You know that feeling when you're so excited about something mundane that you basically vibrate? That’s the soul of Ed Grimley. Honestly, if you grew up in the 80s, you couldn't escape him. He was everywhere—SCTV, SNL, and eventually his own Saturday morning cartoon. But here’s the thing: Ed Grimley wasn't just a "nerd" character. He was a specific kind of manic energy that only Martin Short could pull off without it feeling purely annoying.
The high-waisted pants. The cowlick that defied gravity. The triangle. It was all a bit much, wasn't it?
Actually, the story of how Ed came to be is way more accidental than you’d think. Martin Short didn't sit down and map out a "hit character." He was just trying to make his friends laugh during a rehearsal at The Second City in Toronto. It’s kinda wild to think that a global comedy icon started as an inside joke about a greasy-haired guy who was way too into Pat Sajak.
The Secret Origin of the Cowlick
Back in the late 70s, Short was replacing John Candy in a stage sketch called "Sexist." The premise was simple: a qualified woman and a total goofball apply for the same job. Short played the goofball. Initially, the hair was just messy. But one night, he decided to grease it straight up into a point, inspired by a scene from the John Wayne movie McLintock!.
He walked out on stage, and the audience lost it.
Short noticed that if he bared his teeth just a little bit, the laughs got louder. He realized he’d stumbled onto something. The character didn’t even have a name yet, but the "Ed Grimley" DNA was already there. It was less about being a geek and more about being a "man-child" with the pure, unadulterated enthusiasm of a six-year-old on a sugar high.
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From SCTV to SNL: The Takeover
When Short joined the cast of SCTV (Second City Television) in 1982, Ed Grimley made his official TV debut. He appeared in "The Nutty Lab Assistant," and suddenly, Canada was obsessed. But the real explosion happened in 1984. Short moved to Saturday Night Live for a single, legendary season.
He didn't stay long. Just one year.
But in those twelve months, Ed Grimley became a household name. He was the guy who loved Wheel of Fortune more than life itself. He’d prance around his apartment, strike a triangle once, and then dance like his life depended on it. Critics at the time were sometimes confused. Some thought he was too loud, too repetitive. But for the kids watching at home? He was a hero. He was weird, and he was okay with it.
The Cartoon That Shouldn't Have Worked
By 1988, the hype was so real that Hanna-Barbera—the studio behind The Flintstones—gave Ed his own show. It was called The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley.
It was a total fever dream.
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The show mixed animation with live-action segments. You had Joe Flaherty reprising his SCTV role as Count Floyd, telling "scary stories" to a bunch of kids who clearly weren't scared. You had science lessons from the Amazing Gustav Brothers. Short’s brother, Michael, was even involved in the writing.
It only lasted 13 episodes.
But if you talk to anyone of a certain age, they remember that show vividly. It was the only time a character from both SCTV and SNL got turned into a Saturday morning cartoon. It even spawned a talking doll by Tyco. If you pull the string on the back, he still says, "I'm as doomed as doomed can be, I must say!"
Why We’re Still Talking About Him in 2026
It’s easy to dismiss Ed as a relic of 80s "catchphrase comedy." But there’s a reason Martin Short still brings him out for cameos, like in his 2015 SNL appearance or his Broadway shows.
Ed Grimley represents a purity of spirit.
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Think about it. Ed isn't mean. He doesn't have an ego. He lives in a world of "totally decent" people and "mental" excitement. In an era where comedy is often cynical or "dark," Ed is just... happy. He’s obsessed with the small things. A ringing phone is a mystery. A triangle solo is a masterpiece.
Martin Short once mentioned in an interview that the character was partly inspired by his sister-in-law, who was 30 but still got excited about packing for a trip like a little kid. That’s the secret sauce. It’s that refusal to let adulthood kill your sense of wonder.
The Legacy of the "I Must Say" Guy
Look at the characters Short plays now in Only Murders in the Building. Oliver Putnam has that same desperate, theatrical energy. He’s essentially a more sophisticated, Broadway-obsessed version of Ed. Short has spent forty years refining this archetype: the guy who is trying way too hard but you can't help but love him for it.
- The Catchphrases: "I must say," "Give me a break," "Totally decent."
- The Hobbies: Playing the triangle, watching Pat Sajak, writing in his diary.
- The Look: High-water pants, greased-up hair, and that nervous, bared-teeth grin.
If you want to understand Martin Short's career, you have to start with Ed. He was the prototype. He was the character that proved Short could dominate a stage just by being the oddest person in the room.
Next Steps for the Ed Grimley Fan:
If you’re feeling nostalgic, you should definitely track down the SCTV "Nutty Lab Assistant" sketches. They’re a bit slower-paced than the SNL versions, but you can see Short building the character in real-time. Also, keep an eye on Short’s interviews with Steve Martin; the "Ed" energy often leaks out when the two of them start riffing. It’s a masterclass in physical comedy that hasn’t aged a day, honestly.