SCTV - Merv Griffin - The 60s

We'llberightback!

[@rubyfirefly2582]

Rick Moranis' Merv laugh is one of the best impressions of all time.

[@thefuturemrs.billhader5767]

Holy crap did Flaherty look like Fonda! I thought it was him!

[@MrBsbotto]

Joe was a beauty, never too over the top! Oh, okay, maybe with Count Floyd, but that was ACTING!! He was underrated as an impersonater, too. Man, I miss those guys: $87.00 budget per show (or so it seemed), and they still knocked it out of the park most shows. Sure, a lot of it is nostalgia, but damn, those guys knew how to sell a character!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Be kool, Billy ....

[@lisawilliams2013]

Same. Had to do a double take! Great sketch, hadn’t seen this one before, funny as hell!

[@thomashumphrey7395]

SCTV was the greatest, most talented, most unpredictable ensemble sketch comedy show in television history. IMO, the best show ever on television. Period. 'Nuff said.

[@scaa2941]

100% correct😂

[@simjtuder2531]

10-4 on your comment. Still the best on these videos

[@paulearle5361]

Agree! The only ones worthy to take the reigns since SCTV were perhaps Mad TV. Very clever and some great acting. And SNL? Not even close!

[@Logan-py8we]

Sctv .. comedy for the informed and intellectuals. Never missed an episode No other group could pull off those parodies like that.. Sheer brilliance

[@MJ-dq8ik]

I couldn't wait to watch SCTV back in the day. Brilliant show

[@IanDenchasy]

The level of talent on this show (and in this skit) is mind boggling.

[@johnsjohnson448]

"We'll drop acid with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper......Ooooahh." Hillarious!

[@CaryMGVR]

*"... then later on, we'll all get BEATEN-UP by local rednecks!!!" lol* 🖖❤

[@laurawestervelt476]

SCTV, the best sketch comedy we've ever seen. Don't even mention SNL, they're not in the same galaxy.

[@MrAitraining]

Many went to SNL after SCTV - not the other way around, but SCTV was the originator and better show by far

[@binyon7]

I would say that SCTV had some very good comics/comedians - but the content is now just plain awful. This humor simply has not worn well. I'm sure I howled with laughter when this was first run.... but now? AWFUL. (BTW - go back a couple generations of comedians. And humor simply doesn't wear well. Jack Benny? Gag me with a spoon. Henny Youngman? A fiddle is funny? I could go on and on. You know who is eternally funny? George Burns and Groucho.)

[@milascave2]

binyon: Groucho, yes. But Geroge Burns? Meh. SCTV does seem dated because it focused so much on spot-on impersonations of the celebrities of the moment. Mony Python made a decision to focus on types, politicians as a whole, for example, not the one currently in office, so their stuff is timeless. But there is always a place for topical humor.

[@avolite719]

Really wish you assholes would STOP trying to compare or instigate SNL to SCTV. In reality, both shows had their up and downs and both shows are consistently different from each other. Completely different format and styles of presentation. LOVE them both, but honestly, I've seen just as many duds of an idea or sketch from SCTV as I have SNL over the years. BOTH had many great ones also.

[@miked4377]

agreed

[@timmyteaching]

God, so funny. When SCTV hit on a skit, it was out of the park. Bang, zoom.

[@kathrynmolesa1641]

John Candy was so young and playing that trumpet he was cracking up.😊

[@MrAitraining]

SCTV was the greatest

[@makiburgess5733]

Rochdale was a notorious student residence in downtown Toronto, overflowing with hippies and drugs.

[@brianboisguilbert6985]

Thanks, I got all the references but that one.

[@philhatfield8905]

I laughed so hard at this sketch that I thought my eyeballs were going to pop out! My Dad laughed so hard at 'Joan Baez', that he had to take his glasses off!

[@shivasirons6159]

Owsley was the famous underground chemest in Berkeley who made the best acid!

[@soakingbook]

'And now if everyone will join me, there's a jacuzzi in the bomb shelter.'

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

The magazine will change its political philosophy as the times dictate!

[@handlzus7018]

There was many advantages growing up on the border USA/CAN and this one of them.

[@GreasyFilms-qc1xo]

The subtle joke of the radical teacher agreeing to be on his show. A perfect skit.

