On this day, December 18, 1981, the "SCTV Staff Christmas Party" episode was aired.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

This was episode 16 of the first season.

SCTV Network (1981–1983)

SCTV Staff Christmas Party

TV-PG | 1h 6min | Comedy | Episode aired 18 December 1981

Christmastime At SCTV

SCTV staff has a Christmas party.

The first sketch is Liberace (Dave Thomas) and his salute to the holidays. He is seen playing the piano and being whipped by a muscular guy in a Santa hat. He then does dueling pianos on Carol Of The Bells with Elton John (Rick Moranis). Ethel Merman (Andrea Martin) belts out Silent Night in her inimitable style. Orson Welles (John Candy) tries to recite Good King Wenclesas but gets angry and berates the crew. We see the start of the Christmas party with Gerry Todd doing video interviews of everyone. Guy tells LaRue he has to do Street Beef that night.

Mayor Shanks gives a quick Christmas message. Then Sammy Maudlin welcomes Neil Simon (spot on impression by Dave) and his wife Marsha Mason (Martin). Sammy promises one day he will quit smoking. Simon is plugging his new movie Neil Simon's Nutcracker Suite. Sammy keeps calling Marsha Pamela and she cries like she does in all the films. The show ends with a Christmas tree on fire from one of Sammy's cigarettes. In between we get a commercial for Frank Incense, a statue of Frank Sinatra blowing incense from a cigarette.

We see the movie of Nutcracker Suite, a hilarious send up of all Neil Simon's movies. Judd Hirsch (Levy) plays a writer who wants to write a play for his actress wife Marsha Mason. Joe Flaherty shows up doing a great impression of Alan Alda with rapid witticisms. Moranis plays a manic Richard Dreyfuss doing the Goodbye Girl role. Candy is funny playing James Coco. Dave and Catherine are Michael Caine and Maggie Smith.

LaRue is forced to do Street Beef on a freezing cold night. He has a drunken rant about his infamous crane shot. But is rewarded by Santa with his own crane. ... Dusty Towne does a Sexy Holiday Special. Her guests are Andrea as a Solid Gold dancer and John Candy plays a hilarious version of Divine.

{snip}

Liberace's Musical Tribute to the Holidays
175,719 views • Jul 22, 2010
SCTV
34.7K subscribers

Liberace performs "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson. Also featuring a memorable piano duel with Elton John, a song from Ethel, and a monologue ( "Good King Wenceslas" ) from Orson Welles.

Watch new videos created by Second City Alumni: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSecondCityNetwork

Liberace - Thomas; Elton John - Moranis; Orson Welles - Candy; Ethel Merman - Martin; muscular elf - extra

You should segue into this at the end of the first video. If not, here's another one:

The Dusty Towne Sexy Holiday Special
195,078 views • Jul 22, 2010

SCTV
34.7K subscribers

Dusty's first special, and first TV show. She gets things rolling with a song and a story. Marcie performs a suggestive dance. Dusty does her own special medley of Christmas hits (Ricky keeps jumping on the punch line). Dusty and Divine have quite a rapport. Divine's brought a Christmas tape: "Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me" on ice (complete with pink flamingoes). Dusty recites "The Night Before Christmas".

Dusty Towne - O'Hara; Marcie Odette - Martin; Divine - Candy; Juul Haalmeyer Dancers - Juul Haalmeyer, Bob Dolman, Doug Steckler, Mert Rich, Ivan Lynch, extras; Wally Hung Trio: Drums (Ricky) - Moranis; Wally Hung on Korg Organ - Paul Flaherty; Bass - Dick Blasucci; announcer - staff announcer

Watch new videos created by Second City Alumni: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSecondCityNetwork

Sun Dec 17, 2023: On December 17, 1982, the "Christmas Show" episode of SCTV, with the "Johnny LaRue Street Beef" skit, was aired.

Sun Dec 18, 2022: On this day, December 18, 1981, the "SCTV Staff Christmas Party" episode was aired.

Sat Dec 18, 2021: On this day, December 18, 1981, the "SCTV Staff Christmas Party" episode was aired.

Fri Dec 18, 2020: On this day, December 18, 1981, the "SCTV Staff Christmas Party" episode was aired.

Mon Dec 16, 2019: It's an annual tradition at DU: Liberace's Musical Tribute to the Holidays

Friday, May 13, 2016, somewhat out of season: SCTV. I miss that show.

[Xavier Breath]

1. SCTV was supposedly this second-rate operation

yet they had Liberace, Elton John, Ethel Merman and Orson Welles on their Christmas special. Guy and Edith must have called in some big favors to score that group.