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John Candy, comedian, gets wrapping

Broadcast Date: Dec. 2, 1976

With rolls of paper, tape and ribbons at the ready, wrapping a gift box should be a breeze for the competitors John Candy has recruited at a shopping mall in Burnaby, B.C. But given the prize money at stake, Candy decides the boxes are too easy and supplies his guests with more challenging objects. "These are presents for my family," he says in this clip from CBC-TV's 90 Minutes Live. "Wonderful shopping out here." Later, Candy gets embarrassing results after asking a shopper what's in his gift bags.

John Candy, comedian, gets wrapping

• Wrapping an awkwardly shaped gift is more easily achieved using fabric rather than paper, which folds and creases in inconvenient places. Another tip is to use a gift bag, camouflaging the object with a few layers of tissue paper. According to the BBC, a method known as Japanese pleating carefully folds the paper to accommodate the gift's unusual contours.

• John Candy joined Chicago's Second City comedy troupe in 1973 (the same year as Bill Murray), then moved to the Toronto chapter in 1974. He was among the cast when SCTV debuted on Global TV in 1976, the year of this clip.

• For more on John Candy, see the CBC Digital Archives clip John Candy: 'A very happy guy'.

John Candy, comedian, gets wrapping

Medium: Television

Program: 90 Minutes Live

Broadcast Date: Dec. 2, 1976

Guest(s): Samuel Kowalsek, Marilyn Lewyk, Karen Martelli

Host: Peter Gzowski
Performer: John Candy

Duration: 6:20

Last updated:
Sept. 8, 2009