Watch Americathon

The movie Americathon from 1979 is a political satire that takes place in the near future of 1998. In this dystopian world, the United States is bankrupt and owes a staggering $400 billion to its creditors. As a result, the Chinese have purchased the entire state of California and renamed it "New China." To raise money and prevent the Chinese from foreclosing on the rest of the country, the government decides to hold an all-day telethon. The concept of the telethon is simple: sell every inch of commercial airtime to anyone willing to pay, and keep the show going until the country is out of debt. The telethon is hosted by Monty Rushmore (Harvey Korman) and Lucas Budlong (Fred Willard), two egomaniacal television personalities.

As the telethon proceeds, various celebrities take the stage to perform, including Meat Loaf, Jay Leno, and Elvis Costello. However, not everyone is on board with the telethon idea. A band of countercultural hippies led by Eric McMerkin (Peter Riegert) decides to disrupt the event and spread their message of peace, love, and anarchy.

Throughout the movie, we see a range of hilarious skits and segments, from a game show called "Attack a Gook" (which involves throwing pies at a representation of a Vietnamese soldier), to an ad for a cigarette brand called "Smoke-a-Meth" (which promises to provide a "reality-high").

One of the funniest aspects of the movie is the way it makes light of the rampant commercialism in American culture. Everything, from the telethon itself to the products advertised during the show, is branded and sold in some way. In one scene, we see an ad for a brand of toaster that comes with a built-in television – a ridiculous concept that seems all too plausible in this world.

Despite its outrageous humor, Americathon also touches on some serious topics. The movie offers a scathing critique of American politics and the way in which money and power corrupt the system. It also raises questions about the role of the media in society and its impact on cultural values.

Overall, Americathon is a hilarious and thought-provoking satire that still resonates today. Its messages about consumerism and corporate greed are still relevant, and its vision of a dystopian future feels all too possible at times. If you're looking for a movie that will make you laugh while also making you think, Americathon is definitely worth checking out.

Americathon is a 1979 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.5.