SCTV The Happy Wanderers with John Candy and Eugene Levy

[@OfficialSCTV]

Share your favorite SCTV episode or character in the comments!

[@cwaldo7957]

30 years later I still say "cabbage rolls and coffee mmm mmm good" when I hear polka music, and no one understands.

[@weswolever7477]

Same here

[@Lumbar87]

Yup - me, too, all these years later!

[@BegoneJonah]

We've been watching Lola Heatherington's Especially Special Christmas Special every season for more than three decades: "Baby, baby, my heart's breaking/Boo hoo hoo."

[@katherinehunter9526]

Me too. LOL. Most people don't get it. But when they do, we are instant friends. May John be resting in Peace. It was 25 years ago today that John Candy passed away from a massive heart attack while filming on set in Mexico. He will live on forever in all characters he created on SCTV and all the rolls he had film's. He was only 44 when he passed. I'll never forget, I was driving when the news came over the radio, I burst into tears and had to pull over. RIP Johnny LaRue. Dr. Tongue and Yosh Schimge. 03.04.19. KEH

[@AdamasMst]

I would :-)

[@Mike___Honcho]

" when the name is schmenge, you know you've got something ! " so true.

[@maryvalentine9090]

😂😂😂👏🏼👏🏼

[@yer_old_pal_Jerky]

You know what's amazing about John Candy (and the whole SCTV gang, but John in particular) is that his comedy was GENTLE, not coarse or bullying. He could make you laugh without any element of scorn or mockery. It was a beautiful gift to us all.

[@arikcarlo]

Eugene Levy too was special in their display of silliness and innocence. Great caricature by both of them.

[@grandlotus1]

Totally. It's love.

[@JackTheladd]

Candy was a true giver.

[@chickshusband]

There's parody that comes out of hatred of the subject (coughcoughTrumpcoughcough) and there's parody that comes out of affection for the subject (Garrison Keillor if you want an extreme example.) SCTV had - even at there their most cutting - never acted like they hated anyone.

[@lesizmor9079]

Mark-- Generally yes, but they are definitely mocking that Old World polka band culture. As they should!

[@postatility9703]

The greatest sketch comedy show ever.Period.

[@garytredwell5649]

Britain had Python, Canada had SCTV. I'd call it dead even.

[@pftittl]

I concur

[@anghusmorgenholz1060]

Rick Moranis is a truly beautiful human. To be a father and leave Hollywood for his children is the act of a man. It shouldn't be such a big deal. But that is the world we live in.

[@DPaine-rg6iz]

Eugene Levy's facial expressions are just pure gold !

[@marshler1111]

His facial expressions in the skit "six gun justice" was hilarious.

[@clitsing6034]

the mole helps too

[@alecfoster5542]

His eyebrows alone should get an Emmy.

[@amandajstar]

He's my favourite on SCTV!

[@rbuk2112]

RIGHT

[@geoffreythomas1452]

SCTV has the advantage over SNL because they didn't have to react to the week's pop culture news, and be beholden to it. This stuff is a bit dated, but it's still universal, evergreen humor.

[@steelers6titles]

Linsk starts jamming on the Monkees' "Last Train To Clarksville". Must have been a big hit in Leutonia.

[@djdj71d]

I would have bought the "looking back" album but I spent all my paper route money in the 5 neat guys greatest hits😐

[@darklordojeda]

You couldn't have spent your paper route money any better. Would you ever consider parting with the 5 Neats record?

[@matthewsmith5374]

Patsy has the largest breasts in town...🤣🤣🤣

[@richardleonard4281]

The Five Neat Guys were really neat.

[@shanghaisenator]

money well spent!

[@mercurywoodrose]

neat

[@briansimerl4014]

John Candy on skits..."you know what this skit needs? More polka!"

[@peterostash-em3dy]

No party should be without cabbage rolls and coffee. Thank you Mrs. Wilviochki.

