Background
The story unfolds across a background of concerts, broadcast music, appearances by various rock stars, and public appearances by the station DJs. A minor sub-theme to the film is the competition between QSKY and another area radio station. The major event of that sub-theme is when Jeff arranges to broadcast a live concert by Linda Ronstadt that is being sponsored by the competitor's radio station.
Another minor sub-theme is the ongoing task of massaging egos of the various DJs to keep them happy and on the air.
Martin Mull appears in his feature film debut as a zoned-out record spinner. He plays Eric Swan, a libidinous disc jockey with eyes for everyone female. The character is self-centered, smarmy, quick tempered, and overbearingly insincere. During the course of the film, Swan beds a supposed girlfriend, encounters a female fan with a peculiar physical "gift", and barricades himself in due to a severe emotional breakdown due to his agent dropping him and his girlfriend leaving him, all within the confines of QSKY's studio.
Also rounding out the cast are Cleavon Little, who plays the Prince of Darkness, QSKY's overnight host; Eileen Brennan as "The Mother", the 40-something nighttime DJ, Alex Karras as "Doc Holiday", the midday DJ with the lowest ratings on the station and Tom Tarpey as new sales manager Regis Lamar, the bane of the disk jockeys' existence.
In addition, the film includes live appearances by Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffett, Tom Petty, and REO Speedwagon. Steely Dan performed the title theme which became a sizable hit. Joe Walsh, the late Dan Fogelberg, The Eagles, James Taylor, Billy Joel, and Queen were featured on the Platinum-plus soundtrack album.
Read more about this topic: FM (film)
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