[@MrBsbotto]

You nailed it, Greasy! Subtle humor. SNL was achingly funny at times, but it was SO uneven. And they committed - HARD - to some pretty poor stuff, IMÒ. I.e., the Church Lady, Father Guido, et al. Sweet memories, Grease-meister!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Off korse Merff!

[@jamesyoung1356]

This is absolute brilliance!

[@maryannemelenka9250]

I hope Merv Griffin saw these parodies of him, I'm sure he did, he was a nice man, had a great sense of humor, he would have laughed and been flattered. Had a great talkshow, and excellent businessman.

[@bufnyfan1]

I remember when Merv Griffith got the better of a major hotel deal over Donald Trump--Griffith thought Trump was "way in over his head" and was a big goof

[@yaelrar.4460]

Wouldn't it be great if all the surviving SCTVers could return and bring the show back?!!

[@johnsjohnson448]

Nobody would get it. Unless they poked fun at Reality Television. This would be a great return vehicle for Roseanne, Andy Dick, Rosie, Grace Under Fire, Matt Lauer.....

[@chrispnw2547]

No, it would be a disaster. Time moves on. The Kids In the Hall return has not done well at all.

[@Jasonificatiation]

no reboots

[@jamesl9371]

Rochdale 😂😂😂 was a building in Toronto near the university where a lot of young people lived. Joni Mitchell lived near there in the 60’s

[@zcam1969]

this scene is a Gem . i'm a life long fan of SCTV

[@billysolhurok5542]

Owsley Pharmaceuticals... "and now a word from our sponsor..." I bet Dave Thomas can do a good David Crosby impression... Joan Baez at Heff's LOL...

[@SpencerWilliamsIV]

Whoa, Moranis’s parodies were brutal.

[@tedmills]

There's two musical numbers/jokes cut out of this (for rights issues). One is right before the Maharishi scene where Merv sings the Doors Light My Fire, and the other is right after the police storm Hef's place, where Merv sings CSN's Chicago. Here's hoping one day we get the full episode.

[@canaisyoung3601]

Doesn't take away from the sketch.

[@barrybrown9104]

Out of all the performances Catherine's impersonation of Virginia Graham steals the show!! Younger generations may not remember she had her own talk show in the late 60s and early 70s! I know this because my mom watched it! Again spot on!!!

[@emmaduncan2991]

well now I'm gonna try and locate the Plasmatics on the "fishin' musician!"

[@karlzimmer683]

Merv in Easy Rider...love these guys

When you have good impersonation and excellent writing this is what you get. SCTV was a little smarter than SNL in their heyday, and the Skits were a little more clever. Kudos to Rick Moranis and the gang... 😊🙄😉🤔👍

[@emmaduncan2991]

SNLrelied on political humor too much, as a rule, Nixon and Ford jokes don't age well.

[@milascave2]

emma: Topical humor never ages well.

[@patricebetts6531]

The hair and make up and the sets were also well done and that added to the effect. So much talent on all levels!!

[@johnsjohnson448]

When I was younger, I never understood what my Radio/TV Teacher in High School found funny about this show. Several years later, I "got it," laugh out loud at the "funny" and think that "SCTV" was simply Epic! Martin Short? John Candy? Eugene Levy? True greats!

[@coreycaldwell322]

Everyone’s favorite: Virginia Graham.

[@bufnyfan1]

at 4:38 during the commercials they mention "Rochdale"--Rochdale was this notorious student residence at the University of Toronto in the 1960's--drugs, sex you name it

[@MarkWolfeDesign]

Brilliance. Pure brilliance,

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

Whenever I pass a joint, I still say, "Here, have a toot."

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Does everyone go "BOO WOO HAHAHA"

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

@@RideAcrossTheRiver Not as much as when I was in my 20s lol.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods Aw, c'mon, tell 'em Merv still rocked in his 50s!

[@maryannemelenka9250]

Rick Moranid, great job. Does great woody Allen t,o.

[@robertcombs55]

GENIUS.......

[@bobbysands6923]

"I have a lot in common with black people..." this put me out for like 10 minutes...ffffing brilliant

[@truthmatters-jt5up]

been binging on hendrix videos. couldn't believe the very very beginning, and the Watchtower bit. sick. and Owsley as a sponsor. unbelievably hilarious

[@sirtalkalotdoolittle]

I want the long version of Merv playing Inna Gadda Da Vida.

