The Ratings Game

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Tomatometer
Not Yet Available

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

33%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 134

User image

The Ratings Game Photos

View All Photos

Movie Info

Made for cable television, The Ratings Game was directed by Danny DeVito, who co-starred in the film with his wife Rhea Perlman. DeVito plays the owner of a New Jersey trucking firm who yearns for a televison career. He offers several TV-series ideas to a receptive network programming head. On the verge of being fired, the network exec decides to have his revenge on his ex-bosses by selecting the very worst of DeVito's concepts. The "born to fail" series becomes a hit, and soon DeVito is the hottest programmer in the industry! More truthful than many of us are willing to admit, The Ratings Game premiered with astonishingly little fanfare over The Movie Channel cable service on December 15, 1984.

Watch it now

Cast

Gerrit Graham
as Parker Braithwaite
Kevin McCarthy
as Wes Vandergelder
Jayne Meadows
as Herself (special appearance)
Steve Allen
as Himself (special appearance)
Whitney Bain
Bernadette Birkett
as Mrs. Sweeney
Barry Corbin
as Carl Wheeny
Louis Giambalvo
as Goody DeSalvo
Huntz Hall
as Benny Bentson
Basil Hoffman
as Frank Friedlander
John Megna
as Al
Ron Rifkin
as T.V. Director
Joe Santos
as Tony
Vincent Schiavelli
as Skip
Fred Scialla
as Richie DeSalvo
Mark L. Taylor
as Ken
George Wendt
as Mr. Sweeney
Cisse Cameron
as Wendy
Gela Jacobson
as Tamara
Candi Brough
as Bambi
Randi Brough
as Stacy
Army Archerd
as Himself
Gail Barle
as Hamilton's Girl
Allyce Beasley
as Receptionist
Peter Brocco
as Vic's Tailor
Jacqueline Cassell
as MBC Secretary
Robert Costanzo
as Nunzio
Selma Diamond
as Francine's Mother
Michael Ensign
as Le Boeuf Maitre d'
Michael Gallup
as Opera Singer
Stan Haze
as Levar
Jason Hervey
as Todd Sweeney
Damon Hines
as Woodrow T. Brown
Jerry Hoffman
as Mr. Foley
Ken Kimmins
as Network Spokesman
Bruce Kimmel
as W*A*C*ked Out Recruit
Katie La Bourdette
as Le Boeuf Woman
Jeffrey Lampert
as MBC Guard
Russ Marin
as Sid
Randall Miller
as Car Attendant
Susan Peretz
as Network Receptionist
Bob Perlow
as Warm-Up Comic
Hal Riddle
as The Dean
Jerry Seinfeld
as Network Rep
J.T. Solomon
as Mrs. Johnson
Lisle Wilson
as Mrs. Johnson
Lee Ving
as "The Dawn Patrol"
Nora Gaye
as "H.O.T.B.O.D.S."
Louise Dorsey
as "H.O.T.B.O.D.S."
RONNY GRAHAM
as Cap'n Andy
Randi Brooks
as Teresa
James Le Gros
as Car Attendant
Rhea Perlman
as Francine Kester
Michael Richards
as Sal
Daniel Stern
as Skip Imperali
Frank Sivero
as Bruno
Danny DeVito
as Vic De Salvo
View All

Critic Reviews for The Ratings Game

All Critics (3) | Top Critics (1)

  • The razor-sharp script contains countless knowing digs at the TV industry, and the mock shows created for MBC (H.O.T. B.O.D.S. and Levar, the pimp series Nunzio's Girls, etc.) are inspired.

    Jul 24, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    Matt Brunson

    Creative Loafing

  • Television has changed so dramatically since 1984 that the film has lost a lot of its direct relevance. There's still fun to be had, it's just that the sting isn't as great as it likely was when it initially aired.

    Jul 18, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Mike McGranaghan

    Aisle Seat
View All Critic Reviews (3)

Audience Reviews for The Ratings Game

There are no featured audience reviews for The Ratings Game at this time.

See All Audience Reviews

The Ratings Game Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

News & Features