Bizarre (TV series)
Bizarre was a weekly
1980s Canadian TV sketch comedy series. The first episode aired in
1980, and the final episode was broadcast in
1985. The show was hosted by
John Byner, and produced by the
CTV television network at the
CFTO Glen-Warren Studios in suburban Toronto.
The series contained slapstick sketches, monologues, TV parodies, and performaces by guest stand-up comics. Interactions between John and members of the studio audience, or show producer Bob Einstein, who often came in to halt a sketch midway through, provided an early example of removing the
fourth wall. Much of the humour on the show was considered risque during the original run of the series.
Two versions of the show were produced: episodes that aired on the
Showtime cable network in the United States contained nudity and coarse language. The versions that aired on
CTV (and later in
syndication) had the nudity removed and the language bleeped by a horn-honking sound. Although the "adult" version is most closely associated with Showtime, it did go out on a few independent TV stations during the 1980s, playing as late-night fare, although the "clean" version is the one that was more commonly found in syndication.
Sketches containing nudity were
bowdlerized for Canadian television and syndication by the inclusion of reverse angle scenes originally filmed from behind nude actors (generally women baring their breasts) or else alternate scenes that had been filmed with the models wearing a bra.
The "adult" version has not aired on television since the Showtime airings and original syndication ceased in the late 1980s. The syndicated episodes have been rebroadcast since. It has been said that the likely reason the show continues to be broadcast to this day in Canada has to do with the country's "Canadian Content" rule, where Canadian TV stations are required to air so many hours of Canadian-produced product per week.
DVDs of the unedited version started appearing in late 2005 from a small, independent Canadian video label and are, thus, usually only available to buy from Canadian stores/resellers.
A regular feature of the show was
Super Dave Osborne, played by
Bob Einstein, in which
Super Dave would perform elaborate mock
stunts meant to enthrall viewers; a reporter would assist in framing the sketch. Inevitably, the stunt would fail spectacularly, resulting in severe, hilarious injury to Super Dave. These sketches would usually finish with a view of the scene, in which Super Dave was buried, encased, launched etc., as appropriate for the sketch. Meanwhile, feigning agony, Super Dave would discuss sundry details: information about the next show; what he'd do to the reporter once he recovered from his injuries; or, why the stunt failed.
The original contained coarse language and the spin-off has a more friendly style.
*
John Byner*
Bob Einstein*
Beau Starr
