Steven Banks: Home Entertainment Center (TV 1989)In this brilliant one-man show, the mild-mannered, thirty-something Steven Banks arrives home after a long day at his dead-end corporate job, still dreaming of being a rock star. Steven ... See full summary » Director:Tom McLoughlinWriter:Steven Banks |
|
| 0Share... |
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Steven Banks: Home Entertainment Center (TV 1989)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
In this brilliant one-man show, the mild-mannered, thirty-something Steven Banks arrives home after a long day at his dead-end corporate job, still dreaming of being a rock star. Steven receives a message on his machine from his boss, Mr. Buttle, informing him that he never received an urgent speech Steven wrote for the board of directors. Steven must scramble to write a new one, but he has less than an hour to do it. Along the way, he continually procrastinates and distracts himself from the task at hand, playing with toys and various musical instruments, baking cookies, putting on costumes, leafing through an old high school yearbook and performing some hilarious original songs along the way. Meanwhile, he's got to deal with his grumpy landlord Mr. Mescue, his clingy girlfriend Phoebe and even a broken toilet. Will Steven ever finish his speech? Or does fate have something else in mind for him? Written by The Keymaster
Plot Keywords:
character name in titleGenres:
ComedyParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
1989 (USA) See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
StereoColor:
Color
Edit
Written by Steven Banks
Performed by Steven Banks
See more »
Did You Know?
Soundtracks
"Who Killed the King of Rock & Roll?"Written by Steven Banks
Performed by Steven Banks
See more »
Digging through a box of old videotapes, I was lucky enough to run across this gem that aired on HBO back in 1989. It was a little worn because it was one of those shows that once you see it, you want to show it to everyone you know. And, surprise, it is still as amusing as the first time I watched it.
Imagine a 30-something loser hanging out in his apartment and amusing himself for the evening. Doesn't sound too interesting? Well, imagine he's funny, makes up great songs chocked full of pop-culture references, and can play every instrument known to man. That's what you've got with Steven Banks: Home Entertainment Center. Banks portrays a kind of man-child in a state of protracted adolescence (trapped in a dead end job, still dreaming of being a rock star, and unable to commit to a relationship) who he milks for full comedic potential. Who would have thought watching someone flip through an old songbook and playing guitar could make you laugh out loud? Or that a guy with a recorder waiting for cookies to bake could be comic gold? But Banks pulls it off flawlessly.
The songs sprinkled throughout the performance could be funny for nearly any audience, but are likely to be especially amusing to Baby Boomers. They range in subject from the character's likes and dislikes ("...but I don't like Charles Manson, Adolf Hitler or Rod McKuen's poetry), to a song questioning who killed Elvis, to the joys of outdoor bar-b-ques. All of the strange detours, asides and songs are woven seamlessly into an engaging whole.
This show may be hard to find (I don't believe it was ever released to video), but it is well worth the search.