SCTV SPORTS - Battle of the PBS Network Stars! - (Howard Cosell & Dick Cavett)

[@johnunkerman]

Cosell regarding Cavett: “I don’t mind verbosity, but he’s ruining the pace of the show”

[@robertlanglois7860]

We didn’t have the clown show back then like we have now

[@joeleone2228]

Cry it out princess...

[@Neville60001]

As if this was not obvious, this was a satire of the 'Battle of The Network Stars' that used to air on ABC.

[@norbertrossi7925]

The pot calling the kettle black. 🤣

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

Cosell: Leave all of the verbosity for me!

[@robertcombs55]

Noone ever came close to SCTV the early years!

[@daverain1967]

well, except for SNL lol

[@markwalker3829]

Rick Moranis impersonation of Dick Cavett was dead on.

[@johnunkerman]

@@markwalker3829 yup 👍

[@softhotty]

100%. Mind blowingly accurate. Amazing.

[@jim6070]

He clearly depicted him as an egotistical jerk. Right on.

[@tombealy4070]

😂😂 couldn't stop laughing. John candy as Julia child also great. What an inept ref, I'm outraged.

[@esstee9595]

Too bad younger viewers will have no idea who is being parodied, so they won't be able to appreciate the genius of this SCTV cast/skit.

[@bumperroan8211]

True: They won't know how spot on Flaherty's William Buckley impression was, or Levy's Cosell, for that matter. Twas another era.

[@johnstewart3491]

I feel the same way about Al Hershfeld's caricatures. I can appreciate the ones of Broadway plays I never saw, but I really enjoy and respond to the ones of movie stars and other famous people I grew up with.

[@michaelfritts6249]

​@@bumperroan8211Bob and Doug did a fine job as Cavett and Sagan as well. 😉😁 Be Well!! 😀👍

[@shrimpflea]

Who cares. This is for us older folks.

[@lesmoore3638]

That being said, Buckley and Baldwin wouldn't be on the same team.

[@QuakerDragon]

"He's hitting Child with the lovable King Friday!" Just hilarious.

I busted my gut upon first sight of Friday ringside!!!

[@kellycoleman715]

Brilliant!

[@kylem7341]

The William F. Buckley part 😂

[@braised44]

SCTV cast absolutely killed the impressions.... The best!😁

[@RatPfink66]

Cosell: extremely easy to mimic. Cavett: pretty damn difficult.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@RatPfink66 Ummm ... can I be blunt? I'll have to disagree on Cavett. I'm sure Woody would agree with me.

[@chrisfinch8637]

Fred Rogers and Julia Child had me laughing my head off! 🥊🤣🥊 “I don’t have to explain it. You saw it- he beat the woman unconscious with a puppet. All the papers will say that Fred Rogers won, but in my opinion, it’s a dark day, in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” 🤣🤣🤣

[@christopherjudge1138]

Mr. Rogers duking it out with Julia Child! Everyone's favorite neighbor, giving new meaning to the song, "What Do You Do With The Mad That You Feel?"

[@TheSmarq17]

I literally fell off my chair when I heard, "he beat the woman unconscious with a puppet". SCTV rocked back then and still rocks today. 😂😂😂

[@brandonlawrence4452]

Imagine being in the writers room, then seeing it on TV.

[@Coover90210]

Are you ok?

[@matthewb8229]

Rick Moranis' Dick Cavett is spot on!

[@flutetubamorg]

Ok I have no idea why this popped up, but holy crap I am glad it did.

[@jasonkinzie8835]

"I don't have to say it. You saw it. He beat the women unconscious with a puppet" is probably one of the most hilariously surreal things I've ever heard!

[@Meatball-du1hm]

I totally forgot that Olympic high jumpers wore full length ballroom dresses while competing against each other in the 1980's. Thanks for jogging my memory SCTV SPORTS!

[@anthonyhuenneke1524]

@@Meatball-du1hm while also vocalizing up to a high c...😁

[@willisknapick4405]

Probably why I don't watch the pole vault anymore. They turned it into a candy ass exhibition of athletic prowess. Don't know what you had until it's gone. 😮

[@DouglasHeeren]

That event is the pole vault, LOL.

[@llongdong]

Absolute genius and the most elite comedic talent ever assembled.

[@theivory1]

That was a great Dick Cavett impersonation.

[@anthonyhuenneke1524]

"coq au vin or no coq au vin, this woman is in trouble."😂

[@softhotty]

These guys were amazing in their portrayals...spot on. Buckley, Cavett, Cosel ( not overplayed), Sagan...Brilliant. Just brilliant.

[@JackOSUrulz]

The Buckley impersonation was awesome

[@chrismanteris9093]

My god is Catherine O’Hara brilliant

[@donabolt3079]

She had Jane Fonda’s voice down so well - did a double take.

[@RonJohn63]

Well, yeah. We've known that for 45 years.

[@dangeroreilly2028]

Loved her as Lola Heatherton

[@milray]

The Howard Cosell call during the boxing match was absolutely brilliant. It captured so many of Cosell's quirks and mannerisms. Perfect call. After a while, I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't really Cosell. So many have imitated him over the years but no one ever came close to this.

[@david_t_nethery_animator]

3:06 - "Coq au Vin or no Coq au Vin this woman is in trouble ..."

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

"There may be honor among thieves, but certainly not among intellectuals." Truer words never spoken.

[@Bubba1960.]

That boxing match was performed and choreographed flawlessly.

[@JohnKlimakos]

Absolutely brilliant!!! Canadian comedy at its best. 🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦

[@roderickmacneil5472]

Wow. I just realized that's Ron James on the podium with William F. Buckley. Then he plays the Masterpiece Theatre theme on the trumpet. Then, wathch for Ron James on the football team.

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

Rick Moranis' Cavett and Woody Allen were the best.

[@mikel5582]

Dick Cavett and Bill Buckley were perfect and hilarious. I never saw SCTV before but this whole skit is quality comedy.

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

Where I live, on Saturday nights in the ‘70s you had SNL at 10:30 followed by Monty Python at midnight, which made for two hours of great TV back then. Then they replaced Monty Python, I have no idea why, with SCTV, which turned out to be just as funny. Almost everyone on SCTV turned out to be movie celebrities in the ‘80s and 90s. Some of the best comedic actors of that era. John Candy was one of them.

[@slickerbill5330]

Great TV back in the day

[@larrymccue8097]

SCTV had the most talented group of comedians put together anyway. Blows the doors off SNL.

[@edwardofgreene]

Both were brilliant.

[@jamezkpal2361]

SCTV wasn't a live show, so they had the opportunity to perfect a skit.

[@fredhurst2528]

The boxing match was next level funny, that smile almost choked me.

[@kellycoleman715]

This was brilliant. I remember watching it when it first aired. Mr. Rogers boxing Julia Child was hilarious! 😄

[@billriddle9215]

King Friday rooting for Mr. Rodgers is GOLD.

[@tomdoe1234]

Even if you didn't recognize you'd know it was Martin Short by that dance :)

[@Ignatius_Lives]

The classic "Ed Grimley."

[@seeflatbesharp]

"Scramble, Carl, Scramble!" 😂

[@richardgale1287]

Celebrity Deathmatch before Celebrity Deathmatch. I could take hours of Cosell and Cavett.

[@tomryan4968]

I remember watching this when it first aired. “Ex officio!”

[@peterandjunko]

This was the first time I had ever seen Martin Short. - some 40 years later I saw him live with Steve Martin. He’s still a dynamo and hilarious as always.

[@psterud]

That smile at 2:37 is one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

[@toddlee2571]

These impressions are uncanny. I remember seeing this skit decades ago, but boy, were they spot on

[@firecloud77]

OMG, this is gold. I used to get stoned and watch this show back in the day.

[@johnunkerman]

@@firecloud77 I still do! Ha ha ha 🤣

[@watchman1159]

I forgot how funny SCTV was. Thanks for making me LMAO!

[@MikeVoss-x3t]

I enjoyed this as much as SCTV's election coverage episode.

[@davejones6130]

Julia child given water from a roasting pan using a Turkey baster - what a riot I almost wet myself laughing !!!

