SCTV

SCTV, Volume 2 (5 Disc Set)

For those who never missed a Friday, and especially for those who only know SCTV by reputation, these nine episodes, presented chronologically on this five disc-set, are as great as we remember, and perhaps even better than you've heard. With the first nine episodes of SCTV's expanded Network 90 incarnation under their belt (available, naturally, on volume 1), the peerless ensemble (John Candy, Joe Flahrety, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, and Dave Thomas) really found its voice (or voices), and the show relied less on the so-called "golden classics" from the show's early days to boldly subvert sketch-comedy convention with brilliantly conceived and performed wraparounds that link the sketches. Looming large in SCTV legend are the program-length Godfather parody, in which Don Caballero launches an all-out network war; the devastatingly funny, "I'm Taking My Own Head, Screwing It On Right, and No Guy's Gonna Tell Me That It Ain't," arguably one of Martin and O'Hara's finest hours, and the sci-fi spoof "Zontar," in which glowing cabbages take control of the network.

Other moments for the pantheon: Meryl Streep blowing up real good on the "Farm Film Report"; Bob and Doug McKenzie demonstrating how to stuff a mouse inside a beer bottle; the cross-parody "Benny Hill Street Blues," and the late Wendy O Williams and the Plasmatics really cutting it up (with a chainsaw!) on Gil Fisher's "The Fishin' Musician. Some of the more topical bits are understandably dated, and that canned laughter reeks of network Zontars imposing their will, but this second, equally indispensable volume rescues SCTV from mere cult object of obsession. Original cast member Harold Ramis is right: In Thomas's encyclopedic history, SCTV: Behind the Scenes, Ramis observes, "Everyone just got better and better. You would notice, if you had the time to sit and watch all the shows, the progression in excellence." --Donald Liebenson

SCTV Volume 2 picks up where the first volume left off, presenting nine more 90-minute shows from SCTV's memorable fourth season. Originally broadcast on NBC in 1981 and 1982, this set contains several of the episodes widely considered to be SCTV's best. Eugene Levy in "The Jazz Singer" or John Candy as the village idiot in the Russian TV show "Hey Giorgy!" are just two examples of the level of excellence the series achieved throughout this season. "CCCP 1," "The Godfather," "Zontar" and "Teacher's Pet" are some of the inspired wraparounds for these memorable shows.

Commentaries, interviews, hidden treasure and other special features round out another stellar collection of programming from Guy Caballero's experiment in television. SCTV is on the air...and you will be on the floor.

And loaded with over 90 minutes of special features including new & unreleased material:
*Larger Than Life: The Norman Seeff Photo Sessions
*SCTV Remembers, Pt. 2
*The SCTV Writers
*The Juul Haalmeyer Dancers
*Behind-The-Scenes Photo Gallery
*SCTV At The 1982 Emmy® Awards

THIS 5-DISC BOX SET INCLUDES:
*Nine 90-minute episodes from the NBC seasons with the comedic talent of Eugene Levy (New York Minute, American Pie, A Mighty Wind, Best In Show), Catherine O' Hara (A Mighty Wind, Best In Show), Joe Flaherty (National Security), Andrea Martin (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), and Dave Thomas (Who's Your Daddy? ), Rick Moranis (Honey, I Shrunk The Kids) and the late John Candy.

*A photo-packed 24-page booklet with an essay by Pulitzer-Price winning television critic Howard Rosenberg.

*Deluxe DVDigistak style package with graphics behind the clear trays in a sturdy slip-case.

*Performances by musical stars Al Jarreau, The Plasmatics, Natalie Cole, The Boomtown Rats, The Plastics and Talking Heads.

*Commentaries by Dave Thomas, Dick Blasucci, writer John McAndrew, Andrea Martin and Catherine O'Hara.

*This set now fully indexed and episodes detailed in booklet.

