Edtv (1999)

A video store clerk agrees to have his life filmed by a camera crew for a television show.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Émile Gaudreault (screenplay "Louis 19, le roi des ondes"), Sylvie Bouchard (screenplay "Louis 19, le roi des ondes")

Stars:

Matthew McConaughey, Jenna Elfman, Geoffrey Blake

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Geoffrey Blake	...	Keith
Gail Boggs	...	Wife
Jenna Byrne	...	Felicia
Merrin Dungey	...	Ms. Seaver
Ian Gomez	...	McIlvaine
Gavin Grazer	...	Clint
Chris Hogan	...	Paul
Arianna Huffington	...	Panel Member
Larry Flash Jenkins	...	Husband (as Larry Jenkins)
Wendle Josepher	...	Rita
Scott LaRose	...	Desipio
John Livingston	...	Terry
Mitzi McCall	...	Fig Lady
Jim Meskimen	...	Dr. Geller
Don Most	...	Benson

Storyline

In a Hail Mary move for corporate preservation, the San Francisco based Northwest Broadcasting Corporation launches True TV, a new network which will broadcast the life of an Average Joe or Jane, 24/7 live and thus unedited, the subject chosen signed initially for one month. The project is conceived and led by one of the producers, Cynthia, but her boss, NWBC president Whitaker, will take the credit if it succeeds, and let her sink as the captain of the ship if it fails. The network is rebranded EdTV when Cynthia believes she's found her subject, Ed Pekurny, a native Texas hayseed, who fits the two main criteria that she is looking for in the person: he is easy on the eyes, and he has what seems to be a potential trainwreck of a life in that he he is thirty-one years old, spends most of his time hanging out at the bar, and has no ambition beyond his longtime dead end job as a clerk in a video store. Ed did not actively campaign for the job - his blowhard of a brother Ray was the one ...

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Plot Keywords:

television | fictional reality show | media circus | commercialism | satire | 

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Taglines:

Fame. Be careful. It's out there.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sex-related situations, partial nudity and crude language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 March 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ed TV

Filming Locations:

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument - 11 South Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,311,290, 28 March 1999

Gross USA:

$22,431,897

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$35,242,897

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the scene where Ed first awakens to the cameramen at the foot of his bed, a sign can be seen above his bed that reads, "Longview - 12 miles." Matthew McConaughey's hometown is Longview, Texas.

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Goofs

When Ed is talking to Shari from the street, it's clearly raining pretty steadily. Everything outside is dripping wet and Ed's hair is soaked and rain noise is clear, yet his jacket is dry and no raindrops can be seen hitting the ground.

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Quotes

[talking about Ed's dad]
Ed: He cheated on you?
Ed's mother: Well, he had medical problems, he said the woman he was with was a nurse.
Ed: And you believed him!
Ed's mother: Well, she had white shoes.
Ed: So does Grandma! So does Sahquille O-Neil!

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Connections

References Species (1995)

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Soundtracks

Call And Answer
Written by Steven Page and Stephen Duffy
Performed by Barenaked Ladies
Courtesy of Reprise Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Peoducts

User Reviews

Very entertaining, a real gem of a funny movie.

I first want to say, all those comparing EDtv to "Truman" just miss the point completely. They are as different in approach and intent as are "The Rock" and "The Birdman of Alcatraz" which both happen to be set in the same prison.

"EDtv" is meant to be a comedy with a lot of subtle and not so subtle references to the intrusive nature of the media. The characters are very engaging and well-acted. I laughed all the way through this movie. That's all I think it was supposed to be.

It isn't quite as good as "As Good As It Gets" or "Analyze This", but I still give it 8 of 10!!