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After SCTV
After SCTV (and during the occasional hiatus), many cast members reprised their SCTV characters for other projects, including movies, specials, other TV programs and commercials. Suggestions for items not listed and information welcome.
Best of the Rest: The Last Polka, Strange Brew, Concert for the North Americas, The Enigma of Bobby Bittman, Martin Short Goes Hollywood, Together Again
David Steinberg with Bill Saluga | Joe Flaherty | Andrea Martin | John Candy | Dave Thomas | Martin Short | Trudy Young
David Steinberg's variety show debuted on CTV (with a much higher profile and budget) the very same week SCTV debuted on Global. It featured many of the then current Second City cast in Toronto (where the show was shot) in the ensemble cast. Wardrobe by Juul Haalmeyer. Now available on DVD.
Though a variety show, it didn't play as a straight variety show; it was more like The Muppet Show, with a celebrity guest each week and backstage scenes featuring regular characters (as well as other scenes at 'Villa Deli', a restaurant across the street from the theatre where the show was being shot). Each week featured a wraparound plot of some sort. Not a bad premise, actually, but the show was pretty tame primetime fare. David Steinberg, Bill Saluga and the celebrities took all the best material; the ensemble cast had very little to do. The most interesting aspect is perhaps watching Martin Short as Johnny Del Bravo, something of a proto-Jackie Rogers Jr.
Around the same time, John Candy and Catherine O'Hara were appearing in Coming Up Rosie, a children's show that also featured Dan Aykroyd.
Vinnie Demilo (owner of Villa Deli) - Bill Saluga; Raymond J Johnson Jr - Bill Saluga; Kirk Dirkwood (stage manager) - Flaherty; James MacGregor (security guard) - Thomas; Spider Reichman (hippy musician) - Candy; Johnny Del Bravo (singer and Steinberg's cousin) - Short; Bambi Markowitz - Young; Margi (waitress at Villa Deli) - Young; Julie Liverfoot (hippie singer) - Martin
John Candy with Tino Insana | Tim Kazurinsky | Don Lamont | Audrie Neenan | Patti Oatman
The first time John Candy left SCTV (after Series 2), he did a weekly half-hour sketch comedy show called Big City Comedy (produced by the Osmonds in Utah). It lasted for a season. Writers included Jim Staahl, Jim Fisher and Mike Short. Special guests included Martin Mull, Billy Crystal, McLean Stevenson, Margaret Trudeau and Fred Willard.
It was pretty much a straight sketch show, skewed to family viewing prime time, and therefore not at all edgy, much like the David Steinberg Show. The show featured some of John's well-known characters, including Mr Mambo and Orson Welles, who were created for the show (apparently, he was not legally entitled to use any of the characters he developed on SCTV).
A 60 minute compilation was released on VHS (pictured); it heavily favors some of the 'big' name guests at the expense of the ensemble cast. Several of the ensemble cast members subsequently moved on to Saturday Night Live. Fortunately, John did not, and we can be thankful that this show failed, as it led directly to John's return to the SCTV fold.
John Candy | Robin Duke | Joe Flaherty | Eugene Levy | Harold Ramis | Martin Short | Dave Thomas
A special for HBO and CBC, also starring Ed Asner, Shelly Berman, David Steinberg, Severn Darden, George Wendt, Richard Kind, Shelly Berman, Mindy Bell, Jim Fay, Jim Belushi, Betty Thomas, Debra McGrath. Included, among others:
Hairdresser
A woman gets a cut from a particularly chatty hairdresser.
hairdresser - Short; woman - Duke
Pot
Straight son discovers his father is high.
Father - Thomas; Son - Short
Van Kamp's Beans
The funeral of a man who died trying to get some more beans.
Widow Smedly - Betty Thomas; Tony Ipanema - Dave Thomas; Luciano Lutz - Flaherty; Levy, Ramis; Aunt, priest, Johnny
John Candy | Eugene Levy | with Rick Moranis | Robin Duke | Mary Margaret O'Hara | Catherine O'Hara | John McAndrew | Dave Thomas
A 60 minute HBO documentary special, filmed in Toronto November and December of 1984, aired 14 March 1985 (and 15 April on Superchannel in Canada). The farewell concert was filmed in a small theatre early in December. A documentary about Stan and Yosh's last concert. It's been compared to The Band's 'The Last Waltz.' Written by Eugene Levy and John Candy. Directed by John Blanchard.
Basically an excellent, if extra-long, Shmenge sketch. Worth looking for.
The Happy Wanderers: The Last Polka
The show begins with an overview of their early life in Leutonia and interviews with various relatives and friends who speculate on why they are retiring (they don't have a clue).
The Last Polka Concert
December 14, 1984. The Happy Wanderers theme song and 'Cabbage Rolls and Coffee'. They're really cookin'.
