Second City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.
Cast: Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin
NC16HDCC
27 episodes
1. BackstageThe 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.NC16CC30minSep 21, 1976
2. Murder At SCTVPerini Scleroso and Gus Gustofferson's first appearance. Gus is featured in a wraparound concept dealing with the murder of puppeteer Lampeer.NC16CC30minOct 21, 1976
3. Ethnic HumourHarold Ramis warns viewers that this show contains ethnic slurs, and all the jokes are about the gypsies. From ""Gypsy Mythology"" on Sunrise Semester to the Hints for Homemakers (a gypsy recommends holding up an Amish family and stealing their food), this show is indeed a gypsy rogue. Sunrise Semester, The Leutonian Hour, Out-Patient, Hints for Homemakers, Theatre North American, Words to Live ByNC16CC30minNov 18, 1976
4. CrosswordsSammy Maudlin, Sunrise Semester, The $211,000 Triangle, Cooking with LaRue, Backstage, Masterpiece Theatre, Words to Live ByNC16CC30minDec 16, 1976
5. Match Unto My FeetSunrise Semester, Witness to Yesterday, PSA:So You're Dead...Now What?, Match Unto My Feet, Words to Live ByNC16CC30minJan 13, 1977
6. Memoirs of Anton ChekhovStar Trek comes to the steppes of Russia in a very funny parody of Chekhov. Heavenly Bodies, Mr Science, Masterpiece Theatre, The Memoirs of Anton ChekhovNC16CC30minFeb 10, 1977
7. Dialing For DollarsBEAUTY AND THE BEETS Beauty learns to like beets... the hard way. Beauty and the Beets, Firing Squad, Alice, the Wonder Dog, Dialing for Dollars, Changing PartnersNC16CC30minFeb 24, 1977
8. Shock TheatreDining with LaRue, The Wacky World of Poverty, Eye on Science, Shock Theatre:Early to BedNC16CC30minMar 10, 1977
9. Philosophy StreetGood-Bye America, Sunrise Semester, Philosophy Street, Total Women, A Fistful of Ugly, Feedback with Moe GreenNC16CC30minMar 24, 1977
10. Therese et JoeOn SCTV News, Floyd Robertson (Joe Flaherty) and Earl Camembert (Eugene Levy) report earthquakes, deli crises, the arms race, and Earl asks terrorists to surrender; Dr Hammond Greer (Dave Thomas) delivers a speech against scientists; Johnny LaRue (John Candy) cleans out the food at Lin Ye Tang's (Dave Thomas) garden restaurant; Lou Jaffe (Eugene Levy) witnesses Irish group techniques (and a bombing); On the SCTV Movie of the Week, a depressing French film about a live-in couple, Jerry Lewis-impersonating Joe (Joe Flaherty) and his fawning lover, Therese (Andrea Martin). Sunrise Semester, Dining With LaRue, Perspective '77, Therese et JoeNC16CC30minApr 7, 1977
11. Broads Behind BarsBroads 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. (ref: sctvguide.com) Sunrise Semester, Dining With LaRue, Broads Behind BarsNC16CC30minApr 21, 1977
12. The TaxidermistFarm Report, Welcome Back President Kotter, Alistair Cook's Armenia, The TaxidermistNC16CC30minMay 5, 1977
13. Ben HurA 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.NC16CC30minMay 19, 1977
14. The Hefty Neil StorySCTV Sports Central: The Hefty Neil Story, PSA: ShopliftingNC16CC30minSep 19, 1977
15. Leave It to BeaverExorcising, Leave it to Beaver 25th Anniversary Party, PSA:Rip Masters for Children on Booze, Dr Tongue and his Animal FriendsNC16CC30minSep 26, 1977
16. Goodbye AmericaWinning Chess with Borris Morris, PSA:So You're Dead...Now What?, Good-Bye America, Johnny LaRueNC16CC30minOct 3, 1977
17. Galaxy 66Diving for Dollars, Sunrise Semester, Sci-Fi Theatre: Galaxy 66, Beside the Point, Words to Live ByNC16CC30minOct 10, 1977
18. Madame BlitzmanPSA: Re-criminalize Marijuana, Dante's Inferno, Monster Chiller Horror Theatre: Madame BlitzmanNC16CC30minOct 17, 1977
19. $129 000 QuestionWake Up With Alki Stereopolis, PSA: Do Not Remove Tags, The $129,000 Question, Elvira Mad Again Part II, Words to Live ByNC16CC30minOct 24, 1977
20. Dr Tongue's House of WaxSunrise Semester, It Was That Way With Keith Hampshire, I Cry Each Day I Die, SCTV BoogieNC16CC30minOct 31, 1977
21. Sammy Maudlin ShowPaul's Workshop With Paul Fistinyourface, The Sammy Maudlin Show, PSA: Shoplifting, Dialing For Dollars: Sandy MossNC16CC30minNov 7, 1977
22. World at WarPassport to Adventure:Africa, The World of Mystery: Sandwich on the Orient Express, World at War:Baseball, Lowell Thompson RemembersNC16CC30minNov 14, 1977
23. The Grapes of MudMuley's Roundhouse, Promo: Library Police, The Three Dummies: Of Mice and Dummies, SCTV AM News Today: Terrorist Picnic, Commercial: Spray-On Socks, SCTV Movie of the Week: The Grapes of Mud Part, Commercial: Mrs Prickley's Jams Jellies and Preserves, Disco FarmingNC16CC30minNov 21, 1977
24. Officer FriendlyMessage from Moe: License Suspended, A.M. Little America with Tom Brokraw, Promo: Dan Money, SCTV AM News Today: Mafia Interview, Commercial: Civil Engineering, Officer Friendly, Promo: The Undersea World of Marcel Cousteau, Promo: Masterpiece Theatre: All the Long-Leggedy Beasties, Dream Interpretation with Dr. Raoul WilsonNC16CC30minNov 28, 1977
25. The Man Who Would Be King of the PopesCommercial: Tiny Tops, Morning Facial with Princess Carlotta, Promo: Check Please, Promo: The Man Who Would Be King of the Popes, Commercial: Mr. Coffee-Table Book from Venerable Electric, The Uncle Earl Show, Promo: Harry Filth, Insights with Hugh Betcha: Socrates, Commercial: Get Tough self-help book, Commercial: Grumbles Restaurant on Route 41, Enough About Me: Antonio LucianiNC16CC30minDec 5, 1977
26. Lust for PaintDialing for Dollars: Lust For Paint features a show-length parody of Moulin Rouge, with promos for celebrity tattletales and the Babe Ruth storyNC16CC30minDec 12, 1977- 27. Best Of (US)No synopsis available yet.NC16CC30min
Viewers also watched
Second City Television
★ 7.8/1019766 seasons136 episodesEnded
Second City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.
Creators and cast
- Studio
- Old Firehall Productions, Second City Entertainment
