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Joe Flaherty as Count Floyd in "SCTV" in the '80s. Source: https://www.sctvguide.ca/programs/monster.htm (May be subject to copyright) |
Although not as popular as some of his peers such as John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis, Joe Flaherty still entertained audiences with a wide variety of solid performances.
Whenever I hear his name, I picture him offering me a piece of pizza through the TV screen.
Sadly, I heard his name today because he died yesterday.
He was 82.
Second City Television
Joe Flaherty will always be most associated with Second City or “SCTV”, especially by Canadians of a certain generation. He played a variety of characters, but there are three that stand out for me.
Joe Flaherty will always be most associated with Second City or “SCTV”, especially by Canadians of a certain generation. He played a variety of characters, but there are three that stand out for me.
Count Floyd was a vampire who hosted a fictional horror TV show. My favourite part was how he would pretend things were 3-D by waving whatever it was toward and away from the camera, while saying something like “You want some pizza?”
I did not realize, because I was quite young when I saw “SCTV” and wasn’t a faithful viewer, is that Count Floyd is the alter ego of Floyd Robertson. He was a parody of real-life news anchor Lloyd Robertson. I liked Flaherty as Floyd Robertson and the way he played off his co-anchor Earl Camembert, played by Eugene Levy.
The third character was Guy Caballero, the station manager and owner who dressed in white suits and pretended to be in a wheelchair to get respect.
Flaherty, along with the other cast members and writers of “SCTV”won Emmys in 1982 and 1983 for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program.
“SCTV” was on the air from 1976 to 1984, but Flaherty was in a lot more.
I am surprised at just how much.
On the big screen
His first listed role was in “Tunnel Vision” in 1976, but he also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s “1941” in 1979.
His first listed role was in “Tunnel Vision” in 1976, but he also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s “1941” in 1979.
As the ‘80s dawned, Flaherty got really busy, often having parts in movies that featured some of his “SCTV” colleagues.
He was in “Stripes” in 1981 with Bill Murray and Harold Ramis, who had been a part of “SCTV”; “Going Berserk” in 1983 with John Candy; “Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird” in 1985, opposite Candy, Dave Thomas and Chevy Chase; “Club Paradise” in 1986 which was directed by Ramis and starred Robin Williams; “One Crazy Summer” in 1986, starring John Cusack; “Innerspace” in 1987 with Martin Short and Dennis Quaid; and “Who’s Harry Crumb?” in 1989, opposite Candy.
Flaherty wrapped up the decade appearing in “Back to the Future II” in 1989, as the Western Union man who delivers a 70-year-old telegram from Doc Brown to Marty McFly.
TV but not SCTV
Flaherty had some work on TV in the ‘80s, but his life would get much busier in the succeeding decades.
Flaherty had some work on TV in the ‘80s, but his life would get much busier in the succeeding decades.
He had a guest spot in “King of Kensington”, a Canadian comedy starring Al Waxman, in 1978.
In the ‘80s he was in “George Burns Comedy Week” in 1985; and “CBS Summer Playhouse” in 1988.
He was also the voice of Count Floyd for 13 episodes in the animated series “The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley” in 1988, opposite Martin Short who played the title role..
Flaherty rounded out the decade in “Married…With Children” in 1989.
The years after
Flaherty would go on to appear in movies such as “Happy Gilmore” where he was the heckler; “Detroit Rock City”; “Slackers”; “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and much more.
Flaherty would go on to appear in movies such as “Happy Gilmore” where he was the heckler; “Detroit Rock City”; “Slackers”; “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and much more.
He was much more prolific on television with roles in “Maniac Mansion” for 65 episodes from 1990 to 1993; “Morton and Hayes”; “Dinosaurs”; “Nurses”; “Phenom”; “Hardball”; “Dream On”; “Ellen”; “Police Academy: The Series”; the Canadian drama “Traders”; “The Wonderful World of Disney”; “Freaks and Geeks” for 18 episodes in 1999 to 2000; “That ‘70s Show”; “”Primetime Glick” opposite Martin Short in the title role; “The King of Queens”; “Royal Canadian Air Farce”; “Frasier”; “A Nero Wolfe Mystery”; the Canadian anthology series “Robson Arms”; “Family Guy”; “Call Me Fitz”; and much more.
In 1990, he received a Gemini Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the TV movie “Looking for Miracles”. In 1995 at the Gemini Awards, the entire original team from “SCTV” received the Earl Grey Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Parting thoughts
Joe Flaherty will forever be seared in my mind as Count Floyd, his alter ego Floyd Robertson, and Guy Caballero, three memorable characters on “SCTV”.
Joe Flaherty will forever be seared in my mind as Count Floyd, his alter ego Floyd Robertson, and Guy Caballero, three memorable characters on “SCTV”.
I was surprised to learn that, unlike virtually all of his peers on “SCTV”, he was not born Canadian.
Birthplace really didn’t matter, because Joe Flaherty became a part of the fabric of Canadian culture.
Rest in peace Joe, and thanks for everything.
And yes, I will take some pizza please.
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