Action (1999–2000) User Reviews

Funniest Show You've Never Heard Of

[aguynameddrew · 9/10 · 27 April 2019]

I always wondered why this show only got one season. Was the title misleading ? Was it ahead of its time?

It's like Entourage without the stuff people hated about Entourage. It's like Veep without politics, it's like Episodes, The League, etc

It's Jay Mohr at his best.

Such a shame it only had one season, and even though it came out 20 years ago maybe it's time for some Hollywood exec to dust off the file and green light some more episodes :)

"Plumbing the depths of depravity, crudeness, meanness, sexual license and perversion, and overall human nastiness" - awesome!

[quivered-1 · 9/10 · 5 May 2007]

This was a really great show, I just can't help wondering why it was buried? I, personally, know of no-one who actually saw this (apart from me!). Here in the UK it aired late night on channel 4 in 1999. It's witty and clever, a scathing satire of the movie industry in Hollywood (a little reminiscent of The Player).

It's also a very modern comedy, in that it doesn't have a laughter track or a sofa and it's got realistic Dialogue (ie Sweary words - Oooh). Such a shame it got no publicity.

Jay Mohr as the ruthless Peter Dragon is strangely likable - he lies to get whatever he needs but at the same time he's brutally honest about certain things - for example in the courtroom scene (which is really brilliant, BTW) where he takes on the senator accusing him of promoting violence.

I hope this does a bit better now that it's available on DVD.

cut off to early

[movieman_kev · 8/10 · 17 April 2008]

Peter Dragon, (Jay Mohr) is an arrogant, narcissistic, biligeren movie producer. But after his newest film "Slow Torture" bombs badly, he's also in dire need of a hit. This series revolves around him trying to get that hopeful hit "Beverly Hills Gun Club" off the ground and made, dealing with his ex-prostitute turned VP of production, a closeted gay leading action hero, drug-addled replacment leading man, heavily put upon writer, fat actess, and finding funding for it all.

Sadly this only lasted 8 episodes on Fox (5 additional would be shown on sister cable network, FX) before cancellation, perhaps it was easy to predict as the show had black humor, & sharp satire. Perhaps it was a tad too 'inside' to appeal to the appointed time-slot it was given. But it was also hilarious and witty in spades. Well-acted all around, it's a shame it wasn't able to stay on a bit longer. Thankfully, the un-bleeped DVD set (I Won't call it uncensored, as the nudity is still black boxed out) is out so others can see what they missed out on.

My Grade: A

Short lived

[Quinoa1984 · 24 July 2000]

This show was so funny I don't know why they (FOX) cut it off. This was such a hilarious look at Hollywood producers it boggled my mind. Jay Mohr makes a terrific lead as the main guy Peter Dragon, a guy who will do almost anything to get pictures made. Great fun, but shorter lived than a fly. Buddy Hackett got the most laughs from me as the crazy uncle. A+

THE GREAT JAY MOHR. Respect.

[ichabod81 · 10/10 · 27 November 2002]

This show is amazing. It breaks my heart to know, that people didn't have the humor for this. I mean is a show good only when there's an audience laughing in the background?! Maybe some people just don't know when to laugh without it. Anyway, I admit that for people who don't perhaps know much about the film making process, this could be somewhat of a question mark, but for any filmbuff, I would recommend this in a heartbeat! Jay Mohr is my favorite comedian and this is no question his best work. The way he portrays the sleezy film producer Peter Dragon is an enjoyment in itself. Add to that the body language, the cunning jokes and a terrific supporting cast and we're really onto a winner. That said, forget Boston Public. Forget C.S.I.. Forget Ed. These are just some of my favorite shows and even put together they couldn't measure the respect I have for this one. Bravo!

Best written show I have worked on.