[@paulsarnik8506]

As an SCTV afficianato this has got to be the best skit! Not a clunker in the lot and Rotfl FUNNY! 🤣😂😅😅😂🤣. 🤓😎✌🏼☮️

I'm speechless; all players are so spot on there are too many to mention... what a time to have been alive and have experienced the individuals portrayed herein thus now able to fully enjoy the parodies!!!

[@sailordude2094]

I remember watching the real battle of the network stars, SCTV did it spot on. Thanks for posting, always a favorite sketch! BTW, Cosell would raise his voice like that doing real fights, it added a lot! Also, Cosell did several boxing matches were he questioned the referees and judges outcomes in fights, lol.

[@RogerPeet]

This show made me laugh up a storm.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

2:42 Fight starts 2:48 Rogers levels Child with a left hook. Six seconds flat.

[@64bluegrass]

OMG I never saw this! So good! The Canadian Monty Python.

[@Neville60001]

_SCTV's_ a great show, but no way is it ever like _Monty Python_ .Also, as great as _SCTV_ is, it's not as popular or that well-known as everybody's favorite object of hatred here on KZbin, _Saturday Night Live_ , or _Monty Python_ .

[@tombealy4070]

​@@Neville60001not as popular or as well known is meaningless. Far superior to SNL and Monty Python was the best of all time so no disgrace there.

[@JimsPub-ds3qs]

Good times, good times.

[@ditto1958]

Love SCTV!

[@MIlesTeg1000]

This is a TREMENDOUS fight!

[@Craigonater]

I'm crying!!!😂😂😂. I grew up watching this show as a kid and loved it.

[@paillette2010]

I hope ppl will go find the schlockfest that was the real “Battle of Network Stars” to really appreciate the comedy gold here.

[@johndonohoe3778]

John Candy nails Julia! Funny as hell

[@GoonSquadLifeMember]

He was perfect, in the sense that he and Julia were the same height (6'2").

[@MovieJon]

The portrait of "Joan" looks like Eric Stoltz in "Mask!"

[@johnunkerman]

@@MovieJon 🤣 So true!! 😂

[@CarefulObserver1]

To me, the most hilarious part of this, perhaps SCTV's finest hour.

[@chiefscheider]

0:10 that face never fails to make me laugh. It's a lot like his Don Knotts impression!

[@kawasakiwhiptwo5821]

Eugene does an excellent Cosell.

[@twistedwired]

"He beat the woman unconscious with a puppet" 😂

[@TheFirefox]

Extra funny for the economics nerds in the audience. The fact that William F. Buckley and Milton Friedman were on the same football team was great.

[@jonathanbirenbaum794]

Top Shelf SCTV and Comedy of Any Type

[@Matthew-xr5be]

".. a RINGER!.. That Bill Buckley has brought in, to ensure victory!"..

[@puckpaul810]

This is absolutely hilarious

[@christopherjudge1138]

Mr. Rogers vs. Julia Child in the boxing match of the century! America's most beloved neighbor, giving new meaning to "What Do You Do With The Mad That You Feel?"!

[@bebopkirby]

That had to be the best of Joe’s impressions. Many did Buckley back in the day, particularly David Frye, but have to give the nod here to Joe. There have been many classic comedy shows over the years, the but none can match the overall quality of SCTV. With the possible exception of a couple of the best seasons of SNL.

[@johnunkerman]

@@bebopkirby well said! my feelings exactly👌

[@david_t_nethery_animator]

Joe Flaherty's Buckley is the best impression of Buckley. RIP Joe.

[@daverain1967]

wow Maranis's Cavett is spot on!

[@jimcrawford3185]

Sagan beaned by a 250# sun: priceless

[@GizmoFromPizmo]

SCTV was SO GOOD!

[@phishfearme2]

what an incredibly talented group

[@kkampy4052]

SCTV was a fantastic show

[@Sunflare-vq2uy]

Haven't seen this in years😂👍🏽

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

When SCTV replaced Monty Python after SNL for the midnight slot in the late ‘70s I was not happy to say the least, but it turned out to be some of the funniest stuff ever put on TV.

[@sirjer73]

Great segments, shoutout for the Earth Wind and Fire Written in the stone, as the bumper music!!!🎉

[@amerocker]

I did not see SCTV when it initially aired. These videos are new to me. Thank you for uploading this.

