SCTV

Épisode 1 - Backstage

21 septembre 1976

The inaugural show introduces several major characters, including Johnny LaRue, Earl Camembert, Floyd Robertson and Moe Green. It features a somewhat tenuous wraparound concept involving LaRue - according to Dave Thomas' book, the running time for this episode ran well past 30 minutes, much of the linking material for the wraparound being cut to achieve the final running time. The show also introduces four programs that would feature frequently throughout the show's run: Sunrise Semester, a vehicle for an assortment of characters to educate viewers, would end up appearing in every series except the last; Words To Live By, the inspirational station signoff, would also appear frequently in the first three series; SCTV News; and Masterpiece Theatre, hosted by Alistair Cook. Second City notes: Big News/Little News is from the 1975 Alterations While You Wait revue; the stage version was also played by Levy and Flaherty. Joni Newton Buffy is a character Martin developed on the stage, but only used it this one time on SCTV.

Épisode 2 - Murder at SCTV

21 octobre 1976

Perini Scleroso and Gus Gustofferson's first appearance. Gus is featured in a wraparound concept dealing with the murder of puppeteer Lampeer. Second City notes: English for Beginners originated on the stage

Épisode 3 - Ethnic Humour

18 novembre 1976

The SCTV format still isn't entirely worked out, as Ramis, Candy and Thomas appear as themselves in the opening announcement. Ethnic humour and Gypsies provide the running concept for the episode. Lin Ye Tang's first appearance. Second City notes: We're Gonna Be Alright, You Creep, Leaving Home and All, Eh? originated on the stage Pat Boutette NHL Totals: Games 756 Goals 171 Assists 282 Points 453 Penalty Minutes 1354

Épisode 4 - Crosswords

16 décembre 1976

Its place in history is assured by the first appearance of the Sammy Maudlin Show. Also features special guests Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud. Additional Viewing: Sammy & Company, talk show hosted by Sammy Davis Jr with announcer William B Williams.

Épisode 5 - Match Unto My Feet

13 janvier 1977

Features the first appearance of Sid Dithers (here called Morris), and Cheryl Kinsey. Also features a guest appearance, albeit uncredited, by then-fellow Second City cast member Brenda Donohue in several sketches. Additional viewing: Witness to Yesterday, the Canadian historical interview program, written and hosted by Patrick Watson. Second City notes: Faking Orgasms with Cheryl Kinsey originated on the stage. Witness to Yesterday is from the revue Wizard of Ossington, and features Brenda Donohue, who was in the stage cast with John Candy at the time.

Épisode 6 - Memoirs of Anton Chekhov

10 février 1977

Star Trek comes to the steppes of Russia in a very funny parody of Chekhov. Second City notes: Cornabix Cereal is from the Wizard of Ossington revue, and originally featured Peter Ackroyd as Guy Lafleur opposite Candy's Sittler.

Épisode 7 - Dialing For Dollars

24 février 1977

The first of an additional 7 shows ordered by Global. Global started airing the show twice a month, still Thursday at 9. This episode is notable for the first appearance of Dialing for Dollars with Moe Green hosting, and William Buckley taking apart a schoolchild.

Épisode 8 - Shock Theatre

10 mars 1977

Features another lapse in continuity, as Harold Ramis appears as the station manager of SCTV, while Moe Green, "actor, playwright, critic" is interviewed on Extreme Close-Up by host Dave Thomas. Additional Viewing: Eye On Science is a spoof of Science International, a Canadian science show hosted by Joseph Campanella Syndication Note: Al Pro Dog Food was dropped; replaced by Polardak ESP 1 from 2-24 (6)

Épisode 9 - Philosophy Street

24 mars 1977

The first appearance (albeit over the phone) of the owner and president of SCTV, Guy Caballero.

Épisode 10 - Therese et Joe

7 avril 1977

Additional Viewing: Therese et Joe, directed by "Jean-Luc Resnais," takes on the French New Wave, with nods to Jean-Luc Goddard, Alain Resnais and Francois Truffaut (thanks JR).

Épisode 11 - Broads Behind Bars

21 avril 1977

Broads Behind Bars is a classic, with Candy's over the top prison guard Shultzy ("Lock 'em up, keep 'em down, and work 'em over") and Martin's lifer Kitty ("No Dice!"). Trivia: the crew put real liquor in Ramis' bottle for the Mort Finkel sketch. Additional Viewing: Broads Behind Bars is a parody of the 1950 film noir classic Caged.

Épisode 12 - The Taxidermist

5 mai 1977

Features the very first Farm Report, with host Big Jim McBob.

