The Earth Day Special (1990)

An Earth Day special about pollution's effects on the Earth. Numerous celebrities have guest appearances whether as themselves, or as characters for whom they're best known.

Directors:

Dwight Hemion, James Burrows

Writers:

Armyan Bernstein, Richard Baskin

Stars:

Dan Aykroyd, Candice Bergen, James Brolin

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dan Aykroyd	...	Vic's Buddy
Candice Bergen	...	Murphy Brown
James Brolin	...	Doctor
Downtown Julie Brown	...	Self
Jeff Bergman	...	Bugs Bunny / Porky Pig / Tweety (voice)
Chevy Chase	...	Vic's Buddy
Kevin Costner	...	Bartender
Rodney Dangerfield	...	Dr. Vinny Boombatz
Geena Davis	...	Kim
Dana Delany	...	Doctor
Danny DeVito	...	Vic
Michael Douglas	...	Self
Jane Fonda	...	Hellen
Morgan Freeman	...	Walter Samson
Will Smith	...	Self (as Fresh Prince)

Storyline

It's been 20 years since the first Earth Day and all is far from well. Pollution is still a huge problem and global warming is becoming an issue as well. Bugs Bunny arrives by mistake at the Earth Day festival and shares his worries about the state of the environment. Well-meaning Everyman then arrives and holds a speech to try to calm down the worried festival-goers. Suddenly, Mother Earth appears and announces that things are actually as bad as everyone fears and that she's dying. She's quickly taken to hospital and nursed by two doctors as well as Doogie Howser. Hospital Director is suspicious that her condition might not be as bad as she's portraying it. Newswomen Murphy Brown and Downtown Julie Brown report in front of the hospital on Mother Nature's condition. Popular astronomer Carl Sagan talks about the greenhouse effect. Game show Jeopardy! has a special Earth Day edition. Ghostbuster Egon Spengler's twin brother, wastebuster Elon Spengler, shows up to stop heavy smoker and ...

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Plot Keywords:

bugs bunny character | episodic structure | porky pig character | tweety bird character | pollution | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Music

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The film cast includes eight Oscar winners: Meryl Streep, Robin Williams, Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Morgan Freeman, Geena Davis, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, and Kevin Costner; and eleven Oscar nominees: Candice Bergen, Will Smith, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Dan Aykroyd, Quincy Jones, Bette Midler, Woody Harrelson, Jim Henson, Edward James Olmos, and Queen Latifah.

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Quotes

Nathan Thurm: I'm not defensive. You're the one who should be defensive, you're the one who thinks that hairdo works with that overly long face of yours.
Elong Spengler: What does my haircut have to do with anything?
Nathan Thurm: I don't know, you're the one who brought it up.
Elong Spengler: No I didn't.
Nathan Thurm: Yes you did.

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Crazy Credits

Bugs Bunny, E.T., The Muppets, Porky Pig, and Tweety Bird are listed among the cast in the opening credits.

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Connections

References The All-New Dating Game (1986)

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Soundtracks

Somewhere
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Performed by Barbra Streisand (uncredited)

User Reviews

Sign of the times...

I remember watching this special when I was in grade 5, and everyone was talking about it the next day (parents/students/teachers) it was really amazing.

I remember thinking the environment was ok, and it wasn't as bad as people were saying (I was only ten!) but watching all these celeberties talking about the environment made me start to be aware of it all.

Unfortunately that wore off within a year after watching the show(caring about the earth virtually disappeared everywhere). I remember they even had sitcom segments talking about the environment (Cosby Show, Married with Children etc.) it was pretty good to be honest. I'd like to watch it again sometime!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Earth Day Special

Filming Locations:

Stage 16, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beacon Communications, Richard Baskin Inc., The Jim Henson Company

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1