[@johnunkerman]

@@amerocker many others weren’t aware either. That’s why I’m glad to share Canada’s “best kept secret”. Thanks for watching 👍

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

You are so lucky. Pause on the credits, learn the names of *the masters*

[@daverudnick2153]

Joe Flaherty, underrated genius who will be missed.

[@sk-ls8tt]

"You've given me more Chins than a Chinese phone book" Then Beverly falls off the stool laughing. Priceless.

[@johnunkerman]

@@sk-ls8tt poor Joan eh?

[@DouglasHeeren]

I thought Cosell was going to call James Baldwin "a little monkey" like he did Alvin Garrett on Monday Night Football. But that was a year after this aired.

[@bernardschaer3103]

Gold!

[@fredgarv79]

underrated, Catherin O'hara she does a great impression of Jane fonda, and that's not easy to do. She had that down. I used to watch this in Seattle when it was on at 1am on a Saturday night right after Saturday night live ended. It was weird canadian humor and it was wonderful. Love the WFB with the eyes, yes he really did that with the eyes. I wish we still had WFB and Dick Cavett around today, instead of the morons now

[@42awww]

Take me back please!

SCTV in its finest hour.

[@johnunkerman]

Agreed. They were peaking right about this time. 👍

[@MikeVoss-x3t]

Damn, for how they did everything so (i think intentionally) "lo-fi" SCTV is just some of the most brilliant and intellectual comedy. Truly a fellow-traveler in the mold of Monty Python, and honestly just about in a league of their own.

[@tomv4408]

Brilliant!

[@richevans609]

Classic Stuff Right Here!!!!

[@freemarketjoe9869]

This show was so much funnyer than SNL, brilliant stuff.

[@marc108]

Brilliant

[@cwjonesII]

This is absolutely hilarious.

[@lgcybernetics]

Scramble Carl, Scramble... 😂😂😂

[@tubularbill]

Just brilliant

[@Lewis9700]

Was that Martin Short playing Mr. Rogers?

[@robertharinga8860]

It sure was!

[@fredbozo8488]

Absolutely - His "victory dance" gave it away, same movement as his Ed Grimly 😂

[@mplsmark222]

OMG, that painting looks just like the character Rocky Dennis from the movie Mask. Look it up.

[@timdubeau9152]

Classic!. 😂😂😂😂😂❤❤

[@rickkemp1]

"No honour among intellectuals"

[@johnunkerman]

@@rickkemp1 🤣

[@m.g-mail7145]

After placing this comment, it didn't show up; maybe the reason had to do with including the link for the IMDb page. Here's what was otherwise written: A helpful description of the goings on from the episode's IMDb page, according to a (slightly edited) user's comment (which also informs this was the first episode of SCTV featuring new cast member Martin Short): _There is a hilarious sketch called Battle Of The PBS Stars, a parody of a series of special with CBS, NBC and ABC stars in sports competition, here we get public TV personalities. The hosts are Howard Cosell (Eugene Levy) and Dick Cavett (Rick Moranis), though Cavett knows nothing about sports. The first sequence is a boxing match between Mr Rogers (Short) and Julia Child (John Candy). Later scenes have pole vaulting between opera stars Beverly Sills and Joan Sutherland. The last one has a football match between team captains William F Buckley (Joe Flaherty) of Firing Line and Carl Sagan (Dave Thomas) of Cosmos._

[@xneapolisx]

Joe Flaherty's Bill Buckley was dead in and so funny!!! Hahahaha....SCTV ruled!

[@MokkaMatti]

The still image of Joe Flaherty as William F. Buckley at 0:10 looks a bit like Phife Dawg bustin' his rhymes in the video for Buggin' Out. Though I highly doubt that Buckley ever had the jazz or the funk.

[@Canadian_Skeptical]

Well done!

[@B81Mack]

Classic!!

[@calvinforcejr2382]

I remember SCTV on WOR TV in New York City. At 1AM just after pro wrestling. And I think it came from mellonsville.

[@TheButcher1001]

Yes, exactly.

[@LeotheOrangeCat]

love it

[@stevenfagaly3810]

The premise is far better than the execution. But what a great premise.

[@christophercucchi6048]

Rocky Dennis!