[@ericjamieson]

I have a lot of family in Northern Minnesota and spent a lot of time there, and if I didn't recognize the SCTV cast and you told me this was legitimately a local television show from Northern MN in the early 80s, I'd probably believe you.

[@johnbarnes6832]

I lived in Duluth during the early 70s, this is way too close to the reality of that time. In the local high school they were still telling Finlander jokes.

[@mjproebstle]

Ya, ya!

[@FloraWest]

This is almost a clone of "Chmielewski Fun Time" that was on in Duluth in the '70s for sure. This parody is amazing.

[@FloraWest]

@@johnbarnes6832 Same! And this is "Chmielewski Fun Time" 100%.

[@11C1P]

Yeah, I grew up in N.D. & northern Minn & this was about like most of the weddings I remember going to in the 70's & 80's as a kid.

[@Rutoenfit]

Brilliant. What I liked about SCTV parodies is that they were ALWAYS good-natured.

[@SaraP.-mi8gg]

Really... always a pleasant hoot

[@JapanDan144]

Hi, I'm Yosh Shmenge. And I'm Stan SHMENGE!

[@phylliselizahb1041]

❤️ their 🎬, the Last Polka!

[@mikemike8623]

SCTV has to be the most successful television show in Canadian history think of all the people on the show who went on to have careers and are household names throughout the world

[@coldslutsonfire]

My parents could never tell the difference between this and Laurence Welk.

[@mpmajer]

+coldslutsonfire The difference is this has no geritol commercial. LOL

[@fjccommish]

Welk was a pretender. This was the real thing.

[@petsplantshome]

exceptional comment bro.

[@mikentx57]

There was a difference????

[@TheAnubis57]

The moment I saw this I thought Lawrence Welk Show too

[@davidsigalow7349]

In the early 1990s, we showed these sketches to her ailing father, who grew up in RI, another bastion of polka bands. He thought it was the funniest thing he'd ever seen. RIP to Big Al and to John Candy.

[@Leorstef]

"And remember. When the name is Schmenge, you know you got something!"

[@ericbrufatto5371]

Leorstef, Yes, great line, I wont forget, "...you know you got something!" LOL!

[@clark9992]

And the icing on the cake, is that he puts the emphasis on "something" instead of "got".

[@drjohnson98]

For me the funniest thing about this bit is that, except for the amped-up dorkiness of Candy and Levy, this is exactly what I grew up with, including the accordions and cabbage rolls. I loved SCTV.

[@edmonddantes3640]

You're exactly right, it's the same here in Texas when l was growing up. It's obvious that through the gentle humor, Candy and Levy have a deep affection for the music and culture.

[@steelers6titles]

@@edmonddantes3640 As far as Western Pa. and Eastern Ohio are concerned, this is dead-on.

[@djcdjc]

It is not a bit. I am not impotent.

[@JimmySand9]

@@steelers6titles Not to mention Northeast PA, the PBS station still has a show like this.

[@ludditeneaderthal]

It's pop culture satire. A tongue in cheek look at microcosms of North American period culture. Part documentary, part subtle over the top absurdity...

[@richsackett3423]

"Silky Green Suspenders" is a modern classic.

[@jamesyoung2280]

Cabbage rolls and coffee, mm mm good

[@egreenbery]

We'd like to thank Mrs. Vilvy Yatzke for the cabbage rolls and coffee.

[@schtuga]

I don't know how she does it every week.

[@robertduncombe7684]

Mmmmm mmmmm good!

[@carlyoung8657]

levy's eyebrows are an act all by themselves

[@imafunkyman]

John Candy and Eugene Levy = comedic geniuses

[@davidsigalow7349]

They had great chemistry; the Schmengies and Dr. Tongue & Bruno were impossibly funny.

