EDtv

Last updated
EDtv
Edtvposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ron Howard
Written by Lowell Ganz
Babaloo Mandel
Produced byRon Howard
Brian Grazer
Starring
Cinematography John Schwartzman
Edited by Daniel P. Hanley
Mike Hill
Music by Randy Edelman
Bon Jovi
Production
company
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • March 26, 1999 (1999-03-26)
Running time
123 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$80 million [2]
Box office$35.2 million [2]

EDtv is a 1999 American satirical comedy film directed by Ron Howard. An adaptation of the Quebecois film Louis 19, King of the Airwaves (Louis 19, le roi des ondes) (1994), [3] it stars Matthew McConaughey, Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson, Ellen DeGeneres, Martin Landau, Rob Reiner, Sally Kirkland, Elizabeth Hurley, Clint Howard, and Dennis Hopper.

Contents

The movie received mixed-to-positive reviews, with some criticizing its similarity to The Truman Show (1998), and was a box office flop, grossing only $35.2 million compared to its $80 million production budget.

Plot

Television network True TV is commencing interviews for a planned reality show that shows a normal person's life 24/7, created by TV producer Cynthia. They interview Ed Pekurny and his brother, Ray. When the producers see the interview, Cynthia chooses Ed. The show hits the airwaves under the title "Ed TV." It is a total failure at first, as only boring things happen. The producers want to pull the plug, but Cynthia remains determined that the show will succeed.

Ed TV gets interesting when Ed visits Ray. Ed (along with the cameramen) discovers that Ray is cheating on his girlfriend Shari. Ed visits Shari to apologize to her for Ray's actions, but a drunk Shari starts insulting Ray, calling him "a bad lay", to the audience's amusement. Ed tries to comfort Shari, revealing he has feelings for her; she reveals she has feelings for him too, and they kiss, making Ed TV extremely popular. At Cynthia's insistence, Ed starts a relationship with Shari, but their relationship is short-lived, as Ed grows more interested in staying on TV and Shari is abused by viewers who find her unappealing.

Ed goes on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and meets beautiful model and actress Jill who takes a liking to Ed. Ed visits Shari, who tells him she does not want to be with him until Ed TV stops airing. She then leaves town. Ed goes to a park to play football with Ray when Jill arrives to invite Ed over for dinner at her house, as Cynthia brought her in to earn more ratings. When Ed arrives at Jill's house, there is a massive crowd. The two have a small talk, and kiss on top of a table. They are about to have sex, but Ed falls off the table and lands on her cat, which results in a sore back for the former and a broken leg for the latter. Ed never sees Jill again, and he also finds out his brother wrote a book (called My Brother Pissed on Me).

Ed's father Hank, who abandoned his family when Ed was thirteen, unexpectedly visits Ed and informs him that he left because Ed's mother was having an affair with Ed's current stepfather, Al. Ed is furious with his mother Jeanette, who had previously claimed that she'd only met Al after Hank left, and argues with her. Ed then gets a phone call telling him to come to the hospital, where he is told his father died making love to his wife. Ed assumes the father in question is Al, but it is actually Hank, who was having an affair with Jeanette.

After Hank's funeral, Ed becomes disheartened by how the producers want him to stay on longer and that he cannot do anything to change their minds or he would be in breach of his contract. Ed is depressed until he notices a disguised Shari. He chases her to a women's bathroom in a movie theater, where she explains that she is staying with her brother for his birthday and that she just wanted to see Ed. Ed vows to find a way to end the show to be with Shari. When Ed exits, one cameraman stays with Shari, explaining that it is the producers' new idea: Ed's entire family is being filmed, but they will focus on the most interesting person, eliminating his family's right to privacy for as long as the show will air.

Ed gets an idea on how to stop the main producer from airing the show: he will give $10,000 to the person who can give him the best amount of "dirt" on the producers and that he will announce it live, with the desired result being that they stop airing the show before he can make the announcement. As Cynthia feels sorry for Ed, she tells him a secret of the main producer. Ed announces the secret (that the man has to pump a liquid into his penis to get an erection), but before he can announce who it is, the show is taken off the air.

After the camera crew finally leaves Ed's apartment, he and Shari renew their relationship and celebrate as TV news panelists predict Ed will be forgotten in a short period of time.

