The Second City Television Productions

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


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.



2nd Logo (1988)

Visuals: On a red background, the text "the Second City" written in a stylized, cursive font 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: Sliding and stretching effects.

Audio: It 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 (September 1, 1990-March 1991)

Visuals: 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: Analog computer animation.

Audio: 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.

3rd Logo (1992-1998)

Visuals: On a gray brick background, there is The second city logo in a red stylized font with "ENTERTAINMENT, INC." below, in white.

Variants:

  • Sometimes, the logo animates in a similar way as before, with "ENTERTAINMENT, INC." appearing via flash.
  • On The Second City 25th Anniversary Special, the text below is replaced with "TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS LIMITED".

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: The closing theme to the program.

Availability: Appeared on some reruns of SCTV, in their "edited" versions during the 1990s. Possibly retained on DVD releases from Shout! Factory. It also appears on Sports Bar.

4th Logo (April 3, 2012)

Visuals: Just the white "The Second City" (in its corporate font) presented horizontally on a black background. Below is a copyright notice: "© 2012 The Second City Television Productions".

Technique: A still, digital graphic.

Audio: The closing theme to the program.

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

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