[wffproductions · 10/10 · 16 January 2014]

I've been working in Hollywood since 1990 and Action is hands down the best written show I've worked on. Jay and the other cast members kept us laughing on the set every day. Lee Arenberg was fantastic as the semi-closeted, ego maniacal Studio Head. Jack Plotnick, Jarrad Paul, Fab Filippo, Buddy Hacket, and Richard Burgi were all pleasure to work with and terrific in their roles. Don Reo, Chris Thompson, the Hamburger brothers and the other writers are every talented. Unlike many of the shows I've worked on, I was sad to see this one end. Too Hollywood? I don't think so. It just wasn't ever understood by Fox and was therefore poorly marketed. Watch it on DVD. It is still great.

Hilarious, underrated satire on Hollywood

[grantss · 10/10 · 18 December 2015]

Peter Dragon is a successful, powerful Hollywood producer. His last, massively expensive, movie bombed and he needs a hit. Will "Beverley Hills Gun Club" be it?

A ridiculously funny portrayal of all the skulduggery, back stabbing, gossip, defamation, angst and seediness of Hollywood. Quite over-the-top, subversive and gritty, nothing and nobody is sacred. Some great Hollywood in-jokes too.

Jay Mohr is excellent in the lead role. Good support from Illeana Douglas, Jarrad Paul and Buddy Hackett plus a host of stars who play themselves.

A great pity that this series only lasted one season. It definitely had legs and could have gone for several seasons. Maybe it cut too close to the bone for Hollywood...

Too inside? We don't think so

[kosmasp · 10/10 · 23 July 2019]

When I say "we" I include Jay Mohr who is saying exactly that when asked why the show was cancelled and if that was a reason. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Something the movie is also doing. You jump right into it. And while Entourage might have been better with the behind the scenes look (and combining the business part with a bit of Sex and the City with male leads), this is really unapologetic.

Let me be very clear here! The show is very offensive! It actually starts with the major character parking in a spot clearly reserved for someone else. Now Jay Mohr does not care about this other person and he really makes it clear when he is confronted. A masturbation/semen joke was changed into peeing/pee. Not sure if that is better, but the people checking "morals" for Fox, where the show originally aired, thought so.

So right off the bat, we get the mood for this. This does not take prisoners, but did have quite a lot of guest stars and we can only imagine what or who would have been on, if the show kept on going. You have Keanu Reeves in the first episode for example and Salma Hayek - and she is going through something that she had to endure more or less in her own private/professional life. No one knew back then, at least not the public.

Now there is a short documentary on the two disc set (20 minutes), that highlights some things (the audio commentaries are great too, especially how honest they all are - including one of the major female leads being unhappy, which makes me want to hear her side of it all), one of them being the bad decision not going or rather staying with HBO, whom this show was originally meant to go. But the money called and they went to Fox.

Now everyone is eager not to put (too much?) blame on Fox. But it just seemed like a bad idea, especially in hindsight. The rating here says something, but the battles they had to fight to even get things accomplished is amazing. How self aware where they? They had a script ready in case they got cancelled. So if you watch and the last few episodes seem removed from the final one ... that is the reason.

It's almost a wonder they even got so many things through the censors. One of the episodes even got outright rejected by the "board" for its premise - it includes a frog and ... well I wouldn't know how to explain this, but it's quite something. So if you are not easily offended and do not care about political correctness ... you will curse! Because this was cancelled after 13 episodes (actually they got the memo after episode 8 or 9 but were able to do a couple more). Really great and an amazing Jay Mohr as quite the antihero you will hate and maybe love a bit ... but definitely be excited to see ...

One of the best shows ever on TV

[babablowfish · 10/10 · 9 September 2006]

That Action could not succeed on broadcast TV is sad. That it never got picked up or originally aired on cable is tragic. The 13 episodes that were shot are each far better than nearly anything that has ever been on TV. I rate Action in the top 5 of all time along with The Sopranos, Strangers With Candy, Arrested Development and Amos & Andy. Jay Mohr does what he does best; he plays an incredibly slimy, narcissistic, insensitive, driven operator (movie producer) who is like his character in Jerry Maguire on steroids. Illeana Douglas gives her best performance as a hooker who is smart, funny and surprisingly decent and warm. Aw heck, every performer on this series was just great. Each episode stands up to repeated viewing. The series is on DVD; get it.

