SCTV was forced to operate on a notoriously stingy budget, which is why you see them doing a lot of cheap “neighbourhood shots” around Edmonton, which is where it was mostly filmed in its prime (1980-83).
HOWEVER, they did have one asset - access to a massive wardrobe library. So with no money for special effects but lots of costumes available, the cast was forced to be creative and create characters out of nothing ... obviously it worked
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_City_Television