You Can't Do That On Television Opening History

[tsukune007]

i loved watching this show. i always wanted to get slimed. i think that should try to rebot the sreies but try to stay as close to the 80's verison. i played in a small repoduction at summer camp, they got me to play BARTH and ROSS. and yes that was the only time i got slimed and wated

[CelesteK]

The last opening sequence reeks of nostalgia in a good way. :)

[ProudScotsmanRex]

in the style of Monty python eh?

[riceboy1701e]

To the one person who disliked this...

...you should be slimed!

[MrJacMac1986]

The sausage factory opening makes me think of Pink Floyd The Wall movie.The Another Brick part 2 scene.Also the original opening has a Monty Python Quality to it

[philosovitz]

I wish I could be that kid again seeing this for the first time in 82 at age 10!!!

[BANGSTRUIN]

This show was AWESOME! Has'nt been anything like it since.

[MsNikki11]

I recall the last two intros. We got cable in '81, then got Nick & my brother and I were hooked!

ALLL TIME FAVORITE SHOW after school! The locker jokes, the dungeon & firing squad!, Barth's Burgers, trying to remember not to say "water" or "I don't know", crazy parents, Opposite Sketches, etc....

We loved Moose & Lisa. I had such a crush on Alister!! Wasn't Alanis Morissette on the show, too? Thanks for bringing back the memories!! Time travel without the DeLorean....love, a 32 yr old

[SeraphimPwnsU]

@MsNikki11 Yeah, she was. And I think *every* girl who watched YCDT had a crush on Alister. lol

[NinjaGhostScorpion]

Announcer-"John Goodman's Breakfast will not be seen, so that we may bring you something that we can actually fit into a half-hour."

[jlf2575]

OMG! I had totally forgot about this show. Thanks for the video.

[zangazoo2007]

I have to wonder if Monty Python's Terry Gilliam was the inspiration for the animation sequences in You Can't Do That On Television?

[yogertlvr]

@zangazoo2007 I would say that Price was totally inspired by MPFC and the Animation of Terry Gilliam. This show was ahead of its time and to have such a following to this day, is a testament of it's impact on it's audience.

[zangazoo2007]

@yogertlvr Now a Monty Python version of YCDTOTV would be hysterical. I'd so buy a ticket to that. "RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!"

[SeraphimPwnsU]

@zangazoo2007 You know it. I mean, can't you just see The Black Beast just running through there, or a foot stomping down on the sausage factory?

[zangazoo2007]

@SeraphimPwnsU An attacking rabbit, or some frenchman screaming "I fart in your general direction..." would be hysterical. The cast of YCDTOTV doing their version of the Meaning of Life.

[reidcagle]

wow, I miss the old Nick shows so bad!! Mr. Wizard, Out of Control, Double Dare, YCDTOTV, Pinwheel...with that little French cartoon Chapi Chapo, and many, many others. I wish there was a nick retro, i would watch it all day... even at age 29...

on a side note, does anyone know the name of the "trombone" song in the intro for YCDTOTV?

[SeraphimPwnsU]

@reidcagle I absolutely loved Mr. Wizard. You get people like him to get an entire generation of kids to like science (if nothing else, just a little bit). Think of how wonderful our schools would be if *all* the science teachers were like Mr. Wizard?

[riceboy1701e]

Does anyone...ANYONE...have Ivan Telalie from Turkey Television? My KINGDOM for Ivan Telalie! If so, PLEASE post!

[missNYCmodel]

I'm 27 and i fondly remember the 4th intro. It always use to come on a little bit after dinner in my household. Maaan, me and my sister use to camp out around our T.V. to catch YCDTOT! Ahhh the good ol' days of 80's Nick!

[colmonhs]

Hey I remember the third intro!

It was back when Nickelodeon used to air shows with real people and talent.

Now its all about cheap cartoons and weird guys in costumes!

[JellicleKat]

Cool, I've seen the first and last one but not the two in the middle. Thank you for sharing these with us. :)

And for anyone who's interested I will be hosting a Classic Nickelodeon Fan Meet in the fall of 2010. If you're interested look for my Classic Nickelodeon Fan Blog at blogspot.