SCTV, Volume 1 - Network 90 (5 Disc Set)

At long last, SCTV is on the air... or at least on DVD! While it never reached the ratings heights or pop culture cachet of Saturday Night Live, SCTV did garner critical buzz and a devoted cult following. As with the Python boys, the ensemble members, and the characters they created to populate the fictional Melonville TV network, are revered in hipper comedy circles. In this respect, SCTV is Letterman to SNL's Leno. This essential five-disc set collects the first nine episodes of the series' Network 90 incarnation, which brightened NBC's Friday late-night lineup in 1981. While original cast member Harold Ramis had since left the show, and Martin Short would join the following year, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, and Dave Thomas were SCTV's definitive ensemble (SNL-bound Robin Duke and Tony Rosato, we hardly knew ye). These inaugural episodes are comprised mostly of "the golden classics" (so dubbed by Flahrety's wheelchair-bound station manager Guy Caballero) linked by some new material. Included are such series benchmarks as "The Great White North" segments, featuring Moranis and Thomas as the stereotypically Canadian, parka-wearing, beer-swilling McKenzie brothers; "Play It Again, Bob," starring Moranis as Woody Allen and Thomas as Bob Hope; the ill-fated made-for-SCTV "Polynesiantown" starring Candy's Johnny LaRue; "The Sammy Maudlin Show," starring Joe Flahrety as the most sincerely insincere talk show host, with O'Hara as Lola "I want to bear your children" Heatherton, and "Indira," with Andrea Martin in her signature Evita spoof.

And that's just on disc 1! SCTV could parody Leave It to Beaver and Fantasy Island with the best of them, but anticipating the future Ben Stiller Show, its genius lay in its show business savvy to subvert television and movie convention. When Levy's comedian Bobby Bittman arrives on a talk show, he brings "bloopers" from his congressional testimony. And you don't need to have seen The Oscar to appreciate The Nobel, but it certainly helps. The price is steep, but don't be a hoser. This is the comedy release of the year. And it blows up real good. --Donald Liebenson

SCTV, Second City Television Network Volume 3 (5 Disc Set)

The third cycle of SCTV's "Network 90" incarnation begs the question: Would success spoil SCTV? By this time, this Canadian cult favorite was flirting with mainstream success, with an Emmy Award for writing to its credit and nation-wide "Hoser-mania" triggered by the surprise breakout success of "The Great White North" segments featuring Bob and Doug McKenzie. But rather than sell out, SCTV stayed loyal to its smart muse. The first episode addresses the McKenzie phenomenon with "The Great White North Palace," the inevitable (and hilariously) ill-fated exploitation of the touque-wearing brothers. And, as Tony Bennett himself serenades the boys, "The Best Is Yet to Come." This batch of nine episodes includes brilliantly conceived sketches that deliriously push cross-parody boundaries. Taking its cue from Steven Spielberg's enhancement of Close Encounters, SCTV offers its own "Special Edition" of "The Merv Griffin Show," an old school talk show which somehow ends up in outer space with George Plimpton taking on George Lucas in an Atari vs. Intellivision video game battle (how '80s can you get?).

SCTV was at its best when skewering show business and television convention, as witness the lavish "People's Global Golden Choice Awards" (the Five Neat Guys' medley of faux motion-picture theme songs anticipates Billy Crystal's Oscar-night showstopper), and "The Battle of the PBS Stars," which pits Julia Child against Mr. Rogers in the boxing ring. This cycle also introduced the pitch-perfect soap-opera parody, "The Days of the Week" (former Second City member and Saturday Night Live superstar Bill Murray brings his considerable cachet to one installment), as well as the polka meisters, the Schmenge brothers (a classic sketch marred somewhat by the absence of "Stairway to Heaven," apparently due to rights issues).

