It's 1980, the middle of a weeknight. Usually, Edmonton's streets are barren, empty, windswept. But this night, they're literally humming as a full TV crew – cameras, lights, sounds – films an episode of SCTV.
"We were doing a takeoff on the movie Chinatown," remembers Joe Flaherty, one of the talented cast members from the iconic television series. "We called it Polynesiantown. John Candy was running around the streets of Edmonton with a hula skirt on at three in the morning. We had so much fun on that show!"
SCTV – the sketch comedy series which ran from 1976 to 1984 – arguably enjoyed its greatest critical and commercial success when it was produced at Edmonton's ITV (now Global) studios from 1980 to '82. "It was such an interesting time," notes Flaherty. "We were doing this little TV show in Edmonton that we didn't think anyone was watching and all of a sudden we were picked up by NBC in the States."
Flaherty still makes regular visits to Edmonton to work with local improv group Die-Nasty, the brainchild of former Second City regular Dana Andersen. In October, Flaherty hosted opening night of the inaugural Edmonton Comedy Festival presented by ATB Financial.
"I always like going to Edmonton," says Flaherty from his home in Southern California. "It's always fun for me to see the city again. I always make a point of driving by the old studio, just for nostalgia."
Andrew Grose, the festival's artistic director, was thrilled to have the man best-known for playing characters like Count Floyd, Guy Caballero and Sammy Maudlin opening the inaugural festival. "To me, guys like Joe Flaherty are from when comedy was born in Canada and Edmonton has a rich history of that," he says.
Grose put together a lineup of acts ranging from well-known comedians Gerry Dee, Debra DiGiovanni and Mike Bullard to sketch and improv groups Die-Nasty and Atomic Improv. "We brought in some other guys who you probably hadn't heard of before, but our audiences loved them. If you want anonymity, become a Canadian entertainer," Grose jokes.
Anonymity hasn't been an issue for Flaherty, who – like his fellow cast mates on SCTV – has enjoyed a successful career in movies and television. (Remember his hilarious scenes as the heckler in Happy Gilmore?) However, he's still known mostly for his work on SCTV. "There's an age group – they'd be in their 40s now – who were very young when the show was on and they really loved it," says Flaherty. "I still get recognized for it. That show did so much for us."
Of all the characters Flaherty played on SCTV, he lists Count Floyd as his favourite.
"Oooohh, we've got a scary one for you tonight, kids," he bellows in his familiar Count Floyd voice, recalling the Monster Chiller Horror Theatre promos that frequented the SCTV lineup. "And I'd always be shocked and disappointed when I learned what movie we had lined up. '4 For Texas? What the hell?'"
He even donned the Count Floyd costume during the Edmonton Comedy Festival, an event Flaherty says was a long time in the making considering the plethora of comedic talent that exists here. But it begs the question: why are there so many funny people in Edmonton?
"That's a good question," ponders Flaherty. "Why were there so many great artists in Florence, Italy during the renaissance? It just happened to be a good spot for it. You can't say it's because Edmonton is so far north, but that may have something to do with it. When you're fighting the elements, it brings out the ingenuity in people."
Maybe that explains why SCTV was funniest when it was written and produced in the Alberta capital. The streets of Edmonton, or Polynesiantown, haven't been the same since.
