"SCTV Network 90" (1981) TV series 1981-1983

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

John Bell

Writers:

Tom Couch (writer) (1981-1982)
Brian McConnachie (writer) (1981-1982)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

15 May 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Comedy parody about TV.

Plot Keywords:

Soap Opera | Alcohol | Satire | Second City | Actor Playing Multiple Roles

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 14 nominations

Cast

Eugene Levy	...	Various / ... (39 episodes, 1981-1983)
John Candy	...	Various / ... (38 episodes, 1981-1983)
Andrea Martin	...	Various / ... (38 episodes, 1981-1983)
Joe Flaherty	...	Various / ... (38 episodes, 1981-1983)
Rick Moranis	...	Various / ... (27 episodes, 1981-1982)
Dave Thomas	...	Various / ... (27 episodes, 1981-1982)
Catherine O'Hara	...	Various / ... (27 episodes, 1981-1982)
Martin Short	...	Various / ... (21 episodes, 1982-1983)

(more)

Series Directed by
John Blanchard		(30 episodes, 1981-1983)
Jim Drake		(9 episodes, 1982)
John Bell		(1 episode, 1982-1983)

Series Writing credits
Eugene Levy		(40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Dick Blasucci		(39 episodes, 1981-1983)
John Candy		(39 episodes, 1981-1983)
Bob Dolman		(39 episodes, 1981-1983)
Joe Flaherty		(39 episodes, 1981-1983)
Paul Flaherty		(39 episodes, 1981-1983)
Andrea Martin		(39 episodes, 1981-1983)
John McAndrew		(39 episodes, 1981-1983)
Doug Steckler		(34 episodes, 1981-1983)
Michael Short		(30 episodes, 1981-1983)
Dave Thomas		(29 episodes, 1981-1982)
Catherine O'Hara		(28 episodes, 1981-1982)
Rick Moranis		(27 episodes, 1981-1982)
Jeffrey Barron		(20 episodes, 1981-1983)
Martin Short		(15 episodes, 1982-1983)
Mary Charlotte Wilcox		(12 episodes, 1982-1983)
Chris Cluess		(10 episodes, 1981-1982)
Stu Kreisman		(10 episodes, 1981-1982)
Tom Couch		(9 episodes, 1981-1982)
Mert Rich		(9 episodes, 1981-1982)
Eddie Gorodetsky		(9 episodes, 1982)
Don Novello		(9 episodes, 1982)
Brian McConnachie		(8 episodes, 1981-1982)
Harold Ramis		(5 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Produced by
Charles Allard	....	executive producer (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Andrew Alexander	....	executive producer / senior executive producer (39 episodes, 1981-1983)
Len Stuart	....	executive producer (39 episodes, 1981-1983)
Jack E. Rhodes	....	executive producer (38 episodes, 1981-1983)
Patrick Whitley	....	supervising producer / producer (31 episodes, 1981-1983)
Doug Holtby	....	executive producer (26 episodes, 1981-1982)
Nancy Geller	....	producer (12 episodes, 1982-1983)
Don Novello	....	producer (9 episodes, 1982)
Barry Sand	....	producer (6 episodes, 1981)
Nic Wry	....	co-producer (5 episodes, 1981)
Carole Henson	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1981)
Jamie Paul Rock	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1981)

Series Original Music by
Ira Newborn		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Bill Goddard		(unknown episodes)
Gary L. Smith		(unknown episodes)
Alex Tkach		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Juul Haalmeyer		(40 episodes, 1981-1983)

Series Makeup Department
Judi Cooper-Sealy	....	hair stylist (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Ivan Lynch	....	makeup artist (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Barbara Palmer	....	makeup artist (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Robert Palmer	....	makeup artist (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Beverly Schechtman	....	makeup artist (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Christine Hart	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Marc Giacomelli	....	post-production supervisor (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Mary Eilts	....	production manager (unknown episodes)
Malcolm Knox	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Bell	....	second unit director (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
David McAree	....	assistant director (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Jamie Paul Rock	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Brad Turner	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Greg Breakell	....	props (1 episode, 1981)
Daniel R. Bradette	....	property master (unknown episodes, 1982-1984)
Christopher Green	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Michael C. Gross	....	graphic artist (unknown episodes)
Don Ives	....	set constructor (unknown episodes)
Bruce McKenna	....	props (unknown episodes)
Christine McLean	....	props (unknown episodes)
Wayne Schneider	....	graphic artist (unknown episodes)
Jill Scott	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Alex Tkach	....	graphic artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Kim Elaschuk	....	post audio mixer (unknown episodes)
Terry Gordica	....	post audio mixer (unknown episodes)
Harvey Popowich	....	post audio mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Kirk Cheney	....	assistant key grip (unknown episodes, 1982)
Martin Corley	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Simon Dalrymple	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Stan Hodson	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Loris Mattiello	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Wayne Mock	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Wayne Noga	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Robin Periana	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Des Spence	....	lighting director (unknown episodes)
Bill Whincup	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Trudy Haalmeyer	....	wardrobe (unknown episodes)
Eva Richter	....	wardrobe (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Dave Proc	....	technical coordinator (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Jamie Paul Rock	....	floor director (40 episodes, 1981-1983)
Allen Rucker	....	creative consultant (3 episodes, 1981)
Sally Cochrane	....	assistant to producers (unknown episodes)
Debbie Cooke	....	assistant to writers (unknown episodes)
Tisha Fein	....	talent coordinator (unknown episodes)
Cam Kjellbottn	....	studio director (unknown episodes)
Crystal Refshauge	....	researcher (unknown episodes)
Cheryl Skoreyko	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Norm Vallee	....	switcher (unknown episodes)
Claire Verret	....	assistant to director (unknown episodes)
Garth Wilson	....	technical coordinator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Old Firehall Productions

Distributors

• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) (1981) (Canada) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1981-1983) (USA) (TV)
• Rhodes Productions (USA)
• Shout! Factory (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• ITV  produced through the facilities of
• Terrace Inn, Edmonton, Alberta  accomodations provided by

Also Known As:

"SCTV Comedy Network" (USA) (new title)
"SCTV Network" (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

90 min (39 episodes)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Old Firehall Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (#4.21)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

Off Broadway

Why was this show funnier than any other?

Sorry to pose the question, since I have to say I don't know myself. This was easily the cleverest show I have seen. And it's the only TV comedy I know that is sometimes really fascinating.

In the episode where the broadcast is jammed by the Soviets, I found that along with the funny premise and its very funny execution (the stroboscopic image, the "new mini-cam", "Uzbeks"), there was a genuinely creepy vision of media under state control.

But it would give entirely the wrong impression to suggest that the show was ever preachy, even though it belittled the socially irresponsible from time to time. It was always exuberant fun.

Just so everyone understands, this was the series made for NBC, not the original lower-budget (but very good) years, nor the following year on Cinemax, which I didn't see.

Unfortunately I haven't seen any of them in over ten years. This is one of the very few things I would own on DVD if it were available.

"Battle of the PBS Stars", "Chariots of Eggs", Guy Caballero forgetting to stay in his chair, the frightening lust of Edith Prickly, and of course "Great White North". They deserve to be preserved.