Martin Short, momentously joins the seamless ensemble, and makes an instant impression, with such masterful bits as his devastating "Jerry Lewis Live on the Champs Elysees." Throughout, even when a sketch falls flat ("The Pre-Teen World Telethon"), the cast's commitment to character is exhilarating to watch. SCTV fans who have long suffered the show's intrusive laugh track will want to check out the bonus feature on disc 5, a 1997 reunion of the surviving cast at the Museum of Television & Radio. Rick Moranis reveals that the technician responsible was--no joke--a moonlighting chicken farmer who didn't get the jokes and was simply looking for lulls in which to place the canned laughs. Not even SCTV's brilliant writing staff could have made that up! --Donald Liebenson

This volume offers nine 90 minute shows from the fourth season to feed the demand for more SCTV. Broadcast on NBC in 1982, these episodes introduce new cast member Martin Short and Chronicle the height of success for characters Bob & Doug. It is here where the Shmenge Brothers (John Candy and Eugene Levy) make their first appearance and the Great White North gets the special Treatment in the "Great White North Palace" featuring Tony Bennett. Celebrities Bill Murray and Carl Perkins join the fray and musical guest Bennett, Jimmy Buffett and Hall And Oates offer classic performances.

SCTV, Vol. 4

SCTV's incredible 5th season (yes, that's Volume 4) finds the show renewed on NBC and still in the 90-minute format. Three cast members have departed, Dave Thomas, Rick Moranis and Catherine O'Hara—although Catherine makes a memorable return in "The Christmas Show," but Martin Short's star rose in their absence. His inimitable character Ed Grimley finds his way into many of the sketches. The Shmenges are back and John Candy introduces Mr. Mambo.

The Volume 4 box set features four Emmy-nominated shows ("Towering Inferno," "Christmas Special," "Midnight Cowboy" and "Sweeps Week"), plus Robin Williams as a guest in the "Jane Eyrehead" episode; it also includes musical guests John Mellencamp, Joe Walsh, and Crystal Gayle.

Includes an extra DVD with 3 extra episodes—12 episodes total— 33% more content at the same price as the first 3 volumes! Also includes a collectible set of character trading cards.

Program Listing: DISC 1 EPISODE# 106 Sammy Maudlin 23rd Anniversary / CBC EPISODE# 107 Indecent Exposure with John Cougar, Harold Ramis and Fred Willard EXTRAS: Hinterland Who's Who Goin' Down The Road

DISC 2 EPISODE# 108 Melonvote with Linda Hopkins EPISODE# 109 Jane Eyrehead with Robin Williams and America EXTRA: SCTV At Play

DISC 3 EPISODE# 110 Towering Inferno with Banda Brava EPISODE# 111 Christmas with Catherine O'Hara and Andrae Crouch EXTRA: SCTV Remembers - Part 4

DISC 4 EPISODE# 112 A Star Is Born with Crystal Gayle EPISODE# 113 SCTV Classifieds / Vic Arpeggio EXTRA: Sammy Maudlin at Second City

DISC 5 EPISODE# 114 Bobby Bittman's Retirement with Ben Vereen EPISODE# 115 Sweeps Week EXTRA: SCTV - The Producers Part 2

DISC 6 EPISODE# 116 South Sea Sinner with Betty Thomas EPISODE# 117 Midnight Cowboy II with Joe Walsh EXTRA: The Red Fisher Show

SCTV - Best Of The Early Years

SCTV's best half-hour episodes from 1978 - 1980 are showcased in this 3-DVD collection. From its humble beginnings in 1976 SCTV transformed from a half-hour comedy airing monthly in Canada on the Global Television Network to a widely embraced series that by the third season was airing weekly on the CBC and syndicated in the U.S.Guy Caballero and Edith Prickley were born in the early years. The McKenzie Brothers started here. Earl Camembert Floyd Robertson Johnny LaRue Sammy Maudlin and Bobby Bittman characters destined to become household names were first beamed into consciousness here.Starring: John Candy Robin Duke Joe Flaherty Eugene Levy Andrea Martin Rick Moranis Catherine O'Hara Tony Rosato and Dave ThomasSpecial Features Include:Commentaries by Robin Duke Joe Flaherty and executive producer Andrew AlexanderThe featurette "Looking Back With Andrea Martin"CBC news magazine segment "The McKenzie Brothers - Take Off Eh"Examining the impact The Great White North had on Canada"Andrew Alexander Answers Fan Mail."System Requirements:Run Time: 420 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 826663101461 Manufacturer No: D3D10146