[@MrPerfesser]

Authentic polka programs were a joyous part of our lives growing up. Cleveland had polka varieties on TV, which included Frankie Yankovic. In Pittsburgh and outlying towns, radio stations had polka programs, usually on weekends, where local celebrities like Jimmy Pol (James Psihoulis) would play polka records and do "dollar a holler" commercials for ethnic groceries and restaurants and bakeries. The last one I heard was Lurleen the Smilin' Slovene on a station in Greensburg. They were charming - and sometimes funny - in their earnestness. We may have laughed at them, but they were having much more fun than we were!

[@peterostash]

What would we do without Mrs. Villviachkies cabbage rollls and coffee. Life Is Good.

[@kimmy1984]

Shmenge/LaRue production. Johnny has his hands in everything.

[@fjccommish]

Just enough to get his beak wet.

[@ronmoore5431]

Was Johnny La Rue the Shemgie management? ?? This is why they where so famous. Mellonville has never been the same..We love you Shemgie 's....you are POlka kings.

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

Count Floyd's 3-D House of Johnny's Hands, In Everything.

[@56squadron]

Especially his gerbils....

[@eg4449]

A very clever reference! Awesome

[@wildman2012]

Moranis playing "Last train to Clarksville?" OMG!

[@TruWatcher]

He also played "Stairway to Heaven" but that may not be as widely available because of music clearance issues.

[@johnnydtractive]

If you lived in southern Ontario when SCTV had its run, you will surely also remember witnessing Walter Ostanek's 'Polka Time' on tv around the same time. Whether The Happy Wanderers are tribute or parody, it adds to the many layers of irony, cabbage rolls & laughs.

[@marks.3303]

Also CHCH 11's Ein Prosit from Hamilton. The two women in the band behind the Shmenges, on violin and guitar, played in the Ein Prosit house band.

[@BegoneJonah]

I grew up in Los Angeles in the 1960s and there was a travelogue show called The Happy Wanderers on channel 9 or 11 or 13. One of those local channels. And there was Polka Parade on channel 5, KTLA.

[@RonJohn63]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shmenge_Brothers It was Gaby Haas in Edmonton.

[@dwes49]

RonJohn63 I know it’s on wiki but still wonder if Kitchener-waterloo Oktoberfest had an influence...,they even tapped the keg at the opening ceremonies in ‘84

[@brucehanson6427]

With Clarence Ploof on guitar

[@mikebarbacovi9851]

The growth mole on Candy’s forehead was classic costuming. Levy is pure genius as well. God I miss this show.

[@msthang5366]

Mike Barbacovi I knew the guy in pink looked familiar

[@jasonjcr_cars819]

I miss it too! It was pure genius!

[@willdenny6953]

Yes ,yes I miss it too. Funny as hell.

[@mikepjersey]

Random fact. The first song is called the Happy Wanderer and was in Schindlers List during the party scene.

[@TheRealVideoMurder]

Living in a small Saskatchewan town this is so real it hurts

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

Growing up in Wisconsin polka used to be a big thing. Now, due to all the forced multicultural diversity we lost our German and eastern European heritage. It's sad.

[@LadyMarushka]

@@dickJohnsonpeter Remember it can be revived. It’s just an accordion polka away!

[@brianmouland209]

Used to be a polka show called The Cottonpickers on TV in the 1970s in Saskatchewan

[@clawsoon]

@@dickJohnsonpeter Multiculturalism was invented by Ukrainians. Ukrainian-Canadians from the prairie provinces, specifically. At one point they were even trying to get Ukrainian recognized as an official "regional language" in Canada. They didn't get their language proposals through, but they got most of their other stuff through, transforming the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism - originally meant to be only two cultures, English and French - into official policies of bilingualism and multiculturalism.

[@sydneymads5220]

​@@dickJohnsonpeterhow did they force you to not partake in polka?

[@JB0143RP]

Shout out to the Buffalo chapter of the Lutonian American society!

[@billyrock8305]

Other than the Beatles and ABBA, probably the best musical group in history.

[@sulladrum]

Comedy genius. Candy was so amazing.

