SCTV - Stars In One - Bob Hope

Brock Linehan interviews the legendary Bob Hope. Starring Dave Thomas and Martin Short.

[@ConradSpoke]

This kind of parody is beyond amazing. It seems more real than reality.

[@DJ-bj8ku]

You could see glimpses of Martin Short’s Jiminy Glick character.

[@chrisballas3356]

It's called Superior talent that we're not really used to from many others.

[@troygaspard6732]

Jesus, he totally nails Bob Hope.

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

Dave's Bob Hope impression is terrific, and Martin Short cracks me up. They both were fantastic in this sketch.

[@kennyolson1734]

Also John Candy’s impression of Orson Welles is excellent. Lot of thought and planning had to be done!

[@vicjay1972]

Short is doing an incredible Brian Linehan impersonation. Absolutely spot on

[@thomaschesterfield9459]

The Brian Linehan impression is spot on by Martin Short. Genius.

[@MRVISTA-wz7vj]

Martin on his show is on u tube😅😅😅😅surreal 😂😂😂

[@edmonddantes3640]

Dave Thomas's impression is so dead on, primarily because he doesn't attempt to over do it.

[@jasonreese2088]

Exactly

[@jamesyoung1356]

Yes. Very understated

[@mattlohr]

He approaches it less like an impressionist and more like an actor playing the character of Bob Hope, if that makes sense.

[@samadams7224]

Martin Short's impression of Brian Linehan is prefect, but few know who he is.

[@intercommerce]

A cleverly restrained performance by Thomas

[@nightowl5475]

He’s really got Hope’s persona down cold, so much so, it’s frightening. I would of loved to see Bob Hope’s reaction to this! He even thinks like Bob Hope! The little Canadian show was centuries ahead of their time. All the SCTV comedians were so individually talented. I loved that show when it was on.

[@andrewd.conard5088]

Stewed fruit! The writing is impeccable.

[@brendarodgers5686]

I don't think Bob Hope would have liked it. I don't think he could laugh at himself.

[@samadams7224]

SCTV was far better than SNL ever was.

[@julianmarsh1378]

God, everybody writes that! Probably because it is true....

[@arricammarques1955]

Norm probably dead jealous.

[@crsantin]

It’s not even close. SCTV was brilliant. SNL had moments but SCTV was funny from top to bottom year after year.

[@chantalfinn6173]

@@crsantin because most of their skits were live

[@rachybaby72]

Yep.

[@Bigstooler0]

I have always been in awe of Dave Thomas as Hope. Nobody does Hope and Dave is brilliant!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

"For my ninetieth birthday we're headed out to Nevada where they're gonna set off a twenty-kiloton nuclear device in my honor ..."

[@trublu71]

Dave's impression of Bob Hope was spot on !

[@Argonaut121]

And Short's imitation of Brian Linehan is great too, though only a few Canadians who are 60 years old or more will know that.

[@TheBlueyedblond]

I used to watch Brian Linehan on CITY TV. Short's impersonation was brilliant!

[@bufnyfan1]

Apparently it was said that Linehan was insulted by the spoof--on the other hand Alex Trebek loved Eugene Levy's impersonation of him on "Half Wits"

[@intercommerce]

@@bufnyfan1 if that's true, its probably because he took himself too seriously, the impression is spot-on

[@lancecampbell4323]

Brian Linehan was the president of his own fan club. No sense of humour, no self-awareness. This spoof was perfect

[@GolfAfter50]

@@bufnyfan1 That's crazy (yet not surprising!) to find out! And after all these years ha! Short completely nails all of the uncomfortable cadences that happened on the show ha! Even as a kid watching, you could tell that the guests were constantly wondering "How the heck did this guy get a TV show?" -- I always loved this SCTV bit. Thanks for sharing!

[@bufnyfan1]

@@GolfAfter50 what I hated about Linehan is that he spent huge amounts of time during an interview trying to impress his guest about how much he knew about their careers/lives-Linehan was even quoted as saying he hated Larry King because King didn't do as much "research" as he did and asked questions which were too simple and "basic"-Linehan was a textbook egomaniac

[@Dcraine]

"I tell ya something - I was out with Crosby's dad EVERY DAY and he never beat me once." Absolute brilliance.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

"You say your handicap is THIRTY? Well, maybe we better head out NOW!"

[@Monkofmagnesia]

"He's got the anger I think Joseph would have." I just love that line!

[@tnargskoorb1]

Yes so funny. Like Oscar yelling at Felix.

[@1060michaelg]

"He's got the anger I think Joseph would have." A whole lot going on there, LOL...Joseph being the greatest laughingstock in his town and the biggest cuckold in history...Yeah Bo'!!

