If Merv Griffin was Sheriff of Mayberry - 1981

[@megadethmofo2035]

I haven't seen this in years. I love that little drunk Opie is in a tiny Otis suit.

[@rickmurphy7165]

This is how you write comedy! Absolutely hilarious. SNL could never achieve something like this.

[@goldpet66]

Dave Thomas as Fred Travalena doing Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle (who essentially was two distinct characters, the goofball and the classically trained singer) is a brilliant trip down the rabbit hole. And Eugene Levy as Floyd is in a class by himself :)

[@gregv79]

This is brilliant 👏 👌 plain and simple!

[@hankkingsley9300]

I seem to recall on a DVD that Dave Thomas said he did Fred Travalina doing Gomer Pyle because he could not do Gomer Pyle

[@jillsherman9896]

@@hankkingsley9300 Yes, he mentioned it in his book about this SCTV days as well. Said that he was planning to have Gomer choke on some water so he wouldn't have to do his lines, since he knew his Nabors impression sucked, but then the idea came up to make him Fred, saving him the trouble and making for a great double-layer gag there.

[@lynnfisher3037]

That's the only time Dave Thomas fell flat

[@FloraWest]

@@jillsherman9896 Yeah, he said he could sing like him but not talk like him and this was the solution. So good.

[@robertcombs55]

This is STILL better than ANYTHING on TV today!!!

[@harryplummer6356]

Isn't that the truth!!!

[@richsackett3423]

Who watches TV anymore?

[@mrsmucha]

Yep.

[@Jason1920]

These folks are in a class of their own. Couldn't replicate this today if you wanted to. A time and a place we'll never get back to, but it's nice we have these videos.

[@Jason1920]

@@richsackett3423 Amen. I actually put my TV in storage. No use to me.

[@jimgelineau2773]

Eugene Levy as Floyd the barber is right on hilarious

[@robertmaybeth3434]

so good Nirvana wrote the song about it

[@mhadman427]

He even does Floyd both before, and after his stroke.

[@pac401]

Levy's Floyd the barber is right on the money!

[@anguspodgorny8211]

Absolutely, and Floyd petitions the Godfather is my favorite.

[@WalterLiddy]

Which in retrospect is pretty disturbing.

[@KowalskiVanishing_Point]

Friggin hilarious!

[@tuskedbeast]

The way he claps in the living room scene :D

[@carlpen850]

@@tuskedbeast ... Howard McNeal (Floyd the barber) had a stroke during the 2nd or 3rd season of the Andy Griffith Show, when they brought him back they used all kinds of ways to hide his disability from the camera during the scenes he was in. For Levy to include this in his impersonation is truly dark comedy at it's greatest.

[@quicksite]

SCTC had the most eclectic subjects, no one had ever done Merv Griffin because who would care? But Moranis has such an eye and ear, then throwing him into Andy Griffith, sublime. That big butt. ... then Walter Cronkite... Dave's Bob Hope... John Candy's Polynesian Town and his crane shot... all insanely brilliant. Thank you Canada !

[@salvease]

Absolutely agree. Woody Allen. Dick Cavett.

[@modjohnsenglishdisco]

LaRue finally got his crane shot.

[@markthomas6703]

How about the Merv Griffin 2001 take off? "Joining us for our final flyby of Jupiter will be Phyllis Newman!"

[@maryannemelenka9250]

Oh I watched Merv Griffin every night. In Canada. We didn’t get Carson then. But Merv had a great show. Moran is very funny imitation. I’m sure Merv would have laughed. He may have seen this.

[@hankkingsley9300]

Ooh...we'll be right back nobody got this in the early 80s I would sayj ust let's just watch it and It was always like idiot I don't get it

[@ODJones-zy5ir]

Eugene Levy's Floyd the Barber is STILL terrifying...

[@hankkingsley2976]

...as his stroke got worse and worse as the clip went on.

