Hamilton, Canada - In the world of comedy, few television shows have had the lasting impact of SCTV (Second City Television). Airing from 1976 to 1984, SCTV wasn't the most commercially successful show of its time, but its influence on the comedic landscape—especially in its ability to lampoon the absurdities of media—has been profound. The show not only became a launching pad for the careers of some of comedy’s biggest stars, but it also provided sharp social commentary on the media world, making us laugh at the things we sometimes didn’t realize were ridiculous.
For viewers growing up in the 1970s and early 80s, SCTV was a breath of fresh air in a world dominated by conventional television programming. It appealed to those who felt that much of what was being broadcast was absurd or formulaic, offering an alternative in the form of clever satire. SCTV’s brilliance lay in its ability to take the familiar elements of television—news programs, talk shows, sitcoms, commercials—and turn them into caricatures, revealing their often comical and nonsensical nature.
If you were a kid watching TV during the late 70s and early 80s, you probably had a certain level of skepticism about the shows you were seeing. Game shows with laugh-track-filled sitcoms, over-the-top commercials for products you didn’t need, and news programs that felt more like entertainment than information—these were all part of the media landscape. SCTV expertly dissected and parodied these absurdities. It offered a comedic escape, making fun of the things that viewers instinctively recognized as strange.
Whether it was a spoof of The Tonight Show, where talk show hosts were portrayed as self-absorbed celebrities who took themselves far too seriously, or a mock version of a primetime drama, SCTV didn’t just make fun of these formats—it exposed their inherent silliness. It was as if the show was holding up a mirror to the media and letting us laugh at the often illogical, overblown, and artificial nature of television.
The show’s humor resonated with audiences who felt that the mainstream media at the time was increasingly irrelevant, overly commercialized, or just downright bizarre. For kids, watching SCTV was an almost subversive experience, because it made us realize that the world of TV and entertainment wasn't as serious as it often seemed. Instead of being a passive consumer of media, SCTV made us active participants, encouraging us to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
One of the defining features of SCTV was its incredible cast. The ensemble, which included comedic greats like John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Rick Moranis, Martin Short, and Joe Flaherty, among others, became a cornerstone of the show’s success. The chemistry between these talented performers made SCTV more than just a series of skits; it became a showcase for creativity, improvisation, and character-driven humor.
Each cast member brought something unique to the table, and their portrayals of exaggerated media figures were key to the show’s success. Whether they were playing absurd television personalities, spoofing politicians, or taking on the roles of ridiculous soap opera characters, the cast’s commitment to absurdity made the humor hit hard. Their ability to switch seamlessly between genres—from mock interviews to musical parodies—further solidified their place in comedy history.
The show’s ensemble cast was also incredibly adept at portraying the sorts of "almost stars" who populated the world of television and film at the time. These were performers who weren’t necessarily at the height of their careers, but who had a certain recognizable "star" quality. The mixture of big names, "has-beens," and up-and-comers was part of what made SCTV’s media parodies so relatable and authentic.
What truly set SCTV apart from other comedies of its time was its razor-sharp critique of the media industry itself. The show didn’t just parody television programs, it dissected the entire ecosystem of media, from the way news was reported to the way advertisements were crafted, and even the mechanics behind the scenes of creating a hit show.
For example, SCTV had recurring segments like The SCTV News, which presented a mock-news program where every broadcast was filled with absurd, hyperbolic reporting. In these sketches, the news wasn't just distorted—it was made completely ridiculous, with reporters who couldn't keep their stories straight, exaggerated coverage of trivial events, and ridiculous on-air personalities.
Then there were the television commercials, which SCTV lampooned with a precision that made audiences realize how absurd some advertising could be. They didn't just parody products, but also the entire style of persuasive and often manipulative marketing techniques. Whether it was spoofing celebrity endorsements or exaggerated product claims, SCTVexpertly showed how easily audiences could be taken in by media-driven rhetoric.
Even entertainment programs like game shows and talk shows were fair game. SCTV would mock the self-importance of talk show hosts like Johnny Carson, turning them into egotistical versions of themselves, who were more interested in their own personas than providing any actual entertainment. The show’s portrayal of these familiar media tropes as shallow, absurd, and often manipulative had an important cultural effect.
While SCTV was never a massive commercial success, its influence on comedy and media satire has been immeasurable. The show went on to have a profound impact on the careers of its cast members, many of whom went on to enjoy successful careers in film and television. John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, and others became iconic figures in entertainment, in part because of the unique comedic voices they honed during their time on SCTV.
Beyond its cast, SCTV’s impact can be seen in countless comedy shows and films that followed. Its subversive, self-aware brand of humor paved the way for future comedy shows that critiqued not only society but the very entertainment systems that helped create them. Shows like The Simpsons, South Park, The Daily Show, and even modern satirical outlets like Last Week Tonight owe a debt to SCTV for showing that you could laugh at the very systems that were meant to entertain you.
In today's media landscape, the need for a group like SCTV—a group that takes on the absurdities of media, politics, and pop culture—has never been more relevant. As the lines between entertainment, news, and advertising continue to blur, and as social media becomes an ever more dominant force in shaping public opinion, there’s plenty of material for satire. But the ability to effectively mock and critique the systems that govern our media is more important now than ever before.
A modern-day SCTV-like ensemble could offer a fresh and irreverent perspective on everything from viral trends to political spin, offering humor as a means of questioning how media shapes our understanding of the world. Much like SCTV, such a show would remind us not to take everything at face value, and to laugh at the chaos, the contradictions, and the sometimes absurd performances we see on screens every day.
SCTV stands as a testament to the power of comedy to challenge the status quo. Through its satirical brilliance, it showed us the absurdity of the media landscape and made us laugh at the very things we consumed without questioning. Its legacy continues to influence comedians and writers to this day, and its humor remains just as relevant in our current media-saturated world. While we may not have an exact replica of SCTV today, the need for sharp, critical, and funny voices that call out the media remains just as strong as it was back then.
