Characters / SCTV

Guy Caballero

SCTV's stingy network head. Played by Joe Flaherty.

• The Illegal: At one point, it's implied that he's from South or Central America and got to the United States illegally by selling "Nazi gold" in Panama.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Kind of. In "Sweeps Week", he was genuinely worried when Ed Grimley and Gus Gustofferson suddenly went missing, and was worried that he or Edith Prickley could be next.
• Punny Name: A take on the film "the Gay Caballero".

Edith Prickley

Station manager at SCTV; played by Andrea Martin.

• Mrs. Robinson: In the sketch "Prickley Business", a parody of the film "Risky Business", only with Edith and her sister Edna Boil ^note Edna Boil was another Andrea Martin character, and appeared in commercials for various Emporiums operated by Edna and her husband Tex.(Dave Thomas)as the call girls.

Bob and Doug McKenzie

Hosts of the two-minute show The Great White North (aka Kanadian Korner), played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas.

• Big Brother Bully: Doug. Which came to the point in the album that Bob called out on Doug for insulting him while Bob was being nice to him throughout the entire album...
• Big Brother Worship: Bob has been known to be downright amazed by some of Doug's basic skills, such as being able to hook up a stereo.

• Characterization Marches On: Both start out with being idiotic, and both end up being a Genius Ditz.
• Cloud Cuckoolander: Both of them, although Bob seems to be a little better at staying on topic, but not by much.
• Don't Split Us Up: They don't like being separated from each other.
• Genius Ditz: Doug can't do basic math, but what he can do is fix a car battery using saliva and bird feces.
• Hates Being Alone: Bob can't stand to be apart from Doug. In The Movie he starts crying the second they're split up.
• Hilariously Abusive Childhood: Their father used to spank Bob for crying, and Doug for making him cry.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: For as much as they like to pick on each other, they really do love one another.
• Moose and Maple Syrup: They are actually often credited with popularizing the Canadian stereotype, especially the use of the word "Eh".
• Real Life Writes the Plot: "The Great White North Palace" is written as a Take That! to Bob and Doug's popularity.
• Saw "Star Wars" Twenty-Seven Times: Doug saw Return of the Jedi 17 times.
• Strong Family Resemblance: Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis also play Bob and Doug's parents.
• Vocal Evolution: Their voices were a bit higher and the accents were a bit different in the first few sketches.

Johnny LaRue

An actor, producer, writer, director. Played by John Candy.

• Demoted to Extra: In universe, after his crane shot from a made for TV movie causes the station to go over budget.
• Dog Food Diet: On Cooking With LaRue when asked by viewers to prepare a more affordable meal for the show, he makes a meal using cat food as the main ingredient.
• Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?: Frequently denies being gay with no provocation. Surrounds himself with gorgeous women (the Gerbils) to make sure you know he most definitely is not gay. Acts as disgusted as possible after Bobby Bittman smooches him during a house party. See also Suspiciously Specific Denial.
• Male Gaze: Many of his shows and movies have elements of this, even shows supposedly geared towards women such as "Pyjama Party".
• Suspiciously Specific Denial: His constant denial that he's gay, which often comes completely out of nowhere.
• Yank the Dog's Chain: Guy takes away his crane in the next Christmas episode.

Earl Camembert

Co-Anchor at SCTV News and host of One on the Town and Dialing for Dollars, played by Eugene Levy.

• Extreme Doormat: Except when he jabs back at Floyd.
  Floyd: Then why doesn't [Earl Jr.] have himself committed? (In response to Earl claiming his son just wanted to follow in his footsteps)
  Earl: ... At least I have a son.
  Floyd: What's that supposed to mean?
  Earl Jr.: He means there's a rumor going on that you're a-
  Earl: Shh!
• Generation Xerox: Has a son named Earl Jr. that looks exactly like him, giant glasses, gaudy bow tie, and massive 'fro all present and accounted for. Earl Jr. is also every bit as dense as his father.
• Impossibly Tacky Clothes: Fond of suits with loud colors and patterns with bow ties to match. He's seen in a normal necktie once- in the very first episode. He even starts his own line of obnoxious suits and retires from the newscast to focus on menswear!
• The Stoner: Once got stoned on air as part of a "government-sponsored experiment" that was to tie into that night's editorial.
• You Say Tomato: Pronounces his own last name "Cannonbear" for some reason. This is actually addressed in a season 1 news sketch. Floyd asks why this is the case, and Earl responds with a Hand Wave: "That's just how I say it, Floyd."

Floyd Robertson aka Count Floyd

Co-Anchor at SCTV News and host of Monster Chiller Horror Theatre, played by Joe Flaherty.

• Ambiguous Disorder: Between his severe mood swings, substance abuse, impulsive behavior, unstable relationships (abusive professional relationship with Earl, implied to have cheated on his wife as she has cheated on him), and extremely aggressive personality, Floyd displays many symptoms of borderline personality disorder.
• The Alcoholic: Formerly, but Earl has a habit of bringing it up. Not helped by Floyd apparently falling off the wagon more than once; when the alien Zontar attempted to take over SCTV via mind-altering cabbages, Floyd was affected during a newscast, and Earl thought he was drinking again.
  Floyd: Negative. Zontar forbids strong drink.
• Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Well, more like "aw, look, they really do tolerate each others' existence," but he does occasionally display some concern/affection for Earl.
• The Casanova: Mentioned as being married, but is implied to have slept with Lola Heatherton, and Earl accuses him of "living with a girl he's not even married to" in the very first episode (though he could have married her later).
• Cloud Cuckoolanders Minder: Not that he likes having this duty.
• Covert Pervert: Really. Was busted ogling the half-nude stewardesses in a Dr. Tongue flick as Count Floyd, then demanded they go back to the film so he can keep staring.
• Depraved Kids' Show Host: He becomes this in The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley (and via recycled footage, the 1990s run of Cartoon Planet).
• Face Palm: A fairly common reaction to Earl's shenanigans.
• Jerkass: What he is toward Earl about 99.9% of the time.
• Lighter and Softer: His negative behavior is obviously toned down for his appearances in The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley.
• Would Hurt a Child: Lunged for Earl Jr.'s throat after the younger Camembert informed him his father was spreading rumors about him.

Lola Heatherton

A singer, actress, and host of Way to Go, Woman! Played by Catherine O'Hara.

• Characterization Marches On: She starts out as a Brainless Beauty, and ends up being a feminist, but still a bit brainless.
• Not a Morning Person: If she's up in the morning it's because she's still up from the night before.
• Official Couple: With Juul Haalmeyer in her final appearance.
• Really Gets Around: Apparently, she's had flings with Guy, Johnny, Bittman and Count Floyd/Floyd Robertson.
• The Smurfette Principle: The only woman who regularly appears on The Sammy Maudlin Show.

Dr. Tongue and Woody Tobias Jr (aka Bruno)

Stars of the Dr. Tongue "3D" horror film series, played by John Candy and Eugene Levy.

• A Day in the Limelight: The episode CCCP1, where they fly to space to install a scrambler on the SCTV satellite to prevent the Russians from hijacking their signal again.

Sammy Maudlin

Host of The Sammy Maudlin Show, who speaks with a slight Southern drawl. played by Joe Flaherty.

• A Day in the Limelight: SCTV Solid Gold Telethon, which he hosts (alongside Bobby Bittman and Johnny LaRue). Subverted in Sammy Maudlin 23rd Anniversary Show, however, where his titular anniversary special is broken into by CBC programming as a result of the janitorial union going on strike.
• Ambiguous Disorder: Repeats phrases and words multiple times, has a repetitive Character Tic, seems to laugh and/or applaud as a default response to things he isn't entirely sure how to react to, and doesn't really notice when something he says is rude or out of line.
• Ambiguously Jewish: Wears his curly black hair in an afro (as many people of Jewish descent do) and sported a Star of David necklace in his first couple of appearances.
• Meaningful Name: Not his first name (a diminuitive of Samuel), but his surname: "maudlin" is essentially a synonym for "overemotional."
• No Celebrities Were Harmed: Is based on Sammy Davis Jr.

