I would like to hear what you have to say about NeedleTodd…
Okay so here's the skinny
Bill Needle and Gerry Todd are my favourite SCTV characters, and it's not close. I originally thought Todd would be my absolute favourite when I started watching (I began with Series 4) until I hit 4/1-8 and Needle came along and snapped my brain like a twig.
Figure 1: Bill Needle character Bill Needle. Bill Needle Dave Thomas SCTV Bill Needle
Anyway. Now they're tied.
Being a self-professed Dick Rave enthusiast (that is, Rick and Dave; Moranis and Thomas; those fellas what play Bob and Doug), this should come as no surprise. Besides the McKenzie brothers, Todd and Needle are the duo's default station characters. Pals with Caballero, Prickley, LaRue, Heatherton, Bittman, ya know. This is established both by their sheer screentime and by their contributions to various wraparound segments.
Figure 2: This is how you know you've made it
Which makes it all the more unfortunate that they only have one interaction - during the Staff Christmas Party. To be fair though, it's a delightful thing. Needle says "video" funny, Todd says "Needlebaum", they both cackle heartily, and the door is left open for them to collaborate on any number of schemes in the future.
Figure 3: "What the hell are we laughin' at?"
They don't, of course, but why let that stop us? I think the appeal of their potential dynamic is pretty clear on the surface, but to expound on it a bit: Needle is flummoxed and lightly exasperated by Todd, while Todd is amused by how Needle is tying himself in knots. Neither of them can quite figure the other one out, though for very different reasons. And yet, they somehow feel compelled to keep spending time together. Gradually, these two loners realize they might've found an actual, honest-to-goodness friend.
Figure 4: Todd introducing Needle to ham radio is just the first step. Can you imagine the two working together on a program? Doing a call-in show together? There's always some new video
In the early days of my newfound NeedleTodd devotion, I wrote almost 2500 words of dialogue between the two, most of it in one sitting. I think that's what it comes down to; they're a lot of fun to bounce off each other! Filling in the considerable blanks between these two funny guys is a thoroughly pleasurable experience.
So yeah, that's my spiel. NeedleTodd Forever, Dick Rave Life, such and such. Thanks 4 Listening!
