Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Playlists
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Comedy
    Comedy TV Shows - 1970s TV Shows - 1980s 4 Mins Read

    SCTV (Second City Television)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 7 6 – 1 9 8 4 (Canada)
    72 x 30 minute episodes
    42 x 90 minute episodes
    18 x 45 minute episodes

    Second City Television (SCTV) was a popular comedy television show originating from Canada that ran in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Pulling much of its talent and ideas from the Chicago and Toronto ‘Second City’ comedy venues, the show became an important pipeline for comedians into the mainstream of the US entertainment market.

    Popular performers who moved from SCTV into television and movies include John Candy, Martin Short, Dave Thomas, Catherine O’Hara, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, Harold Ramis, Robin Duke, Tony Rosato, Joe Flaherty, and Eugene Levy.

    SCTV presented itself as a TV network (Channel 109) with its segments parodying every aspect of television, including advertising (for sponsors such as The Evelyn Wolf School of Speed Eating), news, and even network executives.

    The early opening credit sequence set the tone for the show. As the voiceover says, “SCTV now begins its programming day,” a horde of television sets are thrown out of the windows of an apartment building and smash on the pavement below.

    In effect, SCTV was a cross between a spoof of television and a loose comedic soap opera about the running of the fictional Melonville television station.

    The station’s personnel included the unlikely Argentinian station owner Guy Caballero (Joe Flaherty) and the station manager, Moe Green (Harold Ramis), who was eventually kidnapped and replaced by Edith Prickley (Andrea Martin).

    Other recurring figures were the inept features host Johnny LaRue (John Candy, pictured at right) and the endearing Ed Grimley (Martin Short).

    Over the years, the SCTV line-up included the local news, read by Floyd Robertson (Joe Flaherty) and Earl Camembert (Eugene Levy), Sunrise Semester, Fishin’ Musician, and The Sammy Maudlin Show (hosted by Maudlin and his sidekick William B) with regular guests appearances from Bobby Bittman (Eugene Levy) and Lola Heatherton (Catherine O’Hara).

    Other spoofs include Yosh and Stan Shmenge’s polka show (pictured below right), Count Floyd’s Monster Chiller Horror Theatre (pictured at left) whose host was played by the news anchor Floyd Robertson (Joe Flaherty), the ersatz children’s show Captain Combat, Farm Film Report, and the improvised editorials of Bob and Doug Mackenzie’s Great White North (“Take off, eh?”).

    Bob (Dave Thomas) and Doug (Rick Moranis) could not be more stereotypically Canadian. Ironically, one of the few restrictions imposed on SCTV – a Canadian ordinance requiring that each show filmed in the country possess some uniquely Canadian content – spawned The Great White North.

    The segment was fully improvised and taped in marathon sessions, raising a sneered-upon subculture into an art form.

    Over the years, SCTV produced 72 half-hour shows, 42 90-minute shows, and 18 45-minute shows, as well as numerous spin-offs and specials.

    With thirteen Emmy nominations, SCTV won two for best writing. The show has since been re-edited and repackaged into a half-hour “best of” format for syndication.

    Guy Caballero 
    Joe Flaherty
    Moe Green 

    Harold Ramis
    Edith Prickley 

    Andrea Martin
    Earl Camembert 

    Eugene Levy
    Floyd Robertson 

    Joe Flaherty
    Count Floyd 

    Joe Flaherty
    Dr Tongue 

    John Candy
    Bruno 

    Eugene Levy
    Johnny Larue 

    John Candy
    Bob MacKenzie 

    Dave Thomas
    Doug MacKenzie 

    Rick Moranis
    Tex Boil 

    Dave Thomas
    Edna Boil 

    Andrea Martin
    Mayor Tommy Shanks 

    John Candy
    The Shmenge Brothers 

    John Candy
    Eugene Levy
    Perini Scleroso 

    Andrea Martin
    Ed Grimley 

    Martin Short
    Lin Ye Tang 

    Dave Thomas
    Sammy Maudlin 

    Joe Flaherty
    William B

    John Candy
    Bobby Bittman 

    Eugene Levy
    Lola Heatherton 

    Catherine O’Hara
    Big Jim McBob 

    John Candy
    Billy Saul Hurok 

    Joe Flaherty
    Harry, the Guy with the Snake on His Face 

    John Candy
    Rockin’ Mel Slurp 

    Eugene Levy
    Jackie Rogers, Jr. 

    Martin Short
    Rusty van Reddick 

    Martin Short

    Related Posts

    • Kay O'Brien, Surgeon
      Kay O'Brien, Surgeon
      1 9 8 6 (USA/Canada) 14 x 60 minute episodes Patricia…
    • Galloping Gourmet, The
      Galloping Gourmet, The
      1 9 6 8 - 1 9 7 1 (Canada) 30…
    • Kelly Monteith
      Kelly Monteith
      1 9 7 9 - 1 9 8 4 (UK)…
    • Caroline In The City
      Caroline In The City
      1 9 9 5 - 1 9 9 9 (USA) 97…
    • Dr Zonk and the Zunkins
      Dr Zonk and the Zunkins
      1 9 7 4 - 1 9 7 5 (Canada) 30…
    • Tucker's Witch
      Tucker's Witch
      1 9 8 2 - 1 9 8 3 (USA) 13…
    • New Show, The
      New Show, The
      1 9 8 4 (USA) 9 x 60 minute episodes This…
    • All Star Revue
      All Star Revue
      1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 3 (USA) Comedy…

    Canada
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleRipping Yarns
    Next Article Tripper’s Day/Slinger’s Day

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    You May Also Like
    • Fair Game
      1 9 9 4 (UK) 1 x 110 minute episode Fair Game is a funny, […]
    • Thelma and Louise (1991)
      Thelma and Louise is the ultimate female fantasy trip – a […]
    • Toy Story 2 (1999)
      Toy Story 2 is among the finest kid-films-for-adults, with a […]
    • Penetration
      In 1977, following exposure to The Sex Pistols, Penetration […]
    • Ohara
      1 9 8 7 – 1 9 8 8 (UK) 30 x 60 minute episodes Lieutenant […]
    • Police Academy 4: Citizens On Patrol (1987)
      This time our rookie cops try to involve the local community in […]
    Twitter Feed
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2022 Nostalgia Central
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.