[@carlpen850]

@@hankkingsley2976 ... not too many people know that Howard McNear had a stroke but continued to play Floyd the barber, they either shot him sitting down or hid his bad side during filming, but your right and this just made it about as funny as it gets... dark comedy for sure

[@bryankautz826]

Got an Andy Griffith calendar from a buddy this xmas, inside joke we had about Floyd. "Ooohh Andy, Opie has such nice hair, can I have him for the afternoon to stroke & cut his pretty red hair? Oooohh!!!" LOL 😂😂

[@bryankautz826]

@Anthony Arguien LOL! Today Floyd would probably be on the watch list!!! 😂😂 Growing up in Toronto got SCTV every day after school so always loved their parodys. 😁😁

[@BigDogCountry]

@@carlpen850 I remember the Goober Gas station contest episode, where Andy was talking to Floyd on the wrong side of the car because of this.

[@loyaldude10]

one word----brilliant. the idea and the performances

[@ianhinkle1878]

John Candy plays Otis almost as well as Eugene Levy plays Floyd

[@zimjun7]

John was a GOOD GUY!!!

[@poopsyko]

John Candy was perfect as Otis

[@shioq.]

poorly?

[@melomane2010]

Each of the SCTV actors had at least one killer impression. Floyd the Barber was Eugene Levy's masterpiece, much like Dave Thomas' flawless Bob Hope, John Candy's magnificent Orson Welles, Catherine O'Hara's stunning Kate Hepburn, etc. etc.

[@lenhudson8194]

Rick moranis as dick Cavett always made me laugh.

[@mannolas]

@@lenhudson8194 Don't forget Eugene Levy's Perry Como!

[@lenhudson8194]

@@mannolas or his Floyd the barber. Classic.

[@hankkingsley9300]

@@mannolas oh god

[@paulamiles9559]

Rick Moranis's Neil Young.

[@bostonlucy]

Reunite on ice. It's the drink that Otis drinks. Boy I miss SCTV. Thank you very much. Oooooh. ha ha ha :)

[@Imintune...]

Do remember those commercials. Hahaha. Hic🥴

[@mashah1085]

Eugene Levy's Floyd is not only spot-on with voice and mannerisms, he LOOKS like Howard McNear.

[@nazfrde]

And in the later scenes, he's already had his stroke, so his left arm is paralyzed.

[@mashah1085]

@@nazfrde Big ups to Andy...who insisted that McNear return to the show after his stroke and they shot scenes with either him held up in a harness or sitting.

[@critter7052]

Eugene Levy as Floyd The Barber steals the show! :)

[@ttny60]

This is so funny. It's a shame that only us older folks that used to watch merv and andy can appreciate it.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

True.

[@FloraWest]

I gotta say, I watched SCTV as a kid and still laughed at lots of parodies I didn't know the originals of. Sometimes these things operate on a couple levels.

[@fredgarv79]

I used to love Merv when I was like 10-12 years old and thought him much better than mike douglas and others. He was a great interviewer

[@philhatfield8905]

I simply cannot believe how funny these classic SCTV episodes are. This show had a cast of the best comic actors ever assembled in one place; and just one SCTV episode is far funnier than an entire season of SNL! I would not watch SNL if they gave me free tickets to see it live!

[@lauracaskey7730]

This is one of my dad's favorite comedy things ever. I remember him showing this to us.

[@johnrogers2826]

Awesome you got to share that. When dads show you these things, they are giving a peice of their heart and saying I love you. Cherish those moments!

[@poopsyko]

My dad really loved John Candy Talk about a very quiet day when we found out he passed away

[@hankkingsley9300]

Merv...oh mverrrrreee. V

[@hankkingsley9300]

You had a great dad this is really something way out there and spectacular

[@davebrown9725]

My dad almost died laughing the first time he saw Count Floyd. Bright red face, barely getting a breath in, couldn't stop laughing. Good times.

[@eduardo_corrochio]

Eugene's impression of Floyd is delightful. Even the way he sits on that sofa, it's uncanny, just like Howard McNear.

[@hankkingsley9300]

And whoever they got to play Helen looks just like Aneta Corsaut

[@marc108]

So well done ...even when it looks like it was put together in a basement after hours ....this show SCTV was tremendous!!

