Daytime Revolution
Directed by Erik Nelson
Featuring John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Mike Douglas, Chuck Berry, George Carlin
Unrated
Runtime: 1 hour 48 minutes
Limited screenings October 9, listings here

by Melissa Strong, Staff Writer

John Lennon’s murder in December 1980 marked the end of an era. The motive, according to some sources, was outrage over Lennon’s lifestyle. The fatal shooting sadly seems to make more sense now, as polarization, violence, and technology increase emphasis on American individuality while deprioritizing the common good. As Erik Nelson’s new documentary Daytime Revolution points out, Lennon and Yoko Ono represented the opposite of these values. Comprised of archival footage and interviews, it surveys the significance of Lennon and Ono sharing their values on The Mike Douglas Show in 1972. A popular afternoon variety program from 1961-1981, The Mike Douglas Show originated in Cleveland and then moved to Philadelphia. Lennon and Ono recorded five episodes in a basement studio at 16th and Walnut.

Billed as a “takeover,” Lennon and Ono’s appearance was neither hostile nor a hierarchical seizure of control. Instead, the pair chose all the guests and shared co-hosting duties with Douglas. Like many shows of its kind then and now, The Mike Douglas Show featured discussions with guests, performances, and hands-on activities. Daytime Revolution emphasizes how Lennon and Ono’s programming choices contributed to the expansion of progressive, social democratic ideas. It also provides context for President Nixon’s subsequent persecution of Lennon. 

Daytime Revolution is a fascinating watch for history buffs and fans of Lennon and/or Ono, which ought to be a sizable audience. Yet, I wish the documentary provided more context and commentary for Lennon and Ono’s revolutionary contributions to American daytime TV. Instead, it relies on cringe memories of the show runners’ fears about imagined objections from an imaginary audience of “housewives.” Who actually watched and how was the show received, or did nobody do their homework? Points off for that given a runtime that’s too long unless you’re feeling particularly groovy.

Daytime Revolution opens with Lennon and Ono performing “Attica State,” a song about a deadly prison uprising and landmark in the prisoners’ rights movement. It notes that in the early 1970s, the duo often collaborated on art and activism. Lennon and Ono had moved to New York by this time, and Lennon embraced America. It didn’t love him back. Nixon feared Lennon’s influence on American voters between 18-20 casting their first ballots in the 1972 presidential election. The 2006 documentary The U.S. vs. John Lennon covers this in depth, along with the government’s attempt to deport Lennon. Meanwhile, Daytime Revolution explores the revolutionary nature of Lennon’s interests as reflected in The Mike Douglas Show. These ranged from biofeedback and macrobiotics to Chuck Berry’s music and Ono’s performance art.

However, the guest lineup was the most revolutionary aspect of Lennon and Ono’s appearance on The Mike Douglas Show. Guests included comedian George Carlin and Black Panther Bobby Seale, as well as Ralph Nader and Jerry Rubin of the Youth International Party (aka the Yippies). They also included a medical student, a young macrobiotic chef, and Yellow Pearl performing “We Are the Children,” a song about the struggles of Asian Americans. Daytime Revolution helpfully provides the names of interviewees, performers, and show guests, plus their ages at the time of broadcast. When they look back, the guests who are not household names recount charming bits about their invitation to the show. An out-of-the-blue phone call from someone claiming to be an international celebrity was as suspicious then as it is now.

Lennon and Ono were genuine, though, and they carefully planned a TV experience that would be mind expanding in the best kinds of ways. Daytime Revolution describes itself as “a time capsule reminding us of art’s power to break down barriers.” That’s a grandiose claim for a documentary about a TV show, but it’s not wrong. Daytime Revolution reminds us that Lennon’s adopted country has a history of resisting intellectual curiosity and creative experimentation, and America is less welcoming to women and people of color. It also reminds us that sitting down with folks unlike us to talk about ideas is possible and worth doing.