SCTV

Ed Grimley on Muppets Tonight

"Herbie" the puppet

"Mrs. Falbo's Tiny Town," brought to you by the letter G

John Candy as his SCTV character Yosh Shmenge on Sesame Street.

SCTV (Second City Television) was a Canadian television sketch comedy show which ran in various incarnations from 1976 to 1984, first in syndication, then on CBC Television, on NBC (as SCTV Network 90), and finally on Cinemax. A blend of sitcom and sketch humor, starring members of The Second City Toronto branch, the series focused on the SCTV station in the small town of Melonville, its eccentric staff, and array of programming (including movie spoofs and celebrity impersonations). By the time it reached NBC, most episodes featured wraparound plot lines or themes involving the station.

Several fictional characters from the show have crossed-over into the Muppet universe as celebrity cameos (performed by the original actor), or were re-worked slightly for their appearances.

• Mrs. Falbo, of the recurring "Mrs. Falbo's Tiny Town" children's show spoof, appeared as a recurring element on Sesame Street under the name "Wanda Falbo (Word Fairy)."
• Edith Prickley appeared in various roles on Sesame Street, and in animated form as the earliest version of Lecture Lady.
• Yosh Shmenge (half of the Happy Wanderers polka duo) appeared in an episode in which he sells a clarinet to Slimey, and the celebrity version of "Put Down the Duckie."
• Ed Grimley appeared on Sesame Street (a clip of which was seen in Stars and Street Forever) and Muppets Tonight episode 110.
• Irving Cohen appeared on Muppets Tonight episode 110.

Writer Bill Prady, describing the MuppeTelevision segments of the then-upcoming The Jim Henson Hour, said "It's sort of like SCTV, but more disorganized, what with the chickens and cows running around."

The similarities would increase with KMUP on Muppets Tonight (with multiple SCTV alumni both as behind the scenes and as on-camera guests). Recurring segment "Swift Wits" is based on the SCTV segment "Half Wits," featuring a slew of not too bright contestants who fail to ever get a question right, to the host's frustration. "Swift Wits" added the trademark Muppets eating other Muppets aspect, however.

Muppet Mentions

• The March 24, 1977 broadcast of SCTV, from the show's first season, included a Sesame Street spoof called "Philosophy Street." The opening titles announced it as a Children's Television Workshop production, including the opening bars of the Sesame Street theme. The sketch parodied the pedagogy of Sesame Street by substituting philosophical concepts for letters and numbers, as demonstrated in several short segments.
  • In front of a brownstone (not unlike 123 Sesame Street), a kid (Dave Thomas) tosses pennies, until he's interrupted by a bespectacled know-it-all (Eugene Levy), who lectures him on "Factual Judgment" and "Value Judgment" (with the words appearing on the screen). The expert concludes that feelings and knowledge are as inseparable when making a Value Judgment as "ignorance and slum living," and is punched out by the kid.
  • Mr. Willis (John Candy), a Mr. Hooper-style storekeeper, greets Herbie (a commercial Oscar the Grouch hand puppet toy, performed by Catherine O'Hara). Herbie's mom sent him to buy materialism, but he's not sure which kind. When Mr. Willis offers either Dialectical Materialism or Mechanistic Materialism, Herbie gives up, and buys gumballs instead.
  • In a comparative sketch, based on various Sesame Street inserts demonstrating opposites or relational concepts like sizes, three weightlifters (played by Levy, Joe Flaherty, and Harold Ramis) demonstrate "Realism," "Idealism," and "Existentialism."
  • In the concluding sketch on the street, the know-it-all returns to ask the kid if he understands the difference between value judgments and factual judgments. The kid pulls a gun and demands the other's wallet. A gunshot is heard, and a superimposed title reads "Philosophy Street. Not a good street for learning."

• "Mrs. Falbo's Tiny Town" blends elements from various children's shows, including using the "brought to you by" letter format from Sesame Street. However, the results differ a bit. In one segment, it's P for Prison, while in another, G stands for G. Gordon Liddy (Dave Thomas).

Connections

• Tony Bennett, guest star ("Great White North Palace," 1982)
• John Blanchard, director (1980-1984)
• Dick Blasucci was a writer/head writer (1980-1984) and frequently appeared as an extra/bit player
• George Bloomfield, director (1977-1979)
• George Buza played a bartender in "The Nutty Lab Assistant" sketch ("Indecent Exposure," 1982)
• John Candy, cast member, guest star (one episode, 1983)
• Brian Doyle-Murray, writer (1976-1979)
• Joe Flaherty, cast member, head writer (1979-1981)
• Paul Flaherty, writer/head writer (1980-1984) and played the Pittsburgh Midget in Count Floyd sketches
• Crystal Gayle, guest star ("A Star Is Born," 1983)
• John Gielgud, guest star (1976)
• Michael Gross did graphic art (1981)
• Ron James played bit parts in seven episodes (1982-1984)
• Judith Kahan, writer (5 episodes, 1983)
• Andrea Martin, cast member
• Rick Moranis, cast member (1980-1982)
• Catherine O'Hara, cast member, guest star (7 episodes, 1983-1984)
• Martin Short, cast member (1982-1984)
• John Stocker voiced the opening narrator and announcer (1978-1979)
• Dave Thomas, cast member (1976-1982), head writer (1979-1982), guest star (3 episodes, 1983-1984)
• Ben Vereen, guest star ("Bobby Bittman's Retirement," 1983)
• Fred Willard, guest star ("Indecent Exposure," 1982) and Fred Winston ("Stalag SCTV," 1984)
• Robin Williams, guest star ("Jane Eyrehead," 1982)