Stan Shmenge - Levy; Yosh Shmenge - Candy; The Happy Wanderers - extras
The Shmenges themselves don't really have a good reason for retiring. They talk about their early years in Leutonian vaudeville playing jars. The war and an accident turn the Shmenges to polka. Just off the boat, they get their first big break with Colonel Cohen on his radio show. After the Colonel's mysterious death, the Shmenges start managing themselves.
Clips: Strikes, Spares and Shmenges (1952)
The Shmenges host their early TV show from a bowling alley. 'The Lucky Frame' was a big selling point.
Stan Shmenge - Levy; Yosh Shmenge - Candy; bowlers - extras
Linsk Minyk describes how he got together with the Shmenge brothers.
The Last Polka Concert Part 2
Linsk Minyk comes out to do a medley of famous tunes including 'On the Road Again', 'Touch Me'.
Stan Shmenge - Levy; Yosh Shmenge - Candy; Linsk Minyk - Moranis; The Happy Wanderers - extras
News coverage from 1980 when the Shmenges were grand marshals at Oktoberfest. A phone-in show, the parade.
The Last Polka Concert Part 3
Another song, featuring a monster tuba solo.
Stan Shmenge - Levy; Yosh Shmenge - Candy; The Happy Wanderers - extras
Clip: Polka Variety Hour (1964)
A song from The Lemon Twins.
Stan Shmenge - Levy; Yosh Shmenge - Candy; The Lemon Twins - Catherine O'Hara, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Robin Duke
Interview with The Lemon Twins about their start with the Shmenges, and a clip from the Polka Variety Hour from 1964. The scandal over the Shmenge's possible involvement with the twins.
The Last Polka Concert Part 4
The Lemon Twins come out and do a medley of their hits.
Stan Shmenge - Levy; Yosh Shmenge - Candy; The Lemon Twins - Catherine O'Hara, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Robin Duke; The Happy Wanderers - extras
Their attempt to expand their audience by attracting kids. Footage of the setup and rehearsals ('Beat It') for the disastrous 'The Shmenges Salute Michael Jackson' concert in Plattsburg in 1984, a possible factor in their break-up.
The Last Polka Concert Part 5
Their last song, 'The Last Polka'.
Stan Shmenge - Levy; Yosh Shmenge - Candy; The Happy Wanderers - extras
Stan Shmenge - Levy; Yosh Shmenge - Candy; Papa Shmenge - Candy; Ma Shmenge - Levy; Linsk Minyk - Moranis; narrator - Thomas; Val Babbyit - John McAndrew; The Lemon Twins - Catherine O'Hara, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Robin Duke; Milt Chissik - extra; Mrs Vicki Mahoney-Cohen - extra; Moe Koffler - extra; Michael Colbert - extra; band - extras; fans - extras
Shmenges on Letterman
To promote The Last Polka, the Shmenges guested on Late Night with David Letterman where they performed 'Cabbage Rolls and Coffee Polka'; the interview touched on topics ranging from their early career, their retirement, the Plattsburg concert, and the Lemon Twins.
Stan Shmenge - Levy; Yosh Shmenge - Candy; David Letterman, Paul Shaffer
The Best of Comic Relief: Cabbage Rolls and Coffee Polka
The Shmenges also performed 'Cabbage Rolls and Coffee Polka' for Comic Relief, a performance that was later released on 'The Best of Comic Relief' LP in 1986.
Stan Shmenge - Levy; Yosh Shmenge - Candy
Robin Duke | Tony Rosato | Martin Short | with Rick Moranis | Dave Thomas | John Candy | Catherine O'Hara | Eugene Levy
Live from New York, it's SCTV!
by John Hedegor
Three SCTV cast members have also been members of the Saturday Night Live cast: Robin Duke, Tony Rosato and Martin Short. Several other SCTVers appeared as guest hosts. Here are some facts regarding appearances by the cast of SCTV on SNL.
Tony Rosato (21 Shows April 1981 - May 1982)
Rosato's first SNL aired 11 April 1981 (hosted by Chevy Chase). He was added at the very end of the 1980- 1981 season when NBC fired producer Jean Doumanian and replaced her with Dick Ebersol. Ebersol revamped the cast, centering on Doumanian's two leading performers, Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo. Rosato had much less of a role on SNL than he did on SCTV. He clashed repeatedly with Ebersol and was fired at the end of the 1981-1982 season. His last show as a cast member aired May 22, 1982 (hosted by Olivia Newton-John). He appeared on 21 shows.