Even the worst of SCTV would be superior to much of what passes for contemporary sketch comedy. This three-disc set collects 15 of the now-legendary 30-minute syndicated episodes from 1978-80 that initially formed the bedrock of SCTV's Network 90 incarnation (now available in its entirety on DVD). There are but three episodes from season 2, which feature SCTV's most popularly known ensemble: John Candy, Joe Flahrety, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, and Dave Thomas. Arguably the best of these is "On the Waterfront Again," with Levy's old school and out of touch comedian Bobby Bittman and O'Hara's B-list entertainer Lola Heatherton appearing on "The Sammy Maudlin Show" to promote their hopeless remake of the Brando classic. The bulk of this collection hails from season 3, which lamentably saw the departure of Candy and O'Hara, but also the auspicious arrival of Rick Moranis. Also joining the cast were the unsung Tony Rosato (who does a wicked Lou Costello in "Midnight Express Special") and Robin Duke. They would later make the jump to Saturday Night Live, which gets an upstart thumping in the episode, "Thursday Night Live." One of the season's running gags is a series of promos for Taxi Driver, recast with Woody Allen, Dick Cavett, Gregory Peck, and even Bob Hope ("You talkin' to me? Nobody talks to me that way. I didn't let Darryl Zanuck talk to me that way."). Thomas's definitive Hope also pops up to upstage Bittman on "The Sammy Maudlin Show" to promote "I Owe Peking 2000 Dollars," and alongside Moranis' uncanny Woody Allen in the masterpiece, "Play It Again, Bob." Thomas and Moranis make their momentous first appearances throughout this season as bickering, beer-swilling brothers Doug and Bob McKenzie, SCTV's breakout characters. "The Great White North" (a.k.a. "Kanadian Korner"), their sublimely silly improved segments, introduced such Canadian patois as "Take off," "Hoser," and "Beauty, eh?" into the pop culture lexicon.

SCTV mastered the art of cross parody. "My Factory, My Self," one of Martin's finest half hours, somehow combines An Unmarried Woman, Coming Home, Norma Rae, Kramer vs. Kramer, and The China Syndrome. It's unfortunate that The Early Years represented in this collection do not extend to the first season (Harold Ramis fans, arise!). But these gems are dazzling in their--to quote the hilarious "The Trial of Oscar Wilde" sketch--"sparkling wit and unbelievable intelligence." Some of the references are dated (anyone remember gossip columnist Rona Barrett, transformed here into sportscaster Ronny Barrett?). But we agree with SCTV station manager Guy Caballero. This is "the hippest comedy you'll ever see." --Donald Liebenson

Christmas With SCTV

SCTV Seasons 1 - 4 Bundle DVD Set

Complete Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4 of SCTV on DVD. US Version. Region 1. Factory Sealed./// In 1977, Canadian-produced SCTV began as a 30-minute sketch show. It ran in syndication in the U.S. for several years. In 1981 it was picked up by NBC in a 90-minute format. It ran for 2 years and was seen by millions of viewers weekly.

SCTV Disc 2 - Southside Fracas & The Sammy Maudlin Show

By popular demand, the first single SCTV DVD releases are now available. This DVD features two classic 90-minute shows along with bonus material.

Southside Fracas
This offers the "Only For Women" talk show, Dick Cavett interview with Dick Cavett and the Berman film parody sandwiched into Count Floyd's "Monster Horror Chiller Theater" as well as the Siskel & Ebert take-off and more.