The original stuff

[kathtea · 10/10 · 9 November 2007]

Peter Dragon picks up where Larry Sanders left off with the blackest of black comedies. Razor sharp script, perfect performances and many, many 'I can't believe they just said that' moments.

Dragon was the smartest, funniest, realest character to come out of a Hollywood spoof in years. Writer/producer/creator Chris Thompson slipped almost entirely off the radar after this production, quite possibly through choice, because if you can't celebrate candour and truth on TV, what's left to celebrate?

What seriously shocks me is that no one seems to remember 'Action' when heaping praise on lesser shows on a similar theme -- specifically the heavily watered down reincarnation that is 'Californication'.

Though referenced heavily over the last 7 years, no one dares to speak its name, which is a pity because its fiery death made a lot of modern TV moments possible.

An acquired taste, but a unique and intelligent black comedy

[guyfromjerzee · 7/10 · 18 March 2007]

First of all, I'd just like to say that this is one of those shows in which you need to give it time to grow on you. So if you pick up the DVD of the complete series or catch re-runs of it on Comedy Central, you might not fall in love with the show immediately. Then again, I felt the same way about "Reno 911" when I first watched it, and I now think it's one of the funniest shows on TV. "Action" is not nearly as funny as "Reno 911," but it did eventually grow on me. I saw a few episodes when it aired on Fox, and I recall slightly enjoying the show (it's been so long since I watched it), so when I found out an "uncensored" DVD was being released of the complete series I decided to pick it up. Well...after I watched the first couple episodes, I thought of maybe selling the DVD on Amazon. I like Jay Mohr, but I felt his character was too dark and mean-spirited, even for me. Trust me, I have a pretty dark sense of humor, so it's not like I'm expecting "The Brady Bunch." One criticism I do have to make about the show is that some of the humor is a little too heavy-handed. I understand that Hollywood makes some pretty violent, senseless action movies, but I'm quite sure there aren't producers who purposely set out to make them that way. The whole show revolves around the making of a film called "Beverly Hills Gun Club." I'm no Hollywood insider, but I'm pretty sure some of the show's depictions of Hollywood executives was a little too broad. However, after a while the show's sly, biting humor started to appeal to me. It doesn't hurt that the show contains a fine cast. I've never seen the guy who plays Adam Rafkin before, but he was great at playing a nerdy, uptight, naive screenwriter. It took a little while for me to accept Illeana Douglas as a hooker. OK, so in real life, there are probably hookers who look 10 times uglier than her, but I guess the fact that several of the male characters were sexually attracted to her required some suspension of disbelief on my part. I know beauty's in the eye of the beholder, but she's a 90-pound woman with huge eyes for Pete's sake! I'm sure Hollywood types can get much better-looking women than her to jump into bed with them. She is a pretty good actress, but I felt she was miscast. The late Buddy Hackett provided some funny comic moments, though he was a little underused. There were some fine guest appearances, my favorite one being R. Lee Ermey as an eccentric director. How can anyone hate R. Lee? And being that this is a show about Hollywood, it has its fair share of gorgeous ladies (Illeana being an exception, of course). I was a little ticked off that the DVD was supposed to be uncensored, yet the episode that showed the topless women auditioning for body doubles was censored. I felt a little pathetic at first, until I heard the filmmakers on the commentary, who were also ticked off about the episode's absence of TNA for the DVD version. Anyway, I won't regard "Action" as one of the best shows of all time, but it was unique and original. You can't deny that. As a matter of fact, when I watched the last episode on the DVD, I found myself saying, "That's it? Where's the rest of the episodes?" It would be nice if the show could go on. Maybe not for 8 seasons, but for just a little while longer.

Special Features

[mstcyr2 · 10/10 · 16 March 2007]

Hey "Action" lovers...remember to check out the Special Features link on disc 2 of the "can't live without it" boxed set of ACTION. The "Getting Into Action" feature is terrifically informative and hilarious. Chris Thompson, Joel Silver, Jay, et al really set the record straight about their battles with "Standards and Practices," "The Fox Network," as well providing insights into the origins of story lines, and the camaraderie between the writers. While all those involved with ACTION has moved on to other things, everyone's a little sad to see it go, although its early demise was somewhat inevitable and may have in fact added to the show's legacy and timelessness.

The ACTION boxset is probably the best bargain out there. Amazingly, and I'm not obsessive/compulsive in the least, ACTION is so fresh, that every three months or so, I re-watch it from start to finish and laugh out loud all over again. It's THAT good! I've given each cast member my own personal EMMY, although Peter would probably donate his to one of the Wayans Brothers. I only wish that there were some "Lost" episodes of this terrific series.

"Even a dog can shake hands..."

[Victor Field · 10 November 2002]

The continuing story of high-pressure Joel Silver-type movie producer Peter Dragon's battle to produce a make-or-break actioner called "Beverly Hills Gun Club" in view of obstacles from financing through to the writer (who in true Hollywood fashion is nearly always at the short end of the stick) to his cast, with hilarious consequences. Seriously.

Shot on film without a laugh track and with enough strong language and adult content (such as Sandra Bullock berating our hero for making a tape of the two of them having sex and selling it as "While You Were Sleeping On My Face") to irritate America's Bible Belt and get it dropped after eight episodes - at the end of one episode our hero mentions that a show like this could be a big hit in a good time slot (in Britain it was given an even worse slot; Channel 4 never showed it before midnight. Isn't it ironic, don't you think?) - "Action" is often crude and continues Hollywood's apparent unwillingness to glamourise itself as much as everything else, but it's very, very funny if you can get all the references, with a nice line in caustic insults from Dragon. My favourites: Dragon seeing the pretty but overweight blonde MAW Reagan Busch (a funny name in itself) and pointing out to the writer, "Yeah, she's got a cute face... ON TOP OF BRIAN DENNEHY'S BODY!!!" (This can be seen as a comment on Hollywood body fascism, because she isn't really that fat. Which is not to say that when we see her post-liposuction it isn't nice...), and his suggestion that Matt Damon winning an Oscar was the first sign of the Apocalypse.

Harlan Ellison said of "Bracken's World," "It has the evil fascination of rotting fruit. And smells about the same." I think he'd have kinder opinions of this short-lived gem. And remember, Silver may have produced "The Matrix," but he also did "Xanadu"...

Ahead Of Its Time

[statuskuo · 8/10 · 23 September 2013]

This show is brilliant in its acerbic poison pen look at the way a movie actually struggles to be made. The jokes come at a fast pace the same as with "30 Rock" but maybe lost a lot of gas since Jay Mohr's Peter is unrepentantly self-absorbed. Similar to a Jenna Maroney, but less self flagellating. Witness the inside joke of when Wendy, a prostitute, tells Peter that she once had a boyfriend when she was 13 his name was Roman. That's a joke on Roman Polanski. But it whips by so fast you have to be aware. Somehow, network isn't that. It's "Married With Children..." as you can hear a toilet flush from any room in the house. This is more jarring. Despicable people doing despicable things, and rationalizing it the way we all would to sleep at night.

I love this show since I work in the business and have encountered similar behavior. The writer is always forgotten in the mix and is treated as a subpar human. EVERYONE has input into your idea. NO one is happy. And there is a constant pecking order that is based in condescension and, in any other work place, harassment.

And it's painfully hilarious. Now listening to Jay Mohr's podcast, I can see why people were upset with him. The early seasons of his pod had him asking himself why people thought he was a total jerk. You can see some of that behavior in his Dragon character. Self-absorbed, arrogant no-self esteem turd. And perhaps many translated that to him as a person. To me, a lot has been forgiven which is why I believe this show was ahead of its time. Too bad. I think this show would've been an unreal hit in today's market.

Ahead of its time

[SepiaTone · 1 January 2004]

If you like the current FOX TV series "Arrested Development" (perhaps even "Dream On") you would have liked FOX's "Action." Set in the intensely high-stress environment of Hollywood, this show had the same tone, feel and cynicism of "Arrested Development", but with humour a touch more risque - perhaps too risque for a 9:00 pm timeslot.

