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IMDbPro

Edtv

  • 19991999
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
43K
YOUR RATING
Matthew McConaughey in Edtv (1999)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
A video store clerk agrees to have his life filmed by a camera crew for a television show.A video store clerk agrees to have his life filmed by a camera crew for a television show.A video store clerk agrees to have his life filmed by a camera crew for a television show.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
43K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ron Howard
  • Writers
    • Émile Gaudreault(screenplay "Louis 19, le roi des ondes")
    • Sylvie Bouchard(screenplay "Louis 19, le roi des ondes")
    • Lowell Ganz(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Matthew McConaughey
    • Jenna Elfman
    • Geoffrey Blake
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ron Howard
  • Writers
    • Émile Gaudreault(screenplay "Louis 19, le roi des ondes")
    • Sylvie Bouchard(screenplay "Louis 19, le roi des ondes")
    • Lowell Ganz(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Matthew McConaughey
    • Jenna Elfman
    • Geoffrey Blake
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 206User reviews
    • 74Critic reviews
    • 48Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos112

    Agreeing to having his "life" aired on cable TV 24-hours-a-day, Ed Pekurny (Matthew McConaughey) is followed, wherever he goes, by a video crew.
    Matthew McConaughey and Jenna Elfman in Edtv (1999)
    Elizabeth Hurley and Matthew McConaughey in Edtv (1999)
    Ed Pekurny (Matthew McConaughey) and his brother Ray (Woody Harrelson) try-out for a new show on "True TV."
    Matthew McConaughey and Jenna Elfman in Edtv (1999)
    Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Sally Kirkland, and Viveka Davis in Edtv (1999)
    Ed (Matthew McConaughey) and Shari's (Jenna Elfman) love life becomes part of the program.
    Cynthia Topping (Ellen DeGeneres)and her staff watch with delight as their creation, "EDtv," becomes a public obsession and media sesation.
    Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in Edtv (1999)
    Alexandra Paul in Edtv (1999)
    Alexandra Paul in Edtv (1999)
    Ron Howard, Matthew McConaughey, and Woody Harrelson in Edtv (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Matthew McConaughey
    Matthew McConaughey
    • Edas Ed
    Jenna Elfman
    Jenna Elfman
    • Sharias Shari
    Geoffrey Blake
    Geoffrey Blake
    • Keithas Keith
    Gail Boggs
    Gail Boggs
    • Wifeas Wife
    Jenna Byrne
    • Feliciaas Felicia
    Merrin Dungey
    Merrin Dungey
    • Ms. Seaveras Ms. Seaver
    Ian Gomez
    Ian Gomez
    • McIlvaineas McIlvaine
    Gavin Grazer
    Gavin Grazer
    • Clintas Clint
    Chris Hogan
    Chris Hogan
    • Paulas Paul
    Arianna Huffington
    Arianna Huffington
    • Panel Memberas Panel Member
    Larry Flash Jenkins
    Larry Flash Jenkins
    • Husbandas Husband
    • (as Larry Jenkins)
    Wendle Josepher
    Wendle Josepher
    • Ritaas Rita
    Scott LaRose
    Scott LaRose
    • Desipioas Desipio
    John Livingston
    John Livingston
    • Terryas Terry
    Mitzi McCall
    Mitzi McCall
    • Fig Ladyas Fig Lady
    Jim Meskimen
    Jim Meskimen
    • Dr. Gelleras Dr. Geller
    Don Most
    Don Most
    • Bensonas Benson
    Rick Overton
    Rick Overton
    • Barryas Barry
    • Director
      • Ron Howard
    • Writers
      • Émile Gaudreault(screenplay "Louis 19, le roi des ondes")
      • Sylvie Bouchard(screenplay "Louis 19, le roi des ondes")
      • Lowell Ganz(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film and The Truman Show (1998) were aware of each other during pre-production. Edtv was not that concerned because their film would be a comedy, and they didn't think audiences would turn out in large numbers to see Jim Carrey doing a drama. When The Truman Show (1998) turned into a big hit, Universal insisted that the promotions for this film make it look like more of a broad slapstick comedy than it actually was, contributing to its failure at the box-office.
    • Goofs
      When Ed follows Shari into the theatre's female bathroom the sign reads 'Female" but the sign below it shows it is a unisex bathroom with a man, woman and disabled images.
    • Quotes

      Whitaker: Cynthia, another word, and you may consider yourself fired.

      Cynthia: Uh-oh. Can you gimme a hint? What word? Uh, *asshole*? *Shithead*? Is that - I bet that - is that one word or two though? I never can remember that. Shithead.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: True Crime/Ravenous/The King and I/Forces of Nature/The Harmonists (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Have You Ever
      Written by Joe Tex and Buddy Killen

      Performed by Joe Tex

      Courtesy of Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC dba Tree Productions

    User reviews206

    Review
    Top review
    Entertaining but not great
    True TV launch their new concept – Real Life TV, where cameras will follow one person's life 24/7 and put it all unedited on TV. When Ed is dragged into his brother's audition tape he catches the eye of the studio and he becomes the lucky subject of edtv! However when he falls for Ray's girlfriend Shari things get difficult and he finds that his new found fame is not all it cracked up to be.

    Stepping out of the shadow of The Truman Show came another film about reality TV and the nature of fame. However this has little to do with Truman in terms of content, instead it tries to be more of a comedy and tries to mix a little bit of social comment. The story is essentially a romance but it doesn't convince. It doesn't work simply because the whole idea of looking at fame, reality tv and studios is more interesting (even if it doesn't come off). The film promises much but doesn't fully use it's potential – the comedy is never a funny as you hope, the look at fame and TV is never as clever or as deep as you think.

    It's a shame that it isn't better because the cast is good on paper. McConaughey is still a rising star (although needs a big hit soon). Harrelson is good as he usually is when in support and Elfman is pretty good as Shari. The support cast is great too – Landau is funny, DeGeneres is good, Reiner is funny and wicked while lesser roles are filled out by the likes of Hurley, Dennis Hopper, Clint Howard. Get past these and you have tonnes of little cameos from the likes of Harry Shearer, Michael Moore, Jay Leno and George Plimpton.

    Overall this is enjoyable – it's just that you feel that all of it's parts have potential that are never fully realised. It's OK but you can't help feeling that it's a missed opportunity.
    helpful•20
    6
    • bob the moo
    • May 27, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 26, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ed TV
    • Filming locations
      • SAP Center at San Jose - 525 W. Santa Clara, San Jose, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Imagine Entertainment
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $80,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $22,431,897
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,311,290
      • Mar 28, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $35,242,897
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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