TV Show

You Can't Do That on Television

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.

TV Show Stats +8%

11 seasons

145 episodes total

Status

Ended

First Aired

1979

Rating

TV Show

7.4/10

22 votes • HD

Season 1

14 episodes
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Live!
Episode 1

Live!

Episode 1 • Feb 03, 1979

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.

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30m
Shoestring
Episode 2

Shoestring

Episode 2 • Feb 10, 1979

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.

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30m
Nickel and Dime
Episode 3

Nickel and Dime

Episode 3 • Feb 17, 1979

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.

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30m
Peanuts
Episode 4

Peanuts

Episode 4 • Feb 24, 1979

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30m
Repeat
Episode 5

Repeat

Episode 5 • Mar 03, 1979

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30m
Ottawa Director
Episode 6

Ottawa Director

Episode 6 • Mar 10, 1979

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.

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30m
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Season 2

13 episodes
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Work, Work, Work
Episode 1

Work, Work, Work

Episode 1 • Jan 24, 1981

The Muppets Get Suffed will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine's dad makes her do work while hosting the show, so she keeps shovels a wheelbarrow full of dirt onto the set.

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30m
Transportation
Episode 2

Transportation

Episode 2 • Jan 31, 1981

The Dukes of Hazard Line Up for Gas will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Ross spends most of the show making Christine's life miserable by making her do many strange things like jump from an airplane without a parachute, forcing her to be shot, makes her sick by distorting the broadcast, has her stuffed into a trash can, and even has her mummified.

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30m
Strike Now
Episode 3

Strike Now

Episode 3 • Feb 07, 1981

Captain Kangaroo Robs a Bank will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine goes on strike demanding a raise. She eventually gets it, but discovers that she won't get paid for the time she was on strike, even though she was still on the show.

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30m
Dating
Episode 4

Dating

Episode 4 • Feb 14, 1981

Jaws meets the Love Boat will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine spends the entire show waiting for her boyfriend to call her, which he doesn't.

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30m
Fitness
Episode 5

Fitness

Episode 5 • Feb 21, 1981

The Six Million Dollar Man Rusts to Bits will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Ross tries to make money by collecting his family allowances. He also tries to adopt Christine, who is using an exercise bike and some special effects to travel around the world.

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30m
Safety First
Episode 6

Safety First

Episode 6 • Feb 28, 1981

Hit and Run on Sesame Street will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Despite her constant attempts to explain safety rules, bad things keep happening to Christine including electric shock and decapitation.

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30m
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Season 3

13 episodes
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Cosmetics
Episode 1

Cosmetics

Episode 1 • Mar 17, 1982

The Incredible Hulk Runs out of Deodorant will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine brings in a box of cosmetics and explains the use of each one. She offers advise about the dangers of using corn chip flavored lipstick.

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30m
Addictions
Episode 2

Addictions

Episode 2 • Mar 24, 1982

Pacman Eats General Hospital will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine plays ATARI for the entire show, thus demonstrating how video games are addictive. In the sketches, many references are made to the soap General Hospital, and how addictive that is.

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30m
Popularity
Episode 3

Popularity

Episode 3 • Mar 31, 1982

The Most Popular Kids Show on Television will not be seen at this time so that we may present… Ross holds a ""phone-in"" contest to see which cast member is the most popular. All the kids wear numbers so that viewers can clarify their voting. At the halfway point, Kevin (wearing 111) is first. In an attempt to get more votes, Christine trades her ballot number (872) for a lower number (0). In the end, Zilch (Darryl) wins the contest even though he wasn't in this episode. They discover he won because Christine wore his number zero.

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30m
Fads & Fashion
Episode 4

Fads & Fashion

Episode 4 • Apr 07, 1982

Fred Sanford: World's Best Dressed Man will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast attempts to keep up with the latest fashions, which change about every two minutes.

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30m
Vacations
Episode 5

Vacations

Episode 5 • Apr 14, 1982

The Love Boat Runs Aground Fantasy Island will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine goes on a trip to the beach to relax, only to run into the entire cast and crew of YCDTOTV, who are filming an episode.

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30m
Rip-Offs
Episode 6

Rip-Offs

Episode 6 • Apr 21, 1982

The Price is Right Raises their Prices will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Things around the set begin to malfunction. The risers collapse and the set begins to collapse. In the end, the entire studio collapses.

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30m
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Season 4

13 episodes
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Pets
Episode 1

Pets

Episode 1 • Oct 05, 1983

Kermit the Frog Tries to Cross the Highway will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast looks at all of the pets people have, some normal, some very strange.