[@AngusRockford]

What makes it funny is that they tried their best to channel what these two might actually say to each other if they ever met. Most comedic impressions are overbroad or over-the-top, these are almost pitch perfect, especially Dave's Bob Hope.

[@valhallaforever1]

You can always tell which skits are written by Dave, they are so absurd and the jokes are subtle. Can you just imagine a movie where Jack Klugman plays the father of Jesus? lol

[@matthewzarris9177]

He had the anger that Joseph would have had!

[@Makeitliquidfast]

Best Hope impression of all time, hilarious!

[@benjaminwestney9095]

An extraordinarily subtle sophisticated sketch with Thomas’ uncanny impression of Hope, hilarious in its accuracy and absurdity, juxtaposed against Martin Short’s understated Brian Linehan, both a broad caricature and earnest straight man at the same time throughout... Some of SCTV’s most successful avant-garde humor.

[@JerGer918]

0++8

[@DJ-bj8ku]

The line that he went out golfing all the time with Crosby and Crosby never beat him is brilliant.

[@wailinburnin]

Dave Thomas, genius of comedy, and you have to hand it to Martin Short for the ego to have stepped into SCTV with such strong characters playing against what this team had created in the previous years. There was a deep surrealism in SCTV, great art.

[@dominiquecote1838]

Wow the pure genious of this sketch . I’m in awe and proud to be Canadian when I see comedy gold like this .

[@SmithersJones]

“You have a way of asking a question that makes you forget what it’s all about by the time you get to the end. When you stop talking it’s like walking to the edge of a cliff.” Classic Dave Thomas/Bob Hope!

[@jarryjayo]

that's the one line I liked too. cheers

[@FantasyfootballRedd13]

I can’t stop laughing at that part! I start busting up, the way he responds is so perfect, like Hope would say haha

[@bufnyfan1]

“You have a way of asking a question that makes you forget what it’s all about by the time you get to the end." that summarizes the interview style of Brian Linehan to a "tee"

[@robkunkel8833]

How do you remember that? It just amazes me. (Said with a Brock Linehan sing song voice)

[@rsanders78]

Too funny, way too funny. These are comic geniuses.

[@NevadaBoss]

"geez, you're unreasonably bitter.." lol. Who else on the planet does Bob Hope as well? I wanna tell ya, there's no one. Beyond brilliant. How I miss this show...

[@kevinwachs5905]

Back in the 1980s John Rourke did Hope on Friday's, Off the Wall, and D C Follies.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Hahaha

[@dubcityy]

The depth of the writing and performances here is quite amazing.

[@johndalton3180]

Subtly brilliant in a way you couldn't understand unless you were alive at that time. A washed up, mellow, yet mildly annoyed Bob Hope. Just so great.

[@gregv79]

Dave becomes Bob Hope, forget about "doing him.". Dead spot on.

[@gregv79]

I can never get enough of Bob..always brings you out of the blues 😅

[@thomasthomas2418]

"Do you know Gil Gerard? He's terrific!" I love Dave Thomas as Bob Hope.

[@AceBG27]

Man this is fantastic comedy, Laugh out loud funny. “Vietnam, I blame the whole thing on the French - weasels” - that’s Gold.

[@quasimodem5260]

Probably unrealized by many but there are two fantastic impersonations here. Martin Short is mimicking Brian Linehan , Canadian interviewer based in Toronto.

[@kelsman59]

I've got even more respect for Dave Thomas' comedic aptitude after seeing this.(I always thought he was underappreciated)

[@voxxclamantis9668]

By far the best Bob Hope impression, Thomas knew Hope and tells stories of his visits with him.

[@mattyboyanderson]

This is clearly Bob Hope. I don't know who this Dave Thomas guy is, but that's actually Bob Hope.

[@scottbrandon9390]

Brock is based on Hamilton, Ontario's Brian Linehan from CITY-TV. He asked long-winded interview questions like this.

[@Paul47Tat]

This is genius, on both sides.

[@invisibleman1028]

SCTV. Best sketch comedy EVER !

[@halwarner3326]

This smart humor would never fly nowadays.

[@montanamade8712]

Short looks like he wants to laugh, breaking character so much!! SCTV was the best!!

[@eltonjohn3236]

Genius material.

[@Rwrtnbf]

Holy smokes, this is brilliant. Dave Thomas goes beyond a simple caricature of Hope and captures his odd complexity.

[@anlacombe]

dave thomas as bob hope is great

[@ronflatter1235]

This is beyond brilliant.

[@andywood5699]

No one could do Bob Hope until Dave Thomas came along.

[@DateTwoRelate]

Dave Thomas didn't make the cinematic "splash" as the usual suspects did but he should always be remembered as a fine mimic and a wonderful complimentary player.