Épisode 13 - Ben Hur

19 mai 1977

A landmark show, featuring a show-length parody of the film, introduced by Moe Green on Dialing For Dollars. Additional Viewing: William Wyler's 1959 epic Ben-Hur.

Épisode 14 - Hefty

19 septembre 1977

The first of an additional 13 shows ordered by Global for its 1977-78 season; virtually a second series, these 13 shows started airing weekly in the fall of 1977, Mondays at 9 (later moved to 9:30) and repeated Fridays at 9. George Bloomfield replaced Milad Besseda as director, and the production value rises noticeably. New sets were created, including a new SCTV News/Sports set, which was used through Series 2. This episode's wraparound concept is a lengthy spoof of Rocky, featuring SCTV Sports coverage of Hefty Neil's bid for the heavyweight championship. Additional Viewing: The 1976 underdog fight film Rocky.

Épisode 15 - Leave It To Beaver

26 septembre 1977

Features the first appearance of Dr Tongue, in his own show. Appropriately enough, for this show only, the opening credits announce John Candy as the Beaver (instead of Dave Thomas). Additional Viewing: The 1950's TV series Leave It to Beaver.

Épisode 16 - Goodbye America

3 octobre 1977

Goodbye America profiles super star Johnny LaRue in his penthouse.

Épisode 17 - Galaxy 66

10 octobre 1977

The first appearance of Edith Prickley, SCTV's future Station Manager, fully formed, leopard skins and all. 50's sci-fi provides a running concept for the show. Additional Viewing: Galaxy 66 is a parody of 60s TV show Route 66.

Épisode 18 - Madame Blitzman

17 octobre 1977

Features the first ever Monster Chiller Horror Theatre and its unconvincing host Count Floyd, aka Floyd Robertson. The Venerable Electric commercial features two members of the scientific academy in Madame Blitzman - getting some extra mileage from those costumes. Additional Viewing: Madame Blitzman is a parody of the film Madame Curie (1943).

Épisode 19 - $129,000 Question

24 octobre 1977

Additional Viewing: Elvira Mad Again parodies Elvira Madigan

Épisode 20 - Dr Tongue's House of Wax

31 octobre 1977

House of Wax was inspired by the 1953 3D movie of the same name. It features the first appearance of the horror duo of Dr Tongue and Bruno, in a 3D film, and on Monster Chiller Horror Theatre. The trio of Tongue, Bruno and Count Floyd would become one of the anchors of the show, and result in some of the most memorable sketches. Also features SCTV Boogie, eventually to become Mel's Rock Pile.

Épisode 21 - Sammy Maudlin Show

7 novembre 1977

Featuring the second-ever Sammy Maudlin Show, as no less than two guests show outtakes from their respective specials - Bobby Bittman and Kenneth Clark. Additional Viewing: Kenneth Clark's 1969 BBC series Civilisation: A Personal View

Épisode 22 - World At War

14 novembre 1977

Additional Viewing: Lowell Thompson Remembers is a spoof of the TV show Lowell Thomas Remembers, and was completely improvised.

Épisode 23 - The Grapes Of Mud

21 novembre 1977

Muley's Roundhouse includes a nice tribute to the Three Stooges; Muley turns up again in The Grapes of Mud. Additional Viewing: John Ford's 1940 classic The Grapes of Wrath.

Épisode 24 - Officer Friendly

28 novembre 1977

Quick-fire parodies of morning news programs and daytime kids shows, along with another Masterpiece Theatre. Earl takes on organized crime on SCTV News. Additional Viewing: BBC's All Creatures Great and Small.

Épisode 25 - King Of The Popes

5 décembre 1977

Anchored by one of the great movie parodies, The Man Who Would Be King of the Popes, featuring three giants of British stage and screen, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton - all three appear together again in How the Middle East Was Won in Series 2. Princess Carlotta is a curious one-off, as she's Edith Prickly in everything but name and leopard skins. Meanwhile, Earl Camembert's little-known children's show is cancelled. Additional Viewing: Becket (1964) meets The Lion In Winter (1968) in The Man Who Would Be King of the Popes.

Épisode 26 - Lust For Paint

12 décembre 1977

Features a show-length parody of Moulin Rouge, the life of Toulouse-Lautrec with Joe Flaherty playing the lead Jose Ferrer role, shown on Dialing For Dollars. The title is possibly inspired by "Lust For Life", the biography of Vincent Van Gogh. At the end of the show, Moe loses his phone and is fired by Guy Caballero (who once again does not appear in person). (Show moved from 9:00 to 9:30 on Mondays) Additional Viewing: Moulin Rouge, the life of Toulouse-Lautrec, and Lust For Life, the life of Vincent Van Gogh.

Épisode 1 - Premiere

16 septembre 1978

As the show starts, the scripts are not finished. The first on-screen appearance of Guy Caballero, in a wheelchair (which he uses for respect) with a phone. And, seemingly out of nowhere, Lola Heatherton appears, fully formed, in her first special. Additional Viewing: 70s TV series The Love Boat and The Incredible Hulk.

Épisode 2 - Bob Hope Desert Classic

23 septembre 1978

Bob Hope hosts his own celebrity golf tournament, this time in the deserts of the Middle East, even doing a walk on during Masterpiece Theatre to promote it. Bob is joined by a raft of Mid-East personalities, Lou Jaffe does the play by play, and SCTV Sports Central provides some background. Meanwhile, Monster Chiller Horror Theatre returns with the second Dr. Tongue feature, 'House of Wax.' The show marks the introduction of Thomas' celebrated Hope impression, which he would eventually perform on an actual Bob Hope special; Thomas continued to do the impression long after SCTV left the air, most recently on Primetime Glick. The Desert Classic also introduces another long-running character - Flaherty's Charleton Heston. Additional Viewing: The Bob Hope Desert Classic (now the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic) is an annual PGA golf tournament.

Épisode 3 - Kidnapping Of Moe Green

30 septembre 1978

Épisode 4 - Solid Gold Telethon

7 octobre 1978

Épisode 5 - Writer Strike

14 octobre 1978

Épisode 6 - Municipal Election

21 octobre 1978

Earl Camembert faces a conflict of interest as Johnny LaRue's campaign manager as SCTV News covers the municipal elections and Johnny's run for council. Additional Viewing: The 1978 TV miniseries The Bastard, starring Tom Bosley; 70s sitcom Three's Company.

Épisode 7 - Farm Film Report / Arabs

28 octobre 1978

Épisode 8 - The Mirthmakers / Happy Endings

4 novembre 1978

Épisode 9 - Undersea World

11 novembre 1978

Épisode 10 - Edith Prickley, Station Manager

18 novembre 1978

Épisode 11 - SCTV 30th Anniversary Show

25 novembre 1978

Features the show-length, star-studded salute to SCTV's 30th anniversary, with some great parodies of 50's television. Additional Viewing: Branded, the 1965 TV show starring Chuck Connors; and What's My Line?, the long-running 50s panel show. While Kirk Douglas made two appearances as a mystery guest on What's My Line? (in 1953 and 1960), he was never a guest panelist (his second wife, Anne Buydens, did appear as a guest panelist on a 1966 show, however). Coincidentally, Andrea Martin, like Arlene Francis, is of partial Armenian descent, while Catherine O'Hara, like Dorothy Kilgallen, is from an Irish-Catholic family. The opening sequence of What's My Shoesize? has more in common with the 1968-75 syndicated version of What's My Line? (Thanks William Brown)

Épisode 12 - The Occult

2 décembre 1978

Several sketches featuring some occult element provide a very loose wraparound concept for the episode, anchored by an avant-garde episode of Monster Chiller Horror Theatre. Additional Viewing: Whispers of the Wolf is a parody of films by Ingmar Bergman, including The Silence (1963), Persona (1966), and Cries and Whispers (1972). For another Bergman parody, see Scenes from an Idiot's Marriage, starring Jerry Lewis.

Épisode 13 - Bad Acting In Hollywood

9 décembre 1978

Épisode 14 - Alfred Hitchcock Presents

16 décembre 1978

Additional Viewing: Alfred Hitchcock Presents, the 50s anthology series hosted by the man himself. Murder Is Bad For Your Health is (possibly) a parody of the 1948 film An Act Of Murder, starring Florence Eldridge and Fredric March (thanks Dusty Towne); Cecil and Cynthia appear again in Series 3's Gaslight.

