Earl Camembert
Encyclopedia
Earl Camembert is a fictional news reporter and anchorman
portrayed by Eugene Levy
on the Canadian sketch comedy show SCTV
, which aired in the 1970s and 1980s.
(from which the name was derived) and Irv Weinstein
, was a recurring character alongside Joe Flaherty
's character of Floyd Robertson
, also a fictional anchorman, based on real-life Canadian news anchor Lloyd Robertson
. The two co-anchored the SCTV Network's "SCTV News" program.
Camembert always appeared with thick-rimmed eyeglasses and checkered suit with matching bow tie
, along with his black hair in a near-afro
style. Robertson, who was portrayed as the respectable, well-dressed anchorman, reported major news stories (often including wars and disasters involving the semi-fictional Africa
n nation of Togoland
), while Camembert was stuck with frivolous items.
The two characters' on-air friction is caused not only by the differences in their journalistic credentials, but also their status at the TV station. While Robertson receives a lucrative six-figure salary to anchor the evening news, Camembert is paid union scale and must anchor and host a number of news programs from early morning to late in the evening. As it is, his poor journalistic skills tend to indicate he is fortunate to be employed at all; for instance, one interview with the Mayor of Melonville ended so poorly with the Mayor becoming so enraged that he immediately stormed the studio to assault Camembert on air.
Camembert also often presented editorials, which earned Robertson's scorn. In one episode, Robertson laughed through Camembert's entire piece. Camembert's editorials were usually followed by his signature on screen, which appeared scribbled and disorganized. Camembert headed the election campaign for SCTV personality Johnny La Rue (played by John Candy
) during the Melonville town elections, ignoring the principle of journalistic neutrality. After La Rue was soundly defeated, Camembert was fired by La Rue. Robertson then informed Camembert that he would be reported for his journalistic violations.
Like Robertson who also appeared as Count Floyd
on "Monster Chiller Horror Theater," Camembert also "doubled up" at SCTV, but his ventures were less than successful. One of his earliest "other" gigs was as host of a children's television series
, "The Uncle Earl Show," but that show was cancelled. His next attempt at a "regular" show was a news magazine-type program, "60/20" (a spoof of both 60 Minutes
and 20/20), and he also hosted an edition of SCTV's attempt at their own sketch comedy series, "Thursday Night Live." His longest-running series was a show in the vein of PM Magazine
, "One on the Town," but that effort too was short-lived. Towards the end of SCTVs run, Camembert became the final host of that station's version of Dialing for Dollars
.
hearing when he "named names" of alleged Communist
s, including his own mother (and Earl's grandmother).
Camembert also has one son, Earl Junior, (play by the real-life son of Joe Flaherty), who tried to fill in for Camembert in one episode due to Robertson's tardiness. Typical of Robertson's crassness, upon returning to the studio, he bullied the younger Camembert, who looked identical to his father.
Levy's portrayal of Camembert made him a sympathetic figure in light of Robertson's success and his mistreatment of Camembert.
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
portrayed by Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, television director, producer, musician, and writer. He is known for his work in Canadian television series, American movies, and television movies. He is the only actor to have appeared in all eight of the American Pie films, as Noah Levenstein...
on the Canadian sketch comedy show SCTV
Second City Television
Second City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.- Premise :...
, which aired in the 1970s and 1980s.
Career
Camembert, loosely based on real-life news reporters Earl CameronEarl Cameron (Canadian broadcaster)
Earl Cameron was a Canadian broadcaster and was anchor of CBC's The National from 1959 to 1966.Cameron was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and, as a student, found a summer job at a local radio station, CHAB...
(from which the name was derived) and Irv Weinstein
Irv Weinstein
Irwin "Irv" Weinstein is a retired local television news anchor. He hosted WKBW-TV's Eyewitness News in Buffalo, New York, for 34 years, from 1964 to 1998, becoming an iconic broadcaster well known in both the Buffalo area and in Southern Ontario, which was within WKBW's broadcast area. Weinstein...
, was a recurring character alongside Joe Flaherty
Joe Flaherty
Joe Flaherty is an American-Canadian actor and comedian. He is best known for his work on the Canadian sketch comedy SCTV, from 1976 to 1984, and as Harold Weir on Freaks and Geeks...
