Breakfast Television’s Ted Henley makes sitcom debut

It wasn’t long into Wednesday night’s episode of “Young Drunk Punk” for local talent to make an appearance on the small screen.

In fact, Breakfast Television’s Ted Henley introduced the entire premise of the show, in true news fashion: “In other news, lock your doors, grab your guns and get ready for an invasion,” he said on the broadcast, introducing the 80s themed video-game “Space Invaders.”

The 11th episode of the shows’ first season was all about the Japanese “high-tech, electric game machine.”

The role of news anchor isn’t a stretch for the new actor, who co-hosts the morning show on City’s Breakfast Television.

But, Henley joked not having a teleprompter wasn’t easy, “we went through it three or four times when we’re shooting, and then Bruce is like, great, okay, you know, we appreciate you coming in so prepared; let’s have some fun!”

“We did that for about 25-30 minutes, which was mentally tiring, but after that he was like, okay we’re done,” Henley said, confused at Bruce McCulloch’s statement, “we got what we want!”

It was the primetime-sitcom debut for the Calgary personality, but not his theatrical debut. “When I was in University,” Henley recalls, “I was a hockey stunt guy, just becuase I was a hockey player, and I had one speaking line in a movie which was called “Networth,” which was the start of the NHL Players Association; really, really minor stuff, but that was, like, 20 years ago.”

What was the highlight of Wednesday’s feature? Saying a short, three letter word on TV.

In the show, the anchor refers to the high-scorer for the Space Invaders game “Calgary native, Archibald Sylvester Shinky,” who uses his initials as his game handle. “My kids, I’m sure their jaws dropped, when they saw their dad saying that on television,” Henley laughs, “which was pretty cool.”

“Young Drunk Punk” is the 80s themed autobiographical story of “Kids in the Hall” alumnus, Bruce McCulloch. It airs Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. on City.