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The Ratings Game

  • TV Movie
  • 1984
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
934
YOUR RATING
Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman in The Ratings Game (1984)
ComedyRomance

A newly rich New Jersey trucker moves to Hollywood and creates a slew of hit TV shows by manipulating the ratings system with help from his girlfriend in the ratings business.A newly rich New Jersey trucker moves to Hollywood and creates a slew of hit TV shows by manipulating the ratings system with help from his girlfriend in the ratings business.A newly rich New Jersey trucker moves to Hollywood and creates a slew of hit TV shows by manipulating the ratings system with help from his girlfriend in the ratings business.

  • Director
    • Danny DeVito
  • Writers
    • Jim Mulholland
    • Michael Barrie
  • Stars
    • Danny DeVito
    • Rhea Perlman
    • Gerrit Graham
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    934
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Danny DeVito
    • Writers
      • Jim Mulholland
      • Michael Barrie
    • Stars
      • Danny DeVito
      • Rhea Perlman
      • Gerrit Graham
    • 11User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos64

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    Top cast74

    Edit
    Danny DeVito
    Danny DeVito
    • Vic DeSalvo
    Rhea Perlman
    Rhea Perlman
    • Francine Kester
    Gerrit Graham
    Gerrit Graham
    • Parker Braithwaite
    Bernadette Birkett
    Bernadette Birkett
    • Mrs. Sweeney
    Barry Corbin
    Barry Corbin
    • The Colonel
    Louis Giambalvo
    Louis Giambalvo
    • Goody DeSalvo
    Ronny Graham
    Ronny Graham
    • Cap'n Andy
    Huntz Hall
    Huntz Hall
    • Benny Bentson
    Basil Hoffman
    Basil Hoffman
    • Frank Friedlander
    Kevin McCarthy
    Kevin McCarthy
    • Wes Vandergelder
    John Megna
    John Megna
    • Al
    Michael Richards
    Michael Richards
    • Sal
    Ron Rifkin
    Ron Rifkin
    • T.V. Director
    Joe Santos
    Joe Santos
    • Tony
    Vincent Schiavelli
    Vincent Schiavelli
    • Skip Imperiali
    Fred Scialla
    • Richie DeSalvo
    Frank Sivero
    Frank Sivero
    • Bruno
    Mark L. Taylor
    Mark L. Taylor
    • Ken
    • Director
      • Danny DeVito
    • Writers
      • Jim Mulholland
      • Michael Barrie
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    5.9934
    1
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    10

    Featured reviews

    7ksf-2

    devito & perlman..pretty funny

    Danny devito is vic, trying to sell his script for a tv series to anyone, but no takers. Until he meets francine, who is played by the real mrs. Devito, rhea perlman. Vic gets his show on the air, but it's going to get pulled unless he can bring up the ratings. And francine just happens to work for the tv ratings company. She knows just how to scam the ratings, but wants no part of it. Can vic use her knowledge to bump up the show ratings while keeping his relationship intact? A little over the top, but to be fair, there wasn't a lot of security on computers in 1984! A funny bit where the president of the network fires employees by playing one, long, pre-recorded vhs tape, as they file into his office, one by one. Another funny gag where vic has his chauffeur drive when he and francine ride in bumper cars at the amusement park. It's fun. So many tiny little cameos with about half of hollywood! Take a minute and look at that cast list! Even some golden television oldies, like steve allen, jayne meadows, and huntz hall. Hall was in the bowery boys... he only did a couple more things after this. And of course, george wendt, rhea's co-star from cheers is in here. Fun adventure, if you just buy into the whole premise. Directed by devito himself.
    9rdoubleoc

    Great movie.

    I just watched this for the first time in 2022, and I think this was one of those movies people saw but then forgot about, or never saw to begin with (ironic, considering the plot), because it's a very good movie.

    Actually, it's a great movie, but I won't spoil it.

    I think this is a movie that a lot of people will still want to watch even today, though, especially considering the cast (Danny DeVito, etc.).

    Just watch it.
    6planktonrules

    Just turn off your brain and enjoy.

    "The Ratings Game" is the first made for Showtime film and it's an over-the-top film...the sort that might make you laugh but also is pretty dopey.

    Vic (Danny DeVito) is a rich guy who has dreams of being a TV producer. But he's also a talentless clod who doesn't know the first thing about making TV shows. Not surprisingly, again and again he's rejected by the networks because his ideas are, frankly, terrible. However, when a network exec is fired, he okays a TV pilot starring Vic....mostly out of a desire for revenge.

    As for Vic, he's a guy who comes up with a scheme. It seems his girlfriend (Rhea Perlman) works for Computron...a Nielsen-type service that monitors TV viewing for the networks. Using her inside information, Vic and his associates track down a hundred of these families whose viewing is monitored. He arranges for these families all to have a free cruise...during which time, Vic's men break into the familys' homes and watch Vic's show....giving it incredibly high ratings despite the show being crude and stupid. But the problem is that when the show is a hit, the network wants to buy the show and make Vic a star....so this means keeping these unfortunate families on an extended cruise! What's next? See the film.

    The acting in this one is very broad as is the writing. It's funny and insightful while ALSO being rather dopey. My daughter watched it with me and hated it. I thought that despite everything, it is cute and worth seeing....but I do agree the film was a bit stupid.
    5smiledaydream

    Not great but easy to watch.

    It's fun to see each person do their best. None of the acting is bad. The story is a little, well, seeing it once is good enough. I watched it while I was doing some of the work and we enjoyed a couple bits. I'm much happier that I watched it then if I didn't.
    humpty

    The best, priceless

    THE RATINGS GAME is one of the funniest and well written movies of all time. Its the TV industry making fun of itself. The plot is unique and clever, the love story with DeVito and Perlman is very well done and touching, and there are cameos by many great stars and stars to be. Basically its a spoof of really bad sit-coms where the lead character fraudulently manipulates the ratings to make his patently bad show beat the World Series in ratings. Brilliant movie, probably not easy to find. There are very few comedies that get me. This one is side-splitting and a real bulls-eye insightful satire of the Hollywood TV industry and scene. Bravo.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A TV movie made for the Showtime/Movie Channel network.
    • Quotes

      Goody DeSalvo: Since you got money, you only go out with beautiful women who treat you like dirt.

      Vic De Salvo: It's a step up. Before I had money, I went out with ugly women who treated me like dirt.

      Goody DeSalvo: What you need is a nice girl who likes you for yourself.

      Vic De Salvo: That's not my type.

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Danny DeVito/Joan Embery/John Searing (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Sittin' Pretty
      Music and Lyrics by Bruce Kimmel

      Performed by Dan Navarro

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 15, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • T.V. - Total verrückt
    • Filming locations
      • Laird International Studio - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Ratings Game Productions
      • Imagination Productions
      • Newstreet Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 42m(102 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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