Chairman of the Board (film)

Chairman of the Board is a 1998 American comedy film directed by Alex Zamm, and starring Carrot Top in his only lead role in a feature-length film. In the film, a surfer and inventor named Edison inherits and runs a billionaire's company. It was poorly received by both critics and audiences. Both Carrot Top and Raquel Welch received Razzie nominations for the 1999 Golden Raspberry Award for their roles in the film.[1]

Chairman of the Board
North American Movie Poster
Directed byAlex Zamm
Produced byRupert Harvey
Peter M. Lenkov
Screenplay byAl Septien
Turi Meyer
Alex Zamm
Story byAl Septien
Turi Meyer
Starring
Music byChris Hajian
CinematographyDavid Lewis
Edited byJimmy Hill
Distributed byTrimark Pictures
Release date
  • March 13, 1998 (1998-03-13)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10 million
Box office$181,233

Plot

Edison (Carrot Top) is a poor, failed inventor and surf bum who's spent his rent money on another unsuccessful invention. After failing to make money at a variety of jobs, Edison soon runs into a wealthy business magnate Armand McMillan (Jack Warden) whose car has broken down on the side of the road. After Edison uses his inventions to assist Armand, the old man becomes impressed with his ingenuity, and the two go surfing together and quickly become friends.[2] When Armand passes away shortly thereafter, he leaves Edison 45% of the shares in his large invention corporation, and leaves Bradford (Larry Miller), his jealous nephew and only living relative, a surfboard as his only inheritance. Bradford attempts to derail Edison's success by stealing his formula for glow in the dark, which does not exist in the world of the film. Bradford shares it with a consumer who covers himself in it and alleges that Edison's prize invention—a portable TV/TV dinner combo—leaks radiation. When Edison reveals that radiation causes sickness and death, but not a literal glowing, the company is saved, Bradford is arrested, and Grace Kosik (Raquel Welch) makes a deal with the company to testify against Bradford. In the end, Edison appoints his girlfriend Natalie Stockwell (Courtney Thorne-Smith) to run the company.

Cast

Reception

Chairman of the Board received negative reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes it has an approval rating of 13% based on reviews from 8 critics.[3]

During a promotional appearance for the film on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Thorne-Smith was the second guest after comedian Norm Macdonald, who frequently interrupted Thorne-Smith's attempt to promote the movie with jokes about Carrot Top and the movie failing at the box office.[4] Macdonald even went so far as to say that the film's title should be "Box Office Poison", and joked that the actual title should be spelled Chairman of the Bored.[5] This led to the apparent surprise and amusement of O'Brien, the audience, and even Thorne-Smith. This interview was selected as a top moment from Late Night in several compilation episodes and specials.[6]

David Kronke of the Los Angeles Times referred to the film as "a standard-issue rags-to-riches plot, enlivened by only by a tchotchke-heavy production design that might engage those entranced by bright, shiny objects", and compared the film to "Good Burger, but with French tickler jokes."[7]

Comedian and former Mystery Science Theater 3000 host Michael J. Nelson named the film the fifth worst comedy ever made.[8]

Accolades
Award Category Nominee Result
Golden Raspberry Awards[9] Worst New Star Carrot Top Nominated
Worst Supporting Actress Raquel Welch Nominated

Notes
  1. "The Razzies!". The Razzies!. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  2. Gates, Anita (1998-03-14). "FILM REVIEW; An Inventor and Heir Nonapparent". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  3. Chairman of the Board (1997), retrieved 2019-04-06
  4. "Carrot Top got to star in a movie, once". The Dissolve. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  5. norm saves the interview. Retrieved 14 November 2016 – via Youtube.
  6. YouTube: Courtney Thorne-Smith and Norm Macdonald on Conan in 1997. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  7. "Carrot Top Bottoms Out in 'Chairman'". Los Angeles Times. 1998-03-16. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  8. Nelson, Michael J. "Inoperable Humor: The 5 Worst Comedies of All Time". Cracked. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
  9. "Topic Closed1998 RAZZIE® Nominees & "Winners"". Archived from the original on 2012-08-31.
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