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.
You Can't Do That on Television (Season 1)
Live! (Episode 1)
Air date: 1979-02-03
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The main plot for this episode is unknown, but it featured a Panasonic radio as a prize for one of the phone-in competitions, as most of the episodes from this 1979 season. This episode also featured a segment on baton twirling. The episode contains the well-known scene where Ross (before a major costume revamp) teaches Jono Gebert how to do a weather forecast on an actual CJOH news/weather set.
Shoestring (Episode 2)
Air date: 1979-02-10
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Tim constantly tries to get a date with Cindy, but keeps looking like a fool, losing her to Jim and David. To add insult to injury, he keeps being forced into wearing a dress…and he can't seem to find his pants, forcing him to go home wearing a bright, pink dress.
Nickel and Dime (Episode 3)
Air date: 1979-02-17
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The main plot for this episode is unknown, but it featured kids' jokes and opinions filmed at the Winterloo slide at Ottawa's N.A.C.
Peanuts (Episode 4)
Air date: 1979-02-24
Runtime: 30 min
Repeat (Episode 5)
Air date: 1979-03-03
Runtime: 30 min
Ottawa Director (Episode 6)
Air date: 1979-03-10
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Only one scene remains in existence from this episode. In the scene Tim is the dungeon and is told not to pull the chains. He does not listen and gets slimed.
St. Patrick's Day (Episode 7)
Air date: 1979-03-17
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Lisa keeps scheming to get Bradfield slimed, but her plans keep backfiring and result in her getting slimed several times.
Backstage (Episode 8)
Air date: 1979-03-31
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The show is back on live after spending the previous week taping a show for network television.
Executive Washroom (Episode 9)
Air date: 1979-04-07
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The network executives have a party on the set and leave money behind. When the cast goes to pick it up, Ross quickly confiscates the cash, claiming it is useless play money. Mr. Dime and Seth Pool get into a battle over the Executive Bathroom, when the lock keeps being changed. Christine, Sarah, Jim, and Mike keep trying to get each other slimed or pied.
Boring (Episode 10)
Air date: 1979-04-14
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Features kids' jokes filmed the week before at the Bayshore Shopping Mall in Ottawa.
Straitjackets (Episode 11)
Air date: 1979-04-21
Runtime: 30 min
Local Show (Episode 12)
Air date: 1979-04-28
Runtime: 30 min
Sore Foot (Episode 13)
Air date: 1979-05-05
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The shows sees its last of Mr. L. Dime and all the CJOH jokes.
End of the Life (Episode 14)
Air date: 1979-05-19
Seasons
Episodes 14
Episodes 13
Episodes 13
Episodes 13
Episodes 26
Episodes 10
Episodes 20
Episodes 5
Episodes 25
Episodes 5
Episodes 1
Episodes 2