Cast

Soundtrack

Music From The Motion Picture EDtv
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
Released1999
Genre Rock, Funk
Length56:57
Label Reprise Records
Producer Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Bonnie Greenberg
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Real Life" Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child Bon Jovi 3:47
2."Thank You (Falletin Me Be Mice Elf Again)" Sylvester Stewart Barry White 4:38
3."Call and Answer" Stephen Duffy, Steven Page Barenaked Ladies 4:07
4."Como Ves"Jesus "Chuy" Perez Ozomatli 3:58
5."Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"Al Green, Mabon Hodges Al Green 4:13
6."Holly Holy" Neil Diamond UB40 3:36
7."Careful What You Wish For"Meredith Brooks, Shelly Peiken, Adam Gorgoni Meredith Brooks 4:27
8."Turnin' Pages" Taylor Rhodes, Peter Wolf Peter Wolf 3:39
9."Sleep on the Left Side" Tjinder Singh Cornershop 4:06
10."These Arms of Mine"Otis Redding Otis Redding 2:31
11."Dirty Water" Ed Cobb The Inmates 3:02
12."Been Hurt"Ryan Maxwell Muzzle 3:01
13."Have You Ever"Joe Tex, Buddy Killen Joe Tex 3:05
14."That's Life" Dean Kay, Kelly Gordon James Brown 5:17
15."Streetwalkin' Ed" Randy Edelman Randy Edelman 3:27
Total length:56:57

Release

The film was screened out of competition at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. [4]

Reception

Box office

EDtv opened in third place behind Forces of Nature and Analyze This , making $8.3 million during its opening weekend. [5] The film was a box office bomb, grossing only $35.2 million against a production budget of $80 million. [2]

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 64%, based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The site's consensus states: "If it's not as ambitious as The Truman Show in satirizing the voyeuristic nature of television, EdTV is an amiable, witty comedy with fine performances from Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson." [6] On Metacritic the film has a rating of 48 out of 100, based on reviews from 26 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [7] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale. [8]

Ross Anthony of Hollywood Report Card questioned the plausibility of parts of the script but wrote: "Though the thunder of its big idea may have been lost to The Truman Show [...], this screenplay still has real and punchy dialogue. Despite its faults EDtv will engage from beginning till end." [9]

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times , gave the film 2 and a 1/2 out of 4 stars. Ebert says that although they share the same idea, The Truman Show is a parable, and EDtv is an ambitious sitcom. Ebert wonders what type of person would sign up for a show like this, and doesn't believe Ed is that kind of person, so "the film never quite feels convincing." [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Natural Born Killers</i> 1994 crime film by Oliver Stone

Natural Born Killers is a 1994 American romantic crime action film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Robert Downey Jr., Tommy Lee Jones, and Tom Sizemore. The film tells the story of two victims of traumatic childhoods who become lovers and mass murderers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woody Harrelson</span> American actor (born 1961)

Woodrow Tracy Harrelson is an American actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. Harrelson first became known for his role as bartender Woody Boyd on the NBC sitcom Cheers (1985–1993), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series from five nominations. He reprised his role in the acclaimed spinoff series Frasier in 1999 for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series nomination.

<i>The Truman Show</i> 1998 American comedy-drama film by Andrew Niccol

The Truman Show is a 1998 American psychological comedy drama film written and co-produced by Andrew Niccol, and directed by Peter Weir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Harrelson</span> American hitman (1939–2007)

Charles Voyde Harrelson was an American contract killer and organized crime figure who was convicted of assassinating federal judge John H. Wood Jr., the first federal judge to be assassinated in the 20th century. Charles Harrelson was the father of actors Brett and Woody Harrelson.

<i>Hard Rain</i> (film) 1998 film by Mikael Salomon

Hard Rain is a 1998 action thriller film directed by former cinematographer-turned director Mikael Salomon, written by Graham Yost, produced by Ian Bryce, Mark Gordon, and Gary Levinsohn, and starring Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, Randy Quaid, Minnie Driver, and Ed Asner. An international co-production among the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, and Japan. In a small Indiana town amidst a natural disaster, a gang attempts to pull off a heist and survive man-made treachery. It received generally negative reviews and was a box office flop.

<i>Doc Hollywood</i> 1991 American romantic comedy film

Doc Hollywood is a 1991 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Caton-Jones and written by Daniel Pyne along with Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman, based on Neil B. Shulman's book What? Dead...Again? The film stars Michael J. Fox, Julie Warner, Barnard Hughes, Woody Harrelson, David Ogden Stiers, Frances Sternhagen, and Bridget Fonda.

<i>Palmetto</i> (film) 1998 American film

Palmetto is a 1998 neo-noir thriller film directed by Volker Schlöndorff with a screenplay by E. Max Frye. It is based on the 1961 novel Just Another Sucker by James Hadley Chase. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Elisabeth Shue and Gina Gershon.

<i>Roadie</i> (1980 film) American musical comedy film

Roadie is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by Alan Rudolph about a truck driver who becomes a roadie for a traveling rock and roll show. The film stars Meat Loaf and marks his first starring role in a film. There are also cameo appearances by musicians such as Roy Orbison and Hank Williams Jr. and supporting roles played by Alice Cooper and the members of Blondie.

<i>The Whole Nine Yards</i> (film) 2000 American film

The Whole Nine Yards is a 2000 American crime comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn. It was written by Mitchell Kapner and stars Bruce Willis, Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Natasha Henstridge. Its story follows a mild-mannered dentist as he travels to Chicago to inform a mob boss about the whereabouts of his new neighbor, a former hitman with a price on his head.