Épisode 15 - Fighting Air Dogs

23 décembre 1978

Épisode 16 - Death Takes No Holiday

30 décembre 1978

Épisode 17 - Rock Concert

6 janvier 1979

Épisode 18 - Fantasy Island

13 janvier 1979

Épisode 19 - On The Waterfront Again

20 janvier 1979

The second episode in a row to feature a show-length sketch, an episode of The Sammy Maudlin Show with Bobby Bittman promoting his remake of On the Waterfront. Maudlin music is "Soulful Strut" by Young-Holt Unlimited. Additional Viewing: On The Waterfront, the 1954 classic

Épisode 20 - SCTV Disco

27 janvier 1979

Épisode 21 - Pipeline

3 février 1979

Épisode 22 - Consumer Action Line

10 février 1979

Épisode 23 - Relaxing With Raoul

17 février 1979

Épisode 24 - The Flaming Turkey

24 février 1979

Épisode 25 - Best Of 1

3 mars 1979

Épisode 26 - Best Of 2

10 mars 1979

Épisode 27 - Looking Back With Andrea Martin

It's a long way from Portland, Maine to Broadway but in this exclusive interview, Tony and Emmy award winner Andrea Martin looks back on her theater roots, SCTV, and the wonderful characters it spawned.

Épisode 1 - Lee A Iacocca's Rock Concert

19 septembre 1980

Épisode 2 - Thursday Night Live

26 septembre 1980

Thursday Night Live nails both Saturday Night Live and Fridays, the SNL rip off. Features the first appearance by both Walter Cronkite and David Brinkley, in their very first two-hander. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf was also spoofed in Mind Games from series 2. Additional Viewing: Saturday Night Live and ABC's SNL competiton Fridays; K-Tel fast talking Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is based on the 1966 film Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (also featured in Mind Games); Dat's Da Name of Dat Tune is a spoof of 70s cop show Baretta, starring Robert Blake; the tune in question is the theme from Baretta, while S.W.A.T was another cop show on at the time (thanks Markshark). Syndication Note: Fast Talking Playhouse was moved to 3-4 (56); Crazy Crafts (first show) from 3-3 (55) was added DVD Note: The end credits music has been changed to the Ira Newborn Cycle 2 theme, obscuring Cronkite's rambling monologue.

Épisode 3 - Death Of A Salesman

3 octobre 1980

Épisode 4 - My Factory, My Self

10 octobre 1980

My Factory, My Self is an inspired sendup several big Oscar winning movies of the time, and the can-do attitude of their leading ladies. Also features the first Money Talks, hosted by the awkward Brian Johns, and Walter Cronkite takes over from Moe Green on Dialing For Dollars. End credits music for this episode is 'Drugs' by Talking Heads. Additional Viewing: My Factory, My Self, starring 'Sally Jane Clayburgh-Streep', is a parody of An Unmarried Woman (Jill Clayburgh), Coming Home (Jane Fonda), Norma Rae (Sally Field), Kramer vs Kramer (Meryl Streep), with the nuclear reactor from The China Syndrome thrown in for good measure. The Young and the Restless, a long-running soap. Syndication Note: The Young and the Wrestling was moved to 3-3 (55); Kanadian Korner 4 was dropped; Fast talking Playhouse from 3-2 (54) was added

Épisode 5 - Death Motel

17 octobre 1980

Monster Chiller Horror Theatre features a rare solo venture for Woody Tobias Jr, and, unusually, an after-feature interview with Count Floyd. Additional Viewing: In his introduction to Death Motel, Count Floyd describes how, when the film was in theatres, a bell would sound before the really scary parts - like an early warning system; in 1973, Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin starred in Ivan Reitman's Cannibal Girls, which used that exact gimmick. More at Canucksploitation. Syndication Note: Edna's Back was moved to 3-6 (58); Elvis 'n' Costello from 3-3 (55) was added DVD Note: Edna Hymbecker no longer sings Killing Me Softly

Épisode 6 - The Lone Ranger Show

24 octobre 1980

Épisode 7 - Play It Again, Bob

31 octobre 1980

Play It Again, Bob brings Woody Allen and Bob Hope together, with a little help from Bing Crosby. Clever, amusing, dead-on impressions, great premise, and plenty of one-liners. Remarkable. Additional Viewing: Woody Allen's Play It Again, Sam Syndication Note: SCTV News Teaser was dropped DVD Note: The end credits music has been changed to the Ira Newborn Cycle 2 theme; the original had a recording of "Thanks for the Memories."

