The Great American Traffic Jam
| The Great American Traffic Jam | |
|---|---|
 Cover of one version of VHS release of movie | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Written by | Dave Hackel Steve Hattman |
| Directed by | James Frawley |
| Music by | Arthur B. Rubinstein |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Greg Strangis Sam Strangis |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Production company | Ten-Four Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | October 2, 1980 |
The Great American Traffic Jam (alternate title Gridlock) is a 1980 American made-for-television movie which first aired on NBC on October 2, 1980. The comedy revolves around a large "all-star" cast getting stuck in a massive Los Angeles area traffic jam, with multiple interweaving story lines among those stuck.[1]
Background and reception
The movie debuted on NBC on Thursday October 2, 1980.[2] The TV Guide summary of the week's TV movies described it as a film that "provides stale characters in staler situations,"[3] but another promotional blurb in the same issue stated "what sets this 1980 TV-movie apart are its flashes of wit, delivered in a running commentary by a glib disc jockey (Howard Hesseman) and its satirically staged sequences--such as a helicopter's convoy's delivering portable toilets."[4]
Though Ed McMahon refers to the movie as a "semiclassic" in his biography,[5] Rue McClanahan (who plays his wife) admits she did it just to fill a contractual obligation with NBC and said "it was about as funny as Mom and Me, MD", a reference to another television movie she did in 1979.[6][7]
On its debut, the movie was the 14th most watched primetime show of the week with a 17.8/30 rating. The serious Holocaust drama Playing for Time, which won a number of Emmys, was the most watched program that week.[8][9]
Writers Steve Hattman and Dave Hackel dreamed up the idea for the movie when they were stuck in an L.A. traffic jam.[1] It appears the original title of the film was "Gridlock", but there is no evidence of it ever being released under that title.[10] It was released on VHS in the United States in December 1987.[10][11]
Primary cast
Though the cast is large, the opening credits billed cast are listed in alphabetical order as follows:
- Desi Arnaz Jr. - Robbie Reinhardt
- John Beck - Buzz Gregory
- Noah Beery - Barney
- René Enríquez - Mayor Julio Escontrerez
- Shelley Fabares - Louise Gregory
- Phil Foster - Koppleman
- James Gregory - General Caruthers
- Lisa Hartman - Nikki
- Michael Lerner - Marv
- Rue McClanahan - Adele
- James McEachin - Speed-O
- Ed McMahon - Henry
- Al Molinaro - Sightseer
- Charles Napier - Sonny
- Christopher Norris - Linda Reinhardt (pregnant woman)
- Alan Sues - Dudley
- Vic Tayback - Floyd 'Snake' Kraslowski
Other actors appearing in the film include Lyle Waggoner, Abe Vigoda, Marcia Wallace, and Paul Willson; game show hosts Wink Martindale, Jack Clark, Art James, and Jim Perry; and Howard Hesseman (who was playing a DJ role on WKRP in Cincinnati at this time) as the voice of the radio announcer.
References
- ^ a b (26 September 1980) History's Worst Traffic Jam, Suffolk News-Herald
- ^ (28 September 1980). We Interrupt to Bring A Traffic Bulletin, San Bernardino Sun
- ^ (Sept 27-Oct 3, 1980). This Week's Movies, TV Guide, p. A-6, A-23
- ^ (Sept 27-Oct 3, 1980). Up: The Great American Traffic Jam, TV Guide, p. A-88
- ^ McMahon, Ed with David Fisher. For Laughing Out Loud: My Life and Good Times, p. 194 ("I've acted in several movies made for television.... A lot of people don't remember that I was in the semiclassic Great American Traffic Jam...") (1998)
- ^ McClanahan, Rue. My first five husbands-- and the ones who got away, p. 234 (2007)
- ^ (29 May 2008). Un Atasco Guay (review), Fotogramas
- ^ (10 October 1980). Playing for Time, Top-rated TV Program, Desert Sun, p. C5 (Associated Press story)
- ^ (13 October 1980). Specials Come Through for CBS, Broadcasting, p. 56
- ^ a b Variety's Complete Home Video Directory, p. 170 (1988) ("Original/Alternative Title: Gridlock")
- ^ (26 December 1987). New releases, Courier Journal ("a less-than-hilarious made-for-TV comedy about traffic")