T.V. SHOW, THE {PILOT} (TV)
Summary
The pilot of this fast-paced sketch comedy show which satirizes television and offers parodies of commercials. Sketch highlights include the following: "Bowling for Food"; a "National Enquirer" commercial spoof called "National Trash"; "Wild People Kingdom," a parody of "Wild Kingdom" in which a certified public accountant is hunted like an animal; Rob Reiner as George Jessel hosting the "Stop Death in Our Lifetime" telethon; Brett Somers in "Celebrity Night Watchman"; Harry Shearer as a televangelist/faith healer; Christopher Guest as children's show host Mr. Rogers; "Queen Elizabeth 'n' Andy," a satire of "Amos 'n' Andy"; Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in a beer commercial; an ABC Friday Night Movie called "Bad Dog!" with Martin Mull and Benji as an unruly canine; a spoof of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's "PTL Club" with special guest Elvis of Bethlehem; commercials for ProtoChem Industries; an episode of "History on Trial" called "The Trial of Adolf Hitler" which puts der FŸhrer in a leisure suit in a modern-day trial; a commercial for "Par-Tee Time Hoof Sticks"; Martin Mull for the Columbia School of Weights and Measures; "Tomorrow" host Tom Snyder interviews professional boxer Muhammad Ali (portrayed by Billy Crystal), who has converted to Judaism and wishes to be known as Izzy Izzkawitz and introduces the concept of "Jewish boxing" in which the boxer makes his opponent feel guilty; a commercial for Poopale's Pocket Fisherman; an Eyewitness news reporter covering a UFO sighting; Rob Reiner as Wolfman Jack introducing rock group Spinal Tap; and Don Hunter, president of Land and Carpet Company, selling carpeted land at Shag Pine Estates. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: July 24, 1979 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:50:06
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:25596
- GENRE: Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy/Variety; Parody; Satire
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1979
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rob Reiner … Executive Producer, Writer
- Phil Mishkin … Executive Producer, Writer
- Paul Waigner … Producer
- Camilla Dunn … Associate Producer
- Harry Shearer … Producer, Writer, Music (Misc. Credits), Special Musical Material by
- Tom Trbovich … Director
- Billy Crystal … Writer
- Christopher Guest … Writer, Music (Misc. Credits), Special Musical Material by
- Tom Leopold … Writer
- Martin Mull … Writer, Music (Misc. Credits), Special Musical Material by
- Steven Cagan … Music (Misc. Credits), Musical Director
- Spinal Tap … Music Group
- Michael McKean … Music (Misc. Credits), Special Musical Material by
- Melissa Manchester … Music (Misc. Credits), "Elizabeth & Andy" Theme Sung by
- Johnny Brown … Cast, the Kingfish
- Henry Harris … Cast, Andy
- Rob Reiner … Cast
- Tom Leopold … Cast
- Shearer Harry … Cast
- Christopher Guest … Cast
- Deborah Harmon … Cast
- Kres Mersky … Cast
- Michael McKean … Cast
- Billy Crystal … Cast
- Martin Mull … Cast
- Brett Somers … Cast
- Marvin Braverman … Cast
- Wainwright, Loudon, III … Cast
- Wolfman Jack
- Adolf Hitler
- Anwar el- Sadat
- Menachem Begin
- Ali, Muhammad (See also: Clay, Cassius)