SCTV and Me

At the moment I write this, Amazon Prime is streaming all six seasons of SCTV, AKA Second City Television, the sketch comedy show that arose from Toronto's Second City comedy troupe. Like many others, I was a fan during the series' original run; indeed, we moved to Alberta just in time for the third season, which was filmed in Edmonton at the old Allard studios on 51st avenue and even on location in Leduc, where we lived at the time. 

Because you never know how long any given show will be available these days, I immediately started watching SCTV on Prime from the beginning to try to capture all the episodes I missed back in the 70s and 80s and to revisit any I remembered. It turns out that out of the entire first and second seasons--as far as I've gotten--I remember only the fifth and 26th episodes of the first season, so much of the comedy is new to me thus far--quite a delight. 

The show is as silly as I remember, but also much sharper, with social commentary, double entendres, and pop culture references that went over my head as an adolescent. 

My favourite sketch from the first season is "Crossword" from episode four. I was astounded when the opening credits included Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John Gielgud, two incredibly gifted and respected British stars of stage and screen. I figured this was a gag--including these legends alongside Dave Thomas, Eugene Levy, John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, Joe Flaherty, and Harold Ramis--virtually unknown, comparatively, especially in the mid-1970s. But sure enough, the two knights show up in a sketch called, "Crosswords," in which they're cast in a Harold Pinter play and exchange dry, mundane dialogue about which landmarks they should visit and how to solve the crossword clues. It's a strange skit, capturing the weird feeling of Pinter plays perfectly, and the two gentlemen are hilarious in the most deadpan manner possible. I'd love to know what circumstances made this bit of television history possible. 

It's also neat to see the loose narrative of the fictional SCTV evolve during the first two seasons; the skits are held together with the various goings-on at the station itself, and it amuses me to no end that Harold Ramis' departure as Moe Green, station manager, is covered by a kidnapping; the station is too cheap to pay the $2000 ransom, and Moe Green is never seen again on the show. Grim! 

As with any sketch show, some bits are funnier than others, but the actors really give every scene their all, and the cheap production values bring their own charm, putting the show's success almost entirely in the hands of the writers and comedians. 

I already remember why I loved this show, and it's a real treat to finally see the many episodes I missed. Looking forward to seasons three to six! 

Eggloo

 

Rubik's Cube Over Toronto

Based on Jeff's comment yesterday, I thought prompting for a Rubik's cube might give me a Borg cube, but alas. 
 

Earl Over Glass

When I visited Stephen and Audrey back in 1997 or 1998, I insisted on seeing the CN Tower. I couldn't bring myself to walk across its terrifying glass floor, but I did manage to carefully ease myself onto it back-first. At least that way I'd be looking up should the glass have shattered and I plummeted to my doom.

Trek to Timmins, Part Two

Read Trek to Timmins Part One.

When Air Canada employees offered to drive us from one end of the airport to another, I thought it would be cool to shoot some video, dolly-style. But I didn't get my camera ready quickly enough.

In the video above, Paul demonstrates how to ice fish. I was a little grossed out by the minnow impalement.

And here Sylvia takes the ATV for a spin on Lake Porcupine.

Finally, here are some photos and footage of the splendour of Timmins.

The Future is Yesterday: Toronto City Hall

Toronto City Hall is one of Canada's most familiar landmarks, so much so that the modernist building has permeated popular culture, particularly science fiction. Here it appears as a generic futuristic building in Gold Key's Star Trek #5. The building also pops up in a second-season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, as one of several possible destinations cycling through an Iconian teleportation gateway. I always wondered why Picard didn't say, "Oh look, we can go right back to Earth if we wanted to." At the very least, he should have wondered why the Iconians were so interested in travelling to Toronto. Actually, since the Iconians in the episode are long extinct, the portal must predate Toronto's existence; at the time the portal was targeted, it could have led to some North American First Nations tribe, empty wilderness, or perhaps even Pangaea itself. It's nothing more than coincidence that the portal eventually points to the heart of Toronto.

The architects must have been proud when and if they saw this episode, for it implies that their creation is still standing in the 24th century. Here's hoping!