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Eugene Levy as Earl Camembert on "SCTV". Source: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNCCHoKJQ8V/ (May be subject to copyright) |
“And I’m Earl Camembert”
This was the introduction to a skit on “SCTV” spoofing Canadian broadcast news shows of the 1970s and 1980s.
It was also, really, my introduction to the comedy of Eugene Levy.
It was also, really, my introduction to the comedy of Eugene Levy.
Now he is best known as the creator and star of “Schitt’s Creek” and currently the host of “The Reluctant Traveller”.
Back in the 1980s, Euegene Levy was part of an ensemble comedy cast that transitioned to the movies together, and never really looked back.
SCTV
Eugene Levy was a stage actor who found success with Second City Toronto, a comedy company. It transitioned to the small screen and became “SCTV” or “Second City Television”. It was sketch comedy where Levy played a variety of roles, often the straight man and serious one while the chaos surrounded him.
Eugene Levy was a stage actor who found success with Second City Toronto, a comedy company. It transitioned to the small screen and became “SCTV” or “Second City Television”. It was sketch comedy where Levy played a variety of roles, often the straight man and serious one while the chaos surrounded him.
His most famous was role was likely news anchor Earl Camembert. I didn’t really understand the Earl Camembert reference other than the cheese. I know Floyd Robertson spoofed Lloyd Robertson, but I had no idea about the other one. It was only after I saw something on the history of Canadian television, and talked to my mom, that I learned the character is based on Earl Cameron, an actual newscaster.
Levy also played comic Bobby Bittman; accordionist Stan Schmenge opposite John Candy who played Yosh Schenge; and a lot of other characters. He did a lot of celebrity impersonations as well.
For his efforts, Eugene Levy was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for three separate episodes in 1982, winning for the episode “Moral Majority Show”. He was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for five separate episodes in 1983, winning for the episode “Sweeps Week”.
Just to be clear, that’s eight Emmy award nominations.
The movies
Eugene Levy had a lot of bit parts in movies in the 1980s, including “Heavy Metal”; “National Lampoon’s Vacation”; “Going Berserk”; “Splash”; and “Club Paradise”.
Eugene Levy had a lot of bit parts in movies in the 1980s, including “Heavy Metal”; “National Lampoon’s Vacation”; “Going Berserk”; “Splash”; and “Club Paradise”.
In 1986, he starred in “Armed and Dangerous”, a movie I saw in the theatre with my friends. Levy plays opposite John Candy as a lawyer and policeman respectively who are fired and become hapless security guards.
I have to say it really wasn’t my kind of comedy.
The years after
Eugene Levy has become more and more prolific as the years have gone on. He appeared in movies such as “Father of the Bride”; “Father of the Bride II”; “I Love Trouble” with Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts; “ Multiplicity” with Michael Keaton and Andie MacDowell; “Waiting for Guffman”; “American Pie”; “Best in Show”; “American Pie 2”; “Serendipity”; and “A Mighty Wind”.
Eugene Levy has become more and more prolific as the years have gone on. He appeared in movies such as “Father of the Bride”; “Father of the Bride II”; “I Love Trouble” with Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts; “ Multiplicity” with Michael Keaton and Andie MacDowell; “Waiting for Guffman”; “American Pie”; “Best in Show”; “American Pie 2”; “Serendipity”; and “A Mighty Wind”.
He was also in “Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd”; “American Wedding”; “American Pie Presents: Band Camp”; “Cheaper by the Dozen 2”; “For Your Consideration”; “American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile”; “American Pie Presents: Beta House”; “American Pie Presents: The Book of Love”; “Goon”; “American Reunion”; “Being Canadian”; “The War With Grandpa”; and much more.
On television he was in 80 episodes of “Schitt’s Creek”, which he also created, wrote and produced. He is currently in “The Reluctant Traveller”; and joined the cast of “Only Murders in the Building”. For his efforts, Eugene Levy was nominated for Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2019 for “Schitt’s Creek”. In 2020, he won the Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for “Schitt’s Creek”.
Parting thoughts
Eugene Levy is like fine wine. As cliché as it sounds, he truly is getting better with age. In the ‘80s, I didn’t find him that funny, although I need to watch “SCTV” as an adult to truly judge how good or bad it is. The same goes for “Armed and Dangerous”, which I recall thinking was okay as I left the theatre, but I had no interest in seeing it again.
Eugene Levy is like fine wine. As cliché as it sounds, he truly is getting better with age. In the ‘80s, I didn’t find him that funny, although I need to watch “SCTV” as an adult to truly judge how good or bad it is. The same goes for “Armed and Dangerous”, which I recall thinking was okay as I left the theatre, but I had no interest in seeing it again.
Yet, when I saw him in “A Mighty Wind”, “Schitt’s Creek”, and “The Reluctant Traveller”, he was really good.
He really is getting better with age.
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