SCTV Review: Fighting Air Dogs (2-15) / Death Takes No Holiday (2-16)
/RATINGS SYSTEM:
***** - Classic
**** - Great
*** - Good/Average
** - Meh
* - Awful
“Fighting Air Dogs” (season 2, episode 15, originally aired Dec. 23, 1978)
PROMO: UNDERCOVER POLICEWOMAN
Despite being bedridden, Paprika Anderson (Catherine O’Hara) still manages to to catch criminals.
A quick hitter, with a particularly funny physical gag of Paprika pinning a bad guy (Tony Rosato) with her stretcher.
*** 1/2
SCTV NEWS
Earl Camembert (Eugene Levy) is stoned on the air after taking part in a government experiment.
A memorable outing, with Earl snacking on chips, playing with a Slinky, and giving a pro-weed editorial. I find this one to be a little slow in places, though.
*** 1/2
DAYLEA YOGURT
Translator Anna Karmelov (Andrea Martin) tells her own story while interpreting for 130-year-old Olga Dmitrov (Catherine O’Hara).
A spoof of a real campaign for Dannon Yogurt; Andrea Martin’s character’s exaggerated stories are quite funny (particularly her getting her head cut off and growing a new body simply by lapping up yogurt), as is the visual of a now-dead Olga with yogurt splattered on her mouth.
Credit needs to go to the SCTV department for the old age makeup on Martin and O’Hara.
****
PROMO: MASTERPIECE THEATRE
Alistair Cook (Joe Flaherty) previews three new adaptations: “The Lincoln-Douglas Debates”, “Mohicans Galore”, and “Cretin’s Island”.
The first appearance of Alistair Cook since “Bob Hope Desert Classic”; each of the clips have some pretty solid laughs (Lincoln and Douglas resorting to childish name-calling, the Mohicans all coming out of the trading post with paper grocery bags, the Skipper killing Cretin).
*** 1/2
MIKE’S MERCENARIES
The new toys from Amco, The Toy People includes enough ammo and money to stop the rebel forces.
A little more dependent on knowledge of global politics than usual (this seems to be a reference to the two Shaba conflicts in Zaire in 1977-78), though the joke about the importance of the money from the South African businessman lands.
I have to laugh at how obvious it is that “Manuel” is obviously a female doll with a fake beard crudely attached.
***
SCTV MOVIE OF THE WEEK: FIGHTING AIR DOGS OVER THE PACIFIC
American (John Candy) and Japanese (Dave Thomas) pilots do battle.
A bit draggy at times thanks to the stock footage, though there are some funny moments, particularly with Thomas’s Japanese pilot pretending to be shot and the over-the-top speechifying at the end.
Thomas is essentially doing Lin Ye Tang here, though he isn’t identified as such until a promo bumper during an early NBC show.
***
Final thoughts: Another consistently good episode, with several particularly memorable sketches, though a few slower moments keep this one from reaching greatness.
MVP:
Eugene Levy
Rhodes version differences:
Removed: Mike’s Mercenaries
Blair version differences:
Removed: Promo: Undercover Policewoman (moved to 2-22)
Added: Promo: Fish Police (from 2-13), new syndication promo for Death Takes No Holiday (Robert Corness v/o)
Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.
“Death Takes No Holiday” (season 2, episode 16, originally aired Dec. 31, 1978)
THE AMAZING KRETIN
Mentalist Kretin (Dave Thomas) shows off his “amazing” skills to audience members Big Jim (Joe Flaherty) and Billy Sol (John Candy).
SCTV parodies Kreskin, who had two CTV shows between 1972 and 1977; this version is an obvious charlatan, though, whose manipulations are less than subtle. Of course, with Big Jim and Billy Sol around, you know something’s going to blow up…
***
THE HEYS OF OUR LIVES
A couple’s conversation is peppered with a particular interjection.
It’s one-joke, but completely aware of it, and the writing does have a little fun with where the “heys” are sprinkled.
***
SCTV NEWS
Earl Camembert’s (Eugene Levy) bandaged neck was the result of his report about a Johnny Cash concert at a prison.
A bit darker than usual, but made even funnier by how little Floyd cares about Earl nearly getting killed during his report; despite his initial shock, he quickly tells him that it was one of the worst interviews he’s seen him do, then makes fun of his bandage.
I get the impression that Candy’s lisping inmate had an assualt of another kind planned for Earl, though it’s downplayed here.
****
PHIL’S NAILS
Phil (Eugene Levy) is selling his inventory of nails at low prices.
A spoof of Toronto carpet salesman Phil Givner’s commercials; I’ve never actually seen one starring the man himself (though there is a later commercial for his store on YouTube), but this is one of those cases where the comedy transcends what is a super local reference. Eugene Levy’s version of Phil is instantly memorable, not only for what he’s selling, but how amateurish his commercial acting is.
*****
WILLIAM CASTLE PRESENTS: AGATHA CHRISTIE’S DEATH TAKES NO HOLIDAY
Hercule Poirot (John Candy) investigates a murder aboard a train, while Agatha Christie (Andrea Martin) interferes with the action. Producer William Castle (Dave Thomas) asks the audience how the story should end.
A very ambitious sketch that’s slightly overshadowed by some of the other pieces this season, but is an early incarnation of SCTV’s multi-layered parodies, as well as an example of how much the show’s hair, makeup, and costume departments contribute to them.
John Candy’s arrogant Poirot is hilarious, particularly his pettiness regarding pork chops, but pretty much everyone gets a chance to shine here.
This is the first credited episode for hairstylist Judi Cooper-Sealy, who would be an integral part of the show’s team.
*****
Final thoughts: An episode that keeps getting better as it goes along, with a strong SCTV News, an even better spoof of cheap local advertising, and one of the show’s most elaborate parodies up to this point in the series.
MVP:
John Candy
Rhodes version differences:
Removed: Phil’s Nails (moved to 2-25)
Blair version differences:
Edited: Death Takes No Holiday (bumper and commercial break added before extro)
Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.
