Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Contentar Best movie of this year hands down!

Kailansorac Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

BallWubba Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Henry Kujawa Back in the 80's, on principle, I hated mini-series-- or at least, the way they were run in the US. Over in England, it's common for short-run series to air one hour a week. Nice and orderly, and doesn't totally disrupt your schedule. Not like here, where the habit was to run several hours a night, several nights in a row, sometimes tying up an entire week (as did SHOGUN, which I wound up despising once I got to its unbearably cynical ending). I tended to avoid them like a plague.FRESNO was an exception, because it was a comedy, and it starred 3 of my very favorite people at the time. You had Carol Burnett, whose series I loved in the 70's (barring those interminable "musicals" she'd cap off each week with); Dabney Coleman, who I've followed in MARY HARTMAN MARY HARTMAN, BUFFALO BILL, TOOTSIE, 9 TO 5, THE SLAP MAXWELL STORY, MADMAN OF THE PEOPLE and THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES movie; and Teri Garr, who I've adored since STAR TREK, McCLOUD and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.FRESNO was a MAD-magazine style parody of night-time soaps (DALLAS, DYNASTY, FALCON CREST, KNOTS LANDING, etc.), played with amazing deadpan-serious performances accompanied by insanely screwball things going on in the background, in the dialog, in the plots, and even in the some of character names. It was very much in the style of AIRPLANE!, only more subtle and subdued, and looking back I find it much funnier than POLICE SQUAD (which I re-watched only weeks ago).There's so much to like here, the increasingly-twisted, convoluted plotting and character relationships among them. One of my favorite bits is when Teri Garr's "Tallon", wanting to get back at her ever-cheating husband Charles Grodin, comes on to mysterious (and always-shirtless) Gregory Harrison, who turns her down, saying she's a "lady" (which shocks her) and he doesn't want to be used that way. As she returns to the big house, she crosses the lawn in full view of the hired workers, with HER shirt off. Later, at the breakfast table, she shows up wearing an unbuttoned shirt, and NOTHING underneath. It was quite a kick to see her in such a rare "bad" girl role.Infuriatingly, CBS murdered the show both times they ran it. The first time, instead of running 2 hours a night over 3 consecutive nights (which would have made some sense), they ran 2 hours the first night, then 1 hour apiece over the next 4. OR, they would have, except the 5th hour of the show was PRE-EMPTED by a Ronald Reagan press conference in which he defended the Iran-Contra "guns for hostages" scandal. CBS did not run the episode of FRESNO scheduled for that night, but the next day ran the story's finale ANYWAY.Then, sometime later, they re-ran the entire story, but the 2nd time around, added a LAUGH TRACK, which totally destroyed the entire presentation.Ever since the late 70's, the programmers in charge of all 3 networks have been increasingly chaotic and incompetent in how they run their shows. It continues to boggle my mind how some people get paid exorbitant amounts of money to do work THAT BADLY.

Progger1953 I was contacted in 2002 by Fox TV and they wanted me to send them the series on tape. They said that when they did a search, I was the only person on the internet that showed that I had a copy. They were willing for me to name my price. I only charged $40 for 4 tape. I actually had to re-record the original recordings to take at the commercials originally. Too bad I just didn't record them at "sp" speed and save them for dvdrs. Though I do have them on dvdr, but not the best of quality. I asked these guys why they contacted me and they said that they were going to do a TV series and hope that Fresno gives them some ideas. Notice the weird brother on Fresno and David Cross on AD. Also the form of transportation on fresno is an older chevy station wagon with the back seat facing out. On ad they have the passenger transport truck from an airport. I just wish I could remember the names of the Fox people who I talked to and sent the tapes to.

laray-1 This was sent to Carol Burnett in care of the Columbia Broadcasting Company and to CBS. The charming spoof of many movies and TV "soaps", Fresno, had been promotionally advertised. That was found to peak enough interest that I purposely decided that it was time to invest in my first VCR with the first order of business to save "Fresno" for future enjoyment. After viewing, my decision had been justified and it became what was to be the start of an "extra special" library. I found that most of the character portrayals were excellently done. I have been surprised over the years that there has been no mention of "Fresno" by late night show guests Dabney Coleman, Charles Grodin, Terry Garr and Teresa Ganzell. Was there some kind of a blackout by CBS? If not, what would be a reason? If it was not a popular series, which may be another ratings fiasco, I might understand. Several people I had talked with, who had seen only one or two episodes, said that they didn't understand it and thought it was "silly." They did not realize that it was not intended to be a serious presentation. I particularly enjoyed your portrayals, with Carol Burnett as a vineyard matriarch, Dabney Coleman from an "evil neighbors vineyard," Charles Grodin as the "ambitious son," Terry Garr as the "neglected wife", the "younger son" and his concern for the environment, Pat Corley as the "trailer slob" that only wanted the "Impala," your "chauffeur," Teresa Ganzell as the ambitious "country and western singer," Valerie Mahaffey as the "outsider daughter," the "'ACME WASTE' owner," and the spoof of the "Blues Brother's." The opening scene portraying the naming of the "Fresno" valley was particularly hilarious, as was the scene outside of the courtroom with the parking lot devastation. But, my primary purpose for writing to you is that the tapes had not been protected and were inadvertently overwritten several years ago. I would like to replace "Fresno" but it has not been aired that I had been aware. I have asked video stores if it was available but to no avail. I would appreciate any help you might provide as to the availability of any archival copy. I just hope that "Fresno" is not lost to those of us who appreciate this type of "cult" television, and "damn" the ignorant if they can't understand it. Thanks for your consideration, Gene Ray Issaquah, WA 98029

rv6abob My favorite scene from this mini-series is when the person, in the middle of the trial suddenly bursts out their guilt in a passioned plea. Then realizes they are in the wrong courtroom. Carol Burnett, Dabney Coleman, Charles Grodin and Teri Garr are exceptional in their portrayals. This should definitely be on DVD!