Red Green is a clever spoof of the old "Red Fisher show" which was a regular weekend fixture when it was syndicated to select Canadian TV stations in the 1960s and 1970s. The simple Red Fisher formula was NOT to excuse himself for having such a cheap and uninspiring set, BUT instead telling gullible viewers this was all taking place from secluded "Scuttlebutt Lodge." Having a guest sitting with him near the false fireplace, Fisher then provided a glib commentary over a grainy, faded super 8 movie about a hunting/fishing trip.
The next step in the evolution was when SCTV satirized this concept with their character Gil Fisher, host of the "Fishin' Musician." This showed Smith and Green that the more that you added to the concept, the wider the comedic potential. First, they needed a charismatic host to pull it off and thus, Red Green was created.
Somehow, Steve Smith (Red Green) and Rick Green (Bill) took this simple mix and developed a 15 year phenomenon out of it! Run a search of RED GREEN on Google and find their awesome website. Memorable segments being "Adventures With Bill," "Handyman's Corner," and anything featuring Red's bucktoothed nephew, Harold. With a ripped off concept, Harold is truly an original character and the best in talented actor Pat McKenna's repertoire. Hardware stores all over the world have Red Green to thank for the sharp increase in duct tape sales over the past 15 years.
Greatest TV characters we'll never see: Old Man Sedgewick; Stinky Peterson; Moose Thompson; Junior Singleton; Buster Hadfield and Flinty McClintock;
Memorable catch-phrases: "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." "I am a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." "I'm pulling' for you. Remember, we're all in this together." "Keep your stick on the ice."
I attended a couple of Red Green tapings in Toronto and one of the secrets of the show's longevity was the interactive quality of the program. It seems Steve Smith and gang actually lost their inspiration for the project about 5 years ago, when legions of die-hard fans stepped in to save it. Production for the show ended by 2006, but Green will remain eternally smug and forever curmudgeonly in syndication.
The next step in the evolution was when SCTV satirized this concept with their character Gil Fisher, host of the "Fishin' Musician." This showed Smith and Green that the more that you added to the concept, the wider the comedic potential. First, they needed a charismatic host to pull it off and thus, Red Green was created.
Somehow, Steve Smith (Red Green) and Rick Green (Bill) took this simple mix and developed a 15 year phenomenon out of it! Run a search of RED GREEN on Google and find their awesome website. Memorable segments being "Adventures With Bill," "Handyman's Corner," and anything featuring Red's bucktoothed nephew, Harold. With a ripped off concept, Harold is truly an original character and the best in talented actor Pat McKenna's repertoire. Hardware stores all over the world have Red Green to thank for the sharp increase in duct tape sales over the past 15 years.
Greatest TV characters we'll never see: Old Man Sedgewick; Stinky Peterson; Moose Thompson; Junior Singleton; Buster Hadfield and Flinty McClintock;
Memorable catch-phrases: "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." "I am a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." "I'm pulling' for you. Remember, we're all in this together." "Keep your stick on the ice."
I attended a couple of Red Green tapings in Toronto and one of the secrets of the show's longevity was the interactive quality of the program. It seems Steve Smith and gang actually lost their inspiration for the project about 5 years ago, when legions of die-hard fans stepped in to save it. Production for the show ended by 2006, but Green will remain eternally smug and forever curmudgeonly in syndication.