[@yer_old_pal_Jerky]

And Eugene for Pete's sake! They're both genius in this. It isn't even hardly a parody! It's a loving tribute to a very real, oft-neglected culture... and yet, it works!

[@bluegrassfan8426]

Long live SCTV !!!! The best show EVER.

[@steelers6titles]

"I get a lot of requests in the different restaurants where I play" LOL

[@steelers6titles]

Western Pa.--Northeastern Ohio native here. This is DEAD ON.

[@wb9034]

SCTV was so ahead of it's time. I LOVED that show

[@garybeauchamp3623]

It was superb, always funny, but never mean spirited. My late brother and I used to talk about all the SCTV skits and laugh and laugh. When I see them I think of him. To me, it was way better than SNL.

[@renoraider9817]

I think those guys were way funnier than the SNL cast. I used to watch SCTV all the time.

[@Maaaattologyyyy]

Seems perfect in that time. It wouldn't work now and people wouldn't appreciate it

[@AlexColberg]

I could go for some cabbage rolls and coffee right about now.

[@arikcarlo]

Me too..but I'd want to be accompanied by the Schmenge Brothers. They give a unique taste to it. :)))

[@cabbagerollsandcoffee]

I guess the janitor would be busy then

[@jamesanthony8438]

Mmm... Mmm... Good!

[@Dejahthoris22]

Dan S. Me too! Don’t forget the polka!!

[@Torgo1969]

@@Dejahthoris22 I'm happy to say that SE Michigan USA has lots of Polish stores that sell cabbage rolls. My grandpa used to make them and call them pigeons.

[@aggcavan943]

I love how after the light crashes, the tuba player splits. These guys were absolutely brilliant.

[@geralddzara637]

I grew up in Pittsburgh in the '50's-60's, and there was Levitske Brother polka party on TV, brought to you by Granma"s pierogis and Levitske real estate. On the Radio was The George L Massey Polka Review, WMBS am.

[@danielkokal8819]

I also grew up in Pittsburgh in the 60s-70s.... my dad's family Slovenian immigrants. dad played in a polka band (even made an album)... I saw the legend Frankie Yankovic live. not too far from this parody. God I hate polka music.

[@Ron-ws5lu]

Love the guitarist’s (Rick Moranis) sideburns that join his moustache! Lol!

[@paulrichard10]

No comedy series can ever approach the level SCTV reached. I doubt anything will come along like this amazing troupe of comedians for a long, long time, if ever.

[@scottiehanbacks6595]

There wouldn't be no Saturday night live without sctv real talk yea

[@robertthomas5736]

It's Yosh And Stan Schmenge,The Schmenge Brothers Polka Band,with Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

[@FloraWest]

"I get a lot of requests in the different restaurants I play for..." Just caught that line for the first time. This sketch is so good.

[@pangoprime8674]

I play this every Christmas. Best Christmas album ever. Kids think I am crazy.

[@larrymccue8097]

This group were outstanding. Nothing is as original and funny as SCTV. I think of different episodes and smile periodically.

[@panchoverde5078]

Tim and Eric are waving hello

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

Subtle little things like Eugene’s inflection and emphasis when saying his last name as it is different than his brothers.😂😂😂😂😂

[@moe9196]

It's sweet how they have the everyday old timers on the show . We'll all be elders someday . Treat them well

[@verasmith4767]

Good memories. My Grandparents were Czech.

[@zenmeister1959]

"And the coffee was nothing to sneeze at either"!!

[@mullen25]

levy and candy at their peak powers. its funny but in a good natured way. it's great comedic acting.

[@laragio]

If you watch their finger movements, they actually look like they are playing their instruments. That is true dedication to your craft.

[@genez429]

SCTV had a purity about it that was like a happy twinkle in the eye... Love this show. I grew up in the US . Never got to see this often on our TV.

[@mckessa17]

You would if you lived in Buffalo

[@genez429]

@@mckessa17 That is Canada! 🥸

[@thebigswede1736]

At 5:35 Rick Moranis' guitar is a Vantage VSH-435 I believe. Yeah, I'm a guitar nerd.

