It is a rare example of a canadian show that moved successfully to american tv. Behind the scenes by dave thomas, jonathan webb isbn. Dave thomas born may 20, 1949, canadian actor, writer. The cast itself contains enough legends of comedic acting to rewrite a few entries in the history book of humor. He is best known for portraying doug mckenzie on sctv as well as in the. Jul 17, 2017 former sctv star dave thomas on how comedy s changed. The ultimate book for the millions of fans of sctv, the most innovative and consistently funny latenight comedy program on television, sctv. While never one to avoid the physical or lowbrow end of humor, the season 3. Strange brew sctv s bob and doug mackenzie rick moranis and dave thomas star as two wacky beer guzzling hosers who set out on a zany plot to score a free case of brew. Thats all about to change, because netflix just announced an sctv.
The origin of the concept is outlined in detail in my book, sctv which is currently out of print but still available on amazon. Master filmmaker martin scorsese will helm a second city television reunion show for netflix. This is a fun book about an important period of american televisied humor and the people that made it worth watching. The sctv reunion will feature a sitdown interview with joe flaherty, dave thomas, eugene levy, andrea. Dave thomas biography childhood, life achievements. Bob is played by rick moranis and doug is played by dave thomas. He started his career in 1974 as a copywriter for the ad agency mccann erickson and within a year became the head writer for cocacola in canada. The episode guide in dave thomass book does not include this sketch anywhere and it has not appeared in any of the newer syndication packages. Thomas and the rest of the original cast of sctv won the prestigious earle grey award for lifetime achievement at the gemini awards in 1995. Behind the scenes, a book about his experiences on sctv, and in 2003 he and moranis reprised the voices of the mckenzie brothers in disneys animated feature brother bear. Behind the scenes, sharing stories of his work on the iconic tv show. Second city television, commonly shortened to sctv and later known as sctv network and sctv channel, is a canadian television sketch comedy show that ran between 1976 and 1984. He is best known for his role as doug mckenzie on the show sctv and in the film strange brew. Head writer and longtime cast member dave thomas fires up the wayback machine and takes the reader on a trip back to the presctv days when he first began to rub elbows with a bunch of talented nobodies in the toronto comedy scene.
The best of the early years, come from the rosato and duke era, you can clearly see the change. Dave is currently voicing a major role along with joaquin phoenix and rick moranis in the upcoming fulllength disney animated feature bears due for theatrical release in 2004. From 19992002, he voiced various roles on the animated series mission hill. Ongoing projects include a weird dark comedy pilot at tbs and an adaptation of a horror book for network television. Strange brew sctvs bob and doug mackenzie rick moranis and dave thomas star as two wacky beer guzzling hosers who set out on a zany plot to score a free case of brew. What is sctv sctv cast members will reunite for martin. Behind the scenes 9780771085680 by thomas, dave and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now. Achievements dave thomas is best known for portraying doug mckenzie on sctv as well as in the film strange brew, which he also directed. Not wanting anything to do with it, thomas lied and said he was working on a book. Bob and doug mckenzie are a pair of fictional canadian brothers who hosted great white north, a sketch which was introduced on sctv for the shows third season when it moved to cbc television in 1980. Sctv by dave thomas, 9780771085680, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site.
Behind the scenes by dave thomas 1997, paperback for. Though kenny died in 20, daves daughters still continue to own and run multiple wendys locations. Produced by lorne michaels, it emulated snls format and ambiance. He is best known for portraying doug mckenzie on sctv as well as in the film strange brew, which he also codirected. In short, this book is a history of the second city television programming that originated from the fictional town of melonville. In 2015 he joined the writing staff of nbcs the blacklist as a consulting producer. Dave thomas has 50 books on goodreads with 50802 ratings. The occasion for this reel of oldies is a justpublished backstage account of the brief, hilarious life of sctv by one of its core talents. Award winners book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new books. Thomas worked for two seasons on bones, writing several episodes and working on staff as consulting producer for two seasons.
My book about sctv is on the list 90 books every comedy fan should read list. Dave thomas, the author, does an excellent job of capturing the egos, the infighting, and the creative styles of the shows writers and performers. He subsequently became an education advocate and founded the dave thomas education center in coconut creek, florida, which offers ged classes to young adults. Thomas, who considered ending his schooling the greatest mistake of his life, did not graduate from high school until 1993, when he obtained a ged. David william thomas born may 20, 1949 is a canadian comedian, actor and television writer. When did you first get the idea of doing your sctv retrospective book. I got a call from these two writers saying they were going to write a book about sctv.
