5 Great Sketch Comedies: SCTV

As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of Chappelle's Show (OK, so we're like a week late), Popculturology is here to give its own look back on the iconic show. While it didn't last long on TV, every episode gave us something to talk about ... or rather mimic constantly. (C'mon, people, we can't be Rick James ... bitch.) As we honor Chappelle's Show, we'll take a look back at other legendary comedy shows. In addition to Chappelle's Show, this series will focus on Upright Citizens Brigade, SCTV, Saturday Night Live and Monty Python's Flying Circus. Sit back and enjoy.

SCTV, a show featuring comedians from the Great White North (and Pittsburgh), started off running a few years in Canada before making its way to NBC. Aired late at night in select markets, the show depicted the daily run-ins of the SCTV family and the programs from their Melonville studios. The show parodied the current trends of movies, TV shows and even commercials, and it helped launch the careers of a talent who had been overlooked by Saturday Night Live. The show took on more of a writing-based tone compared to its New York NBC counterpart. Each week, we saw the numerous layers of zaniness that each "regular" castmember possessed.

If you've never heard of SCTV, you definitely have heard of the people who were part of the show's cast. John Candy (Uncle Buck, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Summer Rental), Joe Flaherty (Freaks and Geeks, Happy Gilmore), Eugene Levy (the American Pie series), Andrea Martin (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Sesame Street), Rick Moranis (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Series, Ghostbusters) Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice, Home Alone), Dave Thomas (Grace Under Fire, The Red Green Show) and Martin Short (SNL, Father of the Bride) all put in time at this Canadian sketch-comedy show.

Notable sketches



Bob and Doug McKenzie
Thanks to the Great White North, Moranis and Thomas became the noted Canadian spokespersons for a couple beer companies (Molson and Labatt) and also starred in their own film, Strange Brew. They are the most famous characters of the series.



Johnny La Rue
The always scheming, free-spending "star" of SCTV, who was always loud, crude and broke, Candy just nails this character, which helped launch his career.



Guy Caballero
You may wonder why he uses a wheelchair despite having full use of his legs. Well, it's for respect! Flaherty's bombastic role of the network president helped set the tone for the hilarity of the series' run. He especially shines in the Pledge Week episode.

Seth’s Personal Favorite



Harry’s Discount Sex Shop
Candy is brilliant, of course. He really sells it when he explains, "I’m the one with the snake on my face."