[@butterflygirl2285]

I have been laughing so hard that I have actually cried watching the Schmenge Brothers clips. I remember those from way back. These guys were incredibly talented.

[@thedungeondelver]

The "audience members" in this are such good sports. :)

[@ahlivetuhsidamaro150]

LOL The cabbage rolls and coffee! My dad would be in heaven!!!

[@thomaskauser8978]

I went to the tour twice and got my toe run over by the wagon. I still have the mark.

[@merak0044]

I grew in a small town in northern Ontario and SCTV played on Saturday night. So we would watch this and after that it was Saturday Night Live. Great times, great comedy.

[@fabriziodorazio511]

The Good old days of growing up with SCTV

[@svenrichtmann6792]

I must admit, I love the music! I could go for some cabbage rolls and coffee right about now.

[@redshiftexperiment]

Rick Moranis rendition of "last train to clarksville" great!!

[@brianmouland209]

Sang Stairway to Heaven on another show

[@MovieJon]

I love the audience/extras. They seem so sweet!

[@FloraWest]

I vaguely remember them saying the...Ukrainian? extras all had a genuinely good time.

[@mqbitsko25]

The Baltic answer to Hee-Haw.

[@ownpetard8379]

Leutonia is on the dark side of the Balkans, so the Balkan answer to Hee-Haw

[@canaisyoung3601]

Or Lawrence Welk.

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

I bet they had super sore throats after playing these characters 😂😂😂😂

[@jerrywatt6813]

Wow this just dropped on my feed I loved this show it was from Canada I think good times !

[@bobsacamano1274]

Ahhhh…cabbage rolls and coffee. Have some. Your colon will thank you.

[@Aidenbro-s2k]

The whole approach to this sketch is genius. They just did an impression of an old fashioned polka band dance show. That’s it! And it’s funny! It doesn’t try too hard and it works.

[@evieraotacon]

John Candy and Eugene Levy's performances will always be gold. Miss those days.

[@steelers6titles]

Linsk was a SUPERSTAR lol.

[@karen81986]

That show was so much more funnier than Saturday night live

[@futuristica1710]

I was looking for that comment. Never fails to appear.

[@abefroman7393]

Mrs Yatchki really outdid herself tonight with her delicious homemade cabbage rolls and coffee….😂

[@steelers6titles]

I grew up in Western Pennsylvania. I live in Northeastern Ohio, not too far from Cleveland. This is dead-on, as far as REAL polka shows are concerned.

[@RS-yd2bp]

Lol...all my Slovenian family in Cleveland used to go to dances like that every weekend. The same polka, same costumes, always cabbage rolls ... lol

[@FloraWest]

Northern Minnesota here-this is like a clone. It's just perfect.

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

When you have cabbage rolls and coffee, you know you got something!

[@kevinsweeney1381]

My favorate LP in my vast collection is a signed copy of, The Happy Wonderers, Looking Back. Sad to say I only got Stan Schmenge's signature on it

[@Donnie64inPa]

I loved this show! My buddy and I would go to the bars talking like Stan and yosh smenge and confuse a lot of people.

[@BrianBattles]

I like that everything in Leutonia is in black & white

[@olddoggeleventy2718]

A total dedication and character investment went into this...superb! John Candy was always wonderful and deserves all the praise he has received over the years, but the rest of the SCTV cast were awesome in their own right and went on to some renown. I'm Leutonian and I find no offensive stigma to my homeland. Deep down we are all Leutonians...lol

[@JMarinelli]

I'm 1/16th Leutonian and I'm not offended by this either!

[@markmierau5189]

Don't forget the traditional exchanging of the socks on Christmas.

[@AvailableUsernameTed]

Leutonian Christmas Tradition - The trading of the socks - We don't know why we do this.

