SCTV

The inaugural show introduces several major characters, including Johnny LaRue, Earl Camembert, Floyd Robertson and Moe Green. It features a somewhat tenuous wraparound concept involving LaRue - according to Dave Thomas' book, the running time for this episode ran well past 30 minutes, much of the linking material for the wraparound being cut to achieve the final running time. The show also introduces four programs that would feature frequently throughout the show's run: Sunrise Semester, a vehicle for an assortment of characters to educate viewers, would end up appearing in every series except the last; Words To Live By, the inspirational station signoff, would also appear frequently in the first three series; SCTV News; and Masterpiece Theatre, hosted by Alistair Cook. Second City notes: Big News/Little News is from the 1975 Alterations While You Wait revue; the stage version was also played by Levy and Flaherty. Joni Newton Buffy is a character Martin developed on the stage, but only used it this one time on SCTV.

Perini Scleroso and Gus Gustofferson's first appearance. Gus is featured in a wraparound concept dealing with the murder of puppeteer Lampeer. Second City notes: English for Beginners originated on the stage

The SCTV format still isn't entirely worked out, as Ramis, Candy and Thomas appear as themselves in the opening announcement. Ethnic humour and Gypsies provide the running concept for the episode. Lin Ye Tang's first appearance. Second City notes: We're Gonna Be Alright, You Creep, Leaving Home and All, Eh? originated on the stage Pat Boutette NHL Totals: Games 756 Goals 171 Assists 282 Points 453 Penalty Minutes 1354

Its place in history is assured by the first appearance of the Sammy Maudlin Show. Also features special guests Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud. Additional Viewing: Sammy & Company, talk show hosted by Sammy Davis Jr with announcer William B Williams.

Features the first appearance of Sid Dithers (here called Morris), and Cheryl Kinsey. Also features a guest appearance, albeit uncredited, by then-fellow Second City cast member Brenda Donohue in several sketches. Additional viewing: Witness to Yesterday, the Canadian historical interview program, written and hosted by Patrick Watson. Second City notes: Faking Orgasms with Cheryl Kinsey originated on the stage. Witness to Yesterday is from the revue Wizard of Ossington, and features Brenda Donohue, who was in the stage cast with John Candy at the time.

Star Trek comes to the steppes of Russia in a very funny parody of Chekhov. Second City notes: Cornabix Cereal is from the Wizard of Ossington revue, and originally featured Peter Ackroyd as Guy Lafleur opposite Candy's Sittler.

The first of an additional 7 shows ordered by Global. Global started airing the show twice a month, still Thursday at 9. This episode is notable for the first appearance of Dialing for Dollars with Moe Green hosting, and William Buckley taking apart a schoolchild.

Features another lapse in continuity, as Harold Ramis appears as the station manager of SCTV, while Moe Green, "actor, playwright, critic" is interviewed on Extreme Close-Up by host Dave Thomas. Additional Viewing: Eye On Science is a spoof of Science International, a Canadian science show hosted by Joseph Campanella Syndication Note: Al Pro Dog Food was dropped; replaced by Polardak ESP 1 from 2-24 (6)

The first appearance (albeit over the phone) of the owner and president of SCTV, Guy Caballero.

Additional Viewing: Therese et Joe, directed by "Jean-Luc Resnais," takes on the French New Wave, with nods to Jean-Luc Goddard, Alain Resnais and Francois Truffaut (thanks JR).

Broads Behind Bars is a classic, with Candy's over the top prison guard Shultzy ("Lock 'em up, keep 'em down, and work 'em over") and Martin's lifer Kitty ("No Dice!"). Trivia: the crew put real liquor in Ramis' bottle for the Mort Finkel sketch. Additional Viewing: Broads Behind Bars is a parody of the 1950 film noir classic Caged.

Features the very first Farm Report, with host Big Jim McBob.

A landmark show, featuring a show-length parody of the film, introduced by Moe Green on Dialing For Dollars. Additional Viewing: William Wyler's 1959 epic Ben-Hur.

The first of an additional 13 shows ordered by Global for its 1977-78 season; virtually a second series, these 13 shows started airing weekly in the fall of 1977, Mondays at 9 (later moved to 9:30) and repeated Fridays at 9. George Bloomfield replaced Milad Besseda as director, and the production value rises noticeably. New sets were created, including a new SCTV News/Sports set, which was used through Series 2. This episode's wraparound concept is a lengthy spoof of Rocky, featuring SCTV Sports coverage of Hefty Neil's bid for the heavyweight championship. Additional Viewing: The 1976 underdog fight film Rocky.

Features the first appearance of Dr Tongue, in his own show. Appropriately enough, for this show only, the opening credits announce John Candy as the Beaver (instead of Dave Thomas). Additional Viewing: The 1950's TV series Leave It to Beaver.

Goodbye America profiles super star Johnny LaRue in his penthouse.

The first appearance of Edith Prickley, SCTV's future Station Manager, fully formed, leopard skins and all. 50's sci-fi provides a running concept for the show. Additional Viewing: Galaxy 66 is a parody of 60s TV show Route 66.

Features the first ever Monster Chiller Horror Theatre and its unconvincing host Count Floyd, aka Floyd Robertson. The Venerable Electric commercial features two members of the scientific academy in Madame Blitzman - getting some extra mileage from those costumes. Additional Viewing: Madame Blitzman is a parody of the film Madame Curie (1943).

Additional Viewing: Elvira Mad Again parodies Elvira Madigan

House of Wax was inspired by the 1953 3D movie of the same name. It features the first appearance of the horror duo of Dr Tongue and Bruno, in a 3D film, and on Monster Chiller Horror Theatre. The trio of Tongue, Bruno and Count Floyd would become one of the anchors of the show, and result in some of the most memorable sketches. Also features SCTV Boogie, eventually to become Mel's Rock Pile.

Featuring the second-ever Sammy Maudlin Show, as no less than two guests show outtakes from their respective specials - Bobby Bittman and Kenneth Clark. Additional Viewing: Kenneth Clark's 1969 BBC series Civilisation: A Personal View

Additional Viewing: Lowell Thompson Remembers is a spoof of the TV show Lowell Thomas Remembers, and was completely improvised.

Muley's Roundhouse includes a nice tribute to the Three Stooges; Muley turns up again in The Grapes of Mud. Additional Viewing: John Ford's 1940 classic The Grapes of Wrath.

Quick-fire parodies of morning news programs and daytime kids shows, along with another Masterpiece Theatre. Earl takes on organized crime on SCTV News. Additional Viewing: BBC's All Creatures Great and Small.

Anchored by one of the great movie parodies, The Man Who Would Be King of the Popes, featuring three giants of British stage and screen, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton - all three appear together again in How the Middle East Was Won in Series 2. Princess Carlotta is a curious one-off, as she's Edith Prickly in everything but name and leopard skins. Meanwhile, Earl Camembert's little-known children's show is cancelled. Additional Viewing: Becket (1964) meets The Lion In Winter (1968) in The Man Who Would Be King of the Popes.

Features a show-length parody of Moulin Rouge, the life of Toulouse-Lautrec with Joe Flaherty playing the lead Jose Ferrer role, shown on Dialing For Dollars. The title is possibly inspired by "Lust For Life", the biography of Vincent Van Gogh. At the end of the show, Moe loses his phone and is fired by Guy Caballero (who once again does not appear in person). (Show moved from 9:00 to 9:30 on Mondays) Additional Viewing: Moulin Rouge, the life of Toulouse-Lautrec, and Lust For Life, the life of Vincent Van Gogh.