Americathon (1979)

Director:  Neal Israel

Writers:  Phil Proctor, Peter Bergman, Neal Israel, Michael Mislove, Monica McGowan Johnson

Composer:  Tom Scott

Starring:  Harvey Korman, Fred Willard, Peter Riegert, Zane Buzby, Nancy Morgan, John Ritter, Richard Schaal, Allan Arbus, Elvis Costello, Chief Dan George, Tommy Lasorda, Jay Leno, Peter Marshall, David Opatoshu, Meat Loaf, George Carlin, Howard Hesseman, Cybill Shepherd

More info:  IMDb

Tagline:  The Future is Here, Blow it Out Your Ear

Plot:  In a story told in narrative flashbacks, a young TV consultant is hired by the President of a bankrupt USA to organize a telethon in order to prevent the country from being repossessed by wealthy Native Americans.

My rating:  6/10

Will I watch it again?  No.

It's not a great movie by any stretch of the imagination but that's not to say it isn't without any fun moments and great laughs.  Among them are...

This opens the picture with George Carlin's wonderfully delivered and funny narration.  See, this is the future and this is Pittsburgh where two dinosaurs are fighting over a parking space.  The Ray Harryhausen footage is from THE ANIMAL WORLD (1956) and I need to see it!

We first meet Monty Rushmore (Korman) in drag, showing once again how much of a natural comedian and dramatic actor he was.  Damn, I miss that guy.

Zane Buzby plays Mouling Jackson, the most poplar performer of "puke rock" out there.  This broad was fucking hysterical and she owned every scene she was in.  I want more of her, please!

Topless marionettes.  'Nuff said!

Meat Loaf (as Oklahoma Roy Budnitz, AKA The Car Killer) kilss a car and wins over the audience.  He comes back later to give blood to raise money for the country and he's funny as shit. 

Jay Leno stars in one of the funnier bits during the 30-day telethon where he plays Larry "Poopy Butt" Miller boxing his mom (hilariously played by stuntwoman, May Boss).  This was one one of the more inspired bits of the show.

And an uncredited Cybill Shepherd kicks the telethon off with Monty.

Carlin's voice is heard throughout and not only is his delivery fantastic but he's funny and his voice is just what this picture needed for that role.  There are a lot of funny bits in this picture and I laughed out loud a few times.  Having the telethon with lots of different acts is a brilliant way to justify all kinds of wild and crazy bits which were touched on but could've been so much more.  It's a wasted opportunity right there.  The jokes aren't consistent and there aren't enough of them to keep the momentum going.  Had there been, this could've become a classic.  As it is, it's got a pretty good foundation for one and it's far from not being entertaining.  I'm oldschool and I appreciate a lot of the talent in front of the camera on this one so unless it's a shitstorm of epic proportions, I'm probably going to enjoy it on some level...and I did.