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The Best Episodes of Second City Television Season 1

Every episode of Second City Television Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Second City Television Season 1!

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Second City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Second City Television Season 1 Episode 1 - Backstage
    7.6/10(119 votes)

    #1 - Backstage

    S1:E1

    The inaugural show introduces several major characters, including Johnny LaRue, Earl Camembert, Floyd Robertson and Moe Green. It features a somewhat tenuous wraparound concept involving LaRue - according to Dave Thomas' book, the running time for this episode ran well past 30 minutes, much of the linking material for the wraparound being cut to achieve the final running time. The show also introduces four programs that would feature frequently throughout the show's run: Sunrise Semester, a vehicle for an assortment of characters to educate viewers, would end up appearing in every series except the last; Words To Live By, the inspirational station signoff, would also appear frequently in the first three series; SCTV News; and Masterpiece Theatre, hosted by Alistair Cook.

    Director:Milad Bessada
    Writers:Harold Ramis, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty, Sheldon Patinkin, Dave Thomas

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  2. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 2 - Murder At SCTV
    7.6/10(100 votes)

    #2 - Murder At SCTV

    S1:E2

    Perini Scleroso and Gus Gustofferson's first appearance. Gus is featured in a wraparound concept dealing with the murder of puppeteer Lampeer.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 3 - Ethnic Humour
    7.6/10(87 votes)

    #3 - Ethnic Humour

    S1:E3

    Harold Ramis warns viewers that this show contains ethnic slurs, and all the jokes are about the gypsies. From ""Gypsy Mythology"" on Sunrise Semester to the Hints for Homemakers (a gypsy recommends holding up an Amish family and stealing their food), this show is indeed a gypsy rogue. Sunrise Semester, The Leutonian Hour, Out-Patient, Hints for Homemakers, Theatre North American, Words to Live By

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 4 - Crosswords
    7.8/10(88 votes)

    #4 - Crosswords

    S1:E4

    Sammy Maudlin, Sunrise Semester, The $211,000 Triangle, Cooking with LaRue, Backstage, Masterpiece Theatre, Words to Live By

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 5 - Match Unto My Feet
    7.8/10(83 votes)

    #5 - Match Unto My Feet

    S1:E5

    Sunrise Semester, Witness to Yesterday, PSA:So You're Dead...Now What?, Match Unto My Feet, Words to Live By

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 6 - Memoirs of Anton Chekhov
    7.6/10(80 votes)

    #6 - Memoirs of Anton Chekhov

    S1:E6

    Star Trek comes to the steppes of Russia in a very funny parody of Chekhov. Heavenly Bodies, Mr Science, Masterpiece Theatre, The Memoirs of Anton Chekhov

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Second City Television

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  7. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 7 - Dialing For Dollars
    8.1/10(79 votes)

    #7 - Dialing For Dollars

    S1:E7

    BEAUTY AND THE BEETS Beauty learns to like beets... the hard way. Beauty and the Beets, Firing Squad, Alice, the Wonder Dog, Dialing for Dollars, Changing Partners

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 8 - Shock Theatre
    7.8/10(78 votes)

    #8 - Shock Theatre

    S1:E8

    Dining with LaRue, The Wacky World of Poverty, Eye on Science, Shock Theatre:Early to Bed

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 9 - Philosophy Street
    7.7/10(72 votes)

    #9 - Philosophy Street

    S1:E9

    Good-Bye America, Sunrise Semester, Philosophy Street, Total Women, A Fistful of Ugly, Feedback with Moe Green

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 10 - Therese et Joe
    7.6/10(73 votes)

    #10 - Therese et Joe

    S1:E10

    On SCTV News, Floyd Robertson (Joe Flaherty) and Earl Camembert (Eugene Levy) report earthquakes, deli crises, the arms race, and Earl asks terrorists to surrender; Dr Hammond Greer (Dave Thomas) delivers a speech against scientists; Johnny LaRue (John Candy) cleans out the food at Lin Ye Tang's (Dave Thomas) garden restaurant; Lou Jaffe (Eugene Levy) witnesses Irish group techniques (and a bombing); On the SCTV Movie of the Week, a depressing French film about a live-in couple, Jerry Lewis-impersonating Joe (Joe Flaherty) and his fawning lover, Therese (Andrea Martin). Sunrise Semester, Dining With LaRue, Perspective '77, Therese et Joe

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 11 - Broads Behind Bars
    7.6/10(71 votes)

    #11 - Broads Behind Bars

    S1:E11

    Broads Behind Bars is a classic, with Candy's over the top prison guard Shultzy ("Lock 'em up, keep 'em down, and work 'em over") and Martin's lifer Kitty ("No Dice!"). Trivia: the crew put real liquor in Ramis' bottle for the Mort Finkel sketch. (ref: sctvguide.com) Sunrise Semester, Dining With LaRue, Broads Behind Bars

