SCTV Review: Play It Again, Bob (3-7) / Gaslight (3-8)
RATINGS SYSTEM:
***** - Classic
**** - Great
*** - Good/Average
** - Meh
* - Awful
“Play It Again, Bob” (season 3, episode 7, originally aired October 31, 1980)
MESSAGE FROM PRICKLEY: PLAY IT AGAIN, BOB
Edith Prickley (Andrea Martin) says the whole family can enjoy Play It Again, Bob.
The first we see of Mrs. Prickley since the premiere, doing a hilariously bad Ingrid Bergman impression (saying Lauren Bacall’s “You know how to whistle…” line from To Have and Have Not). Entertaining for what’s supposed to be a filler piece.
*** 1/2
PROMO: THE TRIAL OF OSCAR WILDE
Oscar Wilde (Joe Flaherty) uses wit and repartee to defend himself in a dramatization of the unabridged transcripts of his trial.
Enjoyable, with the prosecutor (Dave Thomas) and a gleefully obnoxious Wilde devolving into childish bickering as the sketch goes on.
I love the reveal of a foppish-looking Tony Rosato playing Wilde’s lover.
*** 1/2
TEASER: SCTV NEWS
Earl Camembert (Eugene Levy) is back from his vacation; Floyd Robertson (Joe Flaherty) insinuates he went with a hooker.
Too short to rate, but Earl’s “Why don’t you shut up?” to Floyd at the end was great.
KANADIAN KORNER (#10)
Bob (Rick Moranis) plays a prank on Doug (Dave Thomas) while he’s sleeping; sticking his finger in warm beer to make him “go”.
Interesting format break for the sketch, with Bob trying (but not knowing) the theme song, and managing to also convince Doug that the show’s run time was cut back.
The first McKenzie Brothers segment to air from the second taping session (note the addition of plants to the set) and also the first one to air out of taping sequence.
This week’s crawl is about the Ministry of Canadian Content planning to develop a third public network (CBC 3) to launch July 1, 2067 (which they say is “Pierre Berton’s 200th birthday”) that will broadcast Great White North 24 hours a day.
*** 1/2
ROTO-ROOSTER
Unclog those drains at half the cost with just a phone call.
Not bad, but my favourite parts of this were Flaherty’s over the top outburst and Rosato’s look.
***
SCTV NEWS
Earl Camembert (Eugene Levy) introduces “Earl’s Travel Trips” with a film of his vacation to St. Lucia.
More humiliation for Earl, as the film he presents clearly shows his date welcoming the advances of the “unfriendly” natives. The back-and-forth between Floyd and Earl at the end was pretty solid, with Earl finally pushed to snapping back about Floyd’s wife “Easy”.
I wonder where the beach scene was shot; it obviously has to be a lake in Alberta.
****
PLAY IT AGAIN, BOB: PART I
Woody Allen (Rick Moranis) wants to make a movie with Bob Hope (Dave Thomas). but soon finds they have very different approaches to comedy.
Considered one of the show’s most noteworthy sketches; it may be a bit lost on the younger generations who aren’t as familiar with Hope (especially how many bad TV specials he did at that time) or are more familiar with Allen’s predations than body of work, but the premise and writing is solid enough to make this timeless, Moranis and Thomas have their impressions perfected, and this is a thoroughly well-done piece.
In SCTV: Behind The Scenes, Thomas says “This sketch tumbled together in about fifteen minutes in the writers’ room”.
This sketch also has the most location work seen up to this point on SCTV; while Edmonton doesn’t really resemble New York City, it does still lend an added level of realism.
ITV studio director Cam Kjellbotn appears briefly as Hope prepares to go onstage; the scene also contains a cameo from makeup designer Beverly Schechtman.
*****
PLAY IT AGAIN, BOB: PART II
Woody Allen (Rick Moranis) gets some otherworldly advice from Bing Crosby (Joe Flaherty) and tries to bond with Bob Hope (Dave Thomas) on the golf course.
Solid, with a great scene that adds Flaherty’s Bing Crosby impression to the mix, and Woody’s attempt at golf has some funny physical work from Moranis, as well as both Woody and Bob addressing the camera.
The final scene was shot on location at Edmonton International Airport (note the Air Canada counters visible in the background).
*****
Final thoughts: A very good show anchored by one of the show’s classic pieces and a fun SCTV News sketch. The rest of the show is quite enjoyable, perhaps underrated, even if it’s not quite on the level of the major sketches.
MVP:
(tie) Rick Moranis / Dave Thomas
Rhodes version differences:
Removed: Kanadian Korner 10
Allarcom version differences (show #57C):
Removed: SCTV News teaser
Blair version differences (show 14A):
Removed: SCTV News teaser, Kanadian Korner 10
Added: Eskimo Arts: Two Folon Sale (from 4/2-1), new promo for One On The Town (Robert Corness v/o)
DVD differences:
Edited: Play It Again, Bob: Part II (“Thanks For The Memories” replaced)
Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.