Critically well-received with decent reviews, the show was also aired on Bravo's "Brilliant But Cancelled" showcase. "Action" was simply too edgy, too offensive, and too jaded for its time, with wickedly dark humour and remarkable wit. In time it would have found its audience, but the plug was pulled too soon.

Those involved in the entertainment industry would, in particular, enjoy the loathsome humour and cynicism.

Rumour has it, it may be released on DVD.

Oh my gosh, it's good writing.

[tbabe29 · 3 July 2000]

Where have I been? Here I am sitting on my couch on a Sunday evening, looking for something halfway bearable to watch and I see Jay Mohr doing television. Right away, I was intrigued. And right away, I stayed. Why do people like this show? It's called GOOD WRITING. And FINALLY, these excellent actors have something to work with. Too bad this series got cancelled, it must have been a little too honest for some people.

For mature audiences only and a hilarious mockery of Hollywood.

Funny as all get-out

[Freak-10 · 13 April 2004]

Wow! That's all you really need to say about this too-short-lived series.

But since I have the space, let me say this too: I don't think a funnier satire exists or has ever existed on TV. I pray for the day an uncensored DVD is released - this show has me laughing my @ss off for just about the entire time I'm watching it. It's amazing that it ever got made at all, what with all the jokes ripping on the Hollywood community, and everyone gets an equal dose - producers, actors, writers, you name it, this show makes fun of it. Jay Mohr is funnier in this series than in anything else I've ever seen him do, and Ileana Douglas is, as always, fantastic.

Watch it! And to the execs at Fox - put out the DVD, already!

One of my all-time favorites

[fwright · 19 October 2003]

I've read almost all the other comments on this wonderful, black, well-written series and for the very first time on IMDB, I agree with almost all of them! That must mean something. 'ACTION' is certainly one of the funniest shows I've ever seen, particularly the episode where the closeted gay actor considers coming out and Peter Dragon goes the extra mile to keep his star.

"ACTION" makes pointed and very deliberate fodder of Hollywood's appalling treatment of gay characters. I (as a full self-aware, well-adjusted MASCULINE gay male) found the constant juxtaposition of on-screen attitudes versus off-screen reality wonderfully funny. It explains why writers and actors who know many gay people and have dozens (or hundreds) of gay friends can write horribly insulting trash like 'Will and Grace' -- for them, it really is just a job, with no connection with reality!

Totally hilarious

[bdiebold · 26 September 2002]

I never understood why this extremely funny and wonderfully cast show wasn't a bigger hit. It really was very, very good. Too bad it didn't get the audience it needed to continue. Oh well. Jay Mohr was perfect in the lead, and Ileana Douglas is a treat. Cameos by Sandra Bullock and others were hilarious.

Eureka! I have found it--

[eric91411 · 11 October 1999]

Very much in the spirit of "The Newsroom" (Canadian sitcom, 1996), this is not only the best show of the new Fall lineup, but possibly the best show of the last few decades. I am very critical and would never say such a thing lightly.

Kudos to FOX for, rather than pushing the envelope in the direction of greater sensory stimulation, going the other way--daring to air a show with limited music, few seasick-inducing camera movements, little overt emotion and no laugh track. These four elements, once used to spice up programs, have come to be relied upon exclusively. The nature of the new lineup makes it obvious that even if the viewing public have not yet been dumbed down to the level of monkeys who have lost the ability to detect nuances of character, speech and plot (and whose attention can only be held with bells, whistles and flashing lights), Hollywood certainly believes we have and treats us accordingly.

Thus the more refreshing the arrival of "Action," which bucks the bread-and-circus trend with true sophistication. The persistent AMORALITY of the characters in an era of extremes on either end ("7th Heaven" vs. "Beavis & Butt-Head," for instance) is a relatively new concept. Instead of doing a 180, so to speak, from morality to immorality or vice-versa, the show is able to sustain this 90-degree variation and make it believable.