[@michaelmisczuk1188]

Man, this is so good. They put themselves into it.

[@Rushmore222]

"Jack Klugman has the anger I think Joseph would have."

[@tnargskoorb1]

That was the funniest line to me in all this. Just brilliant.

[@maryannemelenka9250]

Brian Linehan was a brilliant celebrity Canadian interviewer. Short does brilliant impression. Thomas great hope

[@bufnyfan1]

loved the episode where Brock Linehan went back to his home town--and everyone was essentially laughing at him--his high school gym teacher said he was a klutz when he played basketball-and the girl he first had sex with didn't have a clue who he was.....LOL

[@MrInspirational43]

david, I could watch over and over where Brock says, "no, alight if you'l silence that infernal laughter" then the way he dribbles the basketball on the floor, I almost fell out of my chair. It's worth seeing over aand over again.

[@djamesv]

"It's the funny version of The Greatest Story Ever told".

[@OhJaniceWhyOhWhy]

I would have liked to see that movie..... Moses: "God help me save my people and take us to the Promised Land." God: "If I do that, will you STOP asking for My help? All the time with the prayers and requests....it's enough already!"

[@jeffdawson2786]

Still ahead of their time and untouched by any sketch comedy troupe.

[@jamesconsiglio311]

How can these skits get 46k views this is one of the greatest shows of all time????

[@Mark-cs4bv]

That Bob Hope Impersonation is almost too good, at one point I had to remind myself it was Dave Thomas!!

[@terrencemarble5582]

I forgot just how good SCTV was! It's CLASSIC!😂

[@johnr.7906]

It's so funny I can't even laugh. I just marvel at it.......

[@foxopossum]

I feel like Tony the tiger every time I watch SCTV because I’m always like, “This is grrrrrreat!”

[@MrAitraining]

The Best! and SCTV wasn't just about amazing impressions, it's the writing and lines that are so good too.

[@GodsFavoriteBassPlyr]

Mannnn... Thomas has Hope down to the last detail. This is incredible! Short is a LEGEND.

[@Mrgop]

Bob Hope said the impression of him by Dave Thomas was the best of anyone.

[@socksumi]

"You have a way of asking a question that makes you forget what it's all about by the time you get to the end". That little quip brilliantly sums up Brian Linehan.

[@fft57d]

Dave did the best impression of Bob Hope. He's amazing!

[@TornadoCAN99]

Of course the spoof isn't just of Bob Hope, but also of Brian Linehan, a well known interviewer on Canadian TV....Short was interviewed by him in 1977 before he came out the "Brock Linehan" character on SCTV....Short really nailed it with the look/hair/outfit and mannerisms of the guy.

[@finch45lear]

Dave Thomas is a genius. This impression is incredible. The writing is perfection. Short is brilliant as always.

[@tnargskoorb1]

It’s funny Brock didn’t know who was playing Jesus or much about the project but he knew Jack Klugman was cast as Joseph. This skit is just genius on so many levels. Love the subtle look Bob gives Brock when he touches his arm at the end.

[@hoibsh21]

Dave is more Bob Hope than Bob is.

[@MRVISTA-wz7vj]

3 years later. This comment is still funny. And spot on. 👏 👏 👏 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😂😂😂😂😂

[@hoibsh21]

@@MRVISTA-wz7vj Thank you!

[@mchris65]

I miss these sort of in-depth interviews of the past.

[@jamescampion7880]

This is possibly the best bit I've ever seen. The part at the very end is absolutely gut busting.

[@tnargskoorb1]

I think it’s the best skit I’ve ever seen. Just amazing start to finish.

[@badad0166]

Brian Linehan was notoriously well researched. Without fail, at some point in the interview, the subject would lament, "Wow, you've really done your homework". His cred brought the biggest stars to CityTV,. At first, a dinky little studio (originally a UHF station!), on Queen East and then, the Gothic castle on Queen West, (Humble brag I know the guy that got the truck smashing through the wall deal done). I didn't work directly with Brian Linehan, but he carried himself around the offices like a true gentleman.

[@ianbauer4703]

Linehan and Hope...doesn't get much better than that.

[@countd5955]

"You're unreasonably bitter."

[@stevepaul6955]

Nobody does Hope better than Dave Thomas.

[@charliecovert576]

Dave Thomas must channel Bob Hope's ghost, when I watch Thomas doing Hope I think it's Hope!!!!!

[@GA-1st]

Dave Thomas's "Bob Hope" was at "god-level" at this point. He completely caught the essence of the man. It's truly brilliant!

