Talk Radio is a 1988 American drama film, starring Eric Bogosian, Ellen Greene and Leslie Hope. Directed by Oliver Stone, the film was based on the play by Eric Bogosian and Tad Savinar. Portions of the film and play were based on the assassination of radio host Alan Berg in 1984 and the book Talked to Death: The Life and Murder of Alan Berg by Stephen Singular. The film was entered into the 39th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear.
Barry Champlain, a Jewish radio personality in Dallas, Texas, is a host with a caustic sense of humor and a knack for cutting people down with his controversial political views.
Champlain's radio show is about to go nationwide. A former suit salesman, he achieves his rise to fame through a guest shot on the Jeff Fisher radio show. He is subsequently given his own show. Barry has a substantial number of hostile callers trying to intimidate him and sometimes receives threatening fan mail, such as when one caller makes a bomb threat. His rise to fame is accompanied not only with attention from radical elements, but also with the alienation of his wife.
Plot
An acerbic radio talk show host based in Dallas starts what could be an important few days when he discovers that his controversial late night show is about to be "picked up" by a nationwide network of radio stations. However, all is not perfect for him, because on top of troubles with his love life and fears that the management of the network will try to alter the content of his show he has to cope with a neo-nazi group who have been angered by his forthright opinions.
Keywords: bad-to-the-bone, based-on-novel, based-on-play, based-on-true-story, being-asked-for-an-autograph, bomb-threat, booing, calling-someone-an-idiot, camera-flash, caught-cheating-on-wife
Words can kill...
The last neighborhood in America.
Stu: Barry and I worked together for over seven years and whenever you threatened him over the air, man he would stick it right back in your face. It was like his dick was flapping in the wind and he'd like to see if he could get an erection. The guy had a little dick but he liked to flap it out there. Then they cut it off, so now he's dead. I don't know if you understand my analogy but it's the clearest one I can make.
Barry: Sticks and stones can break your bones but words cause permanent damage!
Barry: There's nothing more boring than people who love you.
Barry: Barry Champlain is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.
Dan: What you are, Barry, is a fuckin' suit salesman with a big mouth. Let's call a spade a spade.
Barry: We'll be right back after a word from our sponsor. HOOOO-WEEE! Jericho's Pizza, off Route 1-11 at the Jericho Turnpike, they got that pizza you'll never forget, one bite and you don't have to eat for a week. I saw a guy in there the other day combing his hair with the stuff off the plate. Jericho's Pizza.
Barry: This country is in deep trouble people! This country is rotten to the core and somebody better do something about it! Now I want you to take your hand out of that bowl of Fritos, throw away your National Enquirer, and pick up the phone!
Barry: [on the show, 'I Love Lucy'] Those shows are ancient, Agnes! Lucille Ball must be over a hundred and five years old, the rest of the cast are dead!
Barry: Tell me something I-I'm curious. How do you dial a phone with a straitjacket on?
Dan: Barry you should ask me before you put another guest on the show.::Barry: Why?::Dan: Because I'm your boss, that's why.
Plot
The story begins as a group of college students attend Raccoon Creek Campground in hopes of having the best summer break of their lives. But after encountering obnoxious frat guys, backwoods hippies, overzealous bible students, and an incompetent group of camp administrators that could put any government official to shame, chances for a successful vacation look slim. Things only get worse as it is soon discovered that killer raccoons have targeted the camp with the intention to wreak havoc, destruction, and hilarity!
Keywords: campground, camping, exclamation-point-in-title, homosexual, independent-film, long-title, punctuation-in-title, raccoon
They come for your food...they stay for your FLESH!
Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na, hey
Boo ya, there we go What we need is a different show You ya hey That's right, we need someplace to go You ya hey If you got what you say You ya hey You need what you need today
Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na, hey
Boo ya, there we go Too much talking on the radio You ya hey That's right, a party got something to say You ya hey Call them up, tell it to them right away You ya hey You see what you see today
Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na Na na na na na na na na, hey
Just like the sound of talk radio at two seventeen am
She says do you make moments last forever
Are you the guy that they say comes with nights that never end
Just like with every sun rise
We'll think this is what we evnision always wanted
And of course we'll tell all of our friends
That we swear this never happened
That we swear this never happened
Lying in your bed and to yourself
Waiting for the one that loves you
Go ahead hold your breath
But it's useless
Cause time flys faster than ticking bombs
As spring hatches for winter
Go ahead slit your wrists
Go ahead hold your breath
Go ahead slit yoiur wrists
Just like the sound of talk radio at two seventeen am
She says do you make moments last forever
Are you the guy that they say comes with nights that never end
Just like with every sunrise
We'll think this is what we envision always wanted
And of course we'll tell all of our friends
That we swear this never happened
So count your blessings
Take a chance here and there and you'll be alright
She always has her tv on
She needs to know the latest fashion
They say we're doing just fine
Go ahead hold your breath
Don't be sad beauty queen your someones daughter
Don't be sad beauty queen your someones sister
Don't cry beauty queen
One day you'll be a mother
I heard the same old music today
Oh there must be something better to get me through the day
So I flipped down the dial to a woman who was wailing away...
Libby was a sociable loon
She said "How can it be dangerous in a mother's womb?"
Now she's in her own political tomb on the radio
It's called Talk, Talk Radio, Talk Radio
Amahn was privy to a laundering scheme
Said he don't want any trouble just the American dream
I can quote you from the novel Candide on the radio
It's like a rondo everyday
If it ain't on the docket now it will find a way
Cause a topical battlefield lies on the radio
Now it's not strange behavior if the host transmogrifies
Expect a wimp to bathe here, or a provo to rhapsodize
Diva Donna, just shy of sociable in her car
She tunes in just to see what the topics are...
On Talk, Talk Radio, Talk Radio
Now it's not strange behavior for Eolithic minds
To say they know the Savior from drinking religious wines
Mugsy Dillon is history now that he's been arraigned
But I'll keep listening as long as I'm entertained