<i>Surfer, Dude</i> 2008 American film

Surfer, Dude is a 2008 American comedy film directed by S.R. Bindler and starring Matthew McConaughey.

<i>Seven Pounds</i> 2008 American drama film by Gabriele Muccino

Seven Pounds is a 2008 American drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino starring Will Smith as a man who sets out to change the lives of seven people; Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, and Barry Pepper also star. The film was released in theaters in the United States on December 19, 2008, by Columbia Pictures. Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, it was a box-office success, grossing $169.7 million worldwide against a production budget of $54 million.

Louis 19, King of the Airwaves is a Canadian comedy film, released in April 1994.

<i>Zombieland</i> 2009 American film by Ruben Fleischer

Zombieland is a 2009 American post-apocalyptic zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. It stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, and Bill Murray. In the film, Tallahassee (Harrelson), Columbus (Eisenberg), Wichita (Stone), and Little Rock (Breslin) make their way on an extended cross-country road trip to find a sanctuary free from zombies.

<i>On the Right Track</i> 1981 American comedy film directed by Lee Philips

On the Right Track is a 1981 American romantic comedy film with the feature film debut of Gary Coleman. It was directed by Lee Philips, produced by Ronald Jacobs, and released to theaters by 20th Century Fox in the spring of 1981. The co-stars include Michael Lembeck, Lisa Eilbacher, Bill Russell, Maureen Stapleton, and. Norman Fell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew McConaughey</span> American actor (born 1969)

Matthew David McConaughey is an American actor. He achieved his breakthrough with a supporting performance in the coming-of-age comedy Dazed and Confused (1993). After a number of supporting roles, his first success as a leading man came in the legal drama A Time to Kill (1996). His career progressed with lead roles in the science fiction film Contact (1997), the historical drama Amistad (1997), and the war film U-571 (2000).

<i>The Lincoln Lawyer</i> (film) 2011 U.S. film by Brad Furman

The Lincoln Lawyer is a 2011 American legal thriller film adapted from the 2005 novel of the same title by Michael Connelly. The film is directed by Brad Furman, with the screenplay written by John Romano, and stars Matthew McConaughey as the titular lawyer, Mickey Haller. The film also stars Ryan Phillippe, Marisa Tomei, Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, William H. Macy, and Bryan Cranston.

<i>True Detective</i> American anthology crime drama television series

True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto. The series, broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States, premiered on January 12, 2014. Each season of the series is structured as a self-contained narrative, employing new cast ensembles, and following various sets of characters and settings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Long Bright Dark</span> 1st episode of the 1st season of True Detective

"The Long Bright Dark" is the series premiere of the anthology crime drama True Detective, which initially aired on HBO in the United States on January 12, 2014. It was directed by executive producer Cary Joji Fukunaga and written by series creator Nic Pizzolatto. The episode introduces a pair of Louisiana State Police homicide detectives, Rustin "Rust" Cohle and Martin "Marty" Hart, as well as series regulars played by Michelle Monaghan, Michael Potts, and Tory Kittles. In "The Long Bright Dark", Martin and Rustin are forced to recount the history of the Dora Lange murder investigation as new evidence suggests the perpetrator remains at large.

<i>True Detective</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of True Detective, an American anthology crime drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto, premiered on January 12, 2014, on the premium cable network HBO. The principal cast consisted of Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Potts, and Tory Kittles. The season had eight episodes, and its initial airing concluded on March 9, 2014. Each following True Detective season has its own self-contained story, following a disparate set of characters in various settings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woody Harrelson filmography</span>

Woody Harrelson is an American actor who made his film debut as an uncredited extra in Harper Valley PTA (1978). His breakthrough role was as bartender Woody Boyd on the NBC sitcom Cheers (1985–1993), which garnered Harrelson a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series from a total of five nominations. He would later reprise the character in other television shows, such as Frasier and The Simpsons. In 1992, Harrelson starred opposite Wesley Snipes in White Men Can't Jump. He then appeared in the Oliver Stone-directed Natural Born Killers (1994) alongside Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Downey Jr. For his performance as free-speech activist Larry Flynt in The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and an Academy Award for Best Actor. He next appeared in The Thin Red Line (1998).

References

  1. "ED TV". British Board of Film Classification . Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "EDtv (1999)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  3. "EDtv a fun, fluffy Truman Show". Montreal Gazette , March 26, 1999.
  4. "Festival de Cannes: EDtv". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  5. Wolk, Josh (March 29, 1999). "'Forces of Nature' leads a poor weekend at the box office". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  6. "EDTv (1999)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  7. "EDTv Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  8. "Home". CinemaScore . Retrieved 2022-02-25.[ better source needed ]
  9. "EDTV". rossanthony.com. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  10. Roger Ebert (January 1, 2000). "EDTV". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2018-07-11.