SCTV (1976–1981)
"Second City TV" (original title)

The staff of Melonville's TV station put on programming that is unique in its own silly way.

Creator:

Andrew Alexander

Stars:

Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin

Cast

Series cast summary:
Joe Flaherty	...	Various (76 episodes, 1976-1981)
Eugene Levy	...	Various (75 episodes, 1976-1981)
Andrea Martin	...	Various (75 episodes, 1976-1981)
Dave Thomas	...	Various (75 episodes, 1976-1981)
John Candy	...	Various (50 episodes, 1976-1979)
Catherine O'Hara	...	Various (50 episodes, 1976-1979)
Tony Rosato	...	Various (36 episodes, 1977-1981)
Robin Duke	...	Various (28 episodes, 1976-1981)
Harold Ramis	...	Various (28 episodes, 1976-1978)
Shelley Long	...	Various Characters (26 episodes, 1976-1977)
Rick Moranis	...	Various (25 episodes, 1980-1981)

Storyline

Sketch comedy show set around the fictitious TV station SCTV. The programs broadcast by SCTV were parodies of films and other television shows. They included "Farm Film Report", Woody Allen's "Play It Again, Bob!", "Monster Horror Chiller Theatre", and "Great White North." Other skits involved the staff of SCTV, like president Guy Caballero, clueless newscaster Earl Camembert, washed up actor Johnny LaRue, and leopard-skin print wearing station owner Edith Prickley.

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Plot Keywords:

tv station | sketch comedy | television | parody | cult tv | 

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Taglines:

Don't touch that dial! Don't touch that one either! And stop touching yourself! SCTV is on the air!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

SCTV

Filming Locations:

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Second City Entertainment, Old Firehall Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (78 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The MacKenzie Brothers sketch was originally created and included in the show as a protest against "Canadian content" governmental regulations that required a certain amount of Canadian "cultural" subjects to be included in the show. The network was demanding that the show adhere to the rules, the artists resisted and the MacKenzie Brothers resulted. Never meant to be anything more than satire, the routine became one of the most popular of the series and, ironically, was one of the most popular known Canadian acts of the period, both domestically and internationally.

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Quotes

Filth's boss: The pope's coming to town next week.
Harry Filth: You want me to off him?

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Crazy Credits

In the first 2 seasons the cast names were given by voiceover (by Dave Thomas) instead of opening credits, and the last name was given as "And Dave Thomas as the Beaver". In the first 2 seasons the opening includes a parody of the Indian-head test pattern.

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Connections

Referenced in American Pie (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Dance of the Hours"
by Spike Jones and His City Slickers
(1976-1978)

User Reviews

The greatest show that ever was, and that ever will be...

SCTV is now on the air! and I LOVE IT!! I'm only 18 yrs old, so naturally, I was born after the show ended, but I've been watching reruns for quite a while now, and I have to say that I know the show pretty well. There's so much to say about it. Like most of the other posters stated, SCTV surpassed SNL in every aspect. I'm not much of a fan of SNL just because I find it's humour too simple, too forced. I like the wit. For example, this may seem to be stupid, but when you think about it, it's very ingenious: The Days of Our Lives becomes The Heys of Our Lives and everyone says "hey" all the time!! I mean, it's corny, yes, but it works! Oh, I love of the actors so much! They're so awesome at what they do! John Candy's sleazy Johnny LaRue, Joe Flaherty's equally sleazy and money-hungry Guy Caballero, Eugene Levy's funnyman Bobby "How are ya?!" Bittman, Andrea Martin's loud-mouthed, cackling Edith Prickley, Rick Moranis's super (as in the supers on his show) crazy Gerry Todd, Catherine O'Hara's spoiled, man-crazed performer, Lola "I want to bear your children! HA!haha!" Heatherton and Dave Thomas's opinionated Bill Needle.

Yes, SCTV had it all, and all the actors had caliber. There are so many more characters and impersonations worth naming and remembering: Floyd Robertson, Count Floyd, Earl Camembert, Bob and Doug McKenzie, Dr. Tongue, Woody Tobias,Jr. aka Bruno, Alex Trebel, "Rockin'" Mel Slirrup, Mrs. Falbo, Big Jim McBob and Billy Sol Hurok, Yosh and Stan Shmenge, Harvey K-Tel, Lin Ye Tang, Richard Harris, Bob Hope, Rabbi Karlov, Crazy Hy, Ricardo Montalban, Don Strom, Sid Dithers, Moe Green, Ed Grimley, Jackie Rogers,Jr., Pierre Trudeau, Hugh Betcha, Alistair Cook, Larry Siegel, Merv Griffin, Sammy Maudlin, Lou Jaffe, William B. Williams, Brock Linehan, Harry (The Guy with a snake on his face), Skip Bittman, David Brinkley, Lorna Minelli, Barbra Streisand, Divine, Brian Johns, Mayor Tommy Shanks, William F. Buckley, Mother Theresa, Angus Crock, the 5 Neat Guys, Brooke Shields, Raoul Wilson, Joyce DeHalfWitt, Jack Klugman, Tex and Edna Boil, Liberace, G. Gordon Liddy, Gus Gustofferson, Al Peck... oh! there are SOOOOOO MANY!!! All of them memorable. One of my favourite skits is when Richard Harris (Dave Thomas, of course) guest stars on Mel's Rock Pile and sings a re-mix of MacArthur's Park. Actually, anything with Dave Thomas as Richard Harris is hilarious. There are so many sketches I could name, but I won't, because it would literally take me a full day, if not two.

How can anyone NOT enjoy this show? I mean, if you've seen it at least once, be you Canadian or American, there had at least one sketch that made you chuckle! I am glad that it never became as popular and widely known as SNL... and that it didn't as long. For those who knew and loved SCTV, they know that it was never bad comedy and that it went out with dignity... and humour! This show is a timeless classic and I hope that it's memory will live on with the DVD box sets. I am glad to have stumbled upon this treasure... it's too bad that more people don't appreciated the comedic talent of these fine, fine actors.