[@Rutoenfit]

Greatness! Short's Brian Lineham is fantastic (and wasn't appreciated by "Brock"!). I understand this was mostly improvised.

[@DaveLL500]

The lines just seem too perfectly crafted to be improvisation. Especially the Dave Thomas parts - if that was improv, he is god-like.

[@Margatroid]

@@DaveLL500 It seems like improv to me. They had the premise worked out beforehand I'm sure, but some of the stuff is very off-the-cuff, and you can tell they were trying to make each other laugh. Dave won.

[@aerialarboreal9005]

I remember the Brock Lianhan skits, I just don't remember them being THIS good!! Hat's off to Dave Thomas, awesome portrayail... So dead pan, just like I imagen Hope would be off camera, always a wise ass... Thanks for posting this (sadly) forgotten gem....

[@JaneDoe-rj4jn]

Omg Brock Linahan impression is spot on!!! There was an actual interviewer then on City TV (Toronto) that looked exactly like this. Same interview style, looks etc. This is brilliant and I never realized it back then.

[@bufnyfan1]

The main difference whereas the real Brian Linehan would research his guests to the point that he dominated the entire interview--"Brock Linehan" would get his research all wrong and then his guests would either laugh at him (the Linda Hopkins interview) or be angry at him (Bob Hope)

[@PoutinePete]

Dave Thomas nailed it.

[@felicity4711]

Sometimes when I forget what I was talking about I still say “Something about Vietnam…” until I remember

[@msgfrmdaactionman3000]

Dave is funnier then the real Hope! Lol, thanks for posting!

[@doreybain]

Dave really nailed Bob Hope. When I close my eyes, I believe it's Bob Hope.

[@plauditecives]

Would love to see Phyllis Diller as Mary and Gil Gerard as Joseph.

[@lancasterII]

As Jesus! Jack Klugman is Joseph lol. ^^

[@jasonreese2088]

Why not Rip Taylor as John the Baptist !?

[@tnargskoorb1]

@@jasonreese2088 ha ha ha. Dom Deluise already had that role. Cmon.

[@matthewzarris9177]

Ever since she got her looks back…🤣

[@fergusof]

Wow, these guys are amazing!

[@williamprice3700]

Genius imitation of Bob Hope.

[@johnjones3714]

Near the end when Brock reaches over and touches Hope.. . Hope isn't too happy with that Great stuff

[@Albertanator]

Good insight from Hope about James Coco and the French.....ha ha...

[@rf3495]

Watched from Buffalo with rabbit ears antenna pointed toward Hamilton Ontario. Great stuff

[@michaelolz]

If you close your eyes it’s like a real Bob Hope interview. Holy cow!

[@jonathanmitchell9886]

Martin Short *is* Brian Linehan; I can't look at his face in this sketch without bursting into laughter. (And Dave Thomas is a disturbing mixture of Bob Hope and my dad.)

[@johnheart6890]

Absolutely perfect.

[@Jantonov1]

Gil Gerard as Jesus floored me. lol

[@pops1981]

Another gem...thanks QC. Hope that box still has much left. Thanks

[@John-pc3cx]

These guys are absolutely brilliant

[@johnnyelle8052]

Martin Short is doing an impression of a real person from Toronto.

[@albertadriftwood3612]

This seems so effortless. I wonder how much is ad-libbed? Back when funny, talented people populated these shows.

[@miz_logo_lee]

I love Short’s hand gestures. Thomas is dead on crotchety old Hope

[@lancasterII]

This is beyond epic on so many levels. I wonder if the Linda Hopkins episode of Stars In One was the last they did on SCTV.

[@metatron1970]

I am fairly certain the last sketch of the NBC show was Stars in One when Brock goes back and visits his hometown

[@jamesporter5630]

Brilliant.

[@isiahwashington2999]

Brilliant

[@craigplumlee]

"I don't think you can have the Lord played as an ugly guy. I don't think people would buy it."

[@QuadMochaMatti]

Which is why we will never be told the truth that It was a multi-headed Hydra bearing a strong resemblance to Howard Stern's and Sandra Bernhard's love child.

[@leegraves101]

The only thing missing is Bob Hope mentioning his upcoming special on NBC with the Golddiggers and Lola Falana. It seems like he always had something else to plug.

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

"You have a way of asking a question that makes you forget what it's all about by the time you get to the end"

[@josephcollins2688]

Friggin' Amazing

[@miked1311]

Go Brock. Love his return home. Candy is a riot

[@granthurlburt4062]

Brian Linehan, who is being parodied here, asked Martin Short to stop doing the parodies, which he did. They were both from Hamilton and knew each other. Dave's Bob hope is excellent. They have a great episode where Moranis played Woody Allen, who revered Hope. to Daves Bob Hope.