The Sammy Maudlin Show: Bob Hope In China
Some of the best segments of the first three seasons were compiled here including loads of short skits surrounding "Lee A. Iacocca's Rock Concert" — featuring Gino Vanelli, Ringo Starr and Barbra Streisand's duet with Slim Whitman — and that fine British film The Man Who Would Be King Of The Popes.

Bonus Feature:
Origins of SCTV - Harold Ramis, Bernie Sahlins and others recount the comedic SCTV journey.

SCTV - Disc 1 - One on the Town & Polynesiantown

While it never reached the ratings heights or pop culture cachet of Saturday Night Live, SCTV did garner critical buzz and a devoted cult following. As with the Python boys, the ensemble members, and the characters they created to populate the fictional Melonville TV network, are revered in hipper comedy circles. In this respect, SCTV is Letterman to SNL's Leno. This single disc consists of two episodes from the essential five-disc set of the series' Network 90 incarnation, which brightened NBC's Friday late-night lineup in 1981. Included are such series benchmarks as "The Great White North" segments, featuring Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as the stereotypically Canadian, parka-wearing, beer-swilling McKenzie brothers; "Play It Again, Bob," starring Moranis as Woody Allen and Thomas as Bob Hope; the ill-fated made-for-SCTV "Polynesiantown" starring John Candy's Johnny LaRue; "The Sammy Maudlin Show," starring Joe Flahrety as the most sincerely insincere talk show host, with O'Hara as Lola "I want to bear your children" Heatherton; and "Indira," with Andrea Martin in her signature Evita spoof. --Donald Liebenson

By popular demand, the first single SCTV DVD releases are now available. This DVD features two classic 90-minute shows along with bonus material.

One On The Town:
Highlights include "Leave It To Beaver 25th Anniversary," "Masterpiece Theatre: All The Long-Leggedy Beasties" and "Play It Again, Bob"— a superb parody of Woody Allen and Bob Hope's comedic styles.

Polynesiantown:
The 5 Neat Guys spot and the Sammy Maudlin Show on drugs in Hollywood are ace, but the "Polynesiantown" film send-up — with the final crane shot that would become a running gag in future shows — is the real classic.

Bonus Feature:
SCTV Remembers - behind-the-scenes stories from Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin and executive producer Andrew Alexander.

SCTV - Volume 1-4 (Boxset) - 4 Pack

SCTV Volumen 1 Network 90(Boxset) Bonus Features: Commentaries by Joe Flaherty and Eugene Levy The 1999 Aspen Comedy Festival SCTV Tribute. Original cast members Flaherty, Levy, Andrea, Martin, Catherine O'Hara and Dave Thomas joined Conan O'Brien for this event, which was first broadcast on HBO. Nearly 90 minutes of newly created audio and video segments featuring cast and crew insights and memories. A photopacked 24page booklet with essays by Conan O'Brien, SCTV Executive Producer, Andrew Alxender and Veteran pop journalistDon Waller Total running time for SCTV Volumen 1 Network 90 +/ 13 Hours SCTV Volumen 2 (Boxset) Bonus Features: Loger Than Life: The Normal Seeff Photo Sessions The SCTV At The Emmys SCTV At The Emmys SCTV Remembers The Juul Haalmeyer Dancer A BehindTheScenes Photo Gallery Total running time for SCTV Volumen 2: +/ 11 .3Hours SCTV Volumen 3 (Boxset) Bonus Features: SCTV The Producers Thats Life John Candy Profile SCTV Remembers, Part 3 SCTV at The Museum of Television & Radio John Candy Photo Gallery Total running time for SCTV Volumen 3: +/ 12 Hours SCTV Volumen 4 (Boxset) Bonus Features: SCTV Remembers Interview with Martin Short SCTV At Play Home movies of Cast and Crew Sammy Maudlin At Second City SCTV The Producers Canadian TV references revealed Total running time for SCTV Volumen 4: +/ 14 Hours