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IMDbPro

Talk Radio

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Talk Radio (1988)
A rude, contemptuous talk show host becomes overwhelmed by the hatred that surrounds his program just before it goes national.
Play trailer2:16
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaThriller
A rude, contemptuous talk show host becomes overwhelmed by the hatred that surrounds his program just before it goes national.A rude, contemptuous talk show host becomes overwhelmed by the hatred that surrounds his program just before it goes national.A rude, contemptuous talk show host becomes overwhelmed by the hatred that surrounds his program just before it goes national.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
14K
YOUR RATING
    • Oliver Stone
  • Writers
    • Stephen Singular(book "Talked To Death: The Life and Murder of Alan Berg")
    • Eric Bogosian(play creator)
    • Tad Savinar(play creator)
  • Stars
    • Eric Bogosian
    • Ellen Greene
    • Leslie Hope
    • Oliver Stone
  • Writers
    • Stephen Singular(book "Talked To Death: The Life and Murder of Alan Berg")
    • Eric Bogosian(play creator)
    • Tad Savinar(play creator)
  • Stars
    • Eric Bogosian
    • Ellen Greene
    • Leslie Hope
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 93User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:16
    Watch Trailer

    Photos119

    Eric Bogosian in Talk Radio (1988)
    Talk Radio (1988)
    Talk Radio (1988)
    Talk Radio (1988)
    Talk Radio (1988)
    Talk Radio (1988)
    Talk Radio (1988)
    Talk Radio (1988)
    Talk Radio (1988)
    John C. McGinley in Talk Radio (1988)
    Leslie Hope in Talk Radio (1988)
    Talk Radio (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Eric Bogosian
    Eric Bogosian
    • Barry
    Ellen Greene
    Ellen Greene
    • Ellen
    Leslie Hope
    Leslie Hope
    • Laura
    John C. McGinley
    John C. McGinley
    • Stu
    Alec Baldwin
    Alec Baldwin
    • Dan
    John Pankow
    John Pankow
    • Dietz
    Michael Wincott
    Michael Wincott
    • Kent…
    Linda Atkinson
    • Sheila Fleming
    Robert Trebor
    Robert Trebor
    • Jeffrey Fisher…
    Zach Grenier
    Zach Grenier
    • Sid Greenberg
    Tony Frank
    Tony Frank
    • Dino
    Harlan Jordan
    • Coach Armstrong
    Bill Johnson
    Bill Johnson
    • Fan #1
    Kevin Howard
    • Fan #2
    Anna Thomson
    Anna Thomson
    • Woman at Basketball Game
    • (as Anna Levine)
    • …
    Bruno Rubeo
    • Tony
    Pirie MacDonald
    • Judge Willard
    Allan Corduner
    Allan Corduner
    • Vince…
      • Oliver Stone
    • Writers
      • Stephen Singular(book "Talked To Death: The Life and Murder of Alan Berg")
      • Eric Bogosian(play creator) (play) (screenplay)
      • Tad Savinar(play creator)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Eric Bogosian's play "Talk Radio", on which this film is based, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
    • Goofs
      When Barry Champlain says that he's going to punish his listeners by playing the Bee Gees' song - Saturday Night Fever, ten times in a row. While they had a monster hit with "Night Fever" there is no such song as "Saturday Night Fever." The record they actually play is Disco Inferno by The Tramps. This may be intentional due to copyright issues; however, the track is on the OST for Saturday Night Fever.
    • Quotes

      Barry: I should hang; I'm a hypocrite. I ask for sincerity and I lie. I denounce the system as I embrace it. I want money and power and prestige: I want ratings and success. And I don't give a damn about you, or the world. That's the truth: for that I could say I'm sorry, but I won't. Why should I? I mean who the hell are you anyways you... audience! You're on me every night like a pack of wolves because you can't stand facing what you are and what you've made! Yes, the world is a terrible place. Yes, cancer and garbage disposals will get you. Yes, a war is coming. Yes, the world is shot to hell and you're all goners. Everything's screwed up and you like it that way don't you? You're fascinated by the gory details. You're mesmerized by your own fear. You revel in floods and car accidents, unstoppable diseases. You're happiest when others are in pain. That's where I come in, isn't it? I'm here to lead you by the hands through the dark forest of your own hatred and anger and humiliation. I'm providing a public service. You're so scared. You're like a little child under the covers. You're afraid of the boogeyman but you can't live without him. Your fear; your own lives have become your entertainment. Next month, millions of people are going to be listening to this show and you'll have nothing to talk about! Marvelous technology is at our disposal, and instead of reaching up to new heights, we're gonna see how far down we can go! How deep into the muck we can immerse ourselves! What do you wanna talk about, hm? Baseball scores? Your pet? Orgasms? You're pathetic. I despise each and every one of you. You've got nothing, absolutely nothing. No brains, no power, no future, no hope, no God. The only thing you believe in is me. What are you if you don't have me. I'm not afraid see. I come in here every night, I make my case, I make my point, I say what I believe in. I tell you what you are, I have to, I have no choice! You frighten me! I come in here every night, I tear into you, I abuse you, I insult you, you just keep coming back for more. Whats wrong with you, why do you keep calling? I don't wanna hear anymore, stop talking! Go away! Bunch of yellow-bellied, spineless, bigoted, quivering, drunken, insomnia-tic, paranoid, disgusting, perverted, voyeuristic, little obscene phone callers, that's what you are. Well to Hell with you. I don't need your ferior stupidity, you don't get it. It's wasted on you. Pearls before swine. If one person out there had any idea what I'm talking about... I...

      [answers caller]

      Barry: friend you're on night talk.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Working Girl/I'm Gonna Git You Sucka/Rain Man/Torch Song Trilogy/Haunted Summer (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Bad to the Bone
      Written by George Thorogood

      Performed by Budd Carr

    User reviews93

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    More ranting from Olly
    Probably one of his lesser known films, it suffers from the same lack of exposure as Salvador in that its actually one of his best.

    Written by and starring Eric Bogosian, Talk Radio tells the story of an opinionated radio phone-in host who upsets the wrong kind of listener. The film is important, and has much to say on the issues of free speech and just how free it should be, and you can easily tell that it started life as a stage play. Know what you're getting into before you sit down to watch it and you'll be fine.

    There isn't much to the acting really as Bogosian pretty much steals the film, he wrote and is given licence to rant, I couldn't take my eyes off him and that was part of the fascination many of the listeners had; the people who hated him wouldn't turn off in-case they missed something.

    Not for everyone, but a very good drama and overall a very good film.
    helpful•13
    0
    • ill_behavior
    • Dec 5, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 13, 1989 (United States)
      • United States
      • Canada
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Thanksgiving Park, Dallas, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cineplex Odeon Films
      • Ten-Four Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 50 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Stereo

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