's character of Floyd Robertson
Floyd Robertson
Floyd Robertson is a fictional news anchor and reporter, portrayed by Joe Flaherty on the Canadian sketch comedy series SCTV in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a co-anchor, with Earl Camembert , of the SCTV News...
, also a fictional anchorman, based on real-life Canadian news anchor Lloyd Robertson
Lloyd Robertson
Lloyd Robertson, OC is the currently the co-host of CTV's weekly magazine series, W5. Robertson previously served as the chief anchor and senior editor of CTV's national evening newscast, CTV News with Lloyd Robertson, until September, 2011, when he retired from the CTV National News...
. The two co-anchored the SCTV Network's "SCTV News" program.
Camembert always appeared with thick-rimmed eyeglasses and checkered suit with matching bow tie
Bow tie
The bow tie is a type of men's necktie. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip....
, along with his black hair in a near-afro
Afro
Afro, sometimes shortened to fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair...
style. Robertson, who was portrayed as the respectable, well-dressed anchorman, reported major news stories (often including wars and disasters involving the semi-fictional Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n nation of Togoland
Togoland
Togoland was a German protectorate in West Africa from 1884 to 1914, encompassing what is now the nation of Togo and most of what is now the Volta Region of Ghana. The colony was established during the period generally known as the "Scramble for Africa"...
), while Camembert was stuck with frivolous items.
The two characters' on-air friction is caused not only by the differences in their journalistic credentials, but also their status at the TV station. While Robertson receives a lucrative six-figure salary to anchor the evening news, Camembert is paid union scale and must anchor and host a number of news programs from early morning to late in the evening. As it is, his poor journalistic skills tend to indicate he is fortunate to be employed at all; for instance, one interview with the Mayor of Melonville ended so poorly with the Mayor becoming so enraged that he immediately stormed the studio to assault Camembert on air.
Camembert also often presented editorials, which earned Robertson's scorn. In one episode, Robertson laughed through Camembert's entire piece. Camembert's editorials were usually followed by his signature on screen, which appeared scribbled and disorganized. Camembert headed the election campaign for SCTV personality Johnny La Rue (played by John Candy
John Candy
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
) during the Melonville town elections, ignoring the principle of journalistic neutrality. After La Rue was soundly defeated, Camembert was fired by La Rue. Robertson then informed Camembert that he would be reported for his journalistic violations.
Like Robertson who also appeared as Count Floyd
Count Floyd
Count Floyd is a fictional character featured in television and played by comic actor Joe Flaherty. He is a fictional horror host in the tradition of TV hosts on local television in the United States and Canada....
on "Monster Chiller Horror Theater," Camembert also "doubled up" at SCTV, but his ventures were less than successful. One of his earliest "other" gigs was as host of a children's television series
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
, "The Uncle Earl Show," but that show was cancelled. His next attempt at a "regular" show was a news magazine-type program, "60/20" (a spoof of both 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
and 20/20), and he also hosted an edition of SCTV's attempt at their own sketch comedy series, "Thursday Night Live." His longest-running series was a show in the vein of PM Magazine
PM Magazine
PM/Evening Magazine was a television series with a news and entertainment format. It was syndicated to stations throughout the United States...
, "One on the Town," but that effort too was short-lived. Towards the end of SCTVs run, Camembert became the final host of that station's version of Dialing for Dollars
Dialing for Dollars
Dialing for Dollars was a franchised format local television program in the United States and Canada, popular in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.-Format:...
.
Personal life
Earl Camembert was the son of a former SCTV station manager, Merle Camembert (also played by Levy), who had a reputation for buckling under to the slightest pressure, as during an early 1950s McCarthyistMcCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
hearing when he "named names" of alleged Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
s, including his own mother (and Earl's grandmother).
Camembert also has one son, Earl Junior, (play by the real-life son of Joe Flaherty), who tried to fill in for Camembert in one episode due to Robertson's tardiness. Typical of Robertson's crassness, upon returning to the studio, he bullied the younger Camembert, who looked identical to his father.
Levy's portrayal of Camembert made him a sympathetic figure in light of Robertson's success and his mistreatment of Camembert.