[@hmengland4161]

That was the point, of course...SCTV WAS a Low Budget Channel. And its production (in Canada, originally only for Canada) was indeed always done with minimal funding. When NBC came along (SCTV was harming SNL) they deleted the uniqueness of the original by sorta forcing in guest stars, then pretty much hid the result by showing it after SNL at 1am. The first 3 to four years were, and remain, comic brilliance with an amazing cast of truly talented people.

[@bryangadow1459]

"Oooo....this is a loooong promo!" Masters at work, like Dave Thomas doing Fred Travalena doing Gomer Pyle (and Floyd).

[@steveol8612]

I remember reading that the reason it became Fred Travelena was because Dave Thomas said he looked more like Fred than Jim Neighbors.

[@thewordlove4316]

wasn't it also because Thomas couldn't get Nabors' persona - and Moranis would always liken it to Travalena's bad impersonating!! it became a running gag on the show!

[@davidgaarder5814]

This is nuts, absolutely insane. Makes me feel so much better about the countless hours I spent as a kid watching day time television. At least I could appreciate this in my golden years. Genuine laughter doesn't come so easily anymore. Thank you, SCTV!

[@douell0001]

Thank you for sharing. The cast and writers at SCTV were masters of parody.

[@gallery7596]

The only thing connecting both shows parodied here was the similarity between Andy and Merv's last names, and from that thin connection they came up with a brilliant piece.

[@richardwhitney5435]

Absolutely brilliant. As hilarious and spot on as it was in 1981.

[@BrodyJoeandBriars]

Of all of SCTV's brilliant parodies, I've always loved this one the best!

[@free2roam674]

This one and The Battle of the PBS stars. Both amazing.

[@tv2109]

When otis showed up drunk with opie and they're dressed alike that did me I'm

[@SwingingInTheHood]

Again, this was one of the best TV comedy shows of all time. These characterizations were spot on, and note the lack of mean-spirit and sarcasm in their portrayals. They are just fun take-offs on characters who, as we watch this, were actually weirder than we thought they were!

[@davidwebb8033]

Eugene doing Floyd is quite possibly the funniest thing ever aired on television.

[@MerkinMuffly]

Never realized how much Merv and Floyd sounded alike.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Ooooooooooo.

[@mhadman]

I loved the Andy Griffith show,and when I first saw this,I laughed all the way through.. fantastic. levy as Floyd stole the show..

[@snickpickle]

The only downer is that Howard McNear, who played Floyd on the real Andy Griffith Show, had a stroke, hence why you never saw him standing, and why his speech was slurred. But to your comment, mhadman, Levy absolutely nailed it -- even though I knew the tidbit I introduced here, I couldn't stop laughing at this whole schtick!

[@bufnyfan1]

Every time I watch this I laugh wondering what the original Aunt Bee (Frances Bouvier) would have done if 12-year-old Opie (Ron Howard) had come home drunk with Otis LOL!!

[@milart12]

This is such a clever premise.

[@27peted]

Man, that's is as classic as there is. Wonderful seeing that WOW!

[@brianarbenz7206]

I remembered this SCTV bit from their late night show in '81. It was a delight to see it again.

[@Professional-fh1ow]

I'm 55 and remember these episodes from Fridays when I was in Jr High, sooo funny!

[@luislaplume8261]

This is a lot better than SNL over the past several 20 years. Enjoyed this on WNBC TV ch. 4, NYC in the 1980s.

[@Rutoenfit]

"Good Lord, Merv, Otis has gone and got Opie drunk!". Never bettered.

[@don62snodgrass]

It doesn't matter how many times I watch this I always laugh! I loved SCTV!

[@salvease]

Fred Travalena doing impersonations! I'd forgotten how funny this was. This is CLASSIC. "We'll be right back!"🤣🤣🤣

[@PerryHowell-h9v]

This is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I love it.

[@elvicare35]

Great stuff and the poster who said Eugene stole the show as Floyd is right on!!!!!

