# SCTV-The show SNL wanted to be when it grew up! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 10, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604 "2005-10-10T18:04:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/1 "2005-10-10T18:04:09Z")
In the current SNL thread, the postings seem to be struggling for good things to say about the current episode of **Saturday Night Lame**. So now is as good a time as any for a nostalgia thread about the true giant of sketch comedy: **SCTV**!Where to begin? How about the fact that, in its relatively short run, **SCTV** proved that a sketch show could be topical, intelligent _and_funny all at the same time? While SNL writers were concentrating on how to write a sketch using the word “douchebag”, SCTV gave us humor that reached beyond the sophomoric and appealed to a segment of the audience with IQ’s above 60. While SNL was writing commercials for products like “Pussy Whip” and “Stayfree Peenie Pads”, SCTV was dedicating an entire show to the possibility of accidental nuclear Armageddon, making it funny without being preachy! Want more comparisons? [ul] [li] **Musical Guests** :Over the years, SNL has had very good music, performed twice during the show in the standard variety show format. SCTV, on the other hand actually wrote its musical performers _into the show_! And not just popular acts like The Tubes and Third World, but performers from a broader spectrum, such as blues legend Linda Hopkins and gospel singer Andrae Crouch. My personal favorite was Al Jarreau in a parody of “The Jazz Singer” with Sid Dithers as his elderly Jewish father–in cornrows![/li][li] **Films** : Let’s face it, for every “Animal House” and “The Blues Brothers”, there are at least 10 “Superstar”'s or “It’s Pat”'s (and I refuse to even discuss “Stuart Saves His Family”). SCTV’s cast members went on to actually become _actors_. John Candy in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”, Catherine O’Hara in “Home Alone” and “A Mighty Wind”, Eugene Levy in “American Pie”, Rick Moranis in “Ghostbusters” and “Honey I Shrunk the Kids”. Even “Strange Brew” was a better film than any of the SNL character films that polluted the cinematic landscape. I’m not saying they were all gems (“Summer Rental”, “Going Berserk”, “Wagons East!”), but, quality-wise, the SCTV cast’s later films has it all over SNL’s pseudo-movies. [/li][li] **Parodies** : “Play it Again, Bob”, “The Merv Griffith Show”, “Pepi Longsocks”–has SNL _ever_ touched that level of parody? I mean, “Peter Pan” starring DIVINE? Can you imagine an SNL writer coming up withthat idea, only to have the others say, “Forget it, the 12-year-olds won’t get it!” I guess that’s my major point–SCTV didn’t care what the teenagers thought; they were writing for adults with something resembling an education. [/li][/ul] So do I have a valid point, or am I just being snobbish? Dopers, take it from here! Reminiscences, favorite moments, trivia questions, whatever–go for it! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/2 "2005-10-10T18:10:36Z")
Overall, I’ll agree – I preferred Second City Tv even back when it was the half-hour “Second City” circa 1978. I like the way they recycled the older stuff when they turned it into the full-blow SCTV years later. The otiginal series had most of the characters that later populated SCTV (Count Floyd, Edith Prickly…), and gave us some sketch gems: John Candy as Curly starring in “Ben Hur” – My mother and sister are …What? They’re Leopards!!? Nyuk Nyuk. “The Man Who Would be King of the Popes” , simultaneously spoofing Becket, A Man for All Seasons, The Lion in Winter, and Anne of a Thousand Days. Dr. Tongue’s House of Three-D Stewardesses One thing I really liked about SCTV was the way they integrated the musical act into the comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/3 "2005-10-10T18:13:48Z")
Funny – I always thought it was the other way around: SCTV wanted to be SNL when it grew up. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/4 "2005-10-10T18:25:53Z")
SNL couldn’t polish SCTV’s shoes. The latter’s best, fall on the floor / laughing in pain parody: “Battle of the PBS Network Stars” Team leaders William F. Buckley & Carl Sagan in an athletic showdown. Who could forget the Boxing match betwen Julia Child & Fred Rogers. The turkey baster used to quench Julia’s thirst between rounds. King Friday & Daniel the Tiger routing on and helping Mr. Rogers cheat. Beats Dan Akroyd’s fish in a blender any day of the week. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/5 "2005-10-10T18:29:16Z")
> [@want2know](#): > > Rick Moranis in “Ghostbusters” Which also featured 2 SNL alumni (Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd) and another SCTVer - Harold Ramis (who was much better after SCTV than on it). Also, to be fair, while SCTV’s parodies were more ambitious, they could also fall pretty flat sometimes. By way of example, Das Boobs (combining Das Boot and a teen sex comedy a la Porky’s) just went on way longer than its premise could sustain. ---
