Bizarre (TV series)

Did You Know?

• Bizarre aired on The Comedy Network from 1997 to 2003.
• It was later broadcast on TV Land Canada, which rebranded as Comedy Gold, from New Year's Eve 2008 until August 2011.

Synopsis

The show mixed slapstick, monologues, TV parodies, and live stand-up sets. Host John Byner often spoke directly to the studio audience and sparred with producer Bob Einstein, who would barge in mid-sketch to stop the action—a fourth-wall break that was rare for the era. The humor was considered edgy for its time. A rotating cast backed Byner, including Philip Akin, Harvey Atkin, Billy Barty, Cynthia Belliveau, Jack Duffy, Jayne Eastwood, Barbara Hamilton, John Hemphill, Barry Flatman, Keith Knight, Don Lake, Kathleen Laskey, Kate Lynch, Pat Morita, Debra McGrath, Mike Myers, Earl Pennington, Melissa Steinberg, Billy Van, Steve Weston, and Tom Harvey. Guest stars included Steve Allen, Frances Bay, Redd Foxx, Luba Goy, Victoria Jackson, Murray Langston (as The Unknown Comic), Howie Mandel, Dave Thomas, Willie Tyler & Lester, Marc Weiner, and Henny Youngman. A regular segment featured Super Dave Osborne, a daredevil parody played by Bob Einstein. In each sketch, Super Dave attempted an elaborate mock stunt that always ended in a spectacular, comedic disaster. One famous bit had him standing under a pile driver, chanting "balloon ball" to stay safe, only to be flattened into a helmeted head perched on a pair of shoes. That image became so iconic that Showtime ads for the next season used a cartoon logo of the helmet and shoes. The Super Dave sketches were so popular they spawned a spin-off series, which took a more family-friendly approach.

Development

ABC first developed Bizarre in the late 1970s, when the network considered returning to late-night programming after rumors that Johnny Carson might leave NBC. ABC approached Carson and Richard Dawson, who hosted Family Feud and often filled in for Carson. After Carson stayed with NBC, Dawson filmed a pilot for Bizarre at Television City Studios in Hollywood, which aired as a special on March 20, 1979. Neither Dawson nor ABC moved forward with the show. Production later shifted to Canada, allowing the series to earn Canadian content credits while keeping a mostly American cast. John Byner became the host, and the first episode reused sketches from Dawson’s pilot.

DVD release

In late 2005, Visual Entertainment put out DVDs of the uncut version of Bizarre, called The Best of Bizarre Uncensored, sold in both Canada and the United States. Starting in July 2007, nine separate volumes came out. Most episodes drop the original closing credits, which once plugged the Royal York Hotel and Tilden Rent-a-Car, swapping in a generic "DVD credits" sequence. The exception is episode 47 on Volume Five, where the sponsor mentions stay because of a remark by Super Dave Osborne.