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30m
Rules & Regulations
Episode 2

Rules & Regulations

Episode 2 • Oct 03, 1983

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood will not be seen because the neighborhood has been declared unsafe. Ross forces the cast to follow new rules that the Union has made for child actors. Lisa is forced to eat a mud pie and loses her voice.

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30m
Manners or Bad Habits
Episode 3

Manners or Bad Habits

Episode 3 • TBA

Laverne and Shirley Go to Finishing School will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The show's producers have written a book of manners, which Christine tries to explain.

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30m
Medicine
Episode 4

Medicine

Episode 4 • TBA

General Hospital will not be seen at this time so that we may present... ""Doctor"" Lisa and ""nurse"" Luke help Christine, who has broken her leg just before show time.

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30m
Future World
Episode 5

Future World

Episode 5 • TBA

Life on Earth will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine learns to tell fortunes using a crystal ball. The cast also looks at the world of computers, and how they can help with the routines of daily life.

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30m
Media
Episode 6

Media

Episode 6 • Oct 03, 1983

You Can't Do That on Television will not be seen at this time so that we may present... In a drastic effort to improve ratings, Ross has Kevin burned at the stake. In the sketches, the cast looks at how advertisers try to get our attention.

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30m
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Season 5

26 episodes
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Friends
Episode 1

Friends

Episode 1 • TBA

Laverne and Shirley Kill Each Other will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine is broke and the other cast members won't talk to her until she pays up what she owes them. In order to do the show, she pays them each a dollar to do their lines with her.

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30m
ESP - Magic Astrology
Episode 2

ESP - Magic Astrology

Episode 2 • TBA

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.

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30m
Hobbies
Episode 3

Hobbies

Episode 3 • TBA

Hobby Days will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Christine talks about fashion, her latest hobby.

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30m
History
Episode 4

History

Episode 4 • TBA

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.

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30m
Courage
Episode 5

Courage

Episode 5 • Jun 11, 1984

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.

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30m
Body Parts
Episode 6

Body Parts

Episode 6 • TBA

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.

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30m
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Season 6

10 episodes
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Romance and Dating
Episode 1

Romance and Dating

Episode 1 • TBA

Love Connection Short Circuits will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Doug pretends to be Cupid and tries to fix up the entire cast with a girl/boyfriend.

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30m
Identity Crisis
Episode 2

Identity Crisis

Episode 2 • TBA

Mr. T Thinks He's a Girl will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Alasdair tries out different jobs to see which one is right for him. Lisa does a paper for school on what people want to do for their careers.

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30m
Fears, Worries, and Anxieties
Episode 3

Fears, Worries, and Anxieties

Episode 3 • TBA

Super Monster Theatre will not be seen at this time so that we may present... As everyone confesses what he or she is afraid of, the Locker Monster attacks Vanessa.

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30m
Relatives
Episode 4

Relatives

Episode 4 • TBA

Family Ties Tied Much Too Tight will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Ross convinces Alasdair that he may be the descendant of a millionaire. Ross then sells fake family trees to the rest of the cast, showing them as being related to Napoleon.

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30m
Pessimism / Optimism
Episode 5

Pessimism / Optimism

Episode 5 • TBA

The Wreck of the Love Boat will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Lisa thinks that being optimistic will save her plant from dying.

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30m
Revenge
Episode 6

Revenge

Episode 6 • TBA

Rambo Shoots the Ayatollah will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Ross decides to get rich by selling Instant Revenge to the cast members. Alasdair decides to do it in cognito as the Masked Revenger.

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30m
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Season 7

20 episodes
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Fairy Tales, Myths, and Legends
Episode 1

Fairy Tales, Myths, and Legends

Episode 1 • TBA

The A-Team Blows Up the Land of Oz will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast does many sketches about various fairy tales.

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30m
Pop Music
Episode 2

Pop Music

Episode 2 • TBA

Bruce Springsteen Gets Laryngitis will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Alasdair believes that he will become a great rock star.

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30m
Know-It-Alls
Episode 3

Know-It-Alls

Episode 3 • TBA

Mr. Wizard Explains the Universe will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Nerdy Matthew annoys the entire cast.

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30m
Parties
Episode 4

Parties

Episode 4 • TBA

Mr. T Goes to a Tupperware Party will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast gets Ross to throw them a party. What Ross does, however, is have a cardboard cake and water.

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30m
Garbage
Episode 5

Garbage

Episode 5 • TBA

Garbage of the Rich & Famous will not be seen at this time so that we may present... After local garbage men go on strike, the studio becomes a storage area for the city's garbage. Christine is carried out of the studio in a garbage bag.

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30m
TV Commercials
Episode 6

TV Commercials

Episode 6 • TBA

The Commercial Messages will not be seen at this time so that we may present... In the sketches, the cast does many parodies of TV commercials. They also try to sell some of Ross' malfunctioning products as part of another get-rich-quick scheme.

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30m
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Season 8

5 episodes
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Books and Reading
Episode 1

Books and Reading

Episode 1 • TBA

Reading Rambo will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The Librarian is very happy about this week's episode being about reading, and gets ready for her first big scene. She becomes upset, however, that there are no sketches in this episode that take place in the library.

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30m
Adoption
Episode 2

Adoption

Episode 2 • TBA

The Huxtables Put Their Kids Up for Adoption will not be seen at this time so that we may present... This episode features many sketches about adoption and parents.

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30m
City Life
Episode 3

City Life

Episode 3 • TBA

Crocodile Dundee Works in a City Bank will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Ross plans to take the cast to New York, but he is planning to keep them on leashes for safety.

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30m
Anniversaries
Episode 4

Anniversaries

Episode 4 • TBA

Santa Claus Forgets Christmas will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast becomes suspicious that Ross has put something in Doug and Vanessa's food to keep them small, as the two celebrate their 5th anniversary on the show.

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30m
Smells
Episode 5

Smells

Episode 5 • TBA

Rambo's Armpits will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast has to test their knowledge of different smells.

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30m

Season 9

25 episodes
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Choice
Episode 1

Choice

Episode 1 • TBA

Where No Man Has Gone Before will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Ted decides whether or not to tell Chris about his being turned down for a part in a Hollywood movie.

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30m
Chores
Episode 2

Chores

Episode 2 • TBA

Hulk Hogan Tidies His Room will not be seen at this time so that we may present... In order to get the cast to clean the set, Ross makes the cleaning part of the sketches.

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30m
Communication
Episode 3

Communication

Episode 3 • TBA

E.T. Phones Home and Gets a $1,000,000 Phone Bill will not be seen at this time so that we may present... An alien ship is approaching Earth and causes the show's transmission satellites to malfunction. The Aliens have come in search of Green Slime.

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30m
Fitness
Episode 4

Fitness

Episode 4 • TBA

Jane Fonda Overworked will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Kevin is having trouble writing this episode as it is being filmed. In the sketches, the cast makes fun of exercise programs. Ted, as the Fitness Genie, makes Rekha's fitness program impossible.

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30m
Malfunctions
Episode 5

Malfunctions

Episode 5 • TBA

Batman's Hairdryer Fries Robin will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The studio's cameras keep breaking because of Ted's ugliness.

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30m
Cleanliness
Episode 6

Cleanliness

Episode 6 • TBA

Mr. Clean Falls Into a Tar Pit will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Ross makes the cast wear sailor suits to prepare for a visit from the Senate's Committee to Clean Television. In the end, the inspector only wants to be sure the camera lenses are clean.

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30m
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Season 10

5 episodes
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Blame
Episode 1

Blame

Episode 1 • May 21, 1990

Doogie Howser Gets Blamed for Sawing the Wrong Leg Off a Patient will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast is very upset that kids get blamed for everything.

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30m
Secrets
Episode 2

Secrets

Episode 2 • May 22, 1990

Tony the Tiger Really Eats Choco-Bombs will not be seen at this time so that we may present... All the show's secrets are uncovered. Ted finally finds the secret ingredient to the green slime.

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30m
Learning
Episode 3

Learning

Episode 3 • May 23, 1990

Alf Learns to Cook Cats will not be seen at this time so that we may present... The cast tries to do an educational episode.

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30m
Privileges
Episode 4

Privileges

Episode 4 • May 24, 1990

Kermit Treated Like a Prince will not be seen at this time so that we may present... Ross gets angry and revokes the cast's phone and ball-playing privileges.

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30m
Inventions
Episode 5

Inventions

Episode 5 • May 25, 1990

MacGyver Invents a Spaceship will not be seen at this time so that we may present... To improve the cast and add a new edge to the show, Ross buys a robot to use as a cast member.

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30m

Season 11

1 episodes
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Changes aka Project 131
Episode 1

Changes aka Project 131

Episode 1 • Jul 21, 2004

Because of the 25 year anniversary, the cast (having been doing the show all these years, but is so bad that no one will air it) are given one final aired episode. Ross is retiring, Brodie is given the new Chez Barth's, Vanessa (who is with child) and Marjorie are up to no good, and Alasdair and Justin are mad because they weren't in enough scenes. Things are changing...but, is change good? Will the kids finally be relieved of their duties at the show as the ultimate change? This is the official reunion episode of the series.

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30m

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