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 12 - The Taxidermist
    7.8/10(71 votes)

    #12 - The Taxidermist

    S1:E12

    Farm Report, Welcome Back President Kotter, Alistair Cook's Armenia, The Taxidermist

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 13 - Ben Hur
    7.8/10(72 votes)

    #13 - Ben Hur

    S1:E13

    A landmark show, featuring a show-length parody of the film, introduced by Moe Green on Dialing For Dollars. Additional Viewing: William Wyler's 1959 epic Ben-Hur.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 14 - The Hefty Neil Story
    7.7/10(70 votes)

    #14 - The Hefty Neil Story

    S1:E14

    SCTV Sports Central: The Hefty Neil Story, PSA: Shoplifting

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 15 - Leave It to Beaver
    8.2/10(75 votes)

    #15 - Leave It to Beaver

    S1:E15

    Exorcising, Leave it to Beaver 25th Anniversary Party, PSA:Rip Masters for Children on Booze, Dr Tongue and his Animal Friends

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 16 - Goodbye America
    7.7/10(69 votes)

    #16 - Goodbye America

    S1:E16

    Winning Chess with Borris Morris, PSA:So You're Dead...Now What?, Good-Bye America, Johnny LaRue

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 17 - Galaxy 66
    7.7/10(69 votes)

    #17 - Galaxy 66

    S1:E17

    Diving for Dollars, Sunrise Semester, Sci-Fi Theatre: Galaxy 66, Beside the Point, Words to Live By

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 18 - Madame Blitzman
    7.7/10(68 votes)

    #18 - Madame Blitzman

    S1:E18

    PSA: Re-criminalize Marijuana, Dante's Inferno, Monster Chiller Horror Theatre: Madame Blitzman

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 19 - $129 000 Question
    7.8/10(63 votes)

    #19 - $129 000 Question

    S1:E19

    Wake Up With Alki Stereopolis, PSA: Do Not Remove Tags, The $129,000 Question, Elvira Mad Again Part II, Words to Live By

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 20 - Dr Tongue's House of Wax
    7.9/10(65 votes)

    #20 - Dr Tongue's House of Wax

    S1:E20

    Sunrise Semester, It Was That Way With Keith Hampshire, I Cry Each Day I Die, SCTV Boogie

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 21 - Sammy Maudlin Show
    7.6/10(63 votes)

    #21 - Sammy Maudlin Show

    S1:E21

    Paul's Workshop With Paul Fistinyourface, The Sammy Maudlin Show, PSA: Shoplifting, Dialing For Dollars: Sandy Moss

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 22 - World at War
    7.8/10(66 votes)

    #22 - World at War

    S1:E22

    Passport to Adventure:Africa, The World of Mystery: Sandwich on the Orient Express, World at War:Baseball, Lowell Thompson Remembers

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 23 - The Grapes of Mud
    7.9/10(65 votes)

    #23 - The Grapes of Mud

    S1:E23

    Muley's Roundhouse, Promo: Library Police, The Three Dummies: Of Mice and Dummies, SCTV AM News Today: Terrorist Picnic, Commercial: Spray-On Socks, SCTV Movie of the Week: The Grapes of Mud Part, Commercial: Mrs Prickley's Jams Jellies and Preserves, Disco Farming

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 24 - Officer Friendly
    7.8/10(64 votes)

    #24 - Officer Friendly

    S1:E24

    Message from Moe: License Suspended, A.M. Little America with Tom Brokraw, Promo: Dan Money, SCTV AM News Today: Mafia Interview, Commercial: Civil Engineering, Officer Friendly, Promo: The Undersea World of Marcel Cousteau, Promo: Masterpiece Theatre: All the Long-Leggedy Beasties, Dream Interpretation with Dr. Raoul Wilson

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Second City Television Season 1 Episode 25 - The Man Who Would Be King of the Popes
    7.9/10(64 votes)

    #25 - The Man Who Would Be King of the Popes

    S1:E25

    Commercial: Tiny Tops, Morning Facial with Princess Carlotta, Promo: Check Please, Promo: The Man Who Would Be King of the Popes, Commercial: Mr. Coffee-Table Book from Venerable Electric, The Uncle Earl Show, Promo: Harry Filth, Insights with Hugh Betcha: Socrates, Commercial: Get Tough self-help book, Commercial: Grumbles Restaurant on Route 41, Enough About Me: Antonio Luciani

    Director:George Bloomfield
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Backstage" is the best rated episode of "Second City Television" season 1. It scored 7.6/10 based on 119 votes. Directed by Milad Bessada and written by Harold Ramis, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty, Sheldon Patinkin, Dave Thomas, it aired on 9/21/1976. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Murder At SCTV".