Invasion Iowa

2005
Invasion Iowa

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1
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EP1 It Came from Hollywood Mar 29, 2005

William Shatner and his cast and crew roll into Riverside, Iowa, where he meets with the residents and informs them of his plan to film a sci-fi movie there. He convinces them that he's casting members of the town for roles as cast and crew on the movie, none of them knowing that they're actually part of a reality TV series and the movie, Invasion Iowa, is a fake. Shatner gets a small tour of the town, meets with the mayor, He and his team then do the ""casting,"" choosing a wide mix of Iowans to be in the ""movie."" Among the cast are a farmer, a stand-up comedian, a reverend and many others. The cast learns their various roles and begins ""filming"" on the movie project. Later, they are all for an early screening of the film, which brings mixed reactions.

EP2 It Came from the Silos Mar 30, 2005

As the filming continues, one cast member expresses suspicions about the legitimacy of the project. The Iowa cast is introduced to Max, the evil studio executive. The cast and crew are introduced to ""Love Bombs"" by Bill's ""sensitive"" --- Steve, while one is forced to keep an eye on Desi and stop her from fraternizing with Tiny. Filming on the fake movie project continues to roll and the film's villain is introduced --- the Disintegratix 3000 (Gryffyn.) Everyone has trouble pronouncing her name and some feel that an on-screen kiss in another part of the movie is going overboard. Additionally, a local store owner is introduced to Gryffyn's kleptomaniac tendencies when William Shatner slips her a $50 bill and then watches as she shoplifts several items of no use to her from the premises.

EP3 It Came from His Raccoon Bone Mar 31, 2005

William Shatner and Scotty (Bill's assistant's assistant) are doing there motivational sayings. They say they want to be nice to Max. Shatner prepares to tape the part of the fake movie where he must say ""Nooooo!!!"" for a long period of time. William needs help remembering the line, so he makes Diana (cue-card lady) hold three pages saying ""Nooooo!!!"" and makes her count the Os out loud. After that important line is taped, Shatner and Scotty go to Scotty's house to use the washroom. While Shatner is using it, Scotty receives a call from the fake Sean Connery. The fake is very mad that he is not getting everything he was promised from Max. William Shatner later decides to have an auction, auctioning off things used in the fake movie such as gum, chewed by one of the actresses. The next scene has Tiny (Shatner's body double) running to a man. Shatner makes him sprint the run over and over again. Gryffyn shows her new book about a penguin that had plastic surgery on her wings to look goo

EP4 It Came from Her Popo Apr 01, 2005

The shenanigans continue as Shatner puts in place a prank to change the name of Riverside to ""Billville."" Shatner meets Don Rath ""Coon,"" who shares the story of his ""raccoon penis."" Gryffyn reports on changes made to her Popo story, based on feedback, but it turns out that it's even more outrageous than before. Filming is completed on the phony Invasion Iowa movie, at which point Shatner tells the Iowa cast and crew that there's not going to be any movie. After he reveals the reality TV show hoax, the actors and actresses reveal their real identities, but one of the Iowans is so incensed that they feel they've lost him. Still, everyone comes back together in time for the big reveal to the entire town. The town is given $100,000, plus an additional $12,000 to the Riverside Elementary from the crew, as well as special prizes to many of the Iowa cast and crew. Following this is the world premiere of the phony Invasion Iowa movie. Finally, the audience learns about what happened following
6.3| 0h30m| en| More Info
Released: 29 March 2005 Ended
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Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Invasion Iowa is a television series that aired on Spike TV beginning on March 29, 2005, on ITV4 beginning on 3 November 2005 and The Comedy Channel in April 2007. The series depicts events from September 2004, in which William Shatner played a hoax on the small town of Riverside, Iowa by claiming to film a science fiction movie there. Unbeknownst to the residents of Riverside, the movie was in fact fake, a satire on the genre. In front of and behind the cameras, Shatner and his purported entourage performed a living, breathing parody of Hollywood. Producers designed the various plots and gags to elicit reactions from the townspeople. Shatner played the part of the eccentric star. Improvisational actors pretended to be members of his entourage. Residents of Riverside were encouraged to audition for parts in the movie and take jobs on its crew, only to bear witness, firsthand, to an elaborate send-up of tinseltown. Producers chose Riverside because it is the self-proclaimed future birthplace of Shatner's most enduring character, Captain James T. Kirk. Invasion Iowa was created by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who also created Spike TV's earlier "reality parody" series, The Joe Schmo Show, and its sequel, Joe Schmo 2.

