SCTV Review: Midnight Express Special (3-19) / Cookery Crock (3-20)

SCTV Review: Midnight Express Special (3-19) / Cookery Crock (3-20)

“Midnight Express Special” sketches include “Sunrise Semester: Basic Photography”, “Mamorex Video Tape”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Promo: Tomorrow, Today, Tonight”, “Bill Needle’s Mailbag”, “Message From Guy: Midnight Express Special”, and “Midnight Express Special”.

“Cookery Crock” sketches include “Sunrise Semester: Disasters In The Home”, “Nasex Nasal Deodorant”, “Bill Needle’s Mailbag”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Promo: The Freddie De Cordova Show”, “Cookery Crock” and “Quincy: Cartoon Coroner”.

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SCTV Review: Two-Way TV (3-17) / Alpha Channel (3-18)

SCTV Review: Two-Way TV (3-17) / Alpha Channel (3-18)

“Two-Way TV” sketches include “Sunrise Semester: Astrology”, “Promo: Monster Chiller Horror Theatre”, “Kanadian Korner”, “SCTV News”, “Comment with David Brinkley”, “Promo: Cruisin’ Gourmet”, “Two-Way TV”, “Bill Needle’s Mailbag”, “Promo: Crazy Crafts”, and “Sermonette: Rabbi Karlov”.

“Alpha Channel” sketches include “Gordon Lightfoot Sings Every Song Ever Written”, “Cooking With Marcello”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Crazy Crafts”, “Message From Guy: Alpha Channel”, “Promo: Alpha Channel”, “Bill Needle’s Mailbag”, and “Dialing For Dollars”.

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SCTV Review: The Irwin Allen Show (3-15) / Big Brother (3-16)

SCTV Review: The Irwin Allen Show (3-15) / Big Brother (3-16)

“The Irwin Allen Show” sketches include “Men On Women”, “Message From Guy: Men On Women”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Cooking With Marcello”, “Promo: Taxi Driver”, “Bill Needle’s Mailbag”, “Message From Guy: The Irwin Allen Show”, and “The Irwin Allen Show”.

“Big Brother” sketches include “Got A Minute?”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Promo: Taxi Driver”, “Message From Guy: The New Year”, “Message From Prickley: The New Year”, “SCTV New Year’s Eve Party 1983”, “Komrade Kangaroo”, “Comrade Allen”, “Promo: Doublethink”, and “The Praise Big Brother Show”.

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SCTV Review: Star Wars (3-13) / Hollywood Salutes Its Extras (3-14)

SCTV Review: Star Wars (3-13) / Hollywood Salutes Its Extras (3-14)

“Star Wars” sketches include “Sunrise Semester: Do-It-Yourself Advertising”, “Promo: Chick Monk: Roadie For The Defense”, “Kanadian Korner”, “SCTV News”, “Joni Mitchell’s For Dogs Only”, “Bill Needle’s Mailbag”, “SCTV Premiere: Star Wars”, and “Dialing For Dollars”.

“Hollywood Salutes Its Extras” sketches include “Message From Prickley: Extras”, “Mamorex Cassette Tape”, “Bill Needle’s Mailbag”, “Promo: Taxi Driver”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Howard’s Bristol Cream”, “Sneak Previews”, “Promo: Hawaii Five-Ho”, “Hollywood Salutes Its Extras”, and “Promo: White Man, Black Girl”.

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SCTV Review: The Sammy Maudlin Show (3-11) / Night Gallery (3-12)

SCTV Review: The Sammy Maudlin Show (3-11) / Night Gallery (3-12)

“The Sammy Maudlin Show” sketches include “Sunrise Semester: Glamour”, “Message From Prickley: The Sammy Maudlin Show”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Promo: Stretch Your Arm”, “Ronny Barrett’s Sports”, “Promo: Taxi Driver”, “Totacontrol”, “Message From Guy: Urgent Announcement”, and “The Sammy Maudlin Show”.

“Night Gallery” sketches include “Crazy Crafts”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Promo: Tom Snyder MD”, “SCTV News”, “Grizzly Abrams”, “Hugh Betcha’s Night Gallery”, and “Signoff: The National Anthem”.

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SCTV Review: Man's Ability To Imitate (3-9) / Mel's Rock Pile (3-10)

SCTV Review: Man's Ability To Imitate (3-9) / Mel's Rock Pile (3-10)

“Man’s Ability To Imitate” sketches include “Sunrise Semester: Man’s Ability To Imitate”, “PSA: Concerned Children for Truth in Advertising / National Organization to Reinstate Cigarette Advertising”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Promo: Monster Chiller Horror Theatre”, “Promo: Sea Talk”, “SCTV News”, “Comment with David Brinkley”, “Promo: The Invisible Man”, and “Cooking With Marcello”.