P.S.: This will be an 80s fan meet for those of us who remember Nickelodeon from 1979-1987 but all are welcome to attend. Just let me know ahead of time that you will be attending. Thank you.

[babybundon]

i just showed these to my 7 yr old and she didn't laugh while i'm cracking up. they are scary to her the execution scenes

[babybundon]

i forgot about this one

[Alamo1744]

I remembered the last intro for many years despite having long forgotten the name of the show.

[rubino83]

Tch, as if it was even possible, it looks more Monty Pythonish the further back you go.

[dkoch2]

their intros remind me of monty python lol

[CelesteK]

My grandma didn't really understand the humor in this show. She'd say things like: "What's so funny about getting water dumped on your head?"? or "What's so funny about getting that green stuff dumped on your head?"?

[thekingof8]

RIP Les Lye

[leslielove]

hope they do

[leslielove]

i love this show please bring it back on please

[neinsudtexas10]

I agree. This was one of the best shows. I used to watch this all the time.

[mickmoart]

I wonder who designed this intro? It looks like Terry Gilliam Monty Python. I used to watch this stuff all of the time!

[jeetkunedobruce]

John C. Galt did the intro's. Your correct he was inspired by Terry Gilliam.

[mickmoart]

I knew it! Used to love that show! :D

[rubino83]

The guy from Atlas Shrugged? That makes sense, actually...

[fluffydolly]

the first 2 i didn't know,thanks for posting the true fan around me.moose is hot!!!!

[reidcagle]

@fluffydolly ... lol i always had a crush on Moose

[MrJacMac1986]

@reidcagle I liked her too. i started watching it at 14 back in 1982. Lisa would always call Moose fat but i thought she was beautiful

[GreatCornholio3000]

Doesn't the face on 1:36 look like Bill on "The Red Green Show"

[kc86er]

2:12 That cracking head use to scare the sh** outta me when I was little! I remember when I use to hide behind the couch whenever that part came on =P

[shrontzy]

You're silly.

[kc86er]

At 3-4 years old, who isn't? =P

[beazy002]

Oh sh!t me too.....lol..... i thought i was the only one

[daveybfilmsx]

ha your not the only one.

why does the face at 1:32 look like a demented zombie lol.

[Chocomoca1]

that's a funny story....I used to make music sound effects and say "ah!" at the ah parts lol I loved this show :)

[Juliska04]

Me too!

[Undertakerfan2002]

Doesn't the face on 1:36 look like Bill on "The Red Green Show"

[cubey]

I never liked the show at all. I found (and still find) it to be incredibly stupid. I just like the opening music.

[CartoonNothing]

One of the faces looks like Albert Einstien.

[CartoonNothing]

I mean when the first head in the 1st intro get's stamped he looks like Albert.

[devzin98]

Best. Show. Ever.

[BillDezynski]

I actually remember the first one with Big Ben that actually aired in the US for one specific episode.

[lemonrind]

That is not Big Ben. That is the Peace Tower on parliament hill in Ottawa, Canada. OK, I guess it is a knockoff of Big Ben.

[usjets08]

Sometimes i think (You Can't do that on Television) is funnier than (All That)

[trent100100]

ah the Willam Tell Overture

[Mike1964]

Great show....it seems to be inspired by both Monty Python and Laugh-In.

[MsMaestro00]

I thought about Monty Python while watching this-the animation is VERY SIMILAR. Is there a name for this particular type of animation?

[jmanrulz1006]

yes. It's called gillimation (named after monty python member terry gilliam.)

[MsMaestro00]

Wow, thanks for the information!

[larrystarstruck]

I agree, it's very much in Terry Gililam's style.

[mathewdeering]

Wow, getting flashbacks of Danger Mouse, The Trapdoor, Bananaman, and other ABC arvo shows!

[TohellwithHSM]

I meant are not too shabby... sorry.

[TohellwithHSM]

I must admit these intros & this show are too shabby unlike the icarly shit they churn out as of today!