Rosato relied little on his SCTV material. Nevertheless, he played zany Italian characters similar to Marcello Sebastiano on at least three shows: 11 April 1981, 30 January 1982 (hosted by John Madden; Rosato played a mobster in one sketch, and a Marcello-like Italian policeman in another) and 10 April 1982 (hosted by Daniel J. Travanti; here Rosato played the Marcello-like chef who tried to kill Larry the Lobster). He played Lou Costello once, on 23 January 1982 (hosted by Robert Conrad, who played convict Jack Henry Abbott).
Robin Duke (59 Shows April 1981 - May 1984)
Robin, like Rosato, first appeared on SNL on 11 April 1981. The circumstances surrounding her hiring are much like those concerning Rosato, though Robin joined as a last-minute replacement for Catherine O'Hara, who decided not to join SNL. Like Rosato, Robin was generally not favored by Ebersol, who routinely gave her little on the show to do. Even so, she produced some fine work, mostly in collaboration with Rosato, Tim Kazurinsky and/or Mary Gross. She stayed on the show for three years, before being forced out at the end of the 1983-1984 season. Her last show as a cast member aired 12 May 1984 (co-hosted by Ed Koch, Betty Thomas, Father Guido Sarducci, Edwin Newman and future SNL cast member Billy Crystal -- a packed show indeed!). She appeared on 59 shows (she missed one show -- 30 October 1982, hosted by Michael Keaton, for an as-yet unknown reason).
Like Rosato, Robin rarely relied on her SCTV work. She did appear as Shelley Winters, though, on at least three occasions: 27 February 1982 (hosted by Elizabeth Ashley), 2 October 1982 (hosted by Louis Gossett, Jr.) and 14 April 1984 (hosted by Michael Douglas). Also, the 22 October 1983 show (hosted by John Candy, see below) contained a sketch featuring Doc Edmund, the Old Country Doctor (played by Eddie Murphy), a rustic, somewhat senile physician. Robin played his equally feebleminded nurse, Flossie, who looked, talked and acted very much like Molly Earl - the closest Robin has come to portraying her on SNL.
Martin Short (18 Shows Oct 1984 - Apr 1985)
Short first appeared on SNL on 6 October 1984. Unlike Robin Duke and Tony Rosato, Martin was regarded as a star on the show and was generally treated accordingly. He was part of an SNL "renaissance" of sorts, joining along with such distinguished company as Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest. The results were a bit of a disappointment, though (in my opinion), and when Dick Ebersol left SNL at the end of the 1984-1985 season, the entire cast, including Short, left with him. Still, there were some amusing moments from all concerned. Martin's last show as a cast member aired 13 April 1985 (hosted by Howard Cosell). He appeared on 18 shows.
Unlike Robin and Rosato, Martin relied heavily on his SCTV work. Almost every show featured at least one of his SCTV characters or impressions. Below is a list.
October 6, 1984 (no host): Nelson Hepburn (Katharine Hepburn's fictitious relative), Ed Grimley and Lawrence Orbach.
October 13, 1984 (hosted by Bob Uecker): Robin Williams and Troy Soren.
October 20, 1984 (hosted by Jesse Jackson): Ed Grimley.
November 3, 1984 (hosted by future SNL cast member Michael McKean): none of his SCTV characters.
November 10, 1984 (hosted by George Carlin): Jackie Rogers Jr. and Irving Cohen.
November 17, 1984 (hosted by Ed Asner): Ed Grimley.
December 1, 1984 (hosted by Ed Begley, Jr.): Katharine Hepburn, Nathan Thurm.
December 8, 1984 (hosted by Ringo Starr): Ed Grimley.
December 15, 1984 (hosted by Eddie Murphy): Denise Lewis (Jerry Lewis' fictitious relative), Irving Cohen and Lawrence Orbach.
January 12, 1985 (hosted by Kathleen Turner): Bradley P Allen.
January 19, 1985 (hosted by Roy Scheider): Lawrence Orbach.
February 2, 1985 (hosted by Alex Karras): Ed Grimley.
February 9, 1985 (hosted by Harry Anderson): Katharine Hepburn.
February 16, 1985 (hosted by Pamela Sue Martin): Jackie Rogers Jr.
March 2, 1985 (the SNL Film Festival, hosted by Billy Crystal): Martin appeared only near the end, along with Billy's fellow cast members.
March 30, 1985 (hosted by Mr. T and Hulk Hogan): Paul Simon and Irving Cohen.
April 6, 1985 (hosted by Christopher Reeve): Jackie Rogers Jr.
April 13, 1985 (hosted by Howard Cosell, who played Ed Grimley's otherwise-unseen Uncle Basil): Ed Grimley, Nathan Thurm.
During his stint at SNL, Martin also developed his memorable Nathan Thurm character, and his impression of Katharine Hepburn, both of which have become part his repertoire.
Shows hosted by, or otherwise featuring, SCTV personnel
October 17, 1981 hosted by George Kennedy
John Candy made a surprise appearance (as Mexican weatherman Juan Gavino; the name is a spoof of John Gavin, then-U.S. ambassador to Mexico).
