Day 86 - The McKenzie Brothers

“Good day, eh.” Bob and Doug McKenzie, two flannel-clad, beer-loving “hosers,” began as a parody of Canadian stereotypes on the sketch show SCTV (Second City Television) in 1980. When the syndicated show moved to CBC, the network asked for two extra minutes of obviously Canadian content to meet government regulations. Performers Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas thought the request was absurd because the show had been filmed in Edmonton with a Canadian cast and crew for years. So they decided to create a parody that exaggerated every classic Canadian stereotype. Their improvised “Great White North” segments featured snow talk, beer, back bacon, and plenty of “eh”. They introduced phrases like “How's it going, eh”, "take off, hoser”, and “beauty way to go”. Even their sing-song theme —“Coo loo coo coo, coo coo coo coo”— was a spoof of the music from the classic Canadian nature vignettes, Hinterland Who’s Who. The McKenzie brothers made fun of Canadian stereotypes in a way that amused audiences on both sides of the border. Their Great White North comedy album from 1981 went triple-platinum in Canada and reached the U.S. Top 10. Their single “Take Off,” featuring Geddy Lee from Rush, became a surprise hit. In 1983, they starred in Strange Brew, a cult classic that made Bob and Doug household names. Today, Bob and Doug are cemented in Canadian pop culture, as are all of the tropes they satirized. Statues of the brothers are installed on a bench outside Rogers Place in Edmonton, and they’ve been immortalized as McFarlane action figures, complete with beer and donuts. Bob and Doug made fun of Canadian stereotypes but in doing so, they helped shape how Canadians see themselves with good humour and affection.