Product Details

• Actors: Lily Tomlin, Clay Walker
• Directors: John Bailey
• Writers: Jane Wagner
• Producers: Ginny Nugent, Paula Mazur
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Wolfe Video
• VHS Release Date: March 2, 1999
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302899052
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,823 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

Trudy, a crazy bag lady, has taken upon herself the task of showing visiting extraterrestrials the variety of life on earth. She has an umbrella hat that picks up signals from everywhere and turns her into a living TV set, with lots of channels and great reception. She's played by Lily Tomlin, and every person whose life flashes onto Trudy's psychic screen is played by Lily Tomlin, too. Tomlin gives us a clear, sharp picture every time: she's a high-definition actress. This astonishing one-woman show, presented on Broadway in 1985, was written for Tomlin by her longtime collaborator Jane Wagner. The belated film version, directed by John Bailey, adds some distracting visual effects, but it mostly does justice to the extraordinary talents of these women. Nothing interferes with the dazzling rhythm of Tomlin's performance, and the piece is constructed so that its themes build up an inexorable momentum. The characters who flash across the screen turn out, in the end, to be connected to each other in ways we couldn't have anticipated. And it's immensely gratifying to see all the different personalities gathered together in one woman. This is probably the only solo theatrical performance that truly deserves to be called democratic. -Terrence Rafferty
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lily Tomlin's amazing show, February 10, 2005

By 

tv fan (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lily Tomlin - The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is the masterpiece of the Tomlin and Wagner team. Jane Wagner the writer and Lily Tomlin the amazingly versatile performer. I'm a mega Lily fan ten times over and this movie is why. For those unfamiliar with "Search" you should know that this is a filmed version of a one-woman show originally produced on Broadway in 1985. On stage Lily used NO costumes or props WHATSOEVER. She appeared as you see her in just a simple blouse and slacks. For this film they incorporated Lily in costume for some parts so the viewer gets the best of both worlds; to see it as it was performed live on stage and also to take advantage of seeing what the characters look like were Lily performing for a film. It is really neat to watch.

But the main reason for watching this film is for the performance and the material itself which is thought provoking, funny, touching, intelligent, interwoven, philisophical and brilliant. Lily won a Tony award as Best Actress In A Play in 1986 for her performance. She deserved it.

Watch this film and be knocked out.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rare and special combination of acting and writing abilities, July 1, 1999

By 

Conscious Reader (Lummi Island, Washington, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lily Tomlin - The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a profound, hilarious, frank, compassionate and loving look at human beings and our strange relationship with normalcy and the absurd. Lily Tomlin's performance has to be seen to be believed--and you will believe! And Jane Wagner's words are a privilege to hear. Wonderful insights, and some witty quips you'll be eager to repeat.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This video is a must-see!, November 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lily Tomlin - The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Tomlin's act, in which she portrays 12 separate characters, is pulled off without technical wizardry or extensive props. She is able, quite remarkably, to convince the viewer that she IS all of these women and that she inhabits their worlds. This is easily one of the funniest and most sophisticated skits I've ever seen. Watch it and you'll never view life (or Post-It notes, for that matter) in quite the same way.