Meet Wally Sparks

"The Wally Sparks Show" - starring trashy Rodney Dangerfield (as Wally Sparks) - is taking a dump on its sponsors. Although popular, the show loses ad revenue and is threatened with cancellation. Network big-wig Burt Reynolds (as Lenny Spencer) orders Mr. Dangerfield to clean up his act. Spearheading a campaign to clean-up Talk TV is conservative "family values" politician David Ogden Stiers (as Floyd Preston), the governor of Georgia. Hoping to improve his image, Dangerfield accepts an invitation to the governor's mansion from Mr. Stiers' son Glenn Walker Harris Jr. (a "Wally Sparks" fan)...

For a sophomoric sex comedy starring Dangerfield, this isn't too bad. The director works well with a funny supporting cast, especially co-stars Debi Mazar and Eamonn Roche. As usual, first lady Cindy Williams (as Emily Preston) is an asset. Her strip poker sequence is hilarious. The film may be trying to satirize TV talk show hosts like Jerry Springer and Geraldo Rivera - who cleverly elicit trash talk from guests, but stay out of the mud. Howard Stern is a more apt comparison, but probably declined a appearance. There are plenty of other cameos, most inspired being Tony Danza as a New York "Taxi" driver.

***** Meet Wally Sparks (1/16/97) Peter Baldwin ~ Rodney Dangerfield, David Ogden Stiers, Cindy Williams, Debi Mazar