[@outtathyme5679]

Pipe2DevNull for the children

[@robertpucci5019]

Cause he's the visitor

[@DVD927]

Omg I actually know the opening song! “I love to go a wandering Along the mountain track And as I go I love to sing My backpack on my back…”

[@michaelklein5242]

I have something of a real affection for these two. There was a real charm to the characters and you didn't quite laugh at them, but with them.

[@cubangal1]

from Edmonton with love......SCTV!!!!watching Home Alone and had to see more of John Candy....miss you John....one of the very best comedians ever!!!!

[@craigbusick9676]

Nice.You can never go wrong with cabbage rolls and coffee.My late mother was from Grande Prairie ✌❤

[@msthang5366]

“Uncle Buck” is one of my all time favorite movie.

[@GinaSigillito]

Such happy memories from my childhood. This was such a great time. Those dancers look so happy.

[@RP_Williams]

HAHA that album 'Looking Back' commercial had me in tears....SO good!

[@metalred74]

The Happy Wanderers were Jimi Hendrix's favorite Polka band. Not many people know that Jimi was slated to contribute several guitar solos to the album that Yosh and Stan were recording in 1970,right before Jimi's death. What a loss!

[@Lewis9709]

Yes I remember the Purple Haze Polka

[@metalred74]

Lewis 970 It's a CLASSIC of Rock-Polka Crossover!

[@metalred74]

Lewis 970 Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies! 😀😀😀

[@Lewis9709]

+Brian Reddish My one regret is that I never heard Voodoo Chile(slight return) on the accordion.

[@metalred74]

Lewis 970 I agree! Now,THAT would've been amazing! I also heard that Yosh and Stan were going to join Jimi in a joint accordion burning during the live performance of that song!

[@UnclePengy]

I loved how they could never pronounce their last name the same.

[@TheSkipper1921]

Up here in the Northeast of all places, we had a show like this till about 2000 or so. It was a radio program every Sunday Morning. My wife used to get the kids up for Church in the A.M. by turning all the radios in the house up to eleven, and then hitting the power button. I'll tell you what? Nothing gets teens and Pre-Teens out of bed faster than Frankie Yankovic played at reveille volume when you're dealing with kids that usually listen to Kurt Cobain Marilyn Manson and Sniff Doggy-Doo or whatever his name is.......

[@rowdyyeets4532]

The unibrows and moles were a nice touch. 🤣🤣🤣 We were kids when this came out. I never forgot about it. Hilarious.

[@boomka]

My grandparents lived next door to Mr. and Mrs. Vilve Yachke for 40 years.

[@moretoknowshow]

Did they bring over copious amounts of Cabbage Rolls and Coffee?

[@lencarter1460]

“ and I get a lot of requests in the different restaurants I play” LOL!!!!!!!!! I grew up a good Hungarian boy, and I can’t watch this without thinking how incredibly accurate this parody is. Whether it’s Polish polka, Hungarian Czardash, etc., etc…. anybody who grew up in an Eastern European household totally gets this!

[@mckessa17]

If your Dutch your not going to get it.

[@bobdobalina838]

Schmengi travel "you got to be a shmengi to make an offer like that!" Laughed out loud at that one

[@c.s.mcleod7383]

@@ithecastic "When the name is Schmenge.....you know you've got something."Funniest line!

[@reenougle]

One of my favorite skits. I love the Shmenges!! Long live Leutonia!

[@albertmusco]

Locked down during the 2020 pandemic , I needed something to cheer up my day !

[@karen81986]

Albert Musco me too. At least they make me laugh. Lol

[@mbstp]

Just wholesome. Love it. I miss Minnesota.

[@AZOffRoadster]

SCTV and Fernwood 2 Night/America 2 Night, always hard to find on local broadcast stations at the time. Good stuff.

[@mahoneg]

When I was growing up in Scranton PA - This kind of show was on local TV! Early Sat night I remember. - The first time I saw this years and years ago I fell off my chair. -- Polka Dance shows...