Watch On the Air Live with Captain Midnight
- PG
- 1979
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6.8 (65)
On the Air Live with Captain Midnight is a satirical comedy from 1979 that pokes fun at the corporate world of broadcasting and the personal politics of a TV station. The film stars Tracy Sebastian as the titular Captain Midnight, a wacky and irreverent late-night talk show host who's at odds with upper management at the fictional World Wide Broadcasting who want to turn his show into a more traditional talk show.
As Captain Midnight fights against this new direction, he also finds himself at odds with network executives who are more concerned with pleasing advertisers than promoting quality programming. Meanwhile, the show's various quirky guests, ranging from a psychic to a nudist to a time traveler, struggle to weather the changes happening around them.
The cast of characters is rounded out with John Ireland as the station's president, Dena Dietrich as a hard-nosed producer, and a host of talented comedians who play the various oddballs who appear on Captain Midnight's show.
The humor in On the Air Live with Captain Midnight is often absurd and over the top, with plenty of gags and visual humor. However, there's also a biting commentary on the state of media and entertainment, especially when it comes to the conflict between artistic integrity and the profit motive.
Visually, the film is striking, with bright colors and bold designs that are reminiscent of the era's pop art aesthetic. The camera work is often playful and experimental, with dynamic angles and rapid cuts that give the movie a frenetic energy.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of On the Air Live with Captain Midnight is how it manages to balance its darker themes with its silly humor. Beneath all the jokes and antics, there's a serious critique of the corrosive influence of corporate interests on creativity and authenticity in entertainment.
Overall, On the Air Live with Captain Midnight is a silly and subversive comedy that manages to be both funny and thought-provoking. Fans of classic sketch comedy and satire will find plenty to enjoy here, as will anyone looking for a fun and visually striking movie that doesn't take itself too seriously.