Tunnel Vision (1976)

Tunnel Vision: Directed by Neal Israel, Bradley R. Swirnoff. With Phil Proctor, Howard Hesseman, Beans Morocco, Stephen Feinberg. A committee investigating TV’s first uncensored network examines a typical day’s programming, which includes shows, commercials, news programs, you name it. What they discover will surely crack you up! This outrageous and irreverent spoof of television launched the careers of some of the greatest comedians of all time.

“1976u0026#39;s u0026quot;Tunnel Visionu0026quot; suffers from following the groundbreaking success of u0026quot;The Groove Tube,u0026quot; but still preceding better known efforts like u0026quot;The Kentucky Fried Movie,u0026quot; u0026quot;Americathon,u0026quot; u0026quot;IMPS (The Immoral Minority Picture Show)u0026quot; and u0026quot;Amazon Women on the Moon.u0026quot; A Congressional hearing to decide the fate of u0026#39;The No Bullsh-t Network,u0026#39; which has captivated audiences of 1985 to such a degree that people have given up work to stay home and watch, is examined by a dayu0026#39;s worth of programming lasting little more than an hour. Like others of its ilk itu0026#39;s a hit and miss affair, much loved in its day but has not aged well. Many familiar faces pop up all too briefly, almost all of them yet to achieve comic fame, with Chevy Chase (as himself) returning from u0026quot;The Groove Tube,u0026quot; along with future TV stars Laraine Newman, Al Franken, Tom Davis, and John Candy. Fans of Kurt Russellu0026#39;s u0026quot;Used Carsu0026quot; will get a kick out of seeing Gerrit Graham as the boyfriend of sitcom star u0026#39;Marieu0026#39; (Lynne Marie Stewart), his obstinate pleading successfully earning a bit of u0026#39;deep throatu0026#39; on the couch; thereu0026#39;s also Joe Flaherty (the attorney) and Betty Thomas (a literal car stripper) appearing together in a flat game show spoof where she wears a G-string and pasties while he dons a dress, willfully earning prizes for revealing their most disgusting acts. Laraine Newman plays the mother in a Gypsy flavored ALL IN THE FAMILY satire, she as close to the wayward gay son as the father is to the prostitute daughter. Clevelandu0026#39;s legendary Ernie Anderson, who gave up local fame as Ghoulardi for a lucrative gig as ABCu0026#39;s chief announcer, gets to do his usual thing as a newscaster, earning chuckles by playing it completely straight (always wanting to do a small part in a movie, he gets his wish). Yes itu0026#39;s dated but definitely worth a look to see what would shock audiences of the freewheeling 70s.”