**Author:** ![priapus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@priapus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/priapus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/6 "2005-10-10T18:39:21Z")
A few months ago I got volume 1 of sctv and it’s as funny today as it was in the 70’s and 80’s. The commentary is even funnier.SNL seems to based on competition.It’s very cut throat as if that makes them funnier.SCTV members really seem to like each other.It’s a pleasure watching them work.Also,I get a kick watching them pop up in each other’s (and SNL) movies ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/7 "2005-10-10T18:43:43Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Which also featured 2 SNL alumni (Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd) and another SCTVer - Harold Ramis (who was much better after SCTV than on it). > > Also, to be fair, while SCTV’s parodies were more ambitious, they could also fall pretty flat sometimes. By way of example, Das Boobs (combining Das Boot and a teen sex comedy a la Porky’s) just went on way longer than its premise could sustain. No argument here–some of the spoofs didn’t work. But being that ambitious sometimes begets failure. SCTV was not afraid to take those risks, because when it worked, it was golden!BTW, my “Fall off the couch” moment was during “The Merv Griffith Show”. Dave Thomas had just finished his absolutely awful Jim Nabors impression; Merv got up out of his chair , walked over to him and said “Isn’t he great? Fred Travalena, ladies and gentlemen!” I doubt most SNLers even knew who Fred Travalena was! Too funny! ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/8 "2005-10-10T18:55:22Z")
My two favorites are the _Leave It to Beaver_ parody, and the boxing match where John Candy gets knocked out in the first second of the fight. And they keep replaying the one punch over and over again because the network cleared two hours of programming. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/9 "2005-10-10T19:00:11Z")
Oh…and one of my favourite SCTV parodies was Jane Airhead - not so much for the Jane Eyre parody (which was pretty funny), but for Mr Rochester being an impression of Rochester from Jack Benny. (Unfortunately, not a real good one, so I didn’t realise that until the end when they actually made a Jack Benny joke.) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/10 "2005-10-10T19:34:32Z")
> [@want2know](#): > > but, quality-wise, the SCTV cast’s later films has it all over SNL’s pseudo-movies. I don’t understand why you think this is a fair comparison. You could compare SNL spinoff movies with SCTV spinoff movies (are there any others besides _Strange Brew_?), or movies featuring former SNL cast members to movies featuring SCTV cast members (and Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, and several others have built up pretty impressive film careers); but to compare movies with SNL _characters_ to movies with SCTV _performers_? Apples & oranges! One area where SNL has it over SCTV and other great sketch shows is its commenting on current events. SNL has had some brilliant political satire and top-notch celebrity impersonations. SNL is, of course, live, which has its drawbacks (such as, they have to fill 90 minutes a week even if they don’t have 90 minutes worth of good material), but it does allow them to respond to politics and pop culture as they happen. SNL _occasionally_ works their musical guests into the rest of the show, but not as a regular thing. SNL builds their show around the guest host of the week: sometimes it’s fun to watch, but sometimes the comedy suffers. I’ll agree with your point that, in general, SCTV’s comedy was more grown-up than SNL’s. SNL has/had way more of a tendency to go for the cheap laughs, to repeat the same gags over and over. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Dr. Tongue’s House of Three-D Stewardesses I remember (vaguely) the Three-D House of Pancakes (“Would you like some more… syrup?”) and the Three-D House of Representatives. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/11 "2005-10-10T22:24:04Z")
While I agree in general, I think you sell SNL a little short. How many SCTV alumni would you call true stars? John Candy was on his way when he died and Rick Moranis. They’re about the only two that most people would recognize the name. Eugene Levy is “the dad from American Pie” and Catherin O’Hara is “The mom from Home Alone”. The last time I saw Andrea Martin, she was playing Quark’s mom on Star Trek Deep Space 9. Whereas most people would recognize Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, or David Spade. Also, Jane Curtain has had great success on the small screen since leaving SNL. SNL would more often go for the cheap laugh or the shock value, but that was intentional. Someone mentioned the Bass O’ Matic. That parody was done on the episode with Ron Neissen (sp?) President Ford’s press secretary. They intentionally kept the political stuff tame but would shove in shock pieces. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/12 "2005-10-10T23:00:22Z")
