Tunnel Vision (1976)

Set in 19985 (the future!), a televised Congressional Oversight Committee headed by Senator McManus (Howard Hesseman) is the framing device for a series of TV and commercial spoofs in the style of The Groove Tube (1974) and later made famous by films such as Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) and Amazon Women on the Moon (1987).

This film features many future comedy faces (and voices), including John Candy, Phil Proctor, Howard Hesseman, Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, Franken and Davis, Ernie Anderson and his wife Edwina, Betty Thomas, Gerrit Graham, Ron Silver, Joe Flaherty, and William Schallert.

Segments include “Ramon and Sonya”, an All In The Family-style sitcom about a bunch of foul-mouthed, incestuous gypsies (with a wayward gay son and a prostitute daughter) living in New York City, “Remember When”, a gameshow where contestants must answer questions about the various crimes and misdemeanours they have committed in their lives (or receive electric shocks), “The Big Beat”, a wish fulfilment show where the audience gets to beat the living hell out of the various performers, and a PSA segment called “Learn How to be Butch”.

It seems dated today, and societal norms have shifted greatly since 1976, but Tunnel Vision was made pre-the advent of cable television, and the subject matter at the time was considered ground-breaking for pushing the boundaries of censorship (often being offensive for the sake of being offensive) and for making a point about the absurdity and arbitrary nature of the entire subject of taboos.

Christian A. Broder
Phil Proctor
Senator McManus
Howard Hesseman
Senator Polanski
Beans Morocco (as Dan Barrows)
Quant O’Neill / Subway Reporter / Announcer
Ernie Anderson
Proctologist
Stephen Feinberg
Dr Manuel Labor
Ron Silver
Mrs Betty Purvis
Roberta Kent
Melanie Edwards 
Edwina Gough (as Edwina Anderson)
Gene Scallion
James Bacon
Man at breakfast / Doctor
Kurt Andon
Pierre Skooché / Son
Lorry Goldman
Marie
Lynne Marie Stewart
Freddie
Gerrit Graham
Street Attendant
Pamela Toll
Dying Man
Gene Pistilli
Warren Welt
Sam Riddle
Bridgit Bert Richards
Betty Thomas
Carl Michaelevich
Joe Flaherty
Carol / Butch Girl
Mary McCusker
Skipper
Pat Proft
Dwayne
Murphy Dunne
Dr Holcomb
Rowby Goren
Smilin’ Ed McDonnelly
Bart Williams
Henry Kissinger
Roger Bowen
Pete Bagliani
Ron Prince
Cooper
John Candy
Walter 
Christopher Pray
Man looking for Head / Hippie #1
Rick Nyles
Al
Al Franken
Mr Pat Borzak
Paul Kronick
Girl / Mrs Pat Borzak / Announcer
Nellie Bellflower
Tom
Tom Davis
Winfield Carmichael
Frank von Zerneck
Pregnant Man
Doug Steckler
Mr Parker
Leonard Goren
Mrs Parker
Fannie Zaslawsky
Ray Thompson
Wayne Satz
Weather Girl
Rebecca Brooks
Freak
Garroth Tooke
Francis X. Cody
William Schallert
Frank Zorby
Frank Asesia
Ralph Stevens
Howard Storm
CIA Man / R.C. Call
Bob McClurg
Ramon
Ira Miller
Sonja
Laraine Newman
Esmeralda
Terri Siegel
Victor
Bill Saluga
Rabbi Rabinowitz / Hippie #2
Neal Israel
Lieutenant / Herb Mealy
Rod Gist
Lembeck
Jose Kent
Police Comic
Jimmy Martinez
Police Drummer / The Herpes
Michael Overly
Leon Russell
Michael Popovich
Bob Dylan
Edward D. Markley
Goldstern
Bo Kaprall
Bill Guy
Larry Gelman
Milt Meadows
Barry Michlin
Barry Flanken
Danny Goldman
Steve Garvey / Announcer
Danny Dark
Nixon’s Roommate
Kurt Taylor
Chevy Chase
Himself
Raunchy Ruth Rooster
McHen McHen
Frankie Segue
Cary Hoffman

Director
Neal Israel
Brad Swirnoff

Video