Dave's Day

I've just watched the entire run* of the Canadian version** of The David Steinberg Show.  It lasted 20 episodes and, with each episode under 24 minutes (minus commercials), it didn't take long to finish them off.

I was going to discuss it at some length, but this new blogger template is making it hard to type anything at all. So here are the main points:

--It's a meta-variety show, regularly taking us backstage where characters talk about the "show."

--Steinberg does some monologues, always old material.

--It's not good--conventional comedy done poorly.

--Halfway through the season they switched up the format a bit but it didn't help.

--The only regular listed in the credits is Bill Saluga, who plays Vinny, owner of the deli across the street, as well as "Mr. Johnson" (of the famous "You can call me Ray" routine).

--Of greatest interest today is the stock company, which includes Martin Short, John Candy, Joe Flaherty and Dave Thomas.  Around this time they were also coming up with another Canadian variety show, SCTV.  That show features the backstage doings of an entire TV station.  Makes you wonder if they weren't influenced by Steinberg's show.

*Actually, Amazon Prime offers 20 episodes but, according to the IMDb, there were 24.  Give us the missing four episodes!

**Steinberg had a summer replacement variety show on American television in 1972.  It ran for five episodes.  The Canadian show ran one season from 1976 to 1977.