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curtis martin "Invasion Iowa" has a great concept (explained elsewhere on the site, so I won't repeat it here). But the people involved totally fail in every single way to make the mess entertaining. Firstly the cast members that make up the fake film crew are not funny people. They aren't even as eccentric as real film people are. They all seemed WAY too afraid to be the weirdoes or jerks they needed to be to pull off the humor, way to nice, way too normal. In fact, even though Shatner describes his "character" as self absorbed and eccentric, he actually treats the townfolk really well, as though he can't help but try to be liked. Also, the situations that must have seemed funny on paper just don't work in real life. The townfolk just aren't that taken aback by the cast's lame antics, so since the "victims" don't react, we lose the "Candid Camera"/Punk'd aspect of the gag. In fact, the comedy in the execution of the practical joke itself is SO lacking that the producers resorted to filming the cast, including Shat, in private interviews making lame jokes ABOUT the practical joke. I mean the practical joke ITSELF should be the funny part, right? But the joke just doesn't work at all. So then the show becomes not about something funny but rather more about whether or not the practical jokers can at least not get caught in their lie. But there's nothing funny about any of it. "Invasion Iowa" is justifiably obscure.
morpheusatloppers The premise: a film crew turns up in a genuine Iowa Small Town (pop. 800-odd) which, 20 years ago, had decided to name itself "The Future Birthplace Of Captain Kirk" - since it had been referenced as such in Star Trek.They have the legendary Bill Shatner with them and announce they are there to make a movie entitled - "Invasion Iowa". Furthermore, they will be needing a number of locals to help, filling minor roles, playing extras, etc.They begin holding auditions. Of course, video-cameras are rolling - to gather material for the "making-of featurette". But what the good folks don't realize is that the cameras are ACTUALLY recording them for a REALITY SHOW. The "movie" doesn't exist.The crew, Shatner and the other actors are all in on it - but apart from the town's mayor, no-one else is. What will happen? The thing is, nobody really KNEW. Although the programme was the first major SERIES by a company who had previously done "punk" TV, they had never done a whole TOWN before.And while Americans might be happy to laugh at individuals, they wouldn't take kindly to a whole TOWN being punked. Sure, a LITTLE punking would be okay, but these were decent people - they were America - so overall, care had to be taken and respect given.And it was. The whole exercise had a feel-good factor that was palpable. You came to CARE for these people.And there was an element of suspense, too. After all, there was no precedent for this - nothing like it had ever been done before. The actors had to stay in character, 24/7 - without a script. The crew had no idea what they would need to shoot. Improv - on a MAJOR scale.It all happened years ago now - I only write this to help anyone whose country has JUST had this show syndicated to them - and despite ticking "here be spoilers" I have no intention of going further, for fear of ruining one of the very BEST "reality shows" ever made.I realize that's not SAYING MUCH, but if you haven't seen it and you get the chance - check it out. It's unique. And now, it can never really be done again. At least, nowhere that HAS seen "Invasion Iowa"!
gregorycox12345 I watched The Mini Series on Spike TV.I must say William Shatner has done it again.At first I figured.What The Heck Nothing else on TV.Boy I'm Glad there was not anything else on TV.While I was watching it I could Not Believe How Gullable some people are.I mean Come on don't People in Iowa Watch TV?I admit what he did was wrong.But Boy was it Funny When he told the People of Riverside Iowa That this so Called MOVIE HE WAS MAKING WAS A FAKE!!JUST A REALITY SHOW!But in the end hopefully he learned a lesson.But The question remains,will the good people of Riverside Iowa Forgive and Forget.Or Won't They?Tune in For Yourself.I know that this is Very Hard to find.Good Luck.Hope it Was worth It.Greg
Pro Jury What if an American entertainment living legend came to your small town with a large camera crew to make a movie, what would you and your fellow town-folk do? And what will you and your friends do once you learn that the whole production is fake? SPIKE TV continues their Joe Schmo fake reality show tradition with INVASION IOWA. Yes, a whole town filled with unknowing Schmo's! Unlike the Schmo shows, INVASION uses a world famous TV legend and the town-folk act with much more respectful restraint than they otherwise might. Ironically, the most interesting and most candid moments come when the camera captures the reactions of the Hollywood actors. The last hour has much raw emotion pouring from William Shatner and his fellow actors. Watching as the town folks receive their "thank you" gifts was by far the highlight of the series.