William B Williams

Sammy Maudlin's sidekick on The Sammy Maudlin Show, played by John Candy.

• A Day in the Limelight: Had his own show for a bit after leaving Maudlin. It went horribly, with Sammy stepping in to save it and he was back on Maudlin next time we saw the show.

Bobby Bittman

A Las Vegas-style stand-up comic and frequent fixture on The Sammy Maudlin Show; played by Eugene Levy.

• Ambiguous Disorder: Preening, self-absorbed, grandiose, and incredibly arrogant, all symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder. A team of psychologists would have an absolute field day with this cast of characters.
• Ambiguously Jewish: His real name points to him being this. He argues with Skip Bittman in Yiddish during the younger Bittman's first appearance. Skip speaks it again during Maudlin's Eleven, meaning the Bittman brothers are both all but stated to be Jewish.
• Embarrassing First Name: His real name is Herschel Slansky.
• Everybody Has Standards: When an SCTV production of Julius Caesar was interrupted by a Soviet TV station jamming the signal, he apologized to the viewers and walked off the set to find out what was going on.
• Hollywood Tone-Deaf: Awful singer. Eugene Levy actually has a very lovely tenor when he sings any other time, which makes Bobby's horrible singing even funnier.
• It's All About Me: Bobby is a preening and egomaniacal man with an inflated sense of self-importance, and becomes downright aggressive when he doesn't get his way.
• Jerkass Woobie: Bobby is a cruel and vain person, but it's a little hard not to feel bad for him considering his whole career is built on "failing up." He isn't at the top because people genuinely like him or find him funny; he's there because people want to see what he'll screw up next.
• Older Than They Look: Just like Maudlin and William B. First started hitting it big in 1959 after performing stand-up as a child in the 40s and early 50s, according to the post-SCTV Mockumentary Cinemax aired about his life and career.

Gerry Todd

Video DJ, host of The Gerry Todd Show, and spokesman for Videotech. Played by Rick Moranis.

• Beware the Nice Ones: Blackmails Guy Caballero and Bill Needle at the staff Christmas party.
• Horrible Judge of Character: His wife who also has a passion for video, thought she'd met the perfect match. Gerry however can't love another human being as much as he loves video.
• The Immune: Was immune to Zontar's brainwashing. Kind of.
  Guy Caballero: That's Gerry Todd. He always acts like a zombie.
• You Say Tomato:
  • Has a very strange way of pronouncing Petula Clark's name. (Petch-u-la)
  • Pronounces 'video' as 'vudeoh'.

Dusty Towne

A raunchy comedienne. Played by Catherine O'Hara.

• Fiery Red Head: Can be, like when she yells at her drummer for jumping the punchline.

Bill Needle

SCTV's "critic at large", played by Dave Thomas.

• Berserk Button: He has too many to count; in fact, his original idea for a show was just to come on TV and talk about whatever was bugging him at the moment.
• Domestic Abuse: Hit his wife Honey once.
• Not So Above It All: Once did a show complaining about TV being controlled by advertisers and special interest groups, but took it all back when he got an offer to be a spokesman for Sunbright Soap.
• Only in It for the Money: Will often open his shows by saying he wouldn't be doing it if he didn't need the money.
• Papa Wolf: One of his Berserk Buttons is entertainers who could influence kids to do drugs or become alcoholics.
• Who Names Their Kid "Dude"?: His wife's real name appears to actually be Honey Pie.

Stan and Yosh Shmenge

Of the Happy Wanderers polka band, played by John Candy and Eugene Levy.

• You Say Tomato: Yosh and Stan Schmenge each pronounced their last name slightly different (which was part of the joke). Candy pronounced it "Shmen-gee", while Levy's pronunciation sounded more like "Schman-gee."

Mrs. Falbo and Mr. Messenger

Hosts of the children's show Mrs. Falbo's Tiny Town, played by Andrea Martin and John Candy.

