36. “Disco Beaver From Outer Space”

October 9, 1998

Q: Do you have any info on “Disco Beaver From Outer Space”—who, what, where, why?

A: (2005 Update) My previous answer to this question was so full of corrections and corrected corrections that I decided to start over. What follows is (knock on wood) definitive: “Disco Beaver From Outer Space” was produced for HBO in 1978 and aired in 1979. It featured performances by Lynn Redgrave (special guest star), Rodger Bumpass, Peter Ebling, Alice Playten, James Widoes, Lee Wilkof, Michael Simmons and Slewfoot (a C&W band), Sarah Durkee, Tony Hendra, and Sean Kelly. It was produced by Tony Hendra and Matty Simmons was executive producer. It was directed by Joshua White, written by Peter Ebling, Jeff Greenfield, Ted Mann, Harry Shearer, and John Weidman, with songs by Peter Ebling, Sean Kelly, and Tony Hendra. The title song “Disco Beaver From Outer Space” was performed by Alice Playten. Numerous outdoor shots were filmed on location in New York City. (Sources: Michael Simmons, Matty Simmon’s book “If You Don’t Buy This Book, We’ll Kill This Dog!”, Mike Galos, and Guy H.) 2017 Update: Of course, these days you can watch the entire thing for free on YouTube.

Comments

Somewhere in our collection we have a deteriorating copy of Disco Beaver from Outer Space. On Beta. We would LOVE to find this film on a more up to date medium. Sure, it's politically incorrect in so many ways, but it's LAMPOON. Which means it's FUNNY.

—Tam

December 10, 2003 9:52 am

I really wish I had a copy of DBFOS. I saw this in 1978 and I still remember many of the gags...Rocky Roccoco Pizza I think got its name from this show. Helping Horny Hands...ha ha! The Home of Tomorrow. What a great show!

—Dave Allen

July 1, 2004 5:18 pm

Rocky Roccoco? Wasn't that from a Firesign Theater bit?

—Mark

July 1, 2004 8:10 pm

I remember watching Disco Beaver from Outer Space, a few times on HBO when visiting friends in Manhattan in 1978. The Anita Bryant "Homo No Mo" sketch was hilarious! I recall the 'Beaver' also tryin' to hump some chick in a fur coat. Screw PC, it was funny stuff!

—Richard

September 7, 2004 3:38 pm

I never saw disco beaver, but I was in it(and some photo funnies). I worked for lampoon (21st century communications was the corporate name) and weasled my way into a few bit parts-the jogging scene, a disco scene (I was wearing an animal house t-shirt I think)and some scene with a pakistani street person carrying a couple of shopping bags. The first jogging shoes I ever wore was during the jogging scene, and I was kind of upset that they wouldn't let me keep 'em! I have no idea if any of my footage made it in. The word at the time was that the movie was so awful no distributor would touch it and that's how it got to hbo. At the time, hbo wasn't so picky.

—keith

February 3, 2005 5:16 pm

I am looking to buy a copy of this. If anyone knows of where I could contact a seller... please email me at deadguyvan@yahoo.ca and put "Disco Beaver" in the message line. Thanks all.

—Gary Kim

April 30, 2005 9:52 pm

Greetings from Houston, TX. I too am desperately seeking a copy of "Disco Beaver". If anyone knows of a copy available, please contact me at twharmon@firstam.com Thanks so much!

—terrbo

May 16, 2005 1:18 pm

I just got a copy of DBFOS on DVD (Taken from a good VHS source). Just as I remembered, bad jokes and any excuse to show boobs. :) Still, I treasure it, and the "Homo no mo'" sketch is priceless, though I doubt many folks today know who Annita Bryant was.

—Dal

June 20, 2005 6:55 pm

One of the first things I ever saw on HBO. It had a puppet show of 2 stereotypical drunken Irishmen singing "I'm an Irishman/I am I am/And I'm full of Irish booze/If you don't like my Irish song/I'll trow up on your shoes!" Later one of them remarks that he's so drunk he can't remember his last name. The other one asks him to describe it, and the first replies, "It sounds like a fart in a bathtub" to which the other one replies, "O'Donoghue!!" Also memorable for cheaply recycling the "deflatable Kevin Bacon" prop from Animal House at the end when Dragula meets his end on the sidewalk.

—Andrew

September 6, 2005 4:40 pm

could you please tell me the time? i want a copy, somebody hook me up. and don't say &^%$ off, please.

—Bryan

December 22, 2005 1:04 am

I remember the skit where the macho c/w band was cranking out an "outlaw" song until bitten by dragula. The band switched to a country ballad called "when cowboys like cowboys". Funny stuff. I would love to find a copy of this. It was from the days when HBO was pure entertainment.

—Stach

February 15, 2006 8:58 pm

I have a transfer of this from VCR to DVD. Not the greatest quality, but about typical for something recorded off the air back in the day. Feel free to email me...I'll burn a copy for $10+whatever it costs to ship. I'm working on making a decent DVD cover for it...we'll see how miserably I fail =). I'm sending an email to those posting here that they wanted a copy...I know it was a real pain for me to find as well.

—Ishi Carter

March 1, 2006 2:57 pm

I am Interested in a copy of DBFOS please contact me.

—Dave

March 11, 2006 7:52 am

I need a copy of disco beaver from outer space please email me if you can make me a copy

—Matt

April 17, 2006 9:49 pm

I need a copy of disco beaver from outer space please email me at darthvader_71987@yahoo.com if you can hook me up with a copy

—matt

April 17, 2006 9:52 pm

Original material (excluding quoted material) © 1997-2024 Mark Simonson.
Mark's Very Large National Lampoon Site is not affiliated with National Lampoon or National Lampoon Inc.
Click here for the real thing.