[@mikeysuzefour]

*Joan Baez @ the Playboy Room with Merv* LOL Funniest skit!

[@andaimhineach4131]

God I love(d) this show. Still awesome after all these years!

[@tedwolf1716]

Love Dave Thomas as Dennis Hopper.

[@gerrydooley951]

This is the best

[@Rutoenfit]

"Be cool, Billy".

[@JCO2002]

Brilliant! I actually did visit Rochdale in Toronto a few times, many years ago, to get what's legal now in Canada. As I recall, it was the 14th floor that was totally inaccessible.

[@hankkingsley9300]

Could you explain why

[@JCO2002]

@@hankkingsley9300 The 14th floor was where large quantities of various illegal drugs were stored and distributed. Only top level buyers made it up there.

[@hankkingsley9300]

Gotcha

[@billyrock8305]

🤣 funniest comedy in history!!! 🤣

[@drrendezvous1014]

This is funny. Really funny.

[@vasp99]

They did the entire culture , better than the first time around!

[@matthewwelch4305]

So that's why the Playboy mansion moved from Chicago to LA - Mayor Daley's storm troopers!!!

[@PotTVNetwork]

Far out, maaaaan.

[@janemarinelli2838]

Love these guys❤️❤️❤️

[@philiphoward1731]

OK the show is really blowing my mind I bet you the 1960s were just playing awesome

[@TTM9691]

That was brilliant, as usual, well up to standard.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

4m02s "There's a jacuzzi in the bomb shelter." Aww.w... good times. I miss Hef. :(

[@jeffmayo2439]

Doug Mcenzie as Dennis Hopper.(perfect)Here...have another 'toot"

[@jeffmayo2439]

Wow..3 months went by, and it's still hilarious !

[@jeffmayo2439]

Wow,another week went by ..Im still laughing.Just like Merv Griffin did at the 61 second timeline in this video."WooooooooWHOoooooooooHHAaaaaaaaaaa" !!

[@xgman9846]

Still relevant today. Could have been about 2020.

[@christieperry4361]

When they beat him up "we'll be right back"

[@danielgaughan4243]

I like that comment to the Guru, "If you got something to say just come out and say it."

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

MAAAAAAAN

[@AmyLSacks]

LOL. "Clear your system with Riunite™."

[@hankkingsley2976]

When you're drying out

[@74455776]

Such a great show!

[@tomskeezduzit7500]

Just woke up to sctv,,,,new to me ,,,,tons of funny content to enjoy

[@maryannemelenka9250]

Great merv griffin imitation, im sure merv himself would laugh if he saw this

[@stevejohnson1577]

Merv did see the sctv bits and actually wondered if his ass was that big... lol.. true story from Dave Thomas’s book on sctv

[@chuckdieselkicksdisks2380]

@@stevejohnson1577 cool I never noticed Merv Griffin's butt to be that big, when they parodied Arsenio Hall on In Living Color years later Keenen Ivory Wayans had a very big inflated butt

[@johnerwin9024]

@@stevejohnson1577 also read Merv did see the skit and was P.O.'D. the way his pants looked 😆😆

[@hankkingsley9300]

Merv Griffith...

[@johnringoo756]

excellent

[@Jasonificatiation]

I'm still watching this. I think subtle funny bit that when dennis hopper hands joan baez the joint and says to smoke the joint she actually hit it lol

[@snarflatful]

Outrageous 😊

[@marc108]

And the sponsors...f'ing hilarious show 81-83 for me prime time

[@christieperry4361]

You can smoke our roaches!

[@davidstair9657]

Through SCTV and national lampoon, I learned all there is to know about the 60s. I think I need to educate my own children. This way the problem is there a weed is too strong and I tend to Tripp real bad when I smoke their stuff. For our children.

[@user-xm5le5ok2r]

SCTV was hilarious!

[@abcbatman1966]

This reminds me of Leonard Maltin’s review of “The Glory Stompers(1967) ..”see if you can count how many times Dennis Hopper says “man”..

[@cheapthrilll6323]

abcbatman1966 sounds like a drinking game....

[@stephenjones101]

So much that could never make it on TV today! Funniest show ever.

[@warrior64]

Ohhh this is funnny

[@annedenoon4866]

Inspired insanity!