January 22, 1983 hosted by Lily Tomlin
Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas made a surprise appearance as Bob and Doug McKenzie, urging audiences to watch the next week's show, which they hosted.
January 29, 1983 hosted by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas
Moranis characters / impressions: Bob McKenzie, Woody Allen, Dick Cavett, Gerry Todd and Rabbi Karlov.
Thomas characters / impressions: Doug McKenzie, Bob Hope, Liberace and Walter Cronkite.
October 22, 1983 hosted by John Candy
Characters / impressions: Mr. Mambo, Dr. Tongue (complete with the classic 3-D effect!) and William B. Williams.
March 2, 1985 the SNL Film Festival, hosted by Billy Crystal
John Candy and Eugene Levy made a surprise appearance as themselves. They were supposed to host the next show (with musical guests Darryl Hall and John Oates, and, evidently, the Shmenges), but unfortunately it was scrapped due to a strike by the Writers Guild of America.
December 6, 1986 hosted by Chevy Chase, Steve Martin and Martin Short
Short characters / impressions: Just Ed Grimley, though he does slip into Katharine Hepburn during a conversation with Steve and Chevy.
October 7, 1989 hosted by Rick Moranis
Impressions: Jim Bakker and Merv Griffin.
April 13, 1991 hosted by Catherine O'Hara
She did none of her SCTV work.
October 31, 1992 hosted by Catherine O'Hara
Again, no SCTV work, though in her monologue she briefly slips into Lola Heatherton in telling us that this show is so much fun "it's scary!"
December 7, 1996 hosted by Martin Short
Characters / impressions: Jerry Lewis, Ed Grimley and Jackie Rogers, Jr. Since Lorne Michaels returned as producer in 1985, Martin Short was the only Dick Ebersol-era cast member to host the show until Julia Louis-Dreyfus did in 2006.
April 16, 2005 hosted by Tom Brady
Martin Short made a surprise appearance as Jiminy Glick, showing up on Weekend Update to promote a DVD of Primetime Glick and hit on anchorwoman Tina Fey (or Tina Mey as he kept calling her), followed by a clip of a 1975 conversation between Jiminy (with long brown hair but still obese) and SNL producer Lorne Michaels (portrayed by current cast member Will Forte).
November 11, 2006 hosted by Alec Baldwin
Martin Short made a brief surprise appearance as himself (as did Steve Martin and Paul McCartney).
For more SNL information, check out Saturday Night Live Transcripts.
SNL Sketches of note
Lifestyles of the Relatives of the Rich and Famous (6/10/84)
Robin profiles hot dog stand owner Nelson Hepburn, distant cousin of Katharine Hepburn.
Robin Leach - Harry Shearer; Nelson Hepburn - Short; Anthony Haden-Callas - Christopher Guest
Synchronized Swimmers (6/10/84)
Profile of synchronized swimmers Lawrence and Gerald as they work towards the 1992 Olympics.
Gerald Orbach - Harry Shearer; Lawrence Orbach - Short; Director - Christopher Guest; Abby Orbach - Pamela Stephenson
The Joe Franklin Show (10/11/84)
Joe's guests are Jackie Rogers Jr, New York City fireman Dan Halloran, and ventriloquist Senor Cosa. Joe asks Jackie about his new book "Damn You, Daddy, Sir", about his father, and they listen to a recording of Jackie Rogers Sr. singling "She Loves Me".
Jackie Rogers Jr. - Short; Joe Franklin - Billy Crystal; Senor Cosa/Ricardo the Dummy - Christopher Guest; Dan Halloran - George Carlin
60 Minutes (17/11/84)
Mike Wallace looks at the problem of defective novelties, which are showing up on American shelves in ever-increasing numbers. He talks to the Minkmans, manufacturers of authentic American novelties, and a lawyer representing the owner of a pirate novelty firm.
Mike Wallace - Harry Shearer; Herb Minkman - Christopher Guest; Al Minkman - Billy Crystal; Nathan Thurm - Short
Saturday Night News (1/12/84)
The headlines. Home economy tips from Consumer Affairs expert Rich Hall. Comment from Gary Kroeger on teen suicide. Guest then interviews Nathan Thurm, representing the Trammel Barber and Beauty Supply Company, who manufacture spare human parts, but without the approval of the FDA.
Christopher Guest; Rich Hall; Gary Kroeger; Nathan Thurm - Short
The Joe Franklin Show (12/1/85)
Joe's guests are Alan Arkin, Doug Henning and Daphne Clayton.