“Mel’s Rock Pile” sketches include: “Promo: Shakespeare In The Park”, “Cheryl Kinsey: Traveling Sexologist”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Promo: The Merv Griffin Show”, “Message From Guy: Viewer Mail”, “PSA: Participaction”, “Promo: Flashing Eyes”, and “Mel’s Rock Pile”.

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SCTV Review: Play It Again, Bob (3-7) / Gaslight (3-8)

SCTV Review: Play It Again, Bob (3-7) / Gaslight (3-8)

“Play It Again, Bob” sketches include “Message From Prickley: Play It Again, Bob”, “Promo: The Trial of Oscar Wilde”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Roto-Rooster”, “SCTV News” and “Play It Again, Bob”.

“Gaslight” sketches include “Sunrise Semester: Conversational Scottish”, “Promo: Chick Monk, Roadie Marriage Counselor”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Dick Cavett”, “Gaslight”, and “Sermonette: “Father” Raoul Wilson”.

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SCTV Review: Death Motel (3-5) / The Lone Ranger Show (3-6)

SCTV Review: Death Motel (3-5) / The Lone Ranger Show (3-6)

“Death Motel” sketches include “Sunrise Semester: Communicating in Italian”, “Bubie’s Chicken Medication”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Edna’s Back”, “Promo: Danny Eubanks: Seminarian/Rookie Cop”, “Monster Chiller Horror Theatre” and “Death Motel”.

“The Lone Ranger Show” sketches include “Sunrise Semester: Conversational New Yorkese”, “Tex and Edna Boil’s Organ Emporium”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Promo: Donohue”, “60/20”, “Message From Guy: Satellite Orbit”, “PSA: Foster Boss”, and “The Lone Ranger Show”.

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SCTV Review: Death Of A Salesman (3-3) / My Factory, My Self (3-4)

SCTV Review: Death Of A Salesman (3-3) / My Factory, My Self (3-4)

“Death Of A Salesman” sketches include “Words To Live By: Rabbi Karlov”, “Promo: Elvis ‘N Costello”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Melba’s Disco Jeans”, “SCTV News”, “Crazy Crafts”, “Message From Guy: Live Theatre”, and “SCTV Live Theatre: Death Of A Salesman”.

“My Factory, My Self” sketches include “Promo: The Young and the Wrestling”, “Money Talks with Brian Johns”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Promo: Make Me Barf”, “Dialing For Dollars” and “My Factory, My Self”.

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SCTV Review: Lee A. Iacocca's Rock Concert (3-1) / Thursday Night Live (3-2)

SCTV Review: Lee A. Iacocca's Rock Concert (3-1) / Thursday Night Live (3-2)

“Lee A. Iacocca’s Rock Concert” sketches include “Message From Prickley: Rock Concert”, “Promo: Rhoda”, “Promo: My Fair Lady”, “Kanadian Korner”, “SCTV News”, “Promo: My Life, One More Time” and “Lee A. Iacocca’s Rock Concert”.

“Thursday Night Live” sketches include “Message From Guy: Thursday Night”, “Thursday Night Live”, “Kanadian Korner”, “Promo: Dat’s Da Name Of Dat Tune”, “Promo: Bittman Does Dallas”, “K-Tel’s Fast-Talking Playhouse”, “Promo: Guy Friday”, “Half-Legs”, and “Point/Counterpoint”.

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Brief thoughts on the current state of SNL

Brief thoughts on the current state of SNL

Looking back at my writing about SNL from years ago, I now feel like I was a bit harsh on the show at times. Maybe it was just disappointment about talented performers being used for the most irritating sketches possible at the expense of their range. It was also partially untreated depression and burnout.

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SNL 1987-88: Final thoughts

SNL 1987-88: Final thoughts

If there was one word to describe the 13th season of SNL, it would be “consistent”. No longer on the bubble thanks to the previous year’s success, SNL in 1987-88 continued pretty much in the same direction as the last season with a little more confidence and a little less to prove.

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Classic SNL Review: February 27, 1988: Judge Reinhold / 10,000 Maniacs (S13E13)

Classic SNL Review: February 27, 1988: Judge Reinhold / 10,000 Maniacs (S13E13)

Sketches include “Pumping Up With Hans & Franz”, “Wilson Trap Doors”, “Church Chat”, “Airline”, “Jorge Garcia, Nice Guy Dictator”, “The Cop & The Prostitute”, “When Great Minds Meet” and “Pirates”. 10,000 Maniacs performs “Like The Weather” and “What’s The Matter Here”.