Dave lived in toronto through age 6, then moved to durham, north carolina, where his dad got his ph. In his introduction, former sctv cast member dave thomas explains that he was prompted to write this book after being contacted by another writer treating the same subject. The book runs in mostly chronological order, with input from the starts all along the way. Follow the life of wendys founder dave thomas, from the restaurants start in 1969 to thomass later role as tv spokesman for the company, at biography. Behind the scenes features interviews with virtually every member of the second city troupeincluding john candy, john belushi, dan ackroyd, dave thomas, and rick moranis.
Jul 24, 2010 dave thomas as bob hope doing taxi driver on sctv. Gilbert and frank check in with one of their favorite performers, actorwriterdirector dave thomas, who talks about his years with second city and sctv, his transition to dramatic series writing, his admiration for bob hope and his working relationships with dan aykroyd, eugene levy, tom poston and martin short. Thomas was of the two main creative forces behind the show along with joe flaherty, and i was enormously interested in the backstage stories his book. It was created as an offshoot from torontos second city troupe. Youve probably havent heard of sctv, but chances are, all the comedy that you love today wouldnt even exist without it. If youre like me and share the opinion that sctv is the greatest sketch comedy show of all time, then this book will not disappoint. Behind the scenes by dave thomas, robert david crane. Most of the people that worked on the new show ended up returning to snl when michaels became executive producer again in 1985. Mar 10, 2014 thomas and the rest of the original cast of sctv won the prestigious earle grey award for lifetime achievement at the gemini awards in 1995. Just a reminder in the holiday season, there is an option to donate to the sctv archive. Catherine ohara, eugene levy, rick moranis, dave thomas, martin short, andrea martin, joe flaherty, harold ramis and the irreplaceable john candy, combined with a stellar group of individuals behind the scenes, and.
Thus, i was drawn like a firefly to dave thomass sctv. Dave thomas television personality, chef biography. Thomas founded the chain sisters chicken and biscuits in 1978, named in reference to his other three. Former sctv star dave thomas on how comedy s changed. Apr 12, 2018 youve probably havent heard of sctv, but chances are, all the comedy that you love today wouldnt even exist without it. Dave thomas is a canadian comedian, actor, and television writer born in ontario, canada on may 20, 1949. As of 2004, thomas was on the advisory committee for the comedy program at humber college, the only such diploma program in the world. Jan 11, 20 the episode guide in dave thomass book does not include this sketch anywhere and it has not appeared in any of the newer syndication packages. Fosters field trip aka kidz in the wood with julia duffy.
Catharines, ontario, canada, dave was the eldest son of john and moreen thomas. Sunrise semester beekeeping with lin ye tang youtube. Not wanting anything to do with it, thomas lied and said he was working on a book of his own. Go through this biography to know in details about his life, childhood, profile and timeline.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Behind the scenes by dave thomas 1996, hardcover for. The success of sctv would ultimately spoil thomas as he pursued. Though dave thomas proved himself a prodigy in advertising early on, he left it all. Over the years, sctvhas taken on a kind of mythological cult status.
The consistant thread, however, is that sheldon patinkin and del close were at the centre of the concept of the little tv station which would present its broadcasting day on global television, cbc television, nbc television, cinemax, and, through syndication in. Were featuring millions of their reader ratings on our book pages to help you find your new favourite book. Its pretty clear that we all remember the creation of sctv a little differently. For a backstage history of sctv that originated from the very real towns of toronto and edmonton, i recommend that you track down dave thomass sctv. Thus, i was drawn like a firefly to dave thomas s sctv. The dave thomas comedy show premiered in 1990, a show he wrote for, produced, and starred in. Former sctv star dave thomas on how comedys changed. Thomas continued his work in acting, appearing in coneheads, grace under fire, picture perfect, rat race, and beethovens fifth. Dave thomas was the founder of wendys a fast food restaurant chain. In 1996, thomas played the title role in the fox tv movie mr. Others, however, notice something significant about the tone and temperament of these shows. As of 2001, dave thomas has been the executive creative director of animax entertainment, an animation studio based in culver city, ca. Thomas was of the two main creative forces behind the show along with joe flaherty, and i was enormously interested in the backstage stories his book would be sure to provide.