The Second City Television Productions

Background

The Second City is an improvisational comedy theatre group founded in 1959 by Paul Sills, Bernie Sahlins and Howard Alk and is based in Chicago, Il and also has theatre groups based in Los Angeles, CA and Toronto, Canada. The theatre group is best know for spawning several comedy stars including Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Ryan Stiles, Steve Carrell, Stephen Colbert, among many others. The Second City has also lent its hand in several television productions, notably SCTV.

1st Logo (November 22, 1983?-1984)

Logo: On a gray brick background are the words "THE SECOND CITY" appear in the middle in a red stylized font. Below is "ENTERTAINMENT, INC." in white.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme to the program.

Availability: Appeared on season 6 episodes of SCTV. Possibly retained on DVD releases from Shout! Factory.

2nd Logo (1988)

Logo: On a red background, the Second City logo from the previous logo and the letters "JCI" (all white) slide in from the left and right respectively. After they meet, they stretch vertically an after going back down, the word "PRESENTATION" slides upwards from the bottom and rest below the two logos.

Technique: The logos siding in and stretching.

Music/Sounds: Begins as a news-like synth theme before going into a 8-note horn theme when the logos appear and the last note ends on a hit.

Availability: Was only seen on the TV pilot 110 Lombard Street, a pilot that was going to air on CBS, but never did.

3rd logo (1989)

Logo: Just an in-credit notice reading "A SECOND CITY ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTATION in association with".

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme to the program.

Availability: Only seen on the 1989 pilot to My Talk Show.

4h Logo (September 1, 1990-March 1991)

Logo: On a gray stylized background, with the word "ENTERTAINMENT" fading in below, the red Second City logo etches itself in through a spark effect, with the last effect being the top part of the "T" in "City".

Variant: On My Talk Show, the words "PRODUCED BY" appear above the same time "ENTERTAINMENT" fades in.

Technique: The company logo etching itself in, the other text fading in.

Music/Sounds: None, or the closing soundtrack to the program.

Availability: Seen on My Talk Show, which aired in syndication, and the TV pilot Life as We Know, which aired on Ha!, both of which are gone outside of old tape recordings.

5th Logo (April 3, 2012)

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme to the program.

Availability: Only seen on I, Martin Short, Goes Home.