Doug Henning - Short; Joe Franklin - Billy Crystal; Alan Arkin - Christopher Guest; Daphne Clayton - Kathleen Turner
Good Cop, Bad Cop (19/1/85)
The lieutenant and his partner Lawrence interrogate a suspect.
Lawrence Orbach - Short; Lieutenant - Roy Scheider; Devoney - Jim Belushi; Stevens - Rich Hall
Promo: Kate and Ali (9/2/85)
The Kate and Ali Valentine's Day special, when a three-time heavyweight champion is stung by Cupid's arrow, leaving a four-time Oscar winner out in the cold.
Katharine Hepburn - Short; Muhammad Ali - Billy Crystal; announcer - staff announcer
Jackie Rogers Jr.'s $100,000 Jackpot Wad (6/4/85)
Jackie hosted game-show whereby celebrities help contestants win Jackie's wad. Nervous challenger Mindy Williamson and Captain Kangaroo go first, and Mindy fails dismally. Defending champ Rajeev Vindaloo and Sammy Davis advance to spin the wheel for the wad, and they run out of time.
Jackie Rogers Jr. - Short; Angelique - Pamela Stephenson; Sammy Davis Jr. - Billy Crystal; Rajeev Vindaloo - Christopher Guest; Captain Kangaroo - Jim Belushi; Mindy Williamson - Mary Gross
Eugene Levy | John Candy | Dave Thomas | Martin Short | Joe Flaherty
90 minute special for Cinemax and CBC. Aired June 1986 on CBC in Canada. Written by Mark Achbar, Robert Boyd, Michael Short, directed by Robert Boyd.
The Canadian Conspiracy
Introduced by Edwin Newman, this America News Network Special Edition blows the door wide open on a vast Canadian Government conspiracy to infiltrate and take over the U.S. entertainment industry. Informant Eugene Levy reveals how Canadian actors were recruited by Lorne Greene and sent to a special training centre, the Lorne Greene School of Broadcasting and then sent on to Hollywood. The first wave included Leslie Nielsen, brother of Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Eric Nielsen. A succession of apparently normal entertainment personalities are revealed to be Canadian, but deny all knowledge of any conspiracy.
Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, John Candy, Martin Short, Margot Kidder, Alan Thicke, Tommy Chong, Anne Murray, Leslie Nielsen, Monte Hall, Rich Little, William Shatner
Catherine O'Hara | Andrea Martin
A short film aired on David Letterman's Holiday Film Festival in 1985 (presumably sometime near the holidays). A short classic.
View PMS, The Film on YouTube
PMS, The Film
Mary and Hanna discuss the very real and social problems caused by PMS, take a look at the lives of a few sufferers, and show a clip from the public service announcement "The Best Friend's Story." "Somewhere between Christmas and being buried alive, is PMS."
Mary Marcus - O'Hara; Hanna Champion - Martin; Anna Ricco - O'Hara; Yolanda Devillbis - Martin; Mr Devillbis - extra; Dutch Leonard - Martin; Holly Faun - O'Hara; kids, people on the street - extras;
John Candy | Eugene Levy | Catherine O'Hara | Harold Ramis | Martin Short
The first in a series of charity comedy specials on HBO, hosted by Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams, and started by Bob Zmuda. Took place March 29, 1986. It included a couple of bits with SCTV characters. Also featured the Firesign Theatre and Gilda Radner. The Best of Comic Relief was released on VHS and LP on Rhino Records.
The SCTV-related material is as follows:
The Interview
Ed Grimley competes for a job with an extremely qualified woman at a job interview.
Ed Grimley - Short; Interviewer - Ramis; Woman - O'Hara
The Happy Wanderers: Cabbage Rolls and Coffee Polka
The Shmenge Brothers give a rousing rendition of the Cabbage Rolls and Coffee polka.
Yosh Shmenge - Candy; Stan Shmenge - Eugene Levy
John Candy | Joe Flaherty | Martin Short | Catherine O'Hara | Don Lake | Bruce Pirrie | John Hemphill | Jayne Eastwood
A two-hour special for (possibly) Showtime, originally aired 6 October 1986 and later released on VHS. A spoof of Twilight Zone/Outer Limits-type anthology shows, hosted by Joe Flaherty, Really Weird Tales presents three stories. Directed by John Blanchard, Paul Lynch and Don McBrearty. Written by David Flaherty, Joe Flaherty, John McAndrew and Catherine O'Hara. Produced by Patrick Whitley.
All's Well That Ends Strange
Lounge singer Shucky discovers a horrible secret at the Playboy-styled mansion where he's entertaining.
Host - Flaherty; Shucky - Short; Wade Jeffries - Donald Harron; Tippy - Olivia d'Abo; Kim - Deborah Hancock; Kelly - Astrid Brandt; Brandy - Georgia Steele; Bartender - Bob Lem; Gary - Bob Bainborough; Jack - Bruce Pirrie; Robot - Jennifer Inch
Cursed With Charisma
A confidence man sets out to make real estate barons out of every member of a poor town.
