I'm a fan of SNL, always have been, always will be, even during some of the dark years (yeah, the 80s had some BAD years) and as much as I love that show, ever since watching the very first one, I have to say, in the long run, SCTV was better. It was done so deadpan and straight, it was almost believable. Like Weird Al's much overlooked "UHF", it takes a real sharp stab at making fun of TV and does it in such a way that, even if sum of the subjects are foreign to you (if you were not around during the show's original run-some things may go over your head) it's still damn funny and of course, much of the humor is timeless. Count Floyd is a character and skit that is as topical today as it was way back when. Unlike some reviewers, I can't say I loved when it was expanded to the 90 minute format. I honestly feel that guest stars and musical acts hurt the show. It took away from the whole point of the show. Was it still funny, absolutely, but why did that stuff have to be added. Oh, probably some half-wits at the network level felt it should be done. Sorry, it was a sad stupid mistake.
Several years back I picked up a box set for my brother. He told me he was grateful but couldn't watch it. A laugh track had been added. Neither of us ever recalled a laugh track when we originally watched it together, but there it was and I notice on YouTube many of the clips have one. Is it me or was this added AFTER production stopped? Maybe when it went from syndication to network, which would not overly surprise me.
Regardless, I think at this point I could stomach a laugh track just to watch these old classics again. It's pure gold, and to placate the Canadian Government, YUKON gold!
Several years back I picked up a box set for my brother. He told me he was grateful but couldn't watch it. A laugh track had been added. Neither of us ever recalled a laugh track when we originally watched it together, but there it was and I notice on YouTube many of the clips have one. Is it me or was this added AFTER production stopped? Maybe when it went from syndication to network, which would not overly surprise me.
Regardless, I think at this point I could stomach a laugh track just to watch these old classics again. It's pure gold, and to placate the Canadian Government, YUKON gold!