Americathon: The Skits Behind the Screenplay

Phil Proctor, co-founder of the legendary, surrealist comedy group, the thrice Grammy-nominated Firesign Theatre, in cahoots with Peter Bergman, Phil Austin and David Ossman, helped to create the most revolutionary comedy recordings ever made. Over a 50-year career, starting in the ‘60s and ending with them all in their 70s, they predicted reality TV, hackers, computer viruses, virtual reality, the fall of the Soviet Union, 9/11 and much more still to come. But during a breather in the Firesign career, Phil joined up with Pete to launch Proctor & Bergman on a crazy ride that took them on the road through the hip back pockets of the U.S. including Hawaii and even Canada with their own brand of surreal silliness, resulting in radio series, three records: TV or Not TV, Give Us a Break and What This Country Needs, and films including the cult hit J-Men Forever, and the topic of this story: Americathon. It started as Gothamathon, a cabaret skit that soon evolved into The Americathon, hosted by Bergman as the manic Jerry Jerry, and me as everyone else, designed to raise money to pay off the national debt. When Director Neal Israel, on the road to promote his hit, Tunnelvision (in which I have a fun role), caught our act in Boston – well, you’ll have to buy the book to learn “the rest of the story.” I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, and only wish that Peter was still here to relive these crazy daze. I dedicate this book to him.