Host - Flaherty; Howard Jensen - Candy; Ellie Hutchins - Sheila McCarthy; Jimmy Hutchins - Christopher Januszczak; Hugh Millins - Don Lake; Jeter - Wayne Robson; Edna Besley - Shirley Douglas; Assessor - Patricia Hamilton; Aliens - Eric Keenleyside, Clifton Maslen
I'll Die Loving
A young woman raised by nuns is sent out into the world. Unfortunately, anybody she loves tends to blow up.
Host - Flaherty; Theresa Sharpe - O'Hara; Mervis Jutt - John Hemphill; Todd Jeffrey Lamonte - David McIlwraith; Mother Superior - Jayne Eastwood; Professor Tistaert - Paul Soles; Sister Agnes - Madeleine Atkinson; Mother - Debra McGrath; Rachel - Cindy Patterson; Woman with Bird - Barbara Wheeldon; men - Paul-Emile Frappier, Philip Williams
Joe Flaherty | Robin Duke | Dave Thomas | Eugene Levy | Martin Short | Andrea Martin | Catherine O'Hara | John Hemphill
Bruce Pirrie | Steve Kampmann | Peter Torokvei | Linda Kash | Don Lake | John Monteith | Kathy Laskey
One hour CBC (also broadcast on Showtime) special featuring clips of the 15th anniversary reunion show of Toronto's Second City, 28 August 1988. Features interviews and sketches from the stage show interspersed with filmed segments. Produced and Directed by Eugene Levy.
Interviews with Steve Kampmann, Peter Torokvei, Andrew Alexander, Catherine O'Hara, Del Close, Bernard Sahlins, Martin Short, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, Eugene Levy.
1 Brad and Flo
Mr and Mrs Allen go to a swanky restaurant in Quebec City for dinner for their 25th anniversary.
Bradley P Allen - Short; Mrs Florence Allen - Duke; Bertrand the Waiter - Levy
2 The Option Play
Backstage at Mickey's club, Mickey's right-hand man meets an old flame, his boss Mickey's wife. (This sketch was constructed using cues from the audience.)
Mickey - Flaherty, Johnny Prolongo - Hemphill, Dickey Sins - Don Lake; Ruby - Linda Kash; Host - Bruce Pirrie
3 Jesus
Guy stays for a drink and finds Jesus.
Girl - Martin; Guy - John Monteith
4 Author
A writer contemplates killing his main character, the Purple Pimpernell. Pimpernell shows up to help him write something better.
Writer - Peter Torokvei; Purple Pimpernel - Thomas; Lady Love - O'Hara; Cleaning Lady - Kathy Laskey; Robespierre - Short; Jean Paul - Steve Kampmann
Eugene Levy with John Hemphill | Linda Kash | Frank Ruffo | Stephen Lombard
A 30 minute Cinemax special from 1988. A documentary on Bobby's career. The program is interspersed with footage from his millionth show, including the impromptu return of Buddy Phelps, Bittman's early partner. This special covers very similar territory to many of the Bittman SCTV sketches, reminiscent particularly of The Mirthmakers and Funny Stuff sketches, and the retirement episode.
The Enigma of Bobby Bittman
Newsreel footage of the young Hershel Slansky and an interview with his parents. His change of name at age 13. An interview with Bobby's early partner, Buddy Phelps.
Clip: The Ed Sullivan Show 1959
Buddy and Bobby do the ventriloquist bit on Ed Sullivan.
A look at his marriage to mob daughter Carla Gambioni and its effect on his career. Clip from his first film Passion Flower (1961). And his subsequent divorce.
Bobby moves back to comedy and the coffee house set. Clip from 'Folkfest' (1963).
Behind the scenes and footage of his next film 'The Poor Slob' (1965). Another flop.
His six-day marriage to Marsha Fein and subsequent first retirement.
An image makeover gets him a TV sitcom 'Over my Dad Bobby' (1972), another flop, but it was enough to get him back to headlining major rooms.
Bobby Bittman - Levy; Dr Martin Rush - Dennis Thatcher; Sam Slansky - Jack Duffy; Ida Slansky - Ruth Springford; Buddy Phelps - John Hemphill; Mrs Phelps - Diane Gordon; Donald Shapiro - Jack Newman; Carla Gambioni - Linda Kash; Arthur Prince - Colin Fox; Jack Birnbaum - Nick Nichols; Delores Ryan - Lynne Gorman; Marsha Fein - Jeri Craden; Lawrence Kellner - Stephen Mendel; Gerald Melman - Frank Ruffo; Hershel Slansky - Stephen Lombard; Sitcom Mom - Cindy Girling; Sitcom Boy - Niall Lancaster; Sitcom Girl - Erica Lancaster; Nigel - Sean Hewitt
Martin Short with Joe Flaherty | Andrea Martin | Catherine O'Hara | Jonathan Winters | Frank Welker | Danny Cooksey
Ed Grimley's children's show, which aired for 13 episodes on NBC in 1988. Featuring Joe Flaherty as Count Floyd, Catherine O'Hara as Ms Malone, and Andrea Martin as various voices including Mrs Freebis, the landlord's wife (Jonathan Winters did the voice of Mr Freebis). Mostly animated, with the exception of Count Floyd. Writers included Dick Blasucci.
