Themes: Success is the Best Revenge, Ladder to the Top, Office Politics
Main Cast: Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Gerritt Graham, Kevin McCarthy, Jayne Meadows
Release Year: 1984
Country: US
Run Time: 102 minutes
Plot
Made for cable television, The Ratings Game was directed by Danny DeVito, who co-starred in the film with his wife Rhea Perlman. DeVito plays the owner of a New Jersey trucking firm who yearns for a televison career. He offers several TV-series ideas to a receptive network programming head. On the verge of being fired, the network exec decides to have his revenge on his ex-bosses by selecting the very worst of DeVito's concepts. The "born to fail" series becomes a hit, and soon DeVito is the hottest programmer in the industry! More truthful than many of us are willing to admit, The Ratings Game premiered with astonishingly little fanfare over The Movie Channel cable service on December 15, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Steve Allen - Himself (special appearance); Army Archerd - Himself; Allyce Beasley - Receptionist; Peter Brocco - Vic's Tailor; Barry Corbin - Carl Wheeny; Robert Costanzo - Nunzio; Selma Diamond - Francine's Mother; Louise Dorsey - "H.O.T.B.O.D.S."; Michael Ensign - Le Boeuf Maitre d'; Michael Gallup - Opera Singer; Nora Gaye - "H.O.T.B.O.D.S."; Louis Giambalvo - Goody DeSalvo; Huntz Hall - Benny Bentson; Stan Haze - Levar; Damon Hines - Woodrow T. Brown; Basil Hoffman - Frank Friedlander; Gela Jacobson - Tamara; Ken Kimmins - Network Spokesman; Katie La Bourdette - Le Boeuf Woman; Jeffrey Lampert - MBC Guard; James LeGros - Car Attendant; Russ Marin - Sid; John Megna - Al; Susan Peretz - Network Receptionist; Bob Perlow - Warm-Up Comic; Michael Richards - Sal; Hal Riddle - The Dean; Ron Rifkin - T.V. Director; Joe Santos - Tony; Fred Scialla - Richie DeSalvo; Jerry Seinfeld - Network Rep; Mark L. Taylor - Ken; George Wendt - Mr. Sweeney; Lisle Wilson - Mrs. Johnson; Whitney Bain; Bruce Kimmel - W*A*C*ked Out Recruit; Randall Miller - Car Attendant; Vincent Schiavelli - Skip; Daniel Stern - Skip Imperali; Lee Ving - "The Dawn Patrol"; Gail Barle - Hamilton's Girl; Bernadette Birkett - Mrs. Sweeney; Jacqueline Cassell - MBC Secretary; Jason Hervey - Todd Sweeney; J.T. Solomon - Mrs. Johnson; Jerry Hoffman - Mr. Foley; Candi Brough - Bambi; Randi Brough - Stacy; Cisse Cameron - Wendy; Randi Brooks - Teresa; Ronny Graham - Cap'n Andy; Frank Sivero - Bruno
Credit
Marci Liroff - Casting, Angee Beckett - Costume Designer, Danny DeVito - Director, Dale Beldin - Editor, Marshall Harvey - Editor, Alain Silver - Executive Producer, Patrick Regan - Executive Producer, Bruce Kimmel - Composer (Music Score), David Spear - Composer (Music Score), Dan Navarro - Songwriter, Patricia Messina - Makeup, Michael Corenblith - Production Designer, Tim Suhrstedt - Cinematographer, Cliff Cunningham - Set Designer, Michael Barrie - Screenwriter, Jim Mulholland - Screenwriter
