''The Great American Traffic Jam'' (alternate title ''Gridlock'') is a 1980 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

movie which first aired on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

on October 2, 1980. The comedy revolves around a large "all-star" cast getting stuck in a massive

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

area traffic jam, with multiple interweaving story lines among those stuck.(26 September 1980
History's Worst Traffic Jam
''Suffolk News-Herald''

Background and reception

The movie debuted on

on Thursday October 2, 1980.(28 September 1980)
We Interrupt to Bring A Traffic Bulletin
''San Bernardino Sun'' The ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or t ...

'' summary of the week's TV movies described it as a film that "provides stale characters in staler situations,"(Sept 27-Oct 3, 1980)
This Week's Movies
''

'', p. A-6, A-23 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 Howard Hesseman (February 27, 1940 – January 29, 2022) was an American actor known for his television roles as burned-out disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on ''WKRP in Cincinnati'', and the lead role of history teacher Charlie Moore on ''Head of ...

) and its satirically staged sequences--such as a helicopter's convoy's delivering portable toilets."(Sept 27-Oct 3, 1980).
Up: The Great American Traffic Jam
''

'', p. A-88 Though

Ed McMahon Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. (March 6, 1923 – June 23, 2009) was an American announcer, game show host, comedian, actor, singer, and combat aviator. McMahon and Johnny Carson began their association in their first TV series, the ABC game sh ...

refers to the movie as a "semiclassic" in his biography,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)

Rue McClanahan Eddi-Rue McClanahan (February 21, 1934 – June 3, 2010) was an American actress and comedian best known for her roles on television as Vivian Harmon on '' Maude'' (1972–78), Aunt Fran Crowley on ''Mama's Family'' (1983–84), and Blanche De ...

(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. McClanahan, Rue
My first five husbands-- and the ones who got away
p. 234 (2007)(29 May 2008)
Un Atasco Guay (review)
''

Fotogramas ''Fotogramas'' is Spanish digital and print film magazine which has been in circulation since 1946. It is one of the early film magazines in Spain. History Founded in Barcelona, it was first published on 15 November 1946 by Antonio Nadal-Rodó a ...

'' On its debut, the movie was the 14th most watched primetime show of the week with a 17.8/30 rating. The serious

Holocaust The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe; a ...

drama '' Playing for Time'', which won a number of

Emmys The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

, was the most watched program that week.(10 October 1980)
Playing for Time, Top-rated TV Program
''Desert Sun'', p. C5 (

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...

story)(13 October 1980). Specials Come Through for CBS, ''Broadcasting'', p. 56 Writers Steve Hattman and Dave Hackel dreamed up the idea for the movie when they were stuck in an L.A. traffic jam. It appears the original title of the film was "Gridlock", but there is no evidence of it ever being released under that title.Variety's Complete Home Video Directory
p. 170 (1988) ("Original/Alternative Title: Gridlock") It was released on VHS in the United States in December 1987.(26 December 1987)
New releases
''Courier Journal'' ("a less-than-hilarious made-for-TV comedy about traffic")

Primary cast

Though the cast is large, the opening credits billed cast are listed in alphabetical order as follows: * Desi Arnaz Jr. - Robbie Reinhardt * John Beck - Buzz Gregory *

Noah Beery Noah Nicholas Beery (January 17, 1882 – April 1, 1946) was an American actor who appeared in films from 1913 until his death in 1946. He was the older brother of Academy Award-winning actor Wallace Beery as well as the father of prominen ...

- Barney *

René Enríquez René Enríquez (November 24, 1933 – March 23, 1990) was a Nicaraguan-born American television actor of the 1970s and 1980s. He is best remembered for his role as Lt. Ray Calletano in the long-running television series ''Hill Street Blues'' (1 ...

- Mayor Julio Escontrerez *

Shelley Fabares Michele Ann Marie "Shelley" Fabares (; born January 19, 1944) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her television roles as Mary Stone on the sitcom ''The Donna Reed Show'' (1958–1963) and as Christine Armstrong on the sitcom ...