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Classic SNL Review: February 20, 1988: Tom Hanks / Randy Travis (S13E12)

Classic SNL Review: February 20, 1988: Tom Hanks / Randy Travis (S13E12)

Sketches include “Calgary 1988”, “Giant Businessman”, “The Bean Cafe”, “The Pat Stevens Show”, “Girl Watchers”, “Computer Panic”, “Casey Kasem Sings The Beatles”, “Delivery Room”, “Stand-Ups III”, and “The Pawn Shop”. Randy Travis performs “Forever And Ever, Amen” and “What’ll You Do About Me”.

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SCTV Review: Dining With LaRue (2-23) / The Flaming Turkey (2-24)

SCTV Review: Dining With LaRue (2-23) / The Flaming Turkey (2-24)

“Dining With LaRue” sketches include “Promo: Take The Money And Run”, “Raised By Geese”, “Big Giant Restaurant”, “Relaxing With Raoul”, “National Council of Antique and Restricted Automatic Weapons”, and “Dining With LaRue”.

“The Flaming Turkey” sketches include “The Two Goofs Grocery Store”, “PSA: Mental Illness”, “Insights with Hugh Betcha”, “Promo: Meet The Pawnbroker”, “SCTV News” “Polardak ESP-1 Camera”, “Firing Squad” and “SCTV Big Cultural Event: The Flaming Turkey”.

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Classic SNL Review: February 13, 1988: Justine Bateman / Terence Trent D'Arby (S13E11)

Classic SNL Review: February 13, 1988: Justine Bateman / Terence Trent D'Arby (S13E11)

Sketches include “Republican Debate 88”, “Family Ties”, “Learning To Feel”, “Derek’s Comeback”, “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre”, “What Do Your Friends Think”, and “Friday Night Videos”. Terence Trent D’Arby performs “Wishing Well” and “Under My Thumb”.

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SCTV Review: Pipeline (2-21) / Consumer Action Line (2-22)

SCTV Review: Pipeline (2-21) / Consumer Action Line (2-22)

“Pipeline” sketches include “Passport To Adventure”, “Promo: Tax Advice”, “SCTV News Bulletin”, “Taps No-Name Supermarket”, “The Doctor Braino Hour”, and “Pipeline”.

“Consumer Action Line” sketches include “Promo: The Young Weasels”, “Fireside Chat”, “Simple Touch Whitener”, “Tex and Edna Boil’s Organ Emporium”, “Family Crisis”, “Graft Cheese”, and “SCTV News”.

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Classic SNL Review: January 30, 1988: Carl Weathers / Robbie Robertson (S13E10)

Classic SNL Review: January 30, 1988: Carl Weathers / Robbie Robertson (S13E10)

Sketches include “BushWhacked!”, “The NFL Today”, “Democratic Debate 88”, “Mother-In-Law II”, “Not An Actress”, “Master Thespian”, and “The Garden”. Robbie Robertson performs “Testimony” and “Somewhere Down The Crazy River” with Maria McKee and the BoDeans.

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SCTV Review: On The Waterfront Again (2-19) / SCTV Disco (2-20)

SCTV Review: On The Waterfront Again (2-19) / SCTV Disco (2-20)

“On The Waterfront Again” features a show-length episode of “The Sammy Maudlin Show”, where Bobby Bittman (Eugene Levy) discusses his remake of On The Waterfront starring himself, Lola Heatherton (Catherine O’Hara) and Lin Ye Tang (Dave Thomas). Also includes commercials for “Chet Vet, The Dead Pet Remover”, “LaRue Toys”, and “Evelynn Wolf School Of Speed Eating”.

“SCTV Disco” sketches include “Promo: The Butch Grant Show”, “Oil of Oil”, “Promo: Those Two Zany Ambulance Drivers”, “Promo: Women Say The Darndest Things”, “Ronko Wiener Skinner”, “Tex and Edna Boil’s Organ Emporium”, “SCTV News”, “Captain O’Shaunessy Table Top Smoke Alarm”, and “SCTV Disco”.

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Classic SNL Review: January 23, 1988: Robin Williams / James Taylor (S13E09)

Classic SNL Review: January 23, 1988: Robin Williams / James Taylor (S13E09)

Sketches include “Pumping Up With Hans & Franz”, “Proud Dad”, “Learning To Feel”, “Robin Jr.”, “The 8th Annual ACE Awards”, “Discover” and “I Wuv You”. James Taylor performs “Never Die Young”, “Sweet Potato Pie”, and “That Lonesome Road”.

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