Customer Reviews

SCTV, Vol. 4

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this set with low expectations, as Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, and Rick Moranis had left the cast, replaced by the seemingly annoying Martin Short.

After I popped this into the DVD player, however, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Although I do lament the loss of three great castmembers, the writing on this cycle of SCTV is noticably sharper than the previous volumes. "Melonvote" is one of the greatest single epsiodes of sketch comedy that I've come across. SCTV had always been absurd, but cycle 4 does such a great job seamlessly integrating the weirdness, that it's definitely a cut above the past.

I was also greatly surprised by Martin Short. Knowing him pretty much from things like "Captain Ron" and "Jimmy Glick," I was prepared to be underwhelmed. Under the umbrella of SCTV, however, he really does stand out and show strong acting chops. Even Ed Grimely, whom I absolutely hated on SNL, is hysterical here.

If you are deferring from purchasing this set as I did, I would strongly suggest going ahead and givng it a viewing. This is a prime example of the detailed and maniacal satire that SCTV remains a cult favorite for.

Fabulous. After so many years PRAYING for this magnificent show to be released on DVD, they finally deliver the goods.

Although many cast members were missing during this time, it's amazing how much the remaining crew re-energized with the addition of Martin Short. Not all of the material is brilliant; the "A Star Is Born" satire with Crystal Gayle kind of falls flat. But 9/10 is pretty good for a show that's over 20 years old.

This set is worth it for the 'CBC' portion of the season, which was pure genius, especially their take on "Going Down The Road", which is just as much an integral part of Canadiana as the movie it spoofs.

"She's a nuclear physicist! And she's FRENCH! FRENCH, Larry, FRENCH, do ya hear me??? She's got an accent and everything!!!"

Other stand outs include "Midnight Cowboy II", "Towering Inferno", "The Brock Linehan skits (Steve Roman, Linda Hopkins, Rusty Van Reddick,)", "Scenes From An Idiot's Marriage", "Half-Wits"... the list is endless.

Now if they'd only see fit to release the original Canadian broadcasts, we'd be in heaven.

The Queen Haters - what more is there to say? OK - Midnight Cowboy - need I say more!!?

Also some footage I have never seen before, despite being an avid fan from watching the TV reruns. For example, some more bickering dialogue between Dr. Tongue and Bruno as they race to leave the Towering Inferno - I love their little squabbles!

Ed Grimly is here also, in THE NUTTY LAB ASSISTANT [with John Cougar], and in THE BOY WHO COULDN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS. As well, he teaches us a lesson about 'Snakes' and ends up falling prey to the snakes' hypnotic stare ... ;-)

It is true that Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas and Catherine O'Hara [except for Christmas show] are gone, but Martin Short shines through with his new characters - for example, the simpleton on Mel's Rock Pile, or as a new face in Pre Teen World!

John Candy is brilliant as always, as LaRue, a hospitalized Tommy Shanks, or as Mr. Mambo. Extra footage includes a baseball game with all the cast [including Moranis, Thomas, and O'Hara].

Not all of it is funny, but no show always is. I will add though that the political commentary on the Mellonville Election show, or in other places is as resounding today as it was in the early 80's. As well, the overall humour is still hillarious and poignant, as was so special with the SCTV series.

I know that I will enjoy this DVD collection for a very, very long time!

The third cycle of NBC shows was somewhat dragged down by Thomas & Moranis "experimenting" with some silly pieces ... here, the show becomes a bit more focused and at the same time more mature than it had been to date. It lacks some of the danger of earlier years, but gains in dry satirical quality.

Martin Short isn't my favorite cast member, he's a bit of a ham sometimes and his comedy sometimes homophobic, but he and his co-writers give us some great stuff here in places - Brad Allen's "Artisans and Their Art", Jerry Lewis in "Scenes From An Idiot's Marriage" ... priceless.

There's gut-busting hialrity - see "Halfwits" (which SNL stole their "Celebrity Jeapordy" premise from). There's inspired dry satire - see the election episode, see Bobby Bittman's retirement documented. There are a couple of plot-driven episodes that rank with the best work SCTV ever did - the Fred Willard "Indecent Exposure" saga, the "Towering Inferno" episode. There's a lot here, and it's very funny and very well-made.

Good god--some major talent left this series... Dave, Rick AND Catherine! GASP! How can SCTV hold together?

Answer? MARTIN SHORT!!!

This man is a comic genius. His Troy Soren--the belligerent Board of Ed candidate/substitute teacher will make you pee your pants with lauighter. And Ed Grimley is here... and Rusty Van Reddick.. and Brock Linahan--the pre-cursor to Jiminy Glick.

Flaherty gets more elbow room to shine without the McKenzie brothers hogging all the good bits. This man is FUNNY!
John Candy is still a hoot--Divine as Peter Pan, anyone?
Andrea Martin continues to shine as the pre-menopausal, neurotic, constantly dieting Jewish diva Libby Wolfson, and her Bernadette Peters is so accurate it's SCARYYYYYY (a little Lola there for good measure)...

who needs anti-depressants when this stuff is out there? The only side effect may be aching sides from laughing too hard.

Just get this! now!

It took years, but it was worth it to finally get these episodes uncut and complete. SCTV was one of the funniest shows on TV, period. There are some lame sketches, but the amount of hits more than makes up for a few misses. Way funnier than Sat. Night Live ever was, this volume features the Jerry Lewis/Ingmar Bergman masterpiece, "Scene From An Idiot's Marriage," Divine as Peter Pan, a one man show with Larry Fine, and the ineffable "Bowery Boys in the Band," where Leo Gorcey comes out of the closet. If you didn't see them the first time around, don't delay and get them now!

Wow! We're finally getting to the point where the 30-minute episodes are just around the corner. Volume 4 has some of the best material of the entire series. We meet Ed Grimley for the first time and get to see "The Boy Who Couldn't Wait For Christmas". "The Red Fisher Show" Featuring Joe Walsh who goes snipe hunting with Red. "Jane Eyrehead" with Robin Williams.
"Bobby Bittman's Retirement" with Ben Vereen. I could keep on going and going. You'll love this volume. This a good volume to introduce SCTV to the unenlightened. Hurry up with 5!!!!

Or press it right off the original video tapes? It doesn't look or sound that much better than my ratty old videotapes from the 80s recorded in the cheapo SLP mode. The new Three Stooges reissues look and sound twice as crisp. Of course, the material is top notch-the CBC episode, the Sammy Maudlin 23rd anniversary show, the William B. Show, Vic Hedges:Private Investigator, The Bowery Boys in the Band, Murray's File, South Seas Sinner, three or four Steve Roman pieces-you could go on and on. Blows any other sketch comedy show in history away.

This volume is typically excellent. The season clearly suffered from losing Dave Thomas and Catherine O'Hara (who I think is one of the pre-eminent comediennes of the last quarter-century).

Martin Short's contributions help balance out the loss of those two. I especially loved his switcheroo with John Cougar.

Brillian stuff!

SCTV is awesome, a program I grew up watching. This DVD is poor quality however. The Queen Haters sketch has a line going through the top of the screen for most of the song...horrible.