Earl Camembert
Earl Camembert (pronounced "cannon-bare") is a fictional news
, which aired in the 1970s and 1980s.Career
Camembert, named after Canadian broadcaster
Camembert always appeared with thick-rimmed eyeglasses and a checkered suit with matching
The two characters' on-air friction is caused not only by the differences in their journalistic credentials, but also their status at the TV station. While Robertson receives a lucrative six-figure salary to anchor the evening news, Camembert is paid union scale and must anchor and host a number of news programs from early morning to late in the evening.[2] As it is, his poor journalistic skills tend to indicate he is fortunate to be employed at all; for instance, one interview with Melonville mayor Tommy Shanks ended poorly, with the mayor becoming so enraged that he immediately stormed the studio to assault Camembert on air.
However, on occasions when Robertson was drunk (more frequently during the later years of the show), he would tend to have to try and stick to the news while his co-anchor was inebriated; on another occasion, Robertson was among the station staff who were being mind-controlled by the alien Zontar via mind-altering cabbages, with Earl (who had not been placed under Zontar's control) being confused and irritated by Robertson's state and frequent references to Zontar.
Camembert also often presented editorials, which earned Robertson's scorn. In one episode, Robertson laughed through Camembert's entire piece. Camembert's editorials were usually followed by his signature on screen, which appeared scribbled and disorganized. Camembert headed the election campaign for SCTV personality Johnny La Rue (played by John Candy) during the Melonville town elections, ignoring the principle of journalistic neutrality. After La Rue was soundly defeated, Camembert was fired by La Rue. Robertson then informed Camembert that he would be reported for his journalistic violations.[2]
Like Robertson who also appeared as
Personal life
Earl Camembert was the son of a former SCTV station manager, Merle Camembert (also played by Levy), who had a reputation for buckling under to the slightest pressure, as during an early 1950s McCarthyist hearing when he "named names" of alleged Communists, including his own mother (and Earl's grandmother).[3]
Camembert also has one son, Earl Junior (played by the real-life nephew of John Candy, Donald Cowper), who tried to fill in for Camembert in one episode due to Robertson's tardiness. Typical of Robertson's crassness, upon returning to the studio, he bullied the younger Camembert, who looked identical to his father.[2]
Levy's portrayal of Camembert made him a sympathetic figure in light of Robertson's success and his mistreatment of Camembert.
References
- ^ "Remembering Irv Weinstein: A Buffalo Broadcasting Legend". WKBW-TV. December 26, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
- ^ a b c SCTV Guide to SCTV News. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
- ^ ISBN 0786455330.