Web Site Logo

This website is made possible, in part, by displaying a few online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker for this site.
[ <- Back to Film & TV Tributes ]

 
Click to view full image
 

SECOND CITY TV - Ben-Hur

Air Date/Released Thursday, May 19, 1977
Station/Studio Old Firehall / CanWest TV Net

A spin-off of Chicago's Second City, the Canadian troupe became the most well-known after launching their own television show in Canada, and once it received US syndication, it rivaled SNL in popularity. Like SNL, many cast members went on to successful film and TV acting careers.

In this sketch, the cast lampoons BEN-HUR, with John Candy in the title role, channeling Curly Howard for inspiration. Dave Thomas and Eugene Levy appear as Roman guards, who engage in Abbott & Costello patter.


After the U.S. syndication success of the Canadian episodes, NBC picked up the show for a 90-minute edition that ran from 1981 - 1983, SCTV NETWORK 90. The "Ben Hur" skit encored on NBC's Feb. 12, 1982 episode.

Cast: John Candy (Judah Ben-Hur), Harold Ramis (Mazzola), Dave Thomas (Narrator, Gluteus), Eugene Levy (Maximus), Joe Flaherty (Centurion), Catherine O'Hara (Miriam), Andrea Martin (Tirzah), Sheldon Patinkin (Jesus), Tony Rosato (Galley slave)

Crew: Milad Bessada (Director), Andrew Alexander, Jack E. Rhodes, Len Stuart, Bernard Sahlins, Scott Baker, Sheldon Patinkin (Exec. Producers), Joe Flaherty, Dave Thomas, Harold Ramis (Producers)
[ <- Back to Film & TV Tributes ]




FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of the issues involved. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information please visit: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission directly from the copyright owner.