"Network" may be the angriest movie ever made. Writer Paddy Chayefsky's satire takes no prisoners, making dark fun of the news media, television, corporations, left-wing radicals -- and a population that swallows it all without question. In the almost four decades since its release in 1976, the movie has found its way into the DNA of popular culture, through the passionate rants of anchorman Howard Beale (Peter Finch), fans who have taken its message to heart -- and, sometimes, in echoes that aren't so outlandish anymore.
The world 'Network' made —
"Network" may be the angriest movie ever made. Writer Paddy Chayefsky's satire takes no prisoners, making dark fun of the news media, television, corporations, left-wing radicals -- and a population that swallows it all without question. In the almost four decades since its release in 1976, the movie has found its way into the DNA of popular culture, through the passionate rants of anchorman Howard Beale (Peter Finch), fans who have taken its message to heart -- and, sometimes, in echoes that aren't so outlandish anymore.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists
In his 1985 book "Amusing Ourselves to Death," the influential media critic Neil Postman (1931-2003) suggested that we were likely to be victims of a "Brave New World" existence in which we would be too pacified to care about challenging the status quo. Sounds a lot like what Howard Beale railed against -- and what "Network's" <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNKkRDMil0bw" target="_blank" target="_blank">corporate titan Arthur Jensen</a> (Ned Beatty) proposed.
The world 'Network' made —
In his 1985 book "Amusing Ourselves to Death," the influential media critic Neil Postman (1931-2003) suggested that we were likely to be victims of a "Brave New World" existence in which we would be too pacified to care about challenging the status quo. Sounds a lot like what Howard Beale railed against -- and what "Network's" corporate titan Arthur Jensen (Ned Beatty) proposed.
Udo Weitz/AP
Perhaps the greatest media circus of modern times started with O.J. Simpson's slow-speed car chase down a Los Angeles freeway after the murder of his wife. The ensuing trial may not have done much for the national politic, but it was a terrific distraction -- and great for ratings.
The world 'Network' made —
Perhaps the greatest media circus of modern times started with O.J. Simpson's slow-speed car chase down a Los Angeles freeway after the murder of his wife. The ensuing trial may not have done much for the national politic, but it was a terrific distraction -- and great for ratings.
Jean-Marc Giboux/Liaison/Getty Images
In 1999, talk-show host Phil Donahue, whose daytime program paved the way for many to follow, told CNN's Larry King that he wanted to put <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F1999%2F11%2F25%2Fdonahue-wants-to-show-a-live-killing%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">a live execution on air</a>. He believed it would "provoke discussion," but given that people throughout history had gathered to watch hangings, lynchings and beheadings as entertainment, he may have found that "death of the week," as William Holden calls it in the beginning of "Network," was more a ratings winner.
The world 'Network' made —
In 1999, talk-show host Phil Donahue, whose daytime program paved the way for many to follow, told CNN's Larry King that he wanted to put a live execution on air. He believed it would "provoke discussion," but given that people throughout history had gathered to watch hangings, lynchings and beheadings as entertainment, he may have found that "death of the week," as William Holden calls it in the beginning of "Network," was more a ratings winner.
MARK LENNIHAN/AP
"Network" essentially begins with Beale declaring he's going to commit suicide on national television. Others have done so. In 1974, a Tampa morning anchor named Christine Chubbuck shot herself during her show. In 2006, British professor Craig Ewart allowed a crew to film him as he underwent assisted suicide in Switzerland. The ensuing documentary, "Right to Die?", aired in the UK in 2008 and in the U.S. in 2010.
The world 'Network' made —
"Network" essentially begins with Beale declaring he's going to commit suicide on national television. Others have done so. In 1974, a Tampa morning anchor named Christine Chubbuck shot herself during her show. In 2006, British professor Craig Ewart allowed a crew to film him as he underwent assisted suicide in Switzerland. The ensuing documentary, "Right to Die?", aired in the UK in 2008 and in the U.S. in 2010.
Sky Real Lives/PA/AP
How low would TV networks go for ratings? In Spike Lee's 2000 film "Bamboozled," a black TV executive puts on a minstrel show in hopes of shutting up a boss -- only to watch it become a huge hit.
