'Saturday Night Live' is the best-known sketch comedy television show of all time, but the SCTV reunion is bringing back the sketch show that was potentially more influential in the development of comedy as it exists today. The reunion will feature several of the original SCTV (which stands for Second City Television) members, and it is being produced by Netflix.
From the mid-seventies to the mid-eighties, SCTV consistently broke new ground in the TV and comedy worlds. It was the first series to poke fun at the nature of television itself, and it jumpstarted the careers of comedy legends like John Candy, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara. The new series will feature all those names (save the late Candy and Ramis), and it is set to be directed by Martin Scorcese.
Seminal Comedy Reunions
Netflix's SCTV Reunion Will Feature Original Cast Members
Trend Themes
1. Sketch Comedy Reunions - With the popularity of rebooted shows and nostalgic content, there is an opportunity to bring back classic sketch comedy shows and reunite original cast members for new content generation.
2. Meta-comedy - There is a rising trend in comedy where shows are self-aware and satirize the industry itself, creating room for innovation in the way comedy is produced and viewed.
3. Documentary-style Comedy - With a growing interest in docu-series, there is an opportunity to create comedy shows that emulate the documentary style and present a fictional story in a more realistic, entertaining manner.
Industry Implications
1. Streaming Services - There is a growing trend in nostalgia and rebooted content, creating an opportunity for streaming services to invest in bringing back classic comedies and reuniting original cast members to attract more viewers.
2. Comedy TV Networks - With a rising trend in meta-comedy, there is an opportunity for comedy TV networks to produce and air these self-aware shows, appealing to a younger demographic looking for fresh and innovative content.
3. Film Industry - With accomplished filmmakers like Martin Scorcese directing TV series, there is an opportunity for film industry professionals to pivot into TV production and create high-quality content for streaming platforms.