[@Jasonificatiation]

that cover of all along the watch tower was fantastic.

[@cedricliggins7528]

Jacuzzi in the bomb shelter classic!

[@truthmatters-jt5up]

this is insane.

[@christieperry4361]

Slappy and Nipsey!

[@abbyhanna305]

hahahahaha

[@hankkingsley9300]

When I first saw your comment I first thought Shorsey and Jonesy?!!

[@funkenstien1155]

Ooooooh! Thats gooood!

[@jamescampion7880]

I was gonna add a comment but everything I read here is right on the spot.

[@laurawestervelt476]

Hugh Hefner's political philosophy.

[@MuddyYorkWalkingTours]

I love the Rochdale College reference, maaaaaaan ...

[@matthewwelch4305]

I actually know what they were talking about! For those not aware/not in Canada in the early 70s, that was a hippie experimental living space at the U of Toronto. Its end: "After increased clashes with police, and unable to pay its mortgage, political pressure forced financial foreclosure by the government, and Rochdale closed in 1975. A number of residents refused to leave. On 30 May the last residents were carried from the building by police. The doors to the college had to be welded shut to keep them out. "When it was clear that the game was up," writes Sharpe, "Rochdale published its own wry comment: 'Drugdealing is now the domain of the professionals, i.e. lawyers, doctors, etc. Let's hope they never get to live in the same building.'" "

[@Albertanator]

@@matthewwelch4305 Sounds like they did the right thing by closing down yet another failed hippy experiment....

[@NormAppleton]

@@Albertanator It's City owned mixed housing now. Many of the apartments are built for for people in wheelchairs (lower counters, cupboards in kitchens, adapted bathrooms) Lots of people that can't stand or walk thrive there. It's a success. 341 Bloor west is something to be proud of.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@NormAppleton I heard Toronto has the worst homeless and mental illness problem in Canada ...

[@Sid-gu5qk]

​@@RideAcrossTheRivernah, that would be Vancouver.

[@canadaclaret]

Rochdale was a student residence in Toronto that became a radical hippie hotbed.

[@millicentsquirrelhole582]

'Haharishi dude reply to Merv's question...'Hof course, Murf'...Groovy...really.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

BOO HOO WAH HA HA

[@gispel7058]

Slappy and Nipsy Russell.......boo hoo ah ahh ahhh. And EVERYONES favorite Virginia Graham will be here.

[@designchik]

Andrea Martin as Joan Baez ... 🤣🤣🤣

[@christieperry4361]

Holy crap those sponsors

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

"Joan Baez" LOL!

[@aquamarine99911]

Not that it matters, but Andrea finished on a legit G chord there.

[@matthewwelch4305]

I love Joan, but damn, Andrea Martin had her dead on! Lighten up a little...

[@bareknuckles2u]

@@aquamarine99911 I was gonna point that out, too! It looks like she can play guitar. What an amazing talent.

[@RollingOrmond]

I wish they had that Moranis as Merv sketch available when he hosted SNL. Valeting parking and picking up laundry while working Trump casino.

[@brandue4523]

ooooooooooooo!

[@greghester2720]

That Merv, always with the Riuniti!

[@robertjennings6421]

So did I!!!

[@vilhjalmrwt]

I miss John candy

[@ToyKingWonder]

John Candy looks like a heavy Mark Wahlberg!

[@fosbury68]

Riunite - so nice!

[@tinytanks]

wish hollywood didn't disillusion rick moranis in the 90's, miss his talent dearly.

[@bareknuckles2u]

Those bunnies though...

[@lynnturman8157]

So I click on one SCTV clip & then yt decides that's all I wanna see...

[@danielgaughan4243]

That's good.. Anymore, whatever I click on links to something unrelated or opposite of what I've just watched.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@danielgaughan4243 I cannot scrub the videogamer and Japanese tsunami videos from my feed. No clue why they should be there

[@bobpike8050]

Moranis sure can hit a joint.

[@thomasmoriarty6741]

Comedy genius 🤣

[@watsonbeale]

4:06 Look! Fred Travalena in the gold shirt in the background!

[@gilmangus83]

the hip humor fades with time. national lampoon was more daring, but SCTV has been the go-to comedy show since SNL's descent into self-mockery and loathing 1980-2022.