RIP: Les Lye (Barth)

[Sid 6.7]

RIP Barth

Most of the youngins on the board will have no idea who I'm talking about. But in the late 70's early 80's if you were a kid you lived for this show.

Canadian actor Les Lye, known to millions of North Americans in their 20's and 30's as the lone adult on 'You Can't Do That on Television,' has died at 84. According to his CTV obituary, the veteran comic passed away on Tuesday. The cause is unknown.

The Ottawa native was enjoying a successful career in radio when in 1979 he joined the then-local kid's variety show, where he played an assortment of adult roles opposite a cast of kids (including Alanis Morissette). One of his most repeated characters was Barth, the gross proprietor of Barth's Burgery.

When 'YCDTOTV' moved over to Nickelodeon in the early 1980's, Lye became a household name. That is, if your home included children.
Lye appeared in every episode of every season he was in the cast, up until leaving the show in 1990. The show may be best known for it's signature sliming whenever someone said "I Don't Know."

Besides Barth, other memorable characters created by Lye were:

• -- Ross Ewich, a studio director whose name rhymes with "raw sewage."
• -- El Capitano, a firing squad captain hired to shoot the kids, but instead ends up getting shot.
• -- Snake Eyes, a horrible bus driver.
• -- Senator Lance Prevert, a drunken politician.

With fellow comic Bill Luxton, Lye co-created the comedy duo Uncle Will and Floyd, which appeared on Canadian TV for more than 20 years.

And who could forget Moose, Lisa, and Kevin Ilianavich Rasputin Kubusheskie.

"You wish-washy acne-face jellyfish!"

Back in '80-85 or so, this was my single favorite show on TV. Well, besides Knight Rider and China Beach.

YCDTOTV.com - The Official You Can't Do That On Televison Source

Oh my, and who could forget cute little Alanis: