Michael Short (SCTV, Schitt's Creek)

Michael Short talks to me about how the "attic" comedy tapes he made with his brother Marty led to him being hired on SCTV; joining the show in series 3; writing the Earl and Floyd segments; Stretch Your Arm; getting hired by John Candy to write on Big City Comedy the Monday after SCTV wrapped; Margaret Trudeau; returning to SCTV for the second US cycle; pitching Great White North Palace and winning the Emmy; playing Mike the Bartender on the Cinemax season; the anonymity of working for SCTV;  Jim Carrey almost joins the Cinemax cast; working with Jonathan Winters; Speed Zones; Dave Thomas Show; how working for the former Christian Broadcast Company (then Family Channel) let some things by on Maniac Mansion; NBC executives ruin the Martin Short Show; the evolution of Jiminy Glick; working with Jan Hooks; having to make sure he was fired from the Bonnie Hunt Show; casting Bonnie for an unaired Dave Thomas pilot; working on Mad TV with Artie Lange; being too edgy for Wayne Brady; pitching "Pimp My Outhouse" for Blue Collar TV; reality TV; being the first writer hired for Schitt's Creek and being (with Dan Levy) the only one who was there for the whole series; winning the Emmy for best comedy, but COVID keeping him away