Épisode 8 - Gaslight

7 novembre 1980

Additional Viewing: Cecil and Cynthia previously appeared in the Series 2-14 Alfred Hitchcock thriller 'Murder is Bad for Your Health'. This time they are in a parody of the 1944 film Gaslight, starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. The Dick Cavett Show, a long-running talk show in the 70s. Chick Monk is based on Chip Monck, lighting and sound man for many of the great bands of the 60's and 70's and MC at Woodstock. Syndication Note: Kanadian Korner 8 was dropped; American Express from 3-22 (74) and Gordon Lightfoot from 3-18 (70) were added

Épisode 9 - Man's Ability To Imitate

14 novembre 1980

Épisode 10 - Mel's Rock Pile

21 novembre 1980

Épisode 11 - The Sammy Maudlin Show

28 novembre 1980

Bob Hope spoils Bobby Bittman's routine when he walks on to The Sammy Maudlin Show to promote his latest special. Additional Viewing: Taxi Driver, Martin Scorsese's 1976 classic; Bob Hope on the Road to China, Hope's 1979 TV special. Syndication Note: Taxi Driver was moved to 3-17 (69); TotaControl was moved to 3-10 (62); Participaction from 3-10 (62) was added

Épisode 12 - Hugh Betcha's Night Gallery

5 décembre 1980

Épisode 13 - Star Wars

12 décembre 1980

Épisode 14 - Hollywood Salutes Its Extras

19 décembre 1980

Featuring Sneak Previews and the Kirk Douglas hosted Hollywood Salute to Extras. Additional Viewing: Taxi Driver, Martin Scorsese's 1976 classic; Popeye, Robert Altman's 1980 semi-classic; Star Wars, again; and Sneak Previews, the movie review show featuring Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Thomas and Flaherty later reprised their Siskel-Ebert impressions on Martin Short's special I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood. Syndication Note: Howards Bristol Cream was moved to 3-3 (55); Jackie Stewart's Wide World of High Voices from 3-23 (75) was added DVD Note: The John Williams music used in the Star Wars clip in Sneak Previews has been replaced with the Polka music that was used to replace Williams' music in The Happy Wanderers Salute to John Williams (Series 5) on DVD Volume 4; Hawaii 5-O theme music in Hawaii 5-Ho has been replaced; closing credits music changed to the Ira Newborn Cycle 2 theme.

Épisode 15 - The Irwin Allen Show

26 décembre 1980

Former station manager Moe Green is being held by radical Lutonians and Guy won't pay the ransom. Irwin Allen's classic '70s disaster movies sink lower with Shelley Winters (Robin Duke), Charlton Heston (Joe Flaherty) and Red Buttons (Dave Thomas).

Épisode 16 - Big Brother

2 janvier 1981

It's new years' eve 1980 and Guy Caballero imagines the future in 1984, resulting in the multi-sketch Telescreen broadcast. Additional Viewing: Taxi Driver, Martin Scorsese's 1976 classic; The PTL Club, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's television ministry. Syndication Note: Taxi Driver (Bob Hope) was moved to syndicated show 117; Tomorrow, Today, Tonight from 3-19 (71) was added

Épisode 17 - Two Way TV / Pit Bulls

9 janvier 1981

Mr. Kessler (Rick Moranis) demonstrates a way to use your TV for banking and medical services – even to choose the programs you watch! Earl Camembert covers a dog fight.

Épisode 18 - Alpha Channel

16 janvier 1981

Épisode 19 - Midnight Express Special

23 janvier 1981

Via the SCTV satellite, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello host the Midnight Special live from the prisons of Turkey, while Bill Needle has his show cut to three seconds. Additional Viewing: Alan Parker's 1978 Oscar-winning film Midnight Express and The Midnight Special, the late night rock show that SCTV would eventually replace. Syndication Note: Tomorrow, Tonight, Today was moved to 3-16 (68) DVD Note: Randy Newman's "Pants" has been replaced by generic music, and Randy's segment has been cut down to where he is basically muffled from the top.

Épisode 20 - Cookery Crock / Cartoon Coroner

30 janvier 1981

Épisode 21 - The Mating Game

6 février 1981

Épisode 22 - Gene Shalit's America

13 février 1981

Épisode 23 - Mel's Rock Pile: Richard Harris

20 février 1981

Épisode 24 - Dick Cavett

27 février 1981

"Monster Chiller Horror Theater" presents Dick Cavett! Dick (Moranis) interviews Bobby Bittman (Levy). Bob and Doug, on the lam, discuss cops.

Épisode 25 - The Cisco Kid

6 mars 1981

Épisode 26 - Best Of

13 mars 1981

Épisode 27 - The McKenzie Brothers Take Off, Eh!

From deep within the archives of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation comes this 1982 look at how Hoser-mania swept Canada. Taken from the CBC news magazine "The Journal", this is the first time this story has been seen in its entirety in over 20 years.

Épisode 28 - SCTV At The Firehall

For over 20 years the historic "Old Firehall" was the home of Toronto's famous Second City Theatre. Second City/SCTV Executive Producer Andrew Alexander gives a personal behind-the-scenes tour explaining how it became an incubator for SCTV and Gilda's Club.