The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley
Ed lives with his goldfish Moby and rat Sheldon. His obsession with Pat Sajak and the triangle continues. New twists include an infatuation with his attractive neighbor Miss Malone (who lives with her young brother Wendell), and dealing with his cranky landlord and wife, Leo and Deirdre Freebus. Every episode also features the Amazing Gustav Brothers, Roger and Emil, who explain some scientific principle in their segment, and Ed's favorite TV show, 'Count Floyd's Scary Stories,' hosted by the real live Count Floyd. Episodes:
1. Tall, Dark and Hansom
2. Ed's Debut
3. E.G. Go Home
4. Ed's in Hot Water
5. Crate Expectations
6. Grimley, P.F.C.
7. Moby is Lost
8. Good Neighbor Ed
9. Driver Ed
10. Blowin' In The Wind
11. Eyewitness Ed
12. Eddy, We Hardly Know Ye
13. The Irving Who Came To Dinner
Ed Grimley - Short; Count Floyd - Flaherty; Miss Malone - O'Hara; Leo Freebus - Jonathan Winters; Deirdre Freebus - Martin; Roger Gustav - Jonathan Winters; Emil Gustav - Short; Sheldon the Rat - Frank Welker; Wendell - Danny Cooksey; Irving Cohen - Short; miscellaneous characters - Short, Flaherty, Martin, O'Hara, Winters; guest voices - Levy, Christopher Guest
Ed is also reputed to have guested on Sesame Street.
Dave Thomas with Valri Bromfield | Don Lake | Anson Downes | Teresa Ganzel | Fran Ryan | Julie Fulton | David Wiley
Half-hour sketch comedy series that ran for five shows on CBS in the summer of 1990. The set was a diner, where Thomas would chat with that week's guest, with filmed sketches. Special guests were John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Chevy Chase and Dan Ackroyd. Thomas introduced a few new impressions, notably Jack Palance and Edward Woodward (The Equalizer).
Joe Flaherty | John Hemphill | Mary Charlotte Wilcox | with guests Martin Short | Dave Thomas | Robin Duke | Andrea Martin | Tony Rosato
Half hour sitcom that aired for 3 seasons on the Family Channel and YTV from 1990 to 1993. Starring Joe Flaherty as an eccentric scientist with a meteor in his basement. His brother in law, Harry, was played by John Hemphill; his sister in law, a very Idella Voudry-ish character, was played by Mary Charlotte Wilcox. Hemphill also played occasional guest Cousin Lenny from Canada in the finest hoser tradition. Eugene Levy was involved in the production as writer, producer and occasional director. Writers included SCTV veterans Mike Short, David Flaherty and Paul Flaherty. Joe Flaherty and Hemphill also wrote and directed episodes. SCTV second unit director John Bell directed many episodes.
Dave Thomas wrote and guested in an episode, while Andrea Martin, Juul Haalmeyer, Tony Rosato, Jayne Eastwood, Robin Duke and Martin Short all guested. The show was full of SCTV references.
Fred Edison - Flaherty; Idella Muckle Orca - Wilcox; Harry Orca - Hemphill; Cousin Lenny - Hemphill; Casey Edison - Deborah Theaker; Tina Edison - Kathleen Robertson; Turner Edison - George Buza; Ike Edison - Avi Phillips
Maniac Mansion Site
List of SCTV references
Joe Flaherty | Catherine O'Hara | Martin Short | Andrea Martin | John Candy | Eugene Levy | Robin Duke | Dave Thomas | Jayne Eastwood
A 90 minute CBC special, featuring Gilda Radner's former Toronto Godspell and Second City co-stars reuniting to do some bits for the Genesis Research Foundation. Directed by Martin Short, musical director Paul Shaffer, written by Michael Short and Perry Rosemond, and featuring in addition to the above: Valda Aviks, Jim Betts, Karl Blindheim, Valri Bromfield, Avril Chown, Beth Anne Cole, Nancy Dolman, Patty Elasser, Victor Garber, Marvin Hamlisch, Mary Ann McDonald, Derek McGrath, Brian Doyle Murray, Carole Pope, Rosemary Radcliffe, Gerry Salsberg, Don Scardino, Stephen Schwartz, Charlene Shipp, Kevan Staples, Rudy Webb, Robin White. Includes backstage footage of the production, lots of clips from Saturday Night Live, songs from Godspell, and the following Second City bits:
Rehearsal
An actor keeps forgetting his line.
