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Stu's Show

Play trailer 1:45 Poster for Stu's Show 2022 1h 36m Biography Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
The story of TV historian and archivist Stu Shostak, the documentary features screen-legends Tony Dow ("Leave it to Beaver"), Michael Cole ("The Mod Squad"), the late Ed Asner ("Lou Grant"), Butch Patrick ("The Munsters"), Academy Award Winner Margaret O'Brien, Geri Jewell and many, many more. Shostak got his start handing out tickets to Norman Lear sitcom tapings to people in Hollywood and parlayed that into doing audience warm-ups prior to tapings for shows such as "All In The Family" and "One Day At A Time". The film also indirectly tells the story of television legend Lucille Ball who, contrast to popular belief, was an extremely kind and generous person who treated those around her like family. Ball is hired to hold Q&A's at a Los Angeles based College which provides a window of opportunity that alters the course of Stu's life. Shostak's encyclopedic knowledge of Ball's career earns his way into becoming an essential part of her small inner circle as her archivist and assistant to her husband Gary Morton. After Ball passes away, Shostak pioneers what we know now as "podcasting", hosting internet shows interviewing celebrity cast and crew of the golden age of television. He also co-produces the widely successful LOVING LUCY conventions which welcomed prior cast, crew and superfans from around the world to come together for a few days to celebrate their love of I Love Lucy. At one of these Loving Lucy conventions Stu meets Jeanine Kasun, a music teacher and Lucy super-fan, who noticed Shostak hosting game shows, events and trivia contests. The two speak on the phone at length and eventually begin dating until Jeanine suffers a brain aneurysm and the two, alongside the legends of television, enter into a war with the medical industry to keep her alive.

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Daniel M. Kimmel North Shore Movies “Stu’s Show” is an exercise in nostalgia but it’s also a chance to meet someone who showed that being a somewhat over-the-top fan is not incompatible with being a responsible and caring adult. Rated: 3.5/5 May 5, 2022 Full Review Joel Fisher Battle Royale With Cheese Stus Show is a documentary all about the life and career of Stu Shostak which picks up right where he met Lucille Ball and goes even further than hed ever imagine. May 2, 2022 Full Review Jason Delgado Film Threat The documentary is a fascinating look at two very different stories. Rated: 8.5/10 Apr 29, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephanie R This " documentary " was less about Lucille Ball and more about Stu "advocating " for his wife by threatening violence against the people caring for his wife. Any valid issues he may have had with the healthcare system were lost in his wild tirades. Within the first 5 minutes of the show, I wondered if he had ADHD and by the end, he appeared to be bipolar. I'm so glad his wife made a full recovery but Stu is VERY lucky. He would've been arrested in most places. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/17/23 Full Review Audience Member TV historian and archivist Stu Shostak, the subject of this doc, started in Hollywood by handing out tickets to Norman Lear sitcom tapings to people in Hollywood and then started doing the audience warm-ups for All In The Family, Silver Spoons and One Day At A Time. After learning that entertainment legend Lucille Ball was hosting question and answer classes at a college nearby, Stu transformed his encyclopedic knowledge of her career into becoming an essential part of her small inner circle, acting as her archivist and as an assistant to her husband Gary Morton. After Ball passed away, Shostak pioneered what we know now as podcasting. His internet shows — all about the classic years of TV — became a success, as did a series of I Love Lucy conventions. It was at one of these conventions that Stu would meet the love of his life, Jeanine Kasun, a music teacher and fellow Lucy super-fan. That's where the story of Stu's life takes a turn, as he must navigate the health care system to keep Jeanine alive after she suffers a brain aneurysm. With appearances by Tony Dow (Leave it to Beaver), Michael Cole (The Mod Squad), Ed Asner (Lou Grant), Butch Patrick (The Munsters), Margaret O'Brien, Geri Jewell, Beverly Washburn, Wink Martindale and many more stars of television, this movie invites you into Stu's life, in good times and bad, to give you a full picture of what it's like to be someone that has gone from fan to friend of so many Hollywood stars. Director C.J. Wallis also made another TV culture doc, Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much, and does a great job of layering footage, interviews and real life moments to create an intriguing narrative. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis The story of TV historian and archivist Stu Shostak, the documentary features screen-legends Tony Dow ("Leave it to Beaver"), Michael Cole ("The Mod Squad"), the late Ed Asner ("Lou Grant"), Butch Patrick ("The Munsters"), Academy Award Winner Margaret O'Brien, Geri Jewell and many, many more. Shostak got his start handing out tickets to Norman Lear sitcom tapings to people in Hollywood and parlayed that into doing audience warm-ups prior to tapings for shows such as "All In The Family" and "One Day At A Time". The film also indirectly tells the story of television legend Lucille Ball who, contrast to popular belief, was an extremely kind and generous person who treated those around her like family. Ball is hired to hold Q&A's at a Los Angeles based College which provides a window of opportunity that alters the course of Stu's life. Shostak's encyclopedic knowledge of Ball's career earns his way into becoming an essential part of her small inner circle as her archivist and assistant to her husband Gary Morton. After Ball passes away, Shostak pioneers what we know now as "podcasting", hosting internet shows interviewing celebrity cast and crew of the golden age of television. He also co-produces the widely successful LOVING LUCY conventions which welcomed prior cast, crew and superfans from around the world to come together for a few days to celebrate their love of I Love Lucy. At one of these Loving Lucy conventions Stu meets Jeanine Kasun, a music teacher and Lucy super-fan, who noticed Shostak hosting game shows, events and trivia contests. The two speak on the phone at length and eventually begin dating until Jeanine suffers a brain aneurysm and the two, alongside the legends of television, enter into a war with the medical industry to keep her alive.
Director
C.J. Wallis
Producer
Mallory Kennedy, C.J. Wallis
Genre
Biography, Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 2, 2022
Runtime
1h 36m