[SECgatorFAN]

Has anyone seen this show in a dvd box set format? Just don't say, "I don't know"...oh...crap... I'm so gonna buy it and have a freakin YCDTOTV Marathon on my next 2 days off from work.

[IggyHazard]

Flashbacks! I'm having flashbacks thanks to you!! XD

[RocStarr1983]

Nickelodeon pimped so much of the early "rebel kid" image that brought the channel its fame from this show, right down to its now iconic green slime. Thank God this show is not owned wholly by Nickelodeon.

[uamusme77]

I used to love this show and I am 31 now. That crazy intro, the skits, the slime, Barf (I think that was his name), he was the chef making all that nasty food for the kids in that diner! I HEARD THAT! And the main girl on there, she was a brunette, her name was Christine. Man, I bet she is old now. haha

[whorethrower]

AKA "Moose"

[fl1992]

This was one very hilarious Canadain Teen tv show that I loved watching on Nickelodeon in the 1980's growing up in The United States!

[Chickenpainter111]

Is that John Cleese at the End?

[LoaferFatAss]

actually no that is the actor who played ross and all the other male characters on the show Les Lye. He has so many looks but that is him in the intro.

[JB17Wagna]

@Chickenpainter111 which intro the first the second or the third that's because in the first one it's les lye

[pergold]

descption has the year 1882 which you mean 1982 LOL!

[slydawg221]

i've never even seen those first two. the third one looks kinda familiar, but the fourth one is the one i recognize most.

[Raqueli88]

I must be something psychological! I have yet 2 figure it out! But at the same time, I have a weird yearn to watch it again and I resist! I think it's because it is a reminder of my innocence and what life wuz like before the major changes in my life even though I wuz freaked out by it! I actually kind of think it iz funny 2day!

[Raqueli88]

When I was about 4 and playing over at my next door neighbor's house, they had the TV on Nick and this wuz on, so I was really freaked out by the intro w/the meat turning into kids and the weird stuff going along the bus ride! I also was pretty scared of the skits and the slime, probably b/c I was not old enough to realize that it was all a gag. When I got on YouTube and saw the intro again, I wuz still kind of freaked out now, even though I am 20. I hope to face my fear one day!

[SanchoKobe]

Wow, I'm totally the same way. I loved this show, and always watched it, but the opening animation creeped me out and still does. The sausage factory, the blaring trombone music, the guy's face when he gets stamped. Creepy.

[Raqueli88]

Do u ever show it these dayz 2 ure spouse and ure own kidz (if u have any)on Youtube? I faced my fears by watching this w/o sound last Saturday night, but I have yet 2 watch it w/sound!

[hillbillyprofane]

I miss those days. We didn't have cable when I was a kid, so I used to have to sneak over to my friend's across the street to watch it. By the time we got cable (in 1990) YCDTOTV was pretty much gone. I think having to sneak out to watch it made it all the more special.

[ooxcfhxoo]

i was banned from watching it. My mother thought it was gross....

ahh but i did it anyways cause im too cool

[JiggidyNDG]

Dude, I'm 26, and TOTALLY reliving my childhood!

[tomservo3]

can somebody say MONTY PYTHON!

[ariasdad]

Wow, first thing that comes to mind about the 1st one is Terry Gilliam, he did all the animations for the Monty Python flicks.

[CelesteK]

And Robot Chicken did a spoof on it called You Can't Do That On Robot Chicken. Very funny stuff. ;)

[hillbillyprofane]

The first three versions are seriously creepy!

[CelesteK]

It's YCDTOTV not YCTOTV. :)

[CelesteK]

It sort of reminds me of Monte Python's Flying Circus. LOL! It's the exact same concept as Monte Python. LOL!

[CelesteK]

The first intro was from when they filmed the show in Ottawa wasn't it?

[bURRkEEF]

Wow! I don't remember the really early ones and that was one of my favorite shows. It's shame whoever owns the rights can't afford to pay all the loads of cast members to release it on DVD. But at least we got youtube.

[Mr36O]

this was a great show I cant believe im 30 it doesnt seem that long ago.

[MsTexas73]

I was ADDICTED to YCDTOTV back in the 80s. I remember the last two openings.

I agree there needs to be a Nick Retro.I would love to see Pinwheel, Count Duckula, Clarissa, Gullah Gullah Island, The Elephant Show, all the shows that made Nick the Stuff back in the day.

The some for the REAL Nick @ Nite. I miss the old B&W shows they used to show like the Donna Reed Show and Dobie Gillis.

And Boomerang needs to be available for all cable companies so we can see the GOOD cartoons as well.

[dstdiva58]

YCDTOTY was off the chain back in the day!!! Those was the good ole days!!!

[HendoT22]

Such a classic tune

Yeah I remember Count Duckula, top shows

[CadillacL]

I don't remember the first two but, the third is CLASSIC. Also, does anyone remember the Mime that was the "mascot" to the show? Would love to find clips of that.

[yoodoodoo]

is this in any box sets?

[druboogie]

Nope. Writers and Nickelodeon cant agree on DVD royalty terms.

[Woman4Christ]

There is something so incredibly strange about this show and yet I like the strangeness, the weirdness and how out of this world it is. I used to watch this as kid and it always makes me nostalgic. How I long to a kid again.

[missminxnyc]

oh my god... now i remember why i was so weirded out by this! i haven't seen this in what, 18 yrs?!

[YoungmillionaireFl]

One of my favorite all time shows along with... the little Prince, danger mouse, spartacus, and pinwheel(the original nickolodeon) remember todays special

[SpamNapkin]

I heard the YCDTOTV opening scared a lot of kids back in the day....I could kinda see why.

[eatdogs]

who remembers count duckula???

i think that show was either on or after this one.

hey dude, salute your shorts, double dare, and wild and crazy kids were my shows as a child. rocko and doug were the last ones i cared about. never got into ren and stimpy...

[CBearaW]

this is so strange, i cannot believe i liked this as a kid! sure brings me back memories!

[junkboxxxxxxxx]

The building the bus pulls up in front and hte guard protects is 160 Elgin St (the Bell canada tower) in Ottawa.

[HollyHellion]

lol the intro to this show used to be really scary to me as a kid, and still is. Its like Monty Python extravaganza.. The one stagehand guy that was in it, and is in some of the skits looks like a real convict fresh out the joint for kidnapping charges. *shudder*

Yes, i miss watching rocko's modern life and ren and stimpy. Salute your shorts too.

[werenotcrows]

yeah it was scary to me too!

[nursewolf]

I loved Moose!! She was awesome!

[ForestBasenji]

yeah reminds me a bit of monty python :)

[teegan1977]

I miss these kind of shows on nick. the ones now suck. The Only good thing on nick now is Avatar and spongebob.

[bigphil0005]

i was born in 1984 so im 23 now will be 24 later on this year... god the memorys of old nick.... what happend... nick shows nothing but crap now.

[exclusivevippass]

Its just the you grew old !!!

[HERETICAL]

Shades of Monty Python.

[orangedelight07]

Wow..I remember the last opening when I was little in the early 90's. This was a kick ass show ^_^

[FireMedic38128]

LOVE IT.. I'm 27 and it reminds me of my Nick Jr days!!!

[Noles23200]

Lol...me too. I used to watch all the Nick Jr. Shows back in the day!!!

[jubjub444]

they should make channels on digital cable and satalite like a 00s channel, 10s,20s,30s,40s,50s,60s,70s,80­s,90s,2000s channels so we can watch our memorys or others memorys that would be cool but there would be a lot of crap on them 2000 would be the gayist

[djk4pd]

Most people who remember the real Nickelodeon are in their late 20's, and early 30's now. Shows like Today's Special, Noozles, Mr. Wizard, YCDTOTV, Finder's Keepers, Double Dare, Hey Dude, Salute Your Shorts, Bill Cosby's Picture Pages are among the classics. Even stuff like Ren & Stimpy, and Are You Afraid Of The Dark? are only borderline "old school". Those shows were pretty much the last good shows to be seen on Nick. It was all downhill from there.

