Hollywood spoof back in ‘Action’

One of the smartest, funniest shows on television lasted only eight episodes on Fox.

In 1999, Jay Mohr (“Jerry Maguire,” “Last Comic Standing”) starred as the flamboyantly amoral movie producer Peter Dragon in “Action.”

The behind-the-scenes Hollywood spoof -- populated by a prostitute-turned-producer, substance-abusing filmmakers and Buddy Hackett -- was too cutting edge even for Fox. Rampant profanity was bleeped out and nudity was blurred in a series as shocking as it was groundbreaking and funny.

This week, “Action” got a new life on DVD with “Action: The Complete Series -- Uncut & Unbleeped.” We talked with Mohr about what might have been.

Question: In the series, there’s great advice about moviemaking: the No. 1 rule is “Never put in your own money” and No. 3 is “No pirate movies.” That last part has obviously changed. But what else has changed since 1999?

Answer: Well, now there are gay cowboys. Cowboys used to smoke Marlboros and punch each other out....

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Q: “Action” featured a lot of profanity and dark humor. Is Hollywood really this vile, or did exaggeration just make a better series?

A: Well, the shows were written based on actual stories that happened to producer Joel Silver [“The Matrix” trilogy], Don Reo and Chris Thompson. These were things that actually happened to them.

Myself, I’ve been blissfully unaware of things like that, because I just choose not to pay attention. Everyone is just too crazy here. I just try to surround myself with non-Hollywood people.

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Q: This show was originally pitched to HBO, which now has “Entourage,” a series that has a lot in common with “Action.”

A: I’ve never seen “Entourage,” I watch “Project Runway.” Do you know how much work they have to do?

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Q: I have to admit, I just watch DVDs of canceled TV shows. When they cancel “Project Runway,” I’ll be caught up to you.

A: Did you watch “Time of Your Life” with Jennifer Love Hewitt?

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Q: No.

A: I don’t think there’s any point in letting that puppy come out.

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Q: Why didn’t “Action” catch on?

A: Because we were on opposite “Friends,” “WWF Smackdown!” and “Charmed.” It was just in programming hell and it was never moved to a different evening.

I talked to [Fox Entertainment president] Doug Herzog. I said, “You can’t cancel this show, Doug. You have to move it to a different night.”

He said, “I have nowhere to put it, Jay.”

I said, “Why don’t you put it on after ‘That ‘70s Show’?”

He said, “I can’t. ‘That ‘70s Show’ is a family show.’ ”

I said, “Doug, every time I watch ... they’re eating hash brownies.”

He said, “Yes, but they are all eating them together.”

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Q: Would this show work on TV today?

A: You can’t stare into the sun, brother. Who knows? You’ll drive yourself crazy thinking about it.