“Gaslight” (season 3, episode 8, originally aired Nov. 7, 1980)
SUNRISE SEMESTER: CONVERSATIONAL SCOTTISH
Angus Crock (Dave Thomas) teaches some phrases and gripes about not getting paid.
A stronger installment; we get to see a bit more of Crock’s crankiness this time out, especially when he complains about doing the show for nothing and interacts with crew.
I like the randomness of Crock being “the famous Scottish blues singer”.
*** 1/2
PROMO: CHICK MONK, ROADIE MARRIAGE COUNSELOR
Chick Monk (Tony Rosato) brings his rock show expertise to his new career.
Very funny performance from Rosato here, who does a pretty good job multitasking as the sketch goes on.
Duke and Flaherty are playing the same couple from the Roto-Rooster ad (Flaherty’s character is named Drake); Duke’s character now has a unibrow.
The detail of Duke continuing to speak into the microphone (“You alright Mr. Monk?”) made the sketch for me.
*** 1/2
KANADIAN KORNER (#8)
Doug (Dave Thomas) shows how to take your beer on a long ski trip. Bob (Rick Moranis) wants Doug to give him a beer.
This shows a bit more of the brothers’ competitive relationship. Moranis and Thomas also seem to be having fun with the fact that Doug’s been doing most of the drinking in these bits.
This week’s crawl promotes the Canadian Culture Identity Crisis Hotline, where Canadians can report encroaching American Cultural Imperialism, and encourages them to unite with the closing message: “Watch the Beachcombers and The National” (two real CBC shows).
***
DICK CAVETT
Dick Cavett (Rick Moranis) interviews the most fascinating person he can think of: himself.
A great, compact little sketch with another impression that Rick Moranis completely nails; not only does he satirize Cavett’s tendency to name-drop (referring to Groucho and Woody by their first names), he really does pull off simulating what a real conversation between two Cavetts would sound like, complete with dry little one-liners.
Nice little dig at Chrysler at the beginning.
*****
GASLIGHT: PART I
Cecil (Joe Flaherty) and low-class maid Tessie (Robin Duke) try to convince Cynthia (Andrea Martin) that she’s losing her mind.
I found this was not quite as effective overall as the previous appearance of Cecil and Cynthia, which was a fair bit more efficient than this two-parter. Robin Duke does give a good performance, though, and Andrea Martin is still delightfully annoying as Cynthia.
The names of the actors playing Cecil and Cynthia have changed, from Rodney Cockney and Lucy Parpouzian to Buster Ricasoli and Lucy Poupougian, respectively. As mentioned before, Lucy Poupougian is also the name used for the writer/director/producer of “My Factory, My Self”.
***
GASLIGHT: PART II
Cecil (Joe Flaherty) and Tessie (Robin Duke) decide to get rid of Cynthia (Andrea Martin), which proves more difficult than they thought.
Some funny dummy abuse in this part, though the part with Tessie dancing with Cynthia felt a little redundant (I do love Cecil sniveling “Dancing’s stupid” as he cranks the Victrola, though).
I like the voice Rosato uses as the inspector who alerts Cynthia to the truth about Cecil and Tessie; very appropriate for that character.
***
SERMONETTE: “FATHER” RAOUL WILSON
“Father” Raoul Wilson (Eugene Levy) discusses sex and the church, as well as the spiritual and moral value of certain magazines.
Eugene Levy’s most depraved character returns, who answers the question “should sex be performed in a church?” and makes a suspiciously specific denial about the age of the girls he looks at. Levy’s a master at using body language (watch him as he starts talking about the contents of the magazines), and the over-the-top sleaziness in his portrayal takes a bit of the edge off the more disturbing aspects.
In the past, this would have likely been a “Words To Live By”; here, this segment is just called “Sermonette”.
****
Final thoughts: A bit of a step down, mainly because the Gaslight parody doesn’t quite work as a centerpiece sketch. Most of the show is pretty good, though, with Dick Cavett and Sermonette being highlights, and both Duke and Rosato get some moments to shine.
MVP:
Andrea Martin
Rhodes version differences:
Removed: Kanadian Korner 8
Allarcom version differences:
Removed: Kanadian Korner 8
Added: Gordon Lightfoot Sings Every Song Ever Written (from 3-18), American Express (from 3-22)
Blair version differences:
episode not included in package; Dick Cavett appears in 20A/88C, Sermonette appears in 89A/144C.
1999 WIC version differences:
Edited: Gordon Lightfoot Sings Every Song Ever Written (“Supercalifragilistic” removed).
Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.