I have a thesis, that I’ll get around to writing some day, that all American humor in the past 30 years is derived from various mergers, cross-pollination and descendents of **National Lampoon** , **SNL** , and **SCTV**. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/13 "2005-10-10T23:03:56Z")
My favorite moments were when they were doing a remake of, Lawrence of Arabia(?) and John Candy was quoting Sir Richard Burton (the explorer, not the actor) and using RB’s (the actor) stressed-out voice: “I’m becoming more arabic…THAN THE ARABS!!!” One whole show of theirs that was totally hilarious from start to finish was the election one from 1982(?), and they had the televised debate between Joe Flaherty and John Candy as the mayor of Melonville, while Candy was in the mental ward. His platform was “Re-elect me, and get me out of here.” He won the election, of course. SNL had some great times, but the shows pre-Hartman et al don’t hold up really well. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/14 "2005-10-10T23:11:00Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > a remake of, Lawrence of Arabia(?) and John Candy was quoting Sir Richard Burton (the explorer, not the actor) and using RB’s (the actor) stressed-out voice: “I’m becoming more arabic…THAN THE ARABS!!!” Candy was playing Richard Burton, who was playing Sir Richard Burton. And it wasn’t so much a remake of Lawrence of Arabia as a combination of every ‘Colonial English in Arabia’ story. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/15 "2005-10-10T23:33:48Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I have a thesis, that I’ll get around to writing some day, that all American humor in the past 30 years is derived from various mergers, cross-pollination and descendents of **National Lampoon** , **SNL** , and **SCTV**. I would add **Monty Python** to the mix as well. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/16 "2005-10-10T23:46:41Z")
I think the most disappointing transition from television to movies had to be the career of Eugene Levy. He was _brilliant_ in SCTV. Now he plays the “uptight dad” role… thats’ it, just that one role. In SCTV he was: Yosh Schmenge of “The Happy Wanderers” Mel Slurp, host of “Mel’s Rock Pile” Bobby Bittman (“How are ya!”) Earl Camember Sid Dithers Bruno, the gnarled, hunchback companion of Dr. Tongue ---
**Author:** ![YellowTail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5ac83/32.png) [@YellowTail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YellowTail)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/17 "2005-10-11T00:07:57Z")
My family still cracks up about the Nitwits game show. I liked how a lot of the shows had a running plot in them, usually something going on at the station. Plus they were more inventive than SNL, like making an old western spoof really look like an old film with splicing jumps and stuff. Johnny LaRue walking around in his monogramed robe! His character always killed me. So shallow and willing to do anything to keep his job. ---
**Author:** ![Jeffr062](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f04885/32.png) [@Jeffr062](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeffr062)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/18 "2005-10-11T00:16:43Z")
Who played the demented little kid who was always burning and destroying his little plastic army guys? Ahhhhhhh Im on fire my guts my gutssssss Ah yes that was indeed a good show ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/19 "2005-10-11T00:29:23Z")
> [@YellowTail](#): > > … like making an old western spoof really look like an old film with splicing jumps and stuff. _Six Gun Justice!!!_ It was shown on **Happy Hour** , the kids show Happy Marsden hosted from a bar with his friends Sammy the Goose and Mike the Bartender. God I loved Sammy the Goose. I think the thing that made SCTV more enjoyable (for me) to watch than SNL was the SCTV “universe”… it was cool that all the characters existed in the SCTV station hierarchy and lived in Mellonville. It seemed to give them more depth somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604/20 "2005-10-11T00:50:29Z")
> [@Jeffr062](#): > > Who played the demented little kid who was always burning and destroying his little plastic army guys? > > Ahhhhhhh Im on fire my guts my gutssssss > > Ah yes that was indeed a good show That sounds like Michael Richards on ABC’s _Fridays_. That was the only time he was funny. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sctv-the-show-snl-wanted-to-be-when-it-grew-up/325604.md?page=2)