• Dope Slap: When Mrs. Falbo is singing out the numbers from one to ten, Mr. Messenger is behind her running back and forth with corresponding flash cards. When she begins to sing too fast for him to keep up, he smacks her on the back of the head with one of the cards.
• Harmful to Minors: Their show isn't always appropriate for the intended age group. For example, in one episode they visit a maximum-security prison. In another the King and Queen (a Barbie and a Ken doll) are seen having kinky sex when Mrs. Falbo looks at them through a telescope.

Lin Ye Tang

Host of Doorway to Hell, played by Dave Thomas.

• If It's You, It's Okay: He hooked up with SCTV crew member Nikki, who is a lesbian.

Moe Green

SCTV's first station manager, played by Harold Ramis.

• Character Tics: Dabs sweat off his face with a handkerchief in almost all of his appearances. He is only actually visibly sweating in the very first sketch SCTV ever aired, probably due to Harold Ramis being audibly nervous in front of the camera, but Moe remained chronically sweaty well after Ramis became less camera shy.
• Corrupt Corporate Executive: Not a corporate executive per se, but certainly a higher-up and certainly corrupt. Among other incidents, he acted like there was a technical malfunction to agitate a game show contestant (who he also led to believe had a cheating spouse and made recount a tale of his time as a firefighter where his best friend melted to the ground in front of him), deliberately called his own wife during a Dialing for Dollars segment after he left the answers to the questions with her to pocket the prize money, and tried to bribe a phone guy to not disconnect his phone. Guy Caballero describes him as a "sleazy weasel" at one point, and Earl and Floyd call him "slimy" after he's kidnapped.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: His full name, Maurice, is only shown or spoken a few times. 99% of the time, he's referred to solely as Moe.
• Put on a Bus: He gets kidnapped by Leutonians in the 2nd season, never to be seen again. Judging from the picture of him holding a gun while his captors hold guns to his head and he talks in a nervous voice about how he's joined the revolution...
• Talking Down the Suicidal: Averted. In an episode of "Feedback" a suicidal man keeps calling in. The first time Moe tells him to call a suicide prevention hotline, but he keeps calling in. Eventually when he calls and tells Moe he's got his head in his oven, Moe tells him to take the plastic bag off his head or the gas won't kill him.
• What Happened to the Mouse?: The story arc of him getting kidnapped was suddenly dropped mid-season and we never heard from Moe Green again. This was mostly because Harold Ramis left the show, and the kidnapping arc was just a way to write him out. Viewers can probably infer that the Leutonians ended up killing or otherwise getting rid of Moe, never to be seen again.
  • Partially explained. We never see or hear from Moe again because, according to him, he joined the Leutonian revolutionaries... but the real reason is revealed a bit by Earl and Floyd: nobody cared enough about him to pay his ransom. Poor Moe.

Pirini Scleroso

SCTV's cleaning lady and vice president in charge of coordination. Played by Andrea Martin.

• The Illegal: Stated out right by Guy Caballero when he announces her vice president promotion.

Ed Grimley

On SCTV, he's a spastic, overly-optimistic Manchild actor often seen on the show's TV and movie parodies. On Saturday Night Live and his own short-lived animated series, Ed is a normal(ish) person who's still spastic and overly-optimistic, but now encounters unusual characters and gets into Mundane Made Awesome adventures. Played by Martin Short.

• Idiot Hair: That slicked-up cowlick that looks like Alfalfa's from The Little Rascals
• Manchild: Not as much as Paul Reubens' Pee-Wee Herman character, but Grimley has the boundless energy and mannerisms of a child (at least in the SNL incarnation of Grimley).
• Verbal Tic: He has a habit of saying "I must say" after every sentence, I must say.

Tommy Shanks

Melonville's mayor who often interrupts SCTV programming for announcements. Played by John Candy.

• Companion Cube: The stuffed dog dolls that often appear with him in his messages to Melonville.
• Hates Being Alone: He has interrupted a program just to say "Hi" to everyone watching.
• Mayor Pain: The incompetent type, but is also corrupt, though he's more corrupt out of being too stupid to know any better, as opposed to any inherent vice.