The Great American Traffic Jam

The Great American Traffic Jam (alternate title Gridlock) is a 1980 American made-for-television movie which first aired on NBC on October 2, 1980. The comedy revolves around a large "all-star" cast getting stuck in a massive Los Angeles area traffic jam, with multiple interweaving story lines among those stuck.[1]

The Great American Traffic Jam
Cover of one version of VHS release of movie
GenreComedy
Written byDave Hackel
Steve Hattman
Directed byJames Frawley
Music byArthur B. Rubinstein
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersGreg Strangis
Sam Strangis
Running time96 minutes
Production companyTen-Four Productions
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseOctober 2, 1980 (1980-10-02)

Background and reception

The movie debuted on NBC on Thursday October 2, 1980.[2] The TV Guide summary of the week's TV movies described it as a film that "provides stale characters in staler situations,"[3] but another promotional blurb in the same issue stated "what sets this 1980 TV-movie apart are its flashes of wit, delivered in a running commentary by a glib disc jockey (Howard Hesseman) and its satirically staged sequences--such as a helicopter's convoy's delivering portable toilets."[4]

Though Ed McMahon refers to the movie as a "semiclassic" in his biography,[5] Rue McClanahan (who plays his wife) admits she did it just to fill a contractual obligation with NBC and said "it was about as funny as Mom and Me, MD", a reference to another television movie she did in 1979.[6][7]

On its debut, the movie was the 14th most watched primetime show of the week with a 17.8/30 rating. The serious Holocaust drama Playing for Time, which won a number of Emmys, was the most watched program that week.[8][9]

Writers Steve Hattman and Dave Hackel dreamed up the idea for the movie when they were stuck in an L.A. traffic jam.[1] It appears the original title of the film was "Gridlock", but there is no evidence of it ever being released under that title.[10] It was released on VHS in the United States in December 1987.[10][11]

Primary cast

Though the cast is large, the opening credits billed cast are listed in alphabetical order as follows:

Other actors appearing in the film include Lyle Waggoner, Abe Vigoda, Marcia Wallace, and Paul Willson; game show hosts Wink Martindale, Jack Clark, Art James, and Jim Perry; and Howard Hesseman (who was playing a DJ role on WKRP in Cincinnati at this time) as the voice of the radio announcer.

References
  1. (26 September 1980) History's Worst Traffic Jam, Suffolk News-Herald
  2. (28 September 1980). We Interrupt to Bring A Traffic Bulletin, San Bernardino Sun
  3. (Sept 27-Oct 3, 1980). This Week's Movies, TV Guide, p. A-6, A-23
  4. (Sept 27-Oct 3, 1980). Up: The Great American Traffic Jam, TV Guide, p. A-88
  5. McMahon, Ed with David Fisher. For Laughing Out Loud: My Life and Good Times, p. 194 ("I've acted in several movies made for television.... A lot of people don't remember that I was in the semiclassic Great American Traffic Jam...") (1998)
  6. McClanahan, Rue. My first five husbands-- and the ones who got away, p. 234 (2007)
  7. (29 May 2008). Un Atasco Guay (review), Fotogramas
  8. (10 October 1980). Playing for Time, Top-rated TV Program, Desert Sun, p. C5 (Associated Press story)
  9. (13 October 1980). Specials Come Through for CBS, Broadcasting, p. 56
  10. Variety's Complete Home Video Directory, p. 170 (1988) ("Original/Alternative Title: Gridlock")
  11. (26 December 1987). New releases, Courier Journal ("a less-than-hilarious made-for-TV comedy about traffic")
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