Director - Flaherty; Actor - Levy; Forgetful Actor - Candy
Human Sexual Response
How to fake an orgasm.
Dr Cheryl Kinsey - Andrea Martin
The Defense
A man defends himself for a heinous crime.
Jack - Dave Thomas
Van Kamp's Beans
The funeral of a man who died trying to get some more beans.
Widow Smedly - Jayne Eastwood; Tony Ipanema - Dave Thomas; Luciano Lutz - Flaherty; Aunt, priest, Johnny
Joe Flaherty | Robin Duke | Dave Thomas | Eugene Levy | Martin Short | Dave Foley | Jennifer Irwin | Patrick McKenna | Jenny Parsons
One hour special aired on CBC in 1998 celebrating Second City Toronto's 25th anniversary. Featuring excerpts of the 25th anniversary stage show at Toronto's Second City, summer of 1998. Also features some backstage bits, and a few clips of SCTV and other shows from the past. Eugene and Joe reprise their classic Big News, Little News sketch to start the show.
SCTV News: Big News, Little News
Floyd has some very important news items. Earl has some very trivial news items. A reprise of the original News sketch.
Floyd Robertson - Flaherty; Earl Camembert - Levy
Marriage Counsellor
Mr and Mrs Pearson try to patch things up. Mr Pearson is kind of a hockey nut.
Counsellor - Dave Foley; Mr Pearson - McKenna; Mrs Pearson - Duke
Parent-Teacher Interview
The teacher cracks and chews out a student's parents.
Teacher - Levy; Mother - Duke; Father - Thomas
The Library
God visits the library to answer Mary's prayers.
Librarian Mary - Irwin; God - Foley
The Celibacy Tango
Woman sings the praises of celibacy.
Woman - Parsons
Final Words
A playwright wants his final words recorded for posterity.
Dying man - Thomas; Assistant - McKenna
Dave Foley with Dave Thomas | Joe Flaherty | Mike Myers | Tom Green | Andy Richter | Elvis Stojko | Jason Priestley | Kevin MacDonald | Jann Arden
60 minute Christmas special for the CBC, aired December 22, 2002; written and directed by Dave Foley. Features a nice bit with Flaherty and Thomas as Hope and Crosby.
The True Meaning of Christmas Specials
Dave starts his Christmas special on a beach, waiting for the arrival of Santa Dude, grooving to surf guitar music. Santa Dude arrives, and they begin to flog the first product of the special when Dave has to take a walk, feeling that something is missing from his special. After talking to a priest, he visits Mike Myers for advice. Mike recommends that Dave seek out "Canada." Dave and his entourage repair to a cabin in Canada. Dave is still unsatisfied, even after a skate with Elvis. That night, he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas specials past (Bob Hope, who takes him to see Bing Crosby and David Bowie do a duet), present (Jann Arden sings a song) and future (Kevin MacDonald shows him how Christmas will be downloaded directly).
Dave Foley; Priest - Andy Richter; Santa Dude - Jason Priestley; Dudes and dudettes - extras; Mike Myers; Butler - Tom Green; Elvis Stojko; Bing Crosby - Flaherty; Bob Hope - Thomas; David Bowie - Foley; Ghost of Christmas Specials present - Jann Arden; Ghost of Christmas Specials future - Kevin MacDonald; Dick Dale; El Vettes - Crissy Guerrero, Lisa Hockly; El Vez - Robert Lopez; Lodge Manager - Paul Irving
Several characters have been used to sell a variety of dubious products. Off the top of my head:
- Robin Williams, Jerry Lewis and Katharine Hepburn for Black's Cameras (TV, fall 1984)
- Bob and Doug McKenzie for Pizza Hut (tv, c. 1985-86)
- Bill Needle for Harvey's Special Burger (tv, c. 1987)
- Ed Grimley for Black's Photography (tv, c. 1987-8)
- Bob and Doug McKenzie for Mr Lube (radio, c. 1994)
- Bob and Doug McKenzie for Molson Golden (tv, c. 1997)
- Count Floyd for SCTV reruns on The Comedy Network (tv, c. 1999)
- Bob and Doug McKenzie for Red Cap Ale (tv, summer 2007)
Dec 2003: Guy Caballero for Rogers Digital Cable
Guy demonstrates the benefits of Rogers digital cable.
Guy Caballero - Flaherty; Makeup woman - Jayne Eastwood; Assistant - Naomi Snieckus; Director - extra
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