Even by today’s standards, The Morton Downey Jr. Show was extreme; described as a talk show with a hockey crowd, his show has been viewed as a predecessor for conservative talk show hosts Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Beck and Limbaugh, as far as I know, have never physically assaulted a guest by throwing them off stage and spiting in their face. Downey was unique, and (often violently) passionate, as captured in Evocateur, another wild chronical of the New York City area in the 80’s.
The era has recently been treated with a sense of gritty nostalgia by recent docs like Koch, Central Park Five, and American Swing – in this film Ed Koch appears to say he’d never go on Downey’s short-lived program. That’s a shame, as Koch, along with Howard Stern, are for me the emobodiment of New York City. What a very strange two-year run the show had – beginning at Channel 9 in the swamps of the Jersey meadowlands, Downey later found syndication, and there was an awful lot that “burned his buns.” He hired an onstage body guard far before Springer needed Steve.
To drive up ratings, a frequent guest was Al Sharpton, who conspired with Downey in some ways to anti-up the narrative around the Twanaa Brawley saga…. and then to further ratchet up the racial/political tension Downey took his show on tour to the Apollo Theatre. The downfall of Downey Jr ironically mirrors that of Brawley in an absurd, self-destructive story. Morton’s MO apparently was self-destruction, ultimately leading to his death in 2001.
Evocateur is a brilliant, entertaining journey. Directed by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller and Jeremy Newberger, it employs archival footage, animation and new interviews. The missing factor is Morton Downey Jr., who late in life does speak somewhat reflexively, yet he remains a mystery, as a performer should. The film offers a diagnosis of his past, including his signing career as he initially followed in his father’s footsteps, to the infidelity.
Wisely, the film incorporates interviews with alumni of the show’s audience – amped up Jersey boys who grew up to be seemingly normal. Downey’s fiery brand of political commentary gave way to the “political correctness” that haunted the ’90’s – but what did Downey achieve? As a performance artist he perhaps went over-the-top to have vital conversations, the kind of things you don’t say in polite company unless you’re drunk.
Yet, somehow those who should detest him the most speak fondly, including feminist lawyer Gloria Allred who could dish it back out to Downey. The film is not entirely sympathetic – although I don’t think the Morton Downey Jr. would approve of obvious, cold, unmotivated manipulation. Here’s a complicated story about a complicated time that’s told in the same no-holds-bar style that Downey brought to late night TV for two years. Arriving in at the height of the summer season of mega hits (and flops), here’s a film without a dull moment.
Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie is now playing in limited release, in New York and New Jersey.