Americathon (1979)

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.

Director:

Neal Israel

Writers:

Phil Proctor (play) (as Phillip Proctor), Peter Bergman (play)

Stars:

Harvey Korman, Fred Willard, Peter Riegert

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harvey Korman	...	Monty Rushmore
Fred Willard	...	Vincent Vanderhoff
Peter Riegert	...	Eric McMerkin
Zane Buzby	...	Mouling Jackson
Nancy Morgan	...	Lucy Beth
John Ritter	...	President Chet Roosevelt
Richard Schaal	...	Jerry
Allan Arbus	...	Moishe Weitzman
Elvis Costello	...	Earl Manchester
Chief Dan George	...	Sam Birdwater
Tommy Lasorda	...	Jimmy Dunphy
Jay Leno	...	Larry Miller (Poopy Butt)
Peter Marshall	...	Peter Marshall
David Opatoshu	...	Abdul Muhammad
Meat Loaf	...	Oklahoma Roy Budnitz

Storyline

In the not too distant future, the United States government is virtually bankrupt and in danger of being foreclosed on by a group of Native Americans, now owners of the massive Nike Corporation. A desperate President decides to make a last-ditch effort to save the country... by raising money with a telethon!

---

Plot Keywords:

political satire | national debt | presidential comedy | sabotage | energy crisis | 

---

Taglines:

The ultimate spectacle is now a movie.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

West Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 August 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

1998 - Die vier Milliarden Dollar Show

Box Office

Gross USA:

$6,171,763

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lorimar Filmgesellschaft GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dorothy Stratten appears in an uncredited role wearing a Playboy Bunny style costume in the scene where Roy Budnitz donates blood.

---

Goofs

The movie mentions that people all over the country were watching the telethon, including people from the first gay state, North Dakota. We then see a picture of Mount Rushmore which is in South Dakota

---

Quotes

Western White House Tour Guide: All right, people, let's move it! Please, ma'am, no spitting in the hallway!

---

Connections

Features The Animal World (1956)

---

Soundtracks

My Life
Written by Earl Brown
Performed by Harvey Korman

User Reviews

Harbinger of doom!

I will give the film points for being extremely prescient. The year is 1998. The world is completely out of oil and America is deep in debt thanks to dimwit President Chet Roosevelt (Ritter) who was elected by a TV worshiping public merely because of the family name. Sound familiar? Scary! Anyway, Chet and media specialist Riegert decide to hold a 30 day telethon to save America (home to the first gay state North Dakota!). To host it they choose washed up actor Monty Rushmore (Korman), who is now the pill popping star of a cross dressing sitcom called "Both Mother and Father." But sneaky Presidential aide Vincent Vanderhoff (Willard) wants this to fail so the Hebarabs (the Jews and Arabs have joined forces) can take over America. His plan? Booking only ventriloquist acts. Whew!

Wow, how can a film starring Peter Riegert, Harvey Korman, Fred Willard and John Ritter be so painfully unfunny? I only laughed once during this futuristic comedy (at a joke involving Peter Marshall!). Director Neal Israel really blows it here. He has no idea how to set up a proper sight gag and everyone seems so subdued. The whole time I kept thinking how much better it would be if Mel Brooks had directed it. The only lively performance is by Zane Busby as Vietnamese "puke rock" sensation Mouling Jackson. Bizarre cameos include Meat Loaf, Elvis Costello and Jay Leno.