1 of 1- RadioActive
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The Best & Worst Movies/Shows About TV & Radio
There are some pretty good choices here, although I'm not sure I'd put "FM" on the Worst Film About Radio list. At the very least, I liked the Steely Dan theme! This reviewer obviously didn't.
"This movie knows as much about radio as “Caddyshack” knows about golf."
Ouch! In any event, I do like many of his picks, including a few I'd long forgotten about and a couple I'd never heard of.
Radio on the TV: The Best Films and Series About Life on the Airwaves
- Fitz
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Re: The Best & Worst Movies/Shows About TV & Radio
RadioActive wrote:
There are some pretty good choices here, although I'm not sure I'd put "FM" on the Worst Film About Radio list. At the very least, I liked the Steely Dan theme! This reviewer obviously didn't.
"This movie knows as much about radio as “Caddyshack” knows about golf."
Ouch! In any event, I do like many of his picks, including a few I'd long forgotten about and a couple I'd never heard of.
Radio on the TV: The Best Films and Series About Life on the Airwaves
I agree that FM was a clunker. I saw it when it first came out and about the only thing I remember is a girl in the audience gasping and not lot liking Tom Petty's appearance in the movie. His song though along with Steely Dan are the only worthwhile songs on the soundtrack IMO. Martin Mull was wasted in the movie. WKRP and John Houseman were way better
Last edited by Fitz (November 10, 2026 9:35 am)
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- BowmanvilleBob
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Re: The Best & Worst Movies/Shows About TV & Radio
A few surprising omissions for both TV and movies:
Most film reviewers fail to mention “Tune In Tomorrow”, which was set in 1950s New Orleans and generated Oscar buzz for Peter Falk, supported by Keanu Reeves and Barbara Hershey. A very funny film with radio as its centerpiece.
For TV, why no mention of “Fraiser”? Kelsey Grammar may be a pompous twit these days but the dynamic between him and his producer Roz was often the best part of the show.
Last edited by BowmanvilleBob (November 10, 2026 9:11 am)
- Shorty Wave
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Re: The Best & Worst Movies/Shows About TV & Radio
Another movie about radio of sorts was “Frequency”, starring Denis Quaid. It’s more about DX-ing, where a son contacts his deceased father over the radio. It wasn’t too bad, I think it came out at least 20 years ago.
- RadioActive
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There was a movie from 1950 I once saw on one of those late night films on TV a long time ago. It was called "The Next Voice You Hear," and it centered on something heard on the radio.
Here's the synopsis from IMDB:
"Joe Smith, American" lives in a Los Angeles suburb and works at an aircraft plant. One night Joe hears a voice cut in on a radio program: "This is God. I'll be with you for the next few days." It turns out, everyone in the world listening to any radio heard the same thing. More messages come; some people react positively, others negatively."
I recall that everyone all over the world heard the Voice in a different language, all at the same time. It was a very weird film and it's not well remembered today. But because of the radio angle, I never forgot about it.
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Thread Starter- Chrisphen
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Re: The Best & Worst Movies/Shows About TV & Radio
The list lacks legitimacy without UHF.
- frostycold
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Re: The Best & Worst Movies/Shows About TV & Radio
A few surprising omissions for both TV and movies:
For TV, why no mention of “Fraiser”? Kelsey Grammar may be a pompous twit these days but the dynamic between him and his producer Roz was often the best part of the show.
It's mentioned, just after NewsRadio.
- fyshtalk2
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How about " Play Misty For Me ". Plot had merit but the radio station scenes were laughable. Clint Eastwood plays Dave Garver a DJ at a Carmel California radio station. The station seemed to have only two announcers and no staff. Clint is one bad DJ doing the evening shift but as I recall he drove a Jag !!
At the end of the movie he has to leave the station to rescue his girlfriend and puts on a tape that might last half an hour at best....but it seems to run for hours including the time it takes him to drive out, rescue her and wrap things up.
- RadioActive
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Re: The Best & Worst Movies/Shows About TV & Radio
It's easy to miss, but I think Play Misty For Me was the first one on the guy's best radio movies list.
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