[@NWSaint]

Boss casting= John Candy as Otis the drunk.... LMFAO!...... 10/10!... VERY close 2nd IMO would be Eugene Levy as the Barber.. man, that show was definetly one of the best growing up..

[@RicoBurghFan]

What no love for Joe Flaherty as Barney? Excellent playing all the way around.

[@SenorZorrozzz]

Floyd is a superior human creature. None of us can even hope to attain his level of consciousness.

[@jcrice1745]

ewww yeeeees.

[@jillmeredith2012]

Oooooo! Yesssssss.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Would this haircut be more expensive in, say, Mount Pilot or Raleigh?

[@kengibbens5059]

Looked forward to SCTV every week, Canadian tv we are still proud of. Floyd the barber, still cracks me up.

[@Lewis9709]

You should be proud. SCTV was a national treasure. SCTV, Molson Beer, and Laura Vandervoort are my 3 favorite Canadian imports.

[@TJ-kk5zf]

3:06 is brilliance!!! McNear had a stroke that largely paralyzed his left side and they always had to work around that. Levy nailed even that here!

[@tuxguys]

Juxtaposition, when done brilliantly, is a genuine intellectual treat, and SCTV pulled it off more often than most other shows. (I am reminded of another one of their genius moments, "The Benny Hill Street Blues.") As right-on as the impersonations were (Eugene Levy as Howard McNear is frighteningly good), it dawned on me as I watched this again, 35 years after its original airing: A generation from now, anyone seeing this will still get the "Andy of Mayberry" references, but very few will remember who Merv Griffin was, or what his show was like. (Incidentally, the silent actress who plays Helen Crump looks astonishingly like Aneta Corsaut, but it couldn't possibly be her... could it?)

[@danthemankhan]

Heck, the only thing I know about Merv Griffin is from an episode of Seinfeld, and I'm 34.

[@johndean4727]

@@danthemankhan thats my favourite Sein ep

[@noyfb4769]

SCTV's best example of juxtaposition is probably their Fantasy Island sketch. Pure genius.

[@MrAitraining]

SCTV. Best sketch show ever.

[@MImlac]

I remember watching this episode when it aired. Thanks for posting!

[@MrAitraining]

Dave thomas as Fred Travelina as Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle lol

[@quad5186]

Not to be unPC , but you can see Levy worked in Howard McNear's stroke in the later scenes. He was undoubtedly just staying true to the actor's portrayal and persistence not to let it stop his forever classic character.

[@05gtdriver]

+Anthony Hayden You hit it right on the head, Levy combined Floyd's total body of work from the show. From the standing up Floyd to the slurred speech Floyd. This 1981-1982 SCTV cast was the finest of all iterations IMO. Nearly all cast members went on to star in mainstream Hollywood films, dare I say they outdid their SNL contemporaries?

[@mhadman]

+05gtdriver in my opinion,SCTV from this era was better i n every way than snl..

[@Neville60001]

John Candy (and *_ONLY_* John Candy) was the one who became the superstar in movies, the others didn't.

[@origamiandcats6873]

Not true. Eugene Levy was the Dad in American Pie. Rick Moranis starred in Honey I shrunk the kids and Little Shop of Horrors. He chose to leave show business to take care of his family. Catherine Ohara starred in Beatlejuice etc. SCTV is almost 40 years old but a lot of them did go on to work in mainstream movies when SCTV ended.

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

Please, do not forget "Strange Brew." The Great White North, Beer, Comedy, a Mouse, in a Beer, an Insane Asylum, Beer, Ice Hockey, Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis, in Drag, more Beer et cetera. Not to mention the Christopher Guest Films, such as, "A Mighty Wind", "Best in Show", "Waiting For Guffman", "Why are Grandmas Lederhosen in a Twist?" etc.

[@BethyKable]

These people were insanely talented and had these impressions down pat .....even better than the original people . Hysterical

[@bufnyfan1]

SCTV is like a comet that comes once in maybe every hundred years--I very grateful I was around to see it when it first aired-there likely never will be anything as brilliant and funny as it was and continues to be (especially compared to the garbage that's been on since)

[@robertslydell6990]

The Network 90 years were on Friday nights, I was in high school at the time. Pre-VCR days, so watch it live or miss it. It was on from 10:30 to midnight, I made sure to stay awake. Everyone who I've ran into since who was an SCTV fan is smart, it was comedy for smart people.

