The Frantics' Radio Shows

The Frantics did about 120 shows for the CBC that were broadcast between 1981-1986, plus a couple of short-series radio specials in the late 1980s.

Synopsis:
The initial Frantic Times radio show was originally broadcast during the second hour of the long-running show Variety Tonight (hosted by long-time CBCer Vicki Gabereau) in 1981-1982. They then got The Royal Canadian Air Farce's prized time-slot in the summer of 1982, then returned to Variety Tonight that Fall. They then got their own official permanent time slot in the Fall of 1983, which ran continuously (with occasional repeats) until the final Frantic Times radio show aired in January 1986.

The Frantics subsequently got back together for two short series: The Frantics Look at History in 1987 and Fran of the Fundy in 1987/1988. Rick Green and Peter Wildman got together for a few summer replacement series as well: Rick and Pete Grow Up and Have Babies, Gary & Ivan's Winnebago Tour and Those People Across the Street in the early 1990s. Most recently, this past summer Dad Redican returned to CBC Radio to do the 6-part Running with Scissors with Mr. Interesting radio series.

Here's a more detailed chronology of their shows, derived from researching old issues of the CBC Radio Guide:

November 6 1981 - April 16 1982	Recorded shows for broadcast on the CBC at Yuk Yuk's Comedy Cabaret, and the initial guest star was Maggie Butterfield. Then, sometime early in 1982 the shows were recorded at a larger venue at The Blue Orchid room at the Ontario College of Arts, with new guest star Carolyn Scott. All shows were broadcast Friday nights during the second hour of Variety Tonight hosted by Vicki Gabereau.
July 10/11 1982 - September 25/26 1982	Become the summer replacement series in the normal time slot for The Royal Canadian Air Farce; shows are broadcast in stereo on Saturdays @ 10:35pm, and on Sundays @ 1:05pm; Guest star is Carolyn Scott.
September 29 1982 - March 30 1983	Returned to Variety Tonight. Show now played during the first hour of the Wednesday night show; Guest star is Carolyn Scott.
June 25 1983 - June 29 1985	Get their own time slot after Basic Black on Saturday afternoon. The show is played continuously at this time, with occasional repeats.
July 14 1984 - June 23 1985	First season of Frantic Nighttimes, which plays on the stereo network from 11:05pm - Midnight. Is described in the Radio Guide as "Comedy from the popular Frantic Times series, with music presented by a member of The Frantics".
October 5 1985 - Jan 4 1986	According to the CBC Radio Guide, Frantic Times comes to an end on January 4 1986. The following week (January 11 1986) it is succeeded by the first of a pilot comedy series "The Norm".
October 5 1985 - Jan 4 1986	Second and final season of Frantic Nighttimes, now moved to the 10:08pm - 11:00pm timeslot.
December 19 1987 - January 2 1988	Special three-part mini-series The Frantics Present: Fran of the Fundy. Involves the adventures of fictional New Brunswick Premier Buddy Wentworth in his quest to come up with an alternative tourist draw to P.E.I.'s Anne of Green Gables.
Late Summer 1988(?)	The Frantics present The Frantics Look at History, an 8-part series that looks at history as seen through the eyes of Jimmy & Barney, two guys at a local bar who have seen it all. The series looks at every major era from the time of the dinosaurs, to the ancient romans, the dark ages, victorian era, the modern era and even a glimpse of the future. This series is widely regarded by many as being among The Frantics' best work.

July -August 1989	Rick Green and Peter Wildman of the Frantics present Those People Across the Street, a comedy involving the lives of two neighbours and their families. Episode titles include: "Death by Weed-Whacker", "Peter's Number Comes Up" and "No Pain, No Gain".
July -August 1990	Rick Green and Peter Wildman of the Frantics present Gary & Ivan's Winnebago Tour, which involves the two touring across Canada, looking for its identity. Skit comedy interspersed with music chosen by the two performers.
Summer 1991(?)	Rick Green and Peter Wildman of the Frantics present Rick and Pete Grow Up and Have Babies.
July 3 - August 7 1999	Dan Redican does 6 half-hour episodes of Running with Scissors with Mr. Interesting, broadcast at 3:30pm on the show Definitely Not The Opera. The shows are a collection of "unrelated sketches loosely tied together by a large man with a gravelly voice and a slightly foreign sounding accent."
July 8 - August 12 2000	Dan Redican returns to do 6 more half-hour episodes for CBC radio, this time for a series called Mr. Interesting's Guide to The Continental United States, broadcast at 3:30pm as part of the show Definitely Not The Opera on Saturday afternoons.