The BEST episodes of SCTV Network 90 season 5
Every episode of SCTV Network 90 season 5, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of SCTV Network 90 season 5!
After a successful Canadian run as Second City TV on Global and SCTV on CBC, the cast packed up and moved to America (theoretically) when NBC offered them a timeslot under the title SCTV Network 90. With them, they brought their unique, quirky characters, their personalities, and the shows they had appeared on. Dick Blasucci had begun writing for the cast in their second series, SCTV, and joined them here, serving as a recurring straight man for the characters. Tony Rosato and Robin Duke wrote scripts at the beginning of the show as they had before, until quickly leaving to write and perform for Saturday Night Live. The appeal of SCTV Network 90, however, doesn't only come from the writing, but from the sheer wit of its legendary stars.
#1 - A Star Is Born with Crystal Gayle
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/28/1983
The Days of the Week returns for another six episode run. Other notable sketches: the first Half Wits, Artisans and Their Art with the inimitable Bradley P Allen, and A Star is Born, starring Crystal Gayle.
#2 - SCTV Classifieds / Vic Arpeggio
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/11/1983
To encourage small business advertising, SCTV cuts its ad rates, resulting in a series of homemade ads for several micro-businesses. Also features the classic Stars In One profile of child star Rusty Van Reddick and the first episode of Vic Arpeggio Private Investigator. Jayne Eastwood guests as the moderator for Philosophers at work
#3 - Bobby Bittman Retires
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/18/1983
Features a short wraparound about Bobby Bittman's retirement from showbiz and subsequent comeback. Also features the continuation of William B Williams' mutli-story arc as he hosts his very own show. A classic of discomfort comedy, the William B Williams Show is such a disaster that not even William B can take it and he walks off his own show. The William B Williams Show includes the first appearance of legendary songwriter Irving Cohen
#4 - Sweeps Week
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/25/1983
SCTV's longest wraparound show finds a poltergeist of television's past haunting the station during sweeps week, and Guy must call in the services of a technology savvy clairvoyant. Originally aired during February, which is apparently a Sweeps Month in America, when the networks pull out all the stops to get ratings. The Days of the Week is the only sketch not linked in some way to the wraparound. Johnny LaRue's final appearance on SCTV is in a minor promo, Jumping For Dollars
#5 - Sammy Maudlin: South Sea Sinner
Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/11/1983
William B Williams returns to the Sammy Maudlin Show, the Shmenges host a beauty pageant, and Jackie Rogers Jr plugs his upcoming special, Jackie, We Hardly Knew Ye.
#6 - 3D Firing Line: Midnight Cowboy II
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/18/1983
A set of unconnected sketches featuring many recurring characters, including a new Count Floyd vehicle, 3D Firing Line, which takes a look at Midnight Cowboy II, Ed Grimley in Whatever Happened to Baby Ed, the final episode of The Days of the Week (with cameos by Catherine O'Hara and Carol Burnett), as well as The Fishin' Musician, Stars In One, and perhaps the finest Mel's Rock Pile - the tribute to punk rock. Not a bad way to leave network television.