CBC Digital Archives

Dave Thomas on SCTV success

Whether they're homegrown comics or jokers from abroad, CBC has hosted more than its fair share of comedians over the years. From Buster Keaton of the silent-film era to a young Jim Carrey, CBC Digital Archives presents a selection of guests that have kept us laughing.

When SCTV alumnus Dave Thomas appears as a guest on CBC television's Front Page Challenge, he fails to stump the panel. It quickly becomes apparent that all of the panel members are enthusiastic fans of the show, and well-acquainted with the characters Thomas portrayed. As we see in this 1983 clip, panellist Pierre Berton cuts to the chase from the top, and asks "where does the word hoser come from?" The discussion centres around the popular McKenzie Brothers, portrayed by Thomas and SCTV cast member Rick Moranis, and the upcoming feature film Strange Brew.
• Bob and Doug McKenzie, aka the McKenzie Brothers, were characters portrayed by Rick Moranis (Bob) and Dave Thomas (Doug) on the SCTV series, in a segment titled "The Great White North". Moranis and Thomas went on to write, direct and star in Strange Brew, a film featuring the McKenzie Brothers.

• Dave Thomas was born in St. Catharines, Ont., on May 20, 1948. He attended McMaster University in Hamilton, graduating in 1972. In 1975 he began working with the Second City troupe in Toronto, and was an original cast member of the television series SCTV.

• Strange Brew was released in the fall of 1983 and won the 1984 Golden Reel Award. The award is given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, at the Genie Awards, to the Canadian feature film with the highest box-office gross in Canada.

Medium: Television
Program: Front Page Challenge
Broadcast Date: March 20, 1983
Guest(s): Dave Thomas
Host: Fred Davis
Panellist: Pierre Berton, Betty Kennedy, Gordon Sinclair, Gary Lautens
Duration: 9:27

Last updated: November 16, 2012

Page consulted on March 27, 2013

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