[@SRHMusic012]

@@robertslydell6990 The original 30 minute shows were great, if you get a chance to see them.

[@davebrown9725]

Yeah, we used to get a 30 min SCTV show before SNL, years later ended up getting the full 90 min SCTV shows, but after SNL. Hard to make it so late to get the good stuff. Miss these fantastic actors.

[@acerjuglans383]

I haven't seen this in decades! Thanks for uploading.

[@jackgrattan1447]

Eugene Levy's doing post-stroke Floyd.

[@deanstanley2125]

Eugene Levy as Floyd the Barber is the greatest.

[@michaelnippert945]

I remember watching it the first time it was on TV I can watch this every day and keep laughing

[@michaelrichards2507]

I have loved this every time I have a chance to watch it. Maybe only second to The Godfather parody with Floyd wanting revenge asking the Don to go after Opie,lol

[@ShatnerMethod]

"He broke my barber pole."

[@TheORIGINALBrentTheGent]

Merv & Floyd "OOOOHing" together.....PRICELESS! I remember when I first saw this back in '81- I nearly cracked My rib cage laughing! Thanks, Shatner Method, for posting this "ALL-TIME SCTV CLASSIC MOMENT"!!!! - "Brent ther Gent"

[@ShatnerMethod]

"OOOOH," you're most welcome Brent ther Gent!

[@hankkingsley9300]

Yeah I would have to agree with that

[@mt.rushmore7916]

This skit is/was a complete masterpiece.

[@markanthony1425]

We'll be right back 😂😂

[@christopherchipps5878]

Levy looks exactly like and sounds exactly like Floyd the barber, it is so funny, I listen to this over and over.

[@jillmeredith2012]

SCTV was on par with Monty Python for sheer brilliance and comedy that you had to be a little bit smart to get.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

True.

[@nostalgia6578]

I DON'T LIKE SPAM!!!!!! 😆

[@bryanweis]

this made me want to throw my tv out the window

[@Paulmancieri67]

May I just say as a You Tube Commenter in all seriousness that this is one of the greatest posts I have ever read. I am here to say that this poster, bryanweis completely gets what SCTV was all about....this IS A GREAT GREAT MAN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. (Canned applause in the background). And I mean that sincerely.....now if you'll excuse me I have to go tape a special down the hall.

[@jamescombs8316]

@@Paulmancieri67 Bobby Bittman, ladies and gentleman...….

[@hankkingsley9300]

Television as you've never seen it before

[@hankkingsley9300]

@@jamescombs8316 Howareya!

[@davebrown9725]

A Big Thank You to those who replied before me. Without your inputs, I would have missed @byyanweis' joke. Now I can see all those TVs coming out of all those apartment windows at the beginning of every show. Sure miss all those great actors.

[@happyjack1082]

Oh this is fantastic. I remember seeing the skit when it originally aired on TV. Still a fan of the cast from Schitt’s Creek to O’Canada at Epcot and everything in between.

[@phildirt3]

What a great cast!

[@dougaltitus08]

OMG I’m screaming right now!! What was with the ass on Rick?? The entire thing made me laugh so hard my stomach hurts 😂😂😂

[@RSEFX]

Merv Griffin always had that stoop, so his butt sorta always stuck out. Why do you assk?

[@salvease]

AND on Opie too!😆

[@almostfm]

As Merv got older he put on some weight-and it seems to have got straight to his butt. It's that kind of eye for detail that helped make SCTV so great.

[@jdm1505]

I think they're making fun of the early 60s high-waisted pants.

[@JohnSmith-kz8yo]

Merv Griffin as Andy Griffith...genius

[@ARichardP]

41 years ago. That’s like watching something from the 1920s in the 1960s.

[@senorsardonico6153]

You succeeded in thoroughly freaking me out.

[@davidlogue6897]

Absolute genius!

