(SHOULD BE) FORGOTTEN FILM: PRAY TV (1980)

A new cable channel appeared on my lineup recently. It is called THIS. They show mostly films (both theatrical and TV movies) from the 70's and 80's. I've found myself watching it quite a bit, and have a couple upcoming FORGOTTEN FILM entries based on movies shown there.

I set the DVR to record a film the other day. The on screen guide said it was the not on DVD PRAY TV from 1982, with John Ritter and Ned Beatty. I go to watch it, only as the movie goes on, neither John Ritter nor Ned Beatty make an appearance. The only name in the opening credits is Dabney Coleman.

Turns out it is a 1980 film with the same name. The on screen guide was wrong.

PRAY TV, or K-GOD as it is also known, is about KRUD, a financially troubled TV station. They are made up of news, where the anchor uses a puppet to do the weather. There is a fitness program hosted by an overweight woman and a flamboyant male ("mincing can take pounds off your ankles"). And, there is a cooking show, hosted by Marcia Wallace with a sign language interpreter.

The station is bought out by Marvin Fleece (Dabney Coleman). Fleece turns the channel into a religious programming channel. Programs include a soap opera based around the nativity story ("Joseph, I'm pregnant" cue organ music). There are sports shows ("Jew-jitsu" featuring Hasidic Jews wrestling, I wish I were making that up). And, the station becomes a hit.

Not only is the religious humor in the film of questionable taste, but so is some of the racial humor. The film was made less than thirty years ago, yet some of the jokes about African American churches and stereotypical characters are as cringeworthy as films made in the 1930s.

Dabney Coleman is the biggest name in the film, but it looks like he was off on larger projects much of the time as he seems to disappear. As bad as the film was, I always like Dabney. He is one of those actors I wish was still active.

In a supporting role as the fitness host is a bleached blonde Paul Reubens, aka Pee-Wee Herman! This was even before his Pee-Wee Harman HBO Special. Archie Hahn is essentially the lead. You may recognize him from teaming up with Reubens again in MEATBALLS PART 2 or having roles in most of Joe Dante's films. Deidre Hall, Charles Haid, Lewis Arquette, Roger E. Mosley and Matthew "Stymie from the Little Rascals" Beard also appear in small roles.

There are a couple big music acts in the film. Dr. John plays a church musician. And in a party scene at a religious dinner, a band named DOVE appears. Who are DOVE? Rearrange the letters. Yes, it is DEVO.

One of the writers of the film was Nick Castle. He also wrote some of the music for the movie. Castle is kind of a favorite around here. Not only for his work with John Carpenter (he was Michael Meyers in the first HALLOWEEN) but more so for his directing work. He directed Moviezzz Blog favorites T.A.G. as well as THE BOY WHO COULD FLY. He really can't be blamed too much for this film. He was just a young writer starting out.

If the IMDB is to be believed, co-writer / director Rick Friedberg had a wide and varied career. This was his first film, but he would go on to direct most notably Leslie Nielsen's SPY HARD along with everything from Olsen Twin's videos, to producing Playboy videos and even worked as a field producer on THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY.


What is the biggest surprise about this film is that it appears to have been released on DVD by MGM!! While watching it, I thought it would be a FORGOTTEN FILM. Surely no one cared enough about it to release it to DVD. But there it is on Amazon.

Just goes to show you that you can find just about anything on DVD these days.