Fine acting ability along with well-written scripts allows the characters to convey abundant meaning through raised eyebrows, intense looks, sly grins, double-entendre and body language. In fact rarely does anyone break a smile. Thus there is no need to hammer the viewer over the head with laughter, crying, screaming, hollering, or slapstick. There is bad language, but just as violence supported the plot in the film "Die Hard" instead of the other way around (which is customary), the cursing merely supplements the script rather than being its bread-and-butter. And amazingly, the crude frankness of the characters does serious damage to the concept that Hollywood is a plastic town full of phonies who never speak their minds. Indeed, most of the superficiality is to be found in the characters on other shows.

But, tuning in each week is a bittersweet experience because you realize that few shows that reach such a high level (e.g., "Homicide") pull in the numbers, so the next few episodes may be the last. Or, as happened with "The Newsroom," the creative types behind the project may just decide one day that they're tired of this and move on to something else.

Where's The DVD?

[kpmcdermott · 31 October 2002]

With so many television shows being re-issued on DVD, where is "Action"? Everyone I know who watched this show loved it. Fox had it on Thursday nights, where all shows go to die, so it was destined to get bad ratings. We really need to have all 13 episodes released on DVD so fans can relive this great series over and over again!

Loved it

[jsimon050 · 16 January 2003]

I thought that this show was "laugh 'til you puke" funny. It was definitely over the top, maybe too much so. I wish that it hadn't been cancelled. Jay Mohr was raw and Ileanna Douglas, who is quirky sexy was great too.

A Critically Acclaimed Failure

[Nicholai · 29 October 2000]

Originally, "Action" was slated to air on HBO, with other well written comedies such as "Sex and The City" and "Arli$$". Unfortunately, Doug Herzog and the people at FOX decided to pick it up. They knew they had a winner in their hands. It was fresh, sardonic, incisive, and outrageous. And most of all, it was a well written Hollywood satire that will turn many heads, even if it pushes the envelope off the precipice. This show would become the "All in the Family" for the next millenium, a controversial show breaking away from the television mainstream, entertaining its wide audiences with is outrageous dialogue while bringing up certain social issues like violence in the media.

But the Doug Herzog and the FOX executives didn't know what to do with this gem. One could imagine this very intellectual group saying to themselves. "Gee. We have an exceptional show on our hands that could be an instant ratings bonanza. What better way to jump start this prize horse than to bury it beneath a time slot that features traditionally high rated shows on other networks?" The result in the subsequent season is "Action", along with "Family Guy", being placed in the timeslot that is competing with NBC's "Must See Thursday". If I were a network executive, I would know that if people were given a choice between a perennial favorite "Frasier" and a new FOX series they never heard of, they would pick the former. In the end, after about six weeks on the air and ratings in the lower nineties, FOX decided to cancel "Action" and make "Family Guy" a summer holdover, which they then subsequently cancelled. Doug Herzog, reasonably, lost his job following the debacle, and the rest of us, the fans who were enjoying the show, were suddenly left to watch the sterile comedies the other networks were offering us. FOX's sister network, FX, tried to compensate the viewers who felt betrayed by showing all the episodes of "Action" that FOX didn't show, but it's hardly a consolation to this viewer, who felt this series should had had a fair chance to succeed which it deserved. (**** out of four stars)

Awesome Hollywood Blackcomedy!

[jmcool5164 · 1 April 2000]

This is a hilarious satire/blackcomedy on Hollywood! Jay Mohr is very good at playing evil characters. He could be the next Christopher Lloyd. But...this was one of the good shows that went into Fox's huge meat grinder of cancellation. Maybe they can do an Action movie. That would be cool. Tim Burton could direct. It could be the movie version of the episode where Peter comes back to life. Ooooo good idea!

wonderful show that should be available

[CJClark1064 · 30 November 2004]

This American TV series was shown briefly on Channel 4 in the UK. It was

always shown late at night and those who discovered it found it very funny

indeed - yet it's not been reshown and is not available on either VHS or DVD. The company making this series are clearly lampooning Hollywood action

movies (hence the title) and one of the producers is well known in this field. I have been told that the series was 'pulled' by a network and never completed. I have no idea if this is true. Any chance of a future release? Those who love

American sitcoms (especially folk connected to show business) would find it

hilarious.