---

The Barefoot Executive

In Disney's The Barefoot Executive,a chimp becomes head of programming at a TV station (insert your ownjoke here). A young Kurt Russell, already a golden boy for the studioby way of The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, starred as the monkey’s human helper.
 
Teenager Steven Post works as a page at a struggling TV network.When girlfriend Jennifer leaves him in charge of her pet chimp, Stevendiscovers the little simian has a knack for picking winners inprimetime.

The executives, thinking Steven is the real prodigy, appoint him asVP in charge of programming. Things really get nutty when studio execFrancis X. Wilbanks and Steven’s jealous rival Roger discover the truthabout the chimp’s gift, sparking a madcap battle for control of thechimp and the studio.

The movie continued Russell’s streak of Disney hits, as well as thegrand movie tradition of chimp comedies. The film was remade in 1995 asa TV movie starring Chris Elliot, Jay Mohr, Brian Evans and JasonLondon.

 

---