- Louise Gregory *

Phil Foster Phil Foster (born Fivel Feldman; March 29, 1913 – July 8, 1985) was an American actor and performer, best known for his portrayal of Frank DeFazio in ''Laverne & Shirley''. Early life Foster was born Fivel Feldman in Brooklyn, New York Cit ...

- Koppleman * James Gregory - General Caruthers *

Lisa Hartman Lisa Hartman Black is an American actress and singer. Career After some minor television appearances, Hartman starred on the short-lived ''Bewitched'' spin-off, ''Tabitha'' during 1977–78. She subsequently appeared frequently on television in ...

- Nikki * Michael Lerner - Marv *

- Adele *

James McEachin James McEachin (born May 20, 1930) is an American author and retired actor. Military career McEachin served in the United States Army before, and then during, the Korean War. Serving in King Company, 9th Infantry Regiment (United States), 2nd I ...

- Speed-O *

- Henry *

Al Molinaro Albert Francis Molinaro (born Umberto Francesco Molinaro; June 24, 1919 – October 30, 2015) was an American actor. He played Al Delvecchio on ''Happy Days'' and Officer Murray Greshler on ''The Odd Couple''. He also appeared in many television ...

- Sightseer * Charles Napier - Sonny * Christopher Norris - Linda Reinhardt (pregnant woman) *

Alan Sues Alan Grigsby Sues (March 7, 1926 – December 1, 2011) was an American actor and comedian widely known for his roles on the 1968–1973 television series ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In''. Sues's on-screen persona was campy and outrageous. Typical o ...

- Dudley *

Vic Tayback Victor E. Tayback (January 6, 1930 – May 25, 1990) was an American actor. He is known for his role as Mel Sharples in the film '' Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore'' (1974) and the television series '' Alice'' (1976–1985). The latter earned him ...

- Floyd 'Snake' Kraslowski Other actors appearing in the film include

Lyle Waggoner Lyle Wesley Waggoner (; April 13, 1935 – March 17, 2020) was an American actor, sculptor, presenter, travel trailer salesman and model, known for his work on ''The Carol Burnett Show'' from 1967 to 1974 and for playing the role of Steve Trevor ...

Abe Vigoda Abraham Charles Vigoda (February 24, 1921 – January 26, 2016) was an American actor known for his portrayals of Salvatore Tessio in ''The Godfather'' (1972) and Phil Fish in both ''Barney Miller'' (1975–1977, 1982) and ''Fish'' (1977–1978 ...

Marcia Wallace Marcia Karen Wallace (November 1, 1942 – October 25, 2013) was an American actress and comedian, primarily known for her roles in television situation comedies. She is best known for her roles as receptionist Carol Kester on the 1970s sitc ...

, and

Paul Willson Paul Lee Willson (born December 25, 1945) is an American film, television and voice actor well known for many roles, including as Paul Krapence on '' Cheers''. He was born in Fairmont, Minnesota, the son of Doris Geraldine and Lee Wilford Willso ...

; game show hosts

Wink Martindale Winston Conrad "Wink" Martindale (born December 4, 1933) is an American disc jockey, radio personality, game show host, and television producer. In his six-decade career, he is best known for hosting ''Gambit'' from 1972 to 1976 (and again from ...

, Jack Clark,

Art James Art James (born Arthur Simeonovich Efimchick; October 15, 1929 – March 28, 2004) was an American game-show host, best known for shows such as ''The Who, What, or Where Game'', ''It's Academic''. and ''Pay Cards!'' He was also the announcer a ...

, and

Jim Perry James Perry may refer to: * James Perry (journalist) (1756–1821), journalist * James Franklin Perry (1790–1853), early Texas settler (with wife Emily Austin Perry) * Jimmy Perry (1923–2016), English actor and scriptwriter * James E. C. Perry ...

; and

(who was playing a DJ role on ''

WKRP in Cincinnati ''WKRP in Cincinnati'' is an American sitcom television series about the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio broadcasting, radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson (director), Hugh Wilson ...

'' at this time) as the voice of the radio announcer.

References

External links

*
Great American Traffic Jam on YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Great American Traffic Jam, The 1980 television films 1980 films American television films Films set in Los Angeles 1980s English-language films