TOM PETTY BOTH ACTS & SINGS IN THE MOTION PICTURE 'FM'

title: FM

year: 1978

cast: Michael Brandon, Martin Mull, Cassie Yates, Tom Petty

rating: **1/2

The Steely Dan title song playing as a big orange sun rises above the immense city skyline anticipates heaven for rock fans and "no static at all." During the next twenty minutes, through a handing-off of various turns at the mic... meeting each disc jockey working a radio station playing wall-to-wall music... the good times continue to roll. The likable boss (Michael Brandon), also a DJ, fights to keep the airwaves commercial free, providing the dream radio station "for the people." The tunes are great, the live performances pretty good, and the eclectic cast of DJ's are decent enough: including Martin Mull, Cleavon Little, Cassie Yates, Alex Karras, Eileen Brennan, and guest star (in the movie and the station) Tom Petty as Tom Petty. But the initial spontaneous fun (reminiscent of CAR WASH) is soon marred by a cliche subplot involving villainous corporate goons forcing Army commercials on the station, turning a laidback character-study into typical underdog vs big business fare... and guess who wins?