SCTV (TV Series) SCTV Solid Gold Telethon (1978) User Reviews

Perfect Episode

[sralyn-71000 · 10/10 · 4 December 2021]

If there was ever a more perfectly written episode of SCTV, it's the Solid Gold Telethon.

I first caught the episode on Nick at Nite, with the Beef N Booze commercial as a cold open. (The way certain networks arranged scenes was unusual.) And Sammy Maudlin looked absolutely beautiful in his hosting duties. But I always wondered why John Candy used his Johnny LaRue character instead of William B. Williams for this.

Dave Thomas & Catherine O'Hara's hilarious Steve & Eydie was spot on. They later confess to Sammy that they had an early argument and set it to music.

After Lorna Minnelli performs "Over The Rainbow", LaRue, by now totally stoned, donates his weight in gold...guess all that booze must've paid off, cos the 2,000 lb goal was reached!

But the part that made the episode was the closing number...the camera zooms in on Sammy...and he breaks down...poor little guy! A beautiful end to a beautifully done episode.

Hilarious Telethon Spoof

[Jimmy_the_Gent4 · 4 May 2020]

Another great Season 2 episode, one of the best in series. Don't miss it.

Sammy Maudlin is the host and asks viewers to donate gold to keep SCTV afloat. Co host Bobby Bittman yells at the audience for not being enthusiastic enough. Second co host Johnny LaRue arrives with booze and vows to keep drinking until the goal of one ton is reached. They sing a hysterically funny medley of songs about gold to the tunes of Just The Way You Are, Feelings and I Gotta Be Me.

Only two commercials interrupt the show, Beef N Booze Restaurant-Dave plays a wimpy customer who wants vegetables and gets beaten up. Max Lax Coffee helps with irregularity.

Lola Heatherton (plugging her stage appearances) mans the phones with Captain Combat. Steve (Dave) and Eydie (Catherine) do a funny, peppy song filled with insults to each other. Johnny and Bobby bring out a poster child, which is just a kid in box painted gold. Bobby starts to cry. Lorna Minnelli sings an off key Over The Rainbow. A very drunk Johnny donates his weight in gold, the goal is reached.They sing a gold song to the tune of You'll Never Walk Alone and Sammy breaks down in tears. (Just like Jerry Lewis on his annual telethon). They walk him off as the credits roll.