Bizarre

Bizarre is a weekly Canadian sketch comedy series, airing from 1980 to 1985. The show was hosted by John Byner, and produced by CTV at the CFTO Glen-Warren Studios in suburban Toronto for first-run airing in Canada on CTV and in the United States on the Showtime premium cable network. The series features slapstick sketches, monologues, TV parodies, and performances by guest stand-up comics. Byner's interactions with members of the studio audience, or with show producer Bob Einstein , provided an early example of removing the fourth wall. Much of the humour on the show was considered risque... during the original run of the series. The series utilized a rotating ensemble of supporting actors who backed Byner up in his sketches. Besides Einstein this group included Billy Van, Billy Barty, and Wayne and Shuster alumnus Tom Harvey. Bizarre had guest star performers during its run including Steve Allen, Frances Bay, a pre-Royal Canadian Air Farce Luba Goy, Victoria Jackson, Murray Langston , Howie Mandel, Pat Morita, Dave Thomas, Willie Tyler & Lester, Marc Weiner, Henny Youngman and others.
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