[@jfilesgraphics]

This sketch cracks me up every time

[@easyt72000]

Who's playing Opie? Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird?

[@johndean4727]

Comedy Gold. Legends all.This is so under-rated.

[@wilrennehan3205]

Stellar cast and writing .. the best show

[@bufnyfan1]

I wondered what the original cast of the Andy Griffith show would have thought of this---I'm sure they would have been honored to be parodied this way because this skit was absolutely brilliant

[@Mpshfromlowell64]

I don't think Merv Grffin was very happy about the enlarged posterior on Rick Moranis.....

[@brendakent2854]

well his name is Mor anus.

[@Lewis9709]

+Brenda Kent Oh God. That joke was so bad and so funny at the same time.

[@christopheroliver2465]

"Otis Campbell, wake-up call". Epic!!!

[@michaellinner7772]

Good old Thelma Lou was the original "let's just be friends" girlfriend. Just picturing Don Knotts naked is making me queasy. Ayndie th, th, the boy needs... a ha, ha, hairrrrcut.

[@scottl.1568]

Bloody brilliant

[@intotheabyssoftheunknown4479]

I miss all these great comedians later to become actors! Rick Moranis quietly went into retirement. John Candy's untimely death, but Levy went on to many small parts until landing "Schitts Creek" on Comedy Central. It was a hilarious satire of dysfunctionality! His talent was underrated, imo. His Floyd the barber was "right on target"! He could play any character he was given to portray.

[@robertslydell6990]

Bobby Bittman.... How are ya!!?

[@johnerwin981]

Merv's and Opie's pants XD

[@MerleOberon]

Still fresh today.

[@jacklinonis3719]

This is still hilarious!! Eugene Levy as Floyd in particular

[@debbieleroy8146]

Joe Flaherty is great!

[@john_from_eastcoast.]

RIP Joe Flaherty 🌷 April 1, 2024. You'll be missed!

[@h20-p6g]

One of the funniest things I've ever seen.

[@rklewis2]

SCTV... Simply the best. Levy was so good in this one!

[@blandoworthlessness]

This scit always confused me but now that I've watched more Andy Griffith it's hillarious. Now I just have to look up Merv Griffith.

[@FloraWest]

I still think, and sometimes say out loud, "This is fabulous chicken Aunt Bea." whenever it's on the table.

[@billyedsatiristry7952]

Saw this the first night it aired and it killed. Still does. Mastery of the medium!

[@pepperone4865]

These comedians were brilliant.

[@bruceolson388]

"Otis Campbell, wake-up call!"....

[@hankjones8814]

Already?

[@Dan-nt2yb]

Man oh man this is hilarious.😄👍🏾

[@johnrogers2826]

That's a great Floyd the barber! Spot on!

[@painkiller1968]

Eugene and Joe are awesome in this.

[@kj9093]

SCTV is still funnier than anything ever aired on SNL. Hands down!

[@ericbeaulieu4843]

,,it's a good cab.Great parodies all-'round.

[@allenchilders3049]

I WILL NOT BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS MESSAGE. Merv Griffin's epitaph.

[@glennmarshall4693]

Opie drunk, heheheh, classic

[@ericbeaulieu4843]

Ooh I wanna cut Opie's head,,er,I mean hair..oOOH.These guys are brilliant!

[@tracyjacoby2382]

Helen Crumb!!😂😂😂 Hilarious & Eugene Levy as Floyd, hilarious!!😂😂😂

[@maznaourian]

"Otis Campbell. Wake Up Call!" busts me up every time.

[@Mpshfromlowell64]

During the early 1980’s, the writers and performers of SCTV were stuck together in Edmonton, far from their homes, where there was nothing to do but work, and with an enthusiastic crew and a fully functional state of the art TV production studio at their disposal, and they made some of the best sketch comedy television has ever seen. This video is a prime example…. BTW, Merv Griffin was reportedly not pleased that Rick Moranis portrayed him as having a huge rear end….

[@thewordlove4316]

they missed a golden line: Opie - YOU'RE GASSED!!! ooooooo