CINEMAX COMEDY EXPERIMENT: IT'S JUST TV {HARRY
SHEARER} (TV)
Summary
Humorist Harry Shearer writes, directs, and stars in this comedy special which satirizes syndicated television programming and the people who sell it. The National Association of Program Purchasers Convention -- where local stations purchase syndicated programs -- provides comedic fodder for a series of sketches and program parodies. Highlights include the following: a look at "This Week in Rock 'n' Roll" hosted by Curt Gowdy (Shearer), featuring a story about a radio deejay who does play-by-play descriptions of music videos as a service to sightless viewers; David L. Landers as a sleazy salesman trying to peddle the program "Mobile Home Life"; footage of "At Home with Charles Kuralt," with Kuralt (Shearer) bringing his gentle observations and insights to the laundry room, bathroom, and other domestic spaces; "Puttin on the Spots," a show where contestants lip sync to television commercials, hosted by Alan Thicke (Shearer); Paul Shaffer and Tom Leopold discuss their new syndicated projects; a music video, "Slant Drillin' U.S.A," produced by the American Oil Council and performed by the fictitious group The Offshore Boys; and "Dick Clark's Blooper News," with Shearer as Clark discussing his latest research efforts into what makes a blooper "tick."
Details
- NETWORK: Cinemax
- DATE: November 30, 1984
- RUNNING TIME: 0:28:23
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:08734
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Karen Murphy … Producer
- Johanna Persons … Associate Producer
- Harry Shearer … Director, Writer, Music by, Cast
- Gunnar Madsen … Music by, "Art for Art's Sake" music and lyrics by
- Richard Greene … Music by, "Art for Art's Sake" music and lyrics by
- The Bobs … Music Group, "Arts for Art's Sake" performed by
- Peter Torokvei … Cast, Jim Jermayne
- Robert W. Morgan … Cast, Mike Van Dam
- David L. Lander … Cast, Vincent Dialessio
- Michael Elias … Cast, Milt Pocoroba
- Julie Payne … Cast, Jill Salkow
- Robert Bauer … Cast, Roger Speidel
- Bob Arbogast … Cast, Andy Matthews
- Tom Leopold … Cast, himself
- Paul Shaffer … Cast, himself
- Joseph Benti … Cast, Aaron "Zeke" Marquardt
- Archie Hahn … Cast, Offshore Boy #1
- Billy Vera … Cast, Offshore Boy #2
- Dennis Dragon … Cast, Offshore Boy #3
- Garry Goodrow … Cast, Bill Shimkiss
- Carl Gottleib … Cast, Gordon Boardman
- Chris Somma … Cast
- Frank Catalano … Cast
- La Piere, Georganne … Cast
- Carol Fricke … Cast
- Valerie Long … Cast
- David Polk … Cast
- Bridget Holloman … Cast
- John Gowans … Cast
- Alan Woolf … Cast