[s2britt]

AMEN!!!!

[SweetLemon2008]

Man that's the truth.

[BoomBoomStockings1]

I remeber the real Nickelodeon and Pinwheel days...I'm 40 ;).

[eskiewolf76]

Me too!! This was back when Nickelodeon had GREAT shows! And DOUBLE DARE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now it's always Spongebob or other crap!

BRING BACK THE NICKELODEON OF YEARS PAST!!!!!!!!!

[JellicleKat]

Amen to that, I can't tell you how much I HATE HATE HATE Spongebob!!!!

[TheIzobo]

Yeah

[OpenArms82]

Never seen these openings before,except the last one,Thanks !

[oldcbsfantwo]

I never seen YCDTOTV before. One thing thats creepy about the inrtos are the heads.

[JustyHakubi]

I never saw the first two; always wondered what they looked like. Thanks for posting them. As for Whatever Turns You On, I think thats actually considered a spinoff and not an incarnation of the show. It's too bad good shows like this aren't being made anymore.

[cubbi1977]

What do you all mean by Nick sucks now? It has sucked for the last 15 years.

[Guy1281]

But I guess Nick is a channel for kids, y'know?

[patrickballoonman]

If you ask me, there should be a digital cable channel called "Nick Retro" and it would air a lot of Nick's best shows of yesteryear. It would be the First Kids' Network for Nick's First Kids.

[anothertalkinghead]

I would love that (as someone who started watching Nick in 1979/80) but it would be pretty difficult to regain broadcast rights for all of those old shows.

[Guy1281]

Man, I feel 5 years old again watching this. Nick sucks now. Well, 'cept maybe for Ned's and Drake&Josh. And SpongeBob. Nicktoons has all the good stuff.

[riceboy1701e]

Shame that Nick is not even a shell of its former self. There is nothing on Nick that resembles green slime anymore, and green slime made Nick what it is today. They won't make this stuff anymore. Now it's all ooey-gooey, educational, highly marketed crap.

Long live YouTube!

[1ZELDAFAN1]

It is sad, with awesome shows like YCDTOTV, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Double Dare, Rocko's Modern Life and more, it's just not as funny. The line up has severly changed and now the only thing I watch is Spongebob. If they brought back some gameshows, that might help bring a few old timers like us back lol

[cubbi1977]

The best damn show on Nickelodeon to date.

[X3pqRenQ]

I seen them all before. But the third one is the opening I saw the most. This show is great.

[murielsartre]

Heh. Someone was obviously a Terry Gilliam/Monty Python fan. But when I was a kid, I watched this all the time. Moose!

[robpa31]

The first sequence with the Parliament Buildings, three balloons with faces float up out of the scene. Anyone know who they were? I can only assume they were famous (or infamous) politicians of the day...

Great nostalgia piece. RELEASE ON DVD!

[JTBear37]

The three heads (in order) are : Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Joe Clark, and Ed Broadbent.. they were, at the time, the leaders of the main 3 political parties in Canada

[greatrey]

Also JTBear37, that building as U know is the main Canadian Parliament building in Ottawa and Trudeau & Clark were prime ministers as well.

[Everclearfan86]

what was with the little thing at the beginning of the 1981 one? the little "subintro?" the one that said "what ever turns you on

[LoaferFatAss]

It was a spin off of ycdtotv from 1979 that stared the main cast of ycdtotv and Ruth Buzzi, it's basically the precursor to ycdtotv from 81-90 since it was a half hour show and ycdtotv was originally a full hour

[dannysquirrel]

The show was actually called Whatever Turns You On for a short period in the early eighties. They changed it back to You Can't Do That On Television just as Nick started showing it.

[8218933alt]

The guy's head at the end of the 1981 version creeped me out >_>

[cowtippingrocks]

When I was a kid I always wonderd why once in a while they would show an opening with that old guy. Now I know! haha

[OldNick08]

My favorite is the most-used one (1982-1990), but the earlier ones are fun to watch for nostalgia.

That 1981 version looks so amateurish. LOL, loves it.