TV Series

Series Name:	Second City Television (SCTV / SCTV Network 90 / SCTV Network)
Format:	TV Series
IMDB:	IMDB Page
Years:	1976 - 1984
Country:	Canada
Language:	English
Genre:	Comedy
Rating:	9.0 Rate
Collection:	Seen It Wishlist
Community:	8 Have Seen
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Selected Cast	Joe Flaherty
	Eugene Levy
	Andrea Martin
	John Candy
	Dave Thomas
	Catherine O'Hara
	Harold Ramis
	Rick Moranis
	Robin Duke
	Martin Short

Notes

Originated as Second City Television, which aired on Global TV in Canada and in syndication in the US. After its cancellation after two seasons the series title was shortened to SCTV and it returned to TV in 1980 on the CBC. Beginning in 1981 the program began to air in a late-night time slot on NBC and was retitled SCTV Network 90, and then for its final season in 1983-1984 it aired as SCTV Network on the Canadian cable network First Choice. Followed by an in-character reunion special, The Best of SCTV in 1988.

Introduced the characters of Bob & Doug McKenzie whose Great White North skits became arguably the show's signature sequences, spawning a motion picture, Strange Brew, a hit record album and, years later, a spin-off animated series, Bob & Doug.

The series is named for the Canadian branch of the Second City improvisational troupe where most of the cast cut their comedic teeth.

All of the main core cast members used SCTV to springboard to success in film and TV careers. Several cast members, such as John Candy, appeared in other series concurrently with this one.

Comments and Reviews


BigBadBluesMan 29th Nov 2021



W.B.lbl 18th Apr 2021		Why do I get the impression that "Maudlin's Eleven" was a vast improvement over the numerous Ocean's ____ remakes and sequels with George Clooney, etc.? But there were also multiple layers to their other recurring routines. "SCTV News" was a commentary on the state of local and network TV news in the 1970's, with vast conflicts between the traditionalist side and the razzle-dazzle, showbizzy "Happy Talk" presentation that were boiling to the surface in that decade. (Some actual local and network news incidences were satirized/parodied in such sketches.) The names were plays on those of actual Canadian news anchors and commentators - Floyd Robertson (Joe Flaherty) on CBC and CTV anchor Lloyd Robertson, Earl Camembert (Eugene Levy) on former CBC commentator Earl Cameron. But the actors drew from their own backyards for the anchors' respective personae - Floyd seemed based on Bill Burns who was a legendary Pittsburgh TV anchor as Flaherty was growing up there, Earl was definitely patterned after Buffalo, TV anchor Irv Weinstein (of "pistol packing punks" fame). For Floyd, it was all about the news of the day and the public's need to know; for Earl, it was all about him (as evidenced by his hairstyle, loud suits and bow ties) and catering to what news consultants said the public wanted.



Twistin 26th Oct 2020		I've probably watched the "Maudlin's Eleven" and "Vic Arpeggio: Private Investigator" segments over 200 times (each!) and laugh hysterically at them every time as if seeing them the first time. This series was a gift from heaven. Joe Flaherty is one of the most underrated comic geniuses ever. And get a load of the Skip Bittman (Rick Moranis) stand-up comedy warming up "The Danny Thomas Show", brilliantly inept!



Twistin 26th Oct 2020



Twistin 26th Oct 2020

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Tags: NBC, Syndication

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