You Can't Do That on Television — Season 5
About this season
You Can't Do That on Television is a Canadian television program that first aired locally in 1979 before airing internationally in 1981. It featured pre-teen and teenaged actors in a sketch comedy format. Each episode had a theme. The show was notable for launching the careers of many performers, including Alanis Morissette, and writer Bill Prady, who would write and produce shows like The Big Bang Theory, Gilmore Girls and Dharma and Greg. The show was produced by and aired on Ottawa's CTV station CJOH-TV. After production ended in 1990, the show continued in reruns on Nickelodeon through 1994, when it was replaced with the similar All That. The show is synonymous with Nick, and was at that time extremely popular, with the highest ratings overall on the channel. The show is also well known for introducing the network's iconic slime. The program is the subject of the 2004 feature-length documentary, You Can't Do That on Film, directed by David Dillehunt.
Episodes (26)
1. Courage
Aired 4 June 1984 • 30 min
The Smurfs Meet Godzilla will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast must be brave to overcome stage fright as the show's ratings are higher then ever. The kids discuss courage. Kevin tests his courage by wearing a suit of armor.
2. Friends
Aired 7 June 1984 • 30 min
Laverne and Shirley Kill Each Other will not be seen at this time so that we may present... You can't put a price tag on friendship. Well, in fact, you can, as Christine sadly discovers when her mother's monthly friendship checks to the cast fail to arrive, leaving Christine friendless.
3. Ambition
Aired 12 June 1984 • 30 min
Dallas & Dynasty will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast explains their ambitions in life. Christine wants to grow as an actress and begs Ross to provide her with a meaty scene within the show. Ben, meanwhile, wants Ross to adjust the budget so he can star in his own music video.
4. Hobbies
Aired 15 June 1984 • 30 min
Hobby Days will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine talks about fashion, her latest hobby.
5. ESP - Magic Astrology
Aired 20 June 1984 • 30 min
The Twilight Zone Gets Redeveloped will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The crew fears a ghost is haunting the studio when strange things start happening. Lisa decides to perform an exorcism to get rid of it. In the sketches, the cast pokes fun at ESP and astrology, as well as magic in sketches like Genie of the Electric Lamp.
6. Literature
Aired 21 June 1984 • 30 min
Masterpiece Theater will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine tries to become one of the shows writers, while Justin tries to track down the great author A. Nonymous. In the sketches, the cast looks at the classics of literature.
7. Clubs
Aired 25 June 1984 • 30 min
The Mickey Mouse Club will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine joins a health club, but isn't really interested in the club's healthy atmosphere and Ross involves the kids in an investment club with himself as their broker.
8. Foreign Countries
Aired 28 June 1984 • 30 min
Around the World in 80 Days will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Ross appears interested in world travel and foreign cultures, like the rest of the cast. Actually, Ross is only interested in playing "exchange bank."
9. Marketing
Aired 3 July 1984 • 30 min
Miss Piggy Sold to a Sausage Factory will not be seen at this time so that we may present... To raise money to keep the show on the air, the cast tries to sell water and green slime to viewers.
10. History
Aired 11 July 1984 • 30 min
The Six Wives of Henry VIII will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast parodies historical events, as Alasdair traces his family history and Christine writes a research essay.
11. Body Parts
Aired 12 July 1984 • 30 min
Real People's Armpits will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The show's cast competes to see who has the perfect body.
12. Technology
Aired 19 July 1984 • 30 min
The Electric Company Blows a Fuse will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast takes another look at computers and robots. In the process, Ross tests out an interactive poll system. Viewers are supposed to touch the superimposed green and red squares on the screens to determine what happens next. The result: in the space of four minutes, Luke gets shot, Vanessa is slimed, and Lisa is forced to not say anything.
13. Moving
Aired 20 July 1984 • 30 min
Mr. Rogers Gets Evicted will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine's family moves into a new house in the hills, a kid on wheels from California catches the attention of his new classmates.
14. Halloween
Aired 9 October 1984 • 30 min
Boy George Without Makeup will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine puts a spell on Ross that causes evil ghosts to haunt him.
15. Christmas
Aired 8 December 1984 • 30 min
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Joins the A-Team will not be seen at this time so that we may present... It's Christmas on the set, but there's little peace on Earth in the studio: Alasdair's running around with a helmet camouflaged in mistletoe and two eager lips puckered.
16. Holidays
Aired 1 January 1985 • 30 min
The A-Team Wreck Disneyland will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast tries to convince Ross to give them a holiday.
17. Colleges
Aired 4 January 1985 • 30 min
The college football game scheduled at this time between MIT and UCLA will not be seen because "mitucla" is a dirty word in Arundi Barundi. Among the cast's plans for college, Alasdair plans to enter on a video game scholarship but, so far, can't find a university to meet his aim. Ross returns to college so he can enter a profession without kids around.
18. Politics
Aired 8 January 1985 • 30 min
To Tell the Truth (with guest host Richard Nixon) will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Lisa is nominated by Christine to run for class president.
19. Science
Aired 11 January 1985 • 30 min
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Wizard will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Alasdair tries to discover the formula for the green slime.
20. Divorce
Aired 15 January 1985 • 30 min
Family Ties Get Untied will not be seen at this time so that we may present... During their divorce proceedings, the producer's wife takes half the show away - literally half of everything - with strange results.
21. Families
Aired 18 January 1985 • 30 min
The Partridge Family Get Shot will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Ross' nephew visits the show, but doesn't get along very well with the cast.
22. Malls / Hangouts
Aired 22 January 1985 • 30 min
The A-Team Makes One Cup of Coffee Last 5 Hours will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The kids hang out - at the arcade, the library, malls and summer camp, after school, at the Burgery, around the set, outside prison, stores, locker and dressing rooms. They also hang laundry, hang tough, and generally just hang in there.
23. Seasons / Weather
Aired 25 January 1985 • 30 min
Mr. Wizard Shows You How to Make Rain will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Alasdair makes a weather machine, but it doesn't work correctly.
24. War
Aired 29 January 1985 • 30 min
The Love Boat Goes on a Cruise Missile Cruise will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Alasdair forms an anti-war group (W.I.M.P.), while Ross argues that war is a necessary evil.
25. Jealousy
Aired 1 February 1985 • 30 min
Knight Rider Wants a Ferrari will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast is jealous of Christine after she gets a raise.
26. Wealth
Aired 5 February 1985 • 30 min
Dunking for Dollars will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The series is sold to various foreign countries. Adam acts as millionaire Ronald Rump.