Pray TV

Imagine if you will... Dabney Coleman saves a floundering TV station (KRUD) by adding Christian themes to all of the same idiotic programming and changing the station's name to KGOD.

Never mind firing the guy with the ventriloquist dummy named `Woody', and they guy with beer in his coffee mug, and the guy sleeping behind the studio camera... Brilliant! We get to see Marcia Wallace host a cooking show in fake-Spanish (add `o' to the end of each word) with sign-language interpreter (???), a young Paul Reubens as a gay,chain-smoking exercise show host, stained glass set pieces that look like they were painted by the local middle-school, an Elvis impersonator with a cross-shaped guitar singing "You better not make fun of Jesus Christ', Coleman uttering the phrase `give away some of those crummy little Jap TV sets', Dr. John plays a revival, a nasal spray that fixes bad karma, and Devo. That's right, Devo (and not nearly enough of them) under the name `Dove'. Pray that you find this little gem. If you do, buy it, watch it 20 times, destroy it.

This film takes on all religions and skewers them neatly while being fall-down funny. Lots of unknowns who made a splash later, despite this black mark on their records. Dabney Coleman as a really sleazy business man. Roger E. Mosley as a shouting preacher. The songs will leave you humming a sacrilegious tune - "I love my God, he is the best around....if I get run down by a truck, it's not His fault it's just my own bad luck". The film is really a series of funny sketches tied together by the problems of the station's finances. So forget the story and enjoy the incredibly absurd takeoffs that only a really disturbed person could devise. Only problem is the ending which tries to redeem the story with "just love everybody".

It's too bad this movie came out in 1980, instead of about 1986, when all the television evangelism scandals hit, because this movie is a winner on so many levels. It is cheap, it is silly, but it has so many one-liners and on the mark spoofs it's great. In addition to Dabney Coleman, playing Marvin Fleece, you have other actors who went on to become successful, Paul Ruebens, Andy Haig (Hill Street Blues), etc. My favorite line is still, "To get into heaven you must do the hardest thing in the world. Give everything you have to God." Which is followed by a chorus singing about someone who was hit by a bus after church because he didn't give them money. It's got many more memorable moments. Don't miss it.

this film is such a great commentary, like the film repossess, on the business behind organized religion, not only on TV and radio, but on your street corner.

the skits are simply hysterical. they move through very quickly, and help keep your interest through the sub plot of greed, along with the stupidity of the faithful. the skits are designed to offend the religious zealots in the audience, and they succeed. those in the audience who understand the hypocrisy of religions, will roar with laughter, and a tremendous awakening.

dabney coleman plays his part to the hilt, it's kind of like the mr.hart character from 9-5, with a lesser edge. mr. coleman is a fantastic actor, and he takes this part all the way.

the other actors are also well cast, not a bad performance in the lot.

in a nut shell, if your a religious zealot, YOU WILL BE OFFENDED by this film, no matter WHAT religion you practice. it's like a don ricles monologue....it hits EVERYONE....no one is spared. and it is hysterically funny, and very true to life.

I saw this movie many years ago on Cinemax,I think it was.When I saw it,it was titled KGOD.I still remember this movie after so many years.It does have some very funny moments.If you like movies like "There's something about Mary" or "Kingpin",then you should like this one.This also reminds me of such humour as that Wierd Al Yankovic movie "UHF" or even movies like "Kentucky Fried Movie".This also is one if those very obscure,hard to find movies.I've only found this movie once since,at a local video store.I consider it worth seeing if you remotely like any of the other humorous movies I mentioned.