A BIG update on the "SCTV" DVDs...

[Oatsdad]

To move things up from the one running below: I now have the DVDs in my grubby little hands! I was shocked they came THIS early, but damned excited about it!
Dunno if anyone else got them so early - I told the PR person that I'm a
manic "SCTV" fan, so she may have cut me a break.

Anyway, I wanted to mention this just to alert people that my review - and
probably others - will come soon. I should have mine posted on Monday or
Tuesday. Check the site mentioned in the sig, and I'll also post a link
here when it goes live.

I've got MY weekend plans set!:)

[Ron Stone]

Good news -- when do us mere mortals get to buy it?

[average Joe]

I'm jealous!

And I look forward to your review.

[Oatsdad]

Good news -- when do us mere mortals get to buy it?

The DVDs come out June 8th...

[Oatsdad]

Updating my update: my review's now online:

http://www.dvdmg.com/sctvvolume1.shtml

[stereoptic]

thanks for the review, it brought my expectations down a notch though. I have fond memories of the show, sometimes nostalgia rules over reality though. I am looking forward to the next set with , hopefully, the "Russian" epsiode, "Zontar", others

[Oatsdad]

thanks for the review, it brought my expectations down a notch though.

Why?

[stereoptic]

Why?

Colin,
Well, I guess that I remember all of the really funny skits. I seemed to have forgotten about a few of the ones that went on a little too long, or were too topical. Still, for a 90 minute show, most of it was high quality with several layers of comedy (unlike another popular 90 minute comedy show) I'm still looking forward to it!

[Ron Stone]

$90? I was waiting for this, but now I'll wait for it to get remaindered, and netflix it in the meantime.

I'd rather they would have produced a two- or three-disc set, creating two or three composite shows from the the best of the NBC years, rather than a few uncut complete episodes. It wouldn't have been that difficult.

[Jimbo]

Oooh, I can't hardly wait to get my hands on these! Pirini Scleroso in My Fair Lady is brilliant! "Pushee brinko!"

[stereoptic]

Oooh, I can't hardly wait to get my hands on these! Pirini Scleroso in My Fair Lady is brilliant! "Pushee brinko!"

khome inn, seat dowgn!

[reechie]

$90? I was waiting for this, but now I'll wait for it to get remaindered, and netflix it in the meantime.

Unfortunately, that's the result of having to pay those sky high music licensing rates. Imagine what a WKRP box would cost!

The truth is, though you may prefer a 2 disc comp of some sort, the die-hard fans this is aimed at want complete episodes, with the original music intact.

[Oatsdad]

The truth is, though you may prefer a 2 disc comp of some sort, the die-hard fans this is aimed at want complete episodes, with the original music intact.

Damn straight! And I hope not too many people skip the set because of the price - I want them to make more!

I guess that I remember all of the really funny skits. I seemed to have forgotten about a few of the ones that went on a little too long, or were too topical. Still, for a 90 minute show, most of it was high quality with several layers of comedy (unlike another popular 90 minute comedy show) I'm still looking forward to it!

I understand your attitude, as I share it to a degree. I have videotapes of "SCTV" from the Eighties, but they're my own collections - I left out the sketches I didn't like. There weren't a ton of those - mainly from the first season or so - but I still only kept the ones I preferred. As I watched the DVD, I occasionally felt BAD for some reason whenever I didn't like a sketch. I love the show so much that I feel like a traitor when I DON'T enjoy something!

But the overall level of quality remains high. As my review notes, only a few actual clunkers appear - even the average sketches are still worth watching. Can't wait for Volume 2!

[stereoptic]

I love the show so much that I feel like a traitor when I DON'T enjoy something!
My feelings also. I used to urge people to watch the show back inthe early 80's. It seemed that whenever I would finally get someone to sit down to watch it (not easy to do on a Friday night when every one else wanted to be somewhere else) I chose a time when one of the few clunkers would come on, or the humor was too "cerebeal" (ie NASA's adaptation of "Murder in the Cathedral")

[Oatsdad]

the humor was too "cerebeal" (ie NASA's adaptation of "Murder in the Cathedral")

Gotta say I never liked that sketch myself. Does this make me an idiot? ;)

[Ron Stone]

Unfortunately, that's the result of having to pay those sky high music licensing rates. Imagine what a WKRP box would cost! The truth is, though you may prefer a 2 disc comp of some sort, the die-hard fans this is aimed at want complete episodes, with the original music intact.

Oh, I'd prefer a complete NBC/Cinemax run, too, but not at these prices. If it's going to cost $10 per episode, I'd rather have had a solid three to six hours of highlights.

[Ron Stone]

It seemed that whenever I would finally get someone to sit down to watch it (not easy to do on a Friday night when every one else wanted to be somewhere else) I chose a time when one of the few clunkers would come on, or the humor was too "cerebral" (i.e., NASA's adaptation of "Murder in the Cathedral")


The syndicated half-hour version was on at 11:00 p.m., Saturdays, in the D.C. market. I got lucky when I tried to convert my father and a friend one evening. I got the FANTASY ISLAND half-hour sketch, with John Candy blue-screened in as Tattoo. They were laughing their butts off.

[pdenny]

The syndicated half-hour version was on at 11:00 p.m., Saturdays, in the D.C. market. I got lucky when I tried to convert my father and a friend one evening. I got the FANTASY ISLAND half-hour sketch, with John Candy blue-screened in as Tattoo. They were laughing their butts off.

Yea, Candy humping that violin was too much! And I suspect this sketch was the first time anyone ever said "high flying hosebag" on network television. Maybe the last too...

[stereoptic]

one example of the "Layers of comedy" was when John Candy played Divine playing Peter Pan!
"I can fly!" :laugh: :laugh:

[Ron Stone]

I'm reviving this thread instead of starting a new one. I finally reached these on my Netflix queue, and have to say that the first couple discs are . . . not something I would use to convince someone else this show was genius. Only Rick Moranis seems to jolt the show to life, at least in these first four episodes.

Also, the commentary by Joe Flaherty and Eugene Levy on disc one was disappointing. Levy seemed bored or annoyed. Because the shows are so far removed from their experience, they spent a lot of time silently watching along with the viewer, instead of commenting on the proceedings. Understandable, of course, but maybe they should have conducted a second commentary session?

I'm hoping the quality of the material improves over the next couple discs. I've been hyping this show to unwitting college students for twenty years!

[Oatsdad]

I'm reviving this thread instead of starting a new one. I finally reached these on my Netflix queue, and have to say that the first couple discs are . . . not something I would use to convince someone else this show was genius. Only Rick Moranis seems to jolt the show to life, at least in these first four episodes.

I'm hoping the quality of the material improves over the next couple discs. I've been hyping this show to unwitting college students for twenty years!

I humbly disagree. Plenty of great stuff on the first two discs - episode three is particularly excellent. My advice? Lay off the pipe! ;)

[Ron Stone]

I humbly disagree. Plenty of great stuff on the first two discs - episode three is particularly excellent. My advice? Lay off the pipe!

I love Rick Moranis's lounge singer renditions of "I'm Turning Japanese" and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da," complete with ludicrously unhip video treatment. That, and his accompanying morning video jockey routine, may have been enough to make me buy the set, despite my reservations about the too frequent dead spots so far.

Of course, what I'm really waiting for is the full-blown Bobby Bitman routines: his short-lived retirement, his public lib'ary PSA, and his movie, FUNNY STUFF, complete with interview with a hostile Dick Cavett: "Isn't FUNNY STUFF a dangerous title for a film that's allegedly funny?"

[duse]

Interesting enough, I was going to start a separate thread today on this, because I thought this one was just on the update itself, and would discuss the video/audio quality, and I did not want to thread-crap.

However, since it's been brought up, I actually Netflix'd this myself, and actually returned disc1 early, after feeling I had better things to suffer through. I'm 33, so admittingly never watched this when it was on. I just could not believe from all of these comic geniuses could come such banality. Obviously this is only my opinion and I'm certainly not saying it's not funny, just not funny to me. I guess the humor is too topical from a time I don't remember. Case in point, The Nixon sketch where G. Gordon Liddy kept ordering food that had rat parts in it.

I'm definitely going to continue with the first season. I know it will get better. I'm personally looking forward to when season four is released so I can prove to my wife that Clay Aiken looks like Martin Short's character from Deliverance.

I think one person's comments of only releasing a two disc set were valid. This is obviously for hardcore fans of the show. If that were done, it would have certainly followed the suit of SNL, where someone decides what they think you should view as funny. This way, it's Warts and all. I simply had higher expectations of this set, but then again, I've only watched the first two episodes. They could not have POSSIBLY hit their stride yet. In fairness, I will bump this thread up when I have watched the entire first season, not that anybody else wants to hear from me.

I think that the DVD reviewer's comment of "Lay off the pipe" was uncalled for, but since it was not directed at me, I take no personal offense to it. Also, I know it was in jest. So far though, if I had shelled out $60 for this set, I would think that I would have had "The pipe laid on me," as in "Layin' the pipe." Again, just my opinion, but isn't that was this forum is about?

On a positive note, I did enjoy the way the musical guests were worked into the sketches, and noticed the coincidence that both Levon Helms and Dr. John were both in "The Last Waltz." Both being on disc1 of the set.

[Bobo U2]

The next set of SCTV will be released mid-Oct. This is a great season with the "Godfather" parody. I think if you are under 40 most jokes about the 70-80's will fly over your head. Anyone under 40 know who Rona Barret(sp) was, Joey Heatherton(sp)... didn't think so.

[stereoptic]

SCTV Volume 2 is set for release on October 1 (?)!!

It includes some hilarious episodes: CCCP1 (with Perry Como: Still Alive, Mummy Teresa), Zontar, The Godfather parady, SCTV Christmas Party, along with favorites like Farm Film Report ("got blowed up real good"), Gerry Todd, Mrs. Falbo, etc.

Here's a review by our own Colin Jacobson (http://www.dvdmg.com/sctvvolume2.shtml)