
As I've mentioned before, SCTV was one of my many comedy bibles growing up. When you think about it, it's kind of a weird premise; Canadians lampooning American TV
It is weird, but unfortunately Canada doesn't possess a strong tv culture of its own. Not that there haven't been many great Canadian tv shows over the years, but in terms of what the population watches and is most influenced by, it's overwhelmingly American product. Obviously the US pop culture influence is strong everywhere, but I doubt there's another country in the world that is so completely under its thumb as Canada is.
Having said that, several of the most prominent SCTV performers were transplanted Americans, IIRC - e.g. Flaherty, Martin.
But take away the traditional Saturday “Hockey Night in Canada” tv broadcast and there would be a mass rebellion and riots in the streets...  |
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