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Joe Flaherty Quotes

Powerful Joe Flaherty for Daily Growth

About Joe Flaherty

Joe Flaherty (July 17, 1941 - May 15, 2016) was a renowned Canadian actor, comedian, writer, and musician, best known for his work with the legendary comedy troupe SCTV (Second City Television). Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Flaherty grew up in a large Irish Catholic family and attended the University of Toronto, where he studied engineering. However, his true passion lay in theater and comedy. Flaherty's career began in the late 1960s when he joined The Second City improv comedy troupe in Toronto. His knack for character acting, sharp wit, and versatility made him a valuable member. He later moved to Chicago to work with the original cast of The Second City, where he honed his skills alongside future SCTV colleagues such as John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, and Eugene Levy. In 1976, Flaherty joined the cast of SCTV for its first season on Canadian television. The show quickly gained popularity and was later adapted for American audiences in the early 1980s. Flaherty's characters, including Count Floyd, Garth and Dick, and Edith Prickley, became iconic in Canadian comedy. His work on SCTV earned him multiple Gemini Awards (Canadian Emmys). In addition to his television work, Flaherty voiced several characters in animated films, most notably the titular character in the cult classic "Rock and Rule." He also appeared in numerous feature films, including "Strange Brew," a collaborative project with fellow SCTV alumnus Dave Thomas. Flaherty's influence on Canadian comedy is immeasurable, and his legacy continues to inspire a new generation of comedians. Despite his success, Flaherty remained humble and dedicated to his craft until his passing in 2016. His quotes reflect his wisdom, humor, and unwavering commitment to the art of comedy: "Comedy is tragedy plus timing," and "The only reason people laugh at a joke is because there's always an element of truth in it."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!"

Joe Flaherty's quote encourages living life to its fullest potential, as if it's an abundant feast waiting to be enjoyed. The phrase "most poor suckers are starving to death" signifies that many people fail to seize the opportunities before them and instead lead lives of deprivation or stagnation. In essence, this quote is a call to action, urging individuals to embrace life's riches, experiences, and adventures rather than missing out on them due to fear, indifference, or complacency.

"I'm not even sure what I am." (as Rick Moranis' character in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids")

This quote reflects a sense of confusion, bewilderment, or uncertainty about one's identity or purpose, much like the character played by Rick Moranis in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." The character, through no fault of his own, finds himself in an unexpected and unfamiliar situation where he is unsure how to navigate. It can be interpreted as a universal feeling of being out of one's depth or struggling with self-discovery. In essence, it speaks to the human condition and our inherent desire to understand ourselves and our role in the world.

"Oh, my goodness! The carnival's coming to town!" (as Bob McKenzie on SCTV)

This quote, spoken by Joe Flaherty as Bob McKenzie on the Canadian sketch comedy show SCTV, expresses an exuberant, childlike excitement about an upcoming event - in this case, a carnival. The use of "Oh, my goodness!" indicates that the speaker finds this news delightful and surprising, and "The carnival's coming to town!" signifies the arrival of a fun, lively, and community-oriented gathering. It suggests a sense of joy and anticipation for shared experiences and camaraderie with others.

"Well, you can't please all of the people all of the time, and Lord knows, I've tried." (as Bob McKenzie on SCTV)

The quote emphasizes a universal truth - it is impossible to satisfy everyone in every situation due to differences in opinions, tastes, and expectations. The speaker, Bob McKenzie (portrayed by Joe Flaherty on SCTV), humorously admits his attempts at pleasing all people, suggesting that he has faced challenges in achieving this ideal. It serves as a reminder that our efforts towards understanding and satisfying others will not always yield the desired results, but the intent to do so is commendable and essential in fostering empathy and unity.

"Now, that was a close one. We were this close to being entertaining." (as Bob McKenzie on SCTV)

Joe Flaherty's quote implies self-deprecating humor and acknowledges the fine line between being mundane or unremarkable and being entertaining or engaging in a performance context, particularly in the character of Bob McKenzie from the television show SCTV. The quote suggests that even though they came very close to creating something amusing, they barely crossed the threshold into true entertainment.

That was sort of the 'Second City' approach, which was try to be intelligent and assume your audience is intelligent. We were influenced by 'Monty Python,' too, which would have philosophers in a wrestling match.

- Joe Flaherty

Audience, Which, Python, Monty Python

'SCTV' was the concept of a group ensemble doing satirical things. 'Saturday Night Live's sketches were broader than ours, more universal.

- Joe Flaherty

Doing, More, Saturday, Broader

There's just something about youth and comedy that go together. Maybe it's that foolishness, that silliness that you can get away with when you're younger, that you can't get away with when you're older.

- Joe Flaherty

Away, Younger, Maybe, Just Something

Steve Carell is good. I like him. Who else? Here's another depressing thing: animation has kind of taken over, too. You know, 'Family Guy?' I watch that because the guy is good.

- Joe Flaherty

Here, Over, Like, Animation

'The Count' wasn't a real stretch. I was doing pretty generic Bela Lugosi bad vampire on purpose. It was supposed to be lame. I didn't put fangs on; it was a guy who was just going through the motions. I drew on the widow's peak with eyebrow pencil and wore a turtleneck, not a tux.

- Joe Flaherty

Doing, Bad, Through, Motions

If you don't hop aboard the change train, you're gonna get derailed.

- Joe Flaherty

Change, Get, Gonna, Train

Improv seemed to replace stand-up, which was very big before that. Stand-up comedy was real hot in the late '80s and through the '90s.

- Joe Flaherty

Through, Very, Which, Stand-Up Comedy

I haven't watched 'Mad TV' a lot, but I have seen some stuff on there that is truly funny. You have to have some sort of attitude toward the subject, and they seem to have it. It depends on how much blood you want to draw.

- Joe Flaherty

Depends, Some, TV, Mad

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