Peter Bergman Movies

When aspiring musician Bryan Peters (David Hallyday) wins a trip to L.A. to meet his rock idol (Warwick Sims), there's one catch: bachelor Bryan must bring a girl friend. This could present a problem, since he doesn't have one. The solution: his manager Reggie (T.K. Carter) goes drag. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

The Firesign Theatre (Phil Austin, Philip Proctor, Peter Bergman) is still held in high esteem by those "FM heads" of the 1970s who committed the group's stream-of-consciousness comedy albums to memory. "Nick Danger: Third Eye" was a character created for the Firesign's 1969 album All Hail Marx and Lennon (aka How Can You Be In Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?) The character was probably better seen than heard, as proven by the half-hearted videotape presentation Nick Danger and the Case of the Missing Yolk. The Bogart-like Nick Danger palavers with such slimy suspects as Rocky Rococo while he tackles the case of the Yolks, a hillbilly family who've vanished without a trace. The Yolks have been transported by aliens to a modernistic, fully automated "dream house". Most of the resulting jokes were done better by Ma and Pa Kettle. Nick Danger and the Case of the Missing Yolk is a distressingly mundane effort from the once-innovational Firesign Theatre. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Most baby-boomers still nurture fond memories of the Calfornia-based comedy troupe known as The Firesign Theater. One of the group's most popular offerings was the 1969 record album, All Hail Marx and Lennon, the second side of which consisted of the old-time-radio spoof "Nick Danger, Third Eye." With existential cunning, Danger dealt with such worthies as the sinister Rocky Roccoco (inspired by Peter Lorre, and in turn the inspiration for a chain of pizza parlors). As funny as ever, the Firesigners (Philip Proctor, Phil Austin, Peter Bergman et al) star in the 60-minute video Nick Danger in the Case of the Missing Yolks. The detective-spoof buffoonery is secondary to the video's main plotline, concerning a futuristic family and their dangerously interactive TV set. Like the vintage "Firesign Theatre" albums of the 1960s and 1970s, the seemingly haphazard Nick Danger etc. possesses a goofy sort of logic which becomes obvious only after repeated viewings. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the future (the distant year of 1997), the United States of America is in crisis. The oil shortage has grown to epic proportions, leading to people living in their cars and bicycling to work. Cigarettes and meat have been outlawed, gold coins are needed to operate common household appliances, and the Western White House (located in a luxury apartment in California) has been forced by economic necessity to operate round-the-clock tours for vacationing Chinese citizens. The economy is deep trouble; President Chet Roosevelt (John Ritter) has borrowed four billion dollars from Native American tennis shoe manufacturer Sam Birdwater (Chief Dan George), and he's foreclosing on the loan. When a media expert, Eric McMerkhin (Peter Riegert), is summoned for advice (since despite all hardships, Americans refuse to give up their televisions), he suggests a telethon. It's a great idea, except the President's assistant Vincent Vanderhoff (Fred Willard) is in cahoots with the United Heb-Rab Republic, a sinister coalition of Israeli and Arab nationals who want to snap up America if the debt can't be paid. He ensures that the show is stocked with endless ventriloquists and insists on Monty Rushmore (Harvey Korman), a washed-up, drug-addicted television personality as host. The star of the popular sitcom "Both Mother and Father," he is sure to self-destruct over the grueling 30-day-and-night telethon schedule. Despite terrorist attacks and the kidnapping of President Roosevelt, the patriotic spirit prevails and American citizens dig deep and pledge their gold to the cause. This outrageous farce (based on a play by Firesign Theatre alumni Philip Proctor and Peter Bergman) features cameos from Elvis Costello, Jay Leno, Meat Loaf and the Del Rubio Triplets, and is narrated by George Carlin. The Beach Boys, Eddie Money, and Nick Lowe contribute to the musical soundtrack. ~ Fred Beldin, Rovi

The Big One finally hits California and as it slides into the waiting Pacific a television news team with anchor people Walter Concrete and Barbara Halters is there to record the resulting chaos and help themselves to whatever is left. This satire features performers from such noted comedy troupes as the Ace Trucking Company, FireSign Theater and Second City. The Tubes provide the music. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi