Turkey Television is a sketch comedy series originally aired on Nickelodeon from 1985 to 1986 and re-run until 1988. The show was created by Roger Price and Geraldine Laybourne^[1] at the request of Nickelodeon in response to the popularity of You Can't Do That on Television, another Canadian children's sketch comedy that aired on the network.^[2]

The series was about an animated turkey named Thurman T. Turkey (voiced by Jim Thurman), who traveled around the world filming television shows from other countries, then "bringin' it home to Hollywood and puttin' it on the air".

Format

Turkey Television presented material from outside sources of varying vintage, from public domain footage (often re-edited and given new sound tracks, similar to Jay Ward's Fractured Flickers) to not so old clips presented as is (e.g., scenes from Jacques Tati's Monsieur Hulot's Holiday) to more recent excerpts (skits from the New Jersey Network's Uncle Floyd Show) to offbeat music videos such as "Fish Heads".

Regular segments and notable skits include:

• The Uncle Hogram Program, a parody of Mr Bill with Tom Riis Farrell as Uncle Hogram (who had a sadistic relationship with his hand puppet, Pippy)

• Ivan Telaly (John Koensgen), the announcing commentator for Russian True Facts News and “Hero of Soviet Union, 23rd Class”

• Service With A Smile, where a customer gets bad service from a ditzy waitress

• Kentucky Boys, a pair of stereotypical hicks discussing life

• Katie & Hillary, two mothers who always give their families exactly what they didn’t want

• A psychology session hosted by Fred Newman as Dr. Joyce Brothers

• A parody of Hands Across America in which meat-waving children sing "Hams Across America"

Animation was also featured on the show. Outside of the opening and interstitials, featuring Thurman in very Looney Tunes-like scenarios, there were also international cartoons including the works of Mordillo. Videos by "Weird Al" Yankovic also appeared from time to time.

Cast

The cast featured Les Lye, Christine McGlade, Kevin Kubusheskie, and Adam Reid, all of You Can't Do That on Television fame, as well as several newcomers from Toronto: Steven Aiken, T.J. Criscione, and Craig Warnock. McGlade was also credited as a producer and a director. The cast also included John Koensgen as "Ivan Telaly" the Russian news announcer. John also co-hosted at least one episode as himself.^[3] Australian comedy character Norman Gunston appeared often, as well.