Zapped! (1982)

Director:

Robert J. Rosenthal

Writers:

Robert J. Rosenthal (writer)
Bruce Rubin (writer)

Release Date:

23 July 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

An A+ Comedy That Makes the Grade!

Plot:

A teenager science-nerd gains telekinetic powers.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Telekinesis | Teen Comedy | Nude In Public | Prom

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Scott Baio	...	Barney Springboro
Willie Aames	...	Peyton Nichols
Robert Mandan	...	Walter J. Coolidge
Felice Schachter	...	Bernadette
Scatman Crothers	...	Dexter Jones
Roger Bowen	...	Mr. Springboro
Mews Small	...	Mrs. Springboro (as Marya Small)
Greg Bradford	...	Robert Wolcott
Hilary Beane	...	Corinne Updike
Sue Ane Langdon	...	Rose Burnhart
Heather Thomas	...	Jane Mitchell
Hardy Keith	...	Roscoe Brown
Curt Ayers	...	Art
Merritt Butrick	...	Gary Cooter
Jennifer Chaplin	...	Melissa Granger

Also Known As:

The Wiz Kid (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | USA:PG (original version)

Filming Locations:

John Marshall High School - 3939 Tracy Street, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Apple

Trivia:

The movie poster artist was Michael Backus. He was paid $5,000. The artist's signature appears on the "Zapped!" poster as (1) An 'MJB' monogram on Scott Baio's pink polo shirt (2) a 'Backus' signature on the Gilbert Stewart George Washington portrait and (3) 'Backus' on the ruler flying through the air. It was his first commercial assignment and it launched Backus Studios.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Objects in a fish tank are magnified but when a model space ship flies through a fish tank here it appears smaller.

Quotes:

Robert Wolcott: Ready buddy?
Peyton Nichols: Ready Freddie!
Robert Wolcott: Don't you ever call me that. Call me that again, and I'll kill you!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: Meet the Quagmires (#5.18)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Got To Believe In Magic

I Know It's A Bad Movie, But I Love To Watch It!

I just bought a copy of Zapped for $5 and watched it for the first time in several years the other day. All the reviews you will read for the movie here sum it up. It's a bad story, with bad actors, with bad acting, with bad special effects and I enjoy it every time I watch it. I don't know why because I've never liked Scott Baio or Willie Aames in anything else they did, but they click here. I also think Felice Schacter was a cutie in the picture. I always make the comparison to WKRP in Cincinnati when I watch this picture. Felice is Bailey Quarters and Heather Thomas is Loni Anderson's Jennifer (and I preferred Bailey by far). I always got a kick out of Scatman Crothers and he has some great lines in this movie as does LaWanda Page (from Sanford and Son fame). And don't forget the movie industry's biggest geek, Eddie Deezen, who makes an appearance.

As another reviewer put it, watching Zapped is a guilty pleasure. if that's the case, I probably belong on Death Row! If you want to clear your mind of all thoughts and don't want to do it with chemicals, pop in Zapped and enjoy!