The History of White People in America (1985)

In this parody of documentaries, host Martin Mull discusses the contributions that white people have made to the USA, visits the Institute of White Studies, and follows a typical white family as they go about their everyday lives.

Director:

Harry Shearer

Writers:

Martin Mull, Allen Rucker

Stars:

Martin Mull, Mary Kay Place, Fred Willard

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Martin Mull	...	Himself - Host
Mary Kay Place	...	Joyce Harrison
Fred Willard	...	Hal Harrison
Christian Jacobs	...	Tommy Harrison
Amy Lynne	...	Debbie Harrison
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eileen Brennan
Steve Martin	...	Himself
Jack Riley	...	Scientist
Harry Shearer	...	Rabbi

Storyline

In ths "mockumentary," host Martin Mull discusses the contributions that white people have made to the U.S., visits the Institute of White Studies, and follows a typical white family as they go about their everyday lives.

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Plot Keywords:

satire | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

The History of White People in America: Volume I

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

48 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by The History of White People in America: Volume II (1986)

User Reviews

whiter and whiter still

Which part of "The History of White People in America" is the funniest? I don't know, but a real hoot is when the teacher asks the students about their family history: the non-white students have entire stories to tell, while the white suburban boy says "Uh, first we lived on this street, then on that street." So yes, Martin Mull's mockumentary is part jab at air-head Caucasoids, part jab at self-righteous studies of certain ethnic groups. But no matter how you look at it, this is one of the funniest mockumentaries that I've ever seen. It truly does help us understand what European-Americans have contributed to our country (if we took the approach that we take to blacks, Hispanics, etc). Really hilarious.

Yeah, that yarmulke/Yamaha is something else.