The world 'Network' made —
How low would TV networks go for ratings? In Spike Lee's 2000 film "Bamboozled," a black TV executive puts on a minstrel show in hopes of shutting up a boss -- only to watch it become a huge hit.
David Lee/Online USA/Getty Images
In "Network's" time, there were few "mad prophets of the airwaves" like Howard Beale. (Joe Pyne, a cranky California-based talk-show host, was probably the closest.) But the growth of cable brought with it a more personal, confrontational style. Former CNN and Fox News host Glenn Beck <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2009%2F03%2F30%2Fbusiness%2Fmedia%2F30beck.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">told The New York Times</a> in 2009 that he identified with Beale. "I think that's the way people feel," Beck said. "That's the way I feel."
The world 'Network' made —
In "Network's" time, there were few "mad prophets of the airwaves" like Howard Beale. (Joe Pyne, a cranky California-based talk-show host, was probably the closest.) But the growth of cable brought with it a more personal, confrontational style. Former CNN and Fox News host Glenn Beck told The New York Times in 2009 that he identified with Beale. "I think that's the way people feel," Beck said. "That's the way I feel."
Jose Luis Magana/AP
The 1987 film "RoboCop" featured a happy-talking pair of news anchors, Casey Wong and Jess Perkins, hosting a show called "Mediabreak" that never failed to put a positive spin on a world out of control. The 2014 version features Samuel L. Jackson as Pat Novak, who shouts down his opponents to further his own interests.
The world 'Network' made —
The 1987 film "RoboCop" featured a happy-talking pair of news anchors, Casey Wong and Jess Perkins, hosting a show called "Mediabreak" that never failed to put a positive spin on a world out of control. The 2014 version features Samuel L. Jackson as Pat Novak, who shouts down his opponents to further his own interests.
Kerry Hayes/Columbia Pictures/Everett
Stephen Colbert has taken the news network hosts' me-first, confrontational style and parodied it mercilessly. There are times, however, when the joke cuts a little <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DU7FTF4Oz4dI" target="_blank" target="_blank">too close to home</a>.
The world 'Network' made —
Stephen Colbert has taken the news network hosts' me-first, confrontational style and parodied it mercilessly. There are times, however, when the joke cuts a little too close to home.
Scott Gries/PictureGroup/Comedy Central
"Network's" satire hasn't gone unnoticed by one of the great satires of our age, "The Simpsons." The show's Kent Brockman is a walking parody of every pompous news anchor in existence, and its MAD magazine outlook that nothing is sacred pops up in almost every episode.
The world 'Network' made —
"Network's" satire hasn't gone unnoticed by one of the great satires of our age, "The Simpsons." The show's Kent Brockman is a walking parody of every pompous news anchor in existence, and its MAD magazine outlook that nothing is sacred pops up in almost every episode.
Fox Broadcasting
Aaron Sorkin, the creator and writer of shows such as "The West Wing" and "The Newsroom," rarely misses a chance to echo a Howard Beale speech. He did it in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," with <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D5zyOhZsvIzI" target="_blank" target="_blank">Judd Hirsch as an angry producer</a>, and "The Newsroom," with <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DRyzDRc34l2g" target="_blank" target="_blank">Jeff Daniels telling an audience</a> why the United States isn't the greatest country in the world.
The world 'Network' made —
Aaron Sorkin, the creator and writer of shows such as "The West Wing" and "The Newsroom," rarely misses a chance to echo a Howard Beale speech. He did it in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," with Judd Hirsch as an angry producer, and "The Newsroom," with Jeff Daniels telling an audience why the United States isn't the greatest country in the world.
Melissa Moseley/HBO
Maybe "The Mao Tse-Tung Hour" never made it to television, but nowadays we have "reality" shows, like "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" and "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" -- for every interest. Are they forms of documentary -- or forms of exploitation? Discuss.
The world 'Network' made —
Maybe "The Mao Tse-Tung Hour" never made it to television, but nowadays we have "reality" shows, like "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" and "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" -- for every interest. Are they forms of documentary -- or forms of exploitation? Discuss.
John Bazemore/AP