The following statement appears after the film’s title: “A Documentary by Terry Manchester.”
       According to production notes in AMPAS library files, actorTim Robbins began work on creating the character of “Bob Roberts” in 1986 as a “businessman-singer,” but gradually turned him into a folk singer running for political office because of what the actor felt was a growing “Hollywoodization of Washington.” He introduced the character nationally in a segment on the 13 Oct 1986 episode of the comedy television series,Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11 Oct 1975), which Robbins also directed. Afterward, he wrote a screenplay for a feature film, which included a parody ofSaturday Night Live calledCutting Edge Live.
       A 5 Nov 1991HR production chart stated that principal photography began on 4 Nov 1991 in Pittsburgh, PA. Production lasted thirty-four days. An article in the 3 Aug 1992HR reported the picture’s final budget was $3.9 million. Armyan Bernstein was listed as a producer in the 19 Jul 1991Screen International, but he is not credited onscreen.
       Working titles for the film included:Rob Roberts, Times Are Changing,Bob Roberts: Times Are Changing Back, andTimes Are Changing Back. One of the film’s main songs, “Times Are Changin’ Back,” was a reaction to Bob Dylan’s 1964 protest song, “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” which represented, for Bob Roberts, the liberal attitudes of the American 1960s that he was railing against.
      Gore Vidal, a well-known liberal political commentator and writer, ad libbed most of his lines. “Tim squatted down with the camera and ...

The following statement appears after the film’s title: “A Documentary by Terry Manchester.”
       According to production notes in AMPAS library files, actorTim Robbins began work on creating the character of “Bob Roberts” in 1986 as a “businessman-singer,” but gradually turned him into a folk singer running for political office because of what the actor felt was a growing “Hollywoodization of Washington.” He introduced the character nationally in a segment on the 13 Oct 1986 episode of the comedy television series,Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11 Oct 1975), which Robbins also directed. Afterward, he wrote a screenplay for a feature film, which included a parody ofSaturday Night Live calledCutting Edge Live.
       A 5 Nov 1991HR production chart stated that principal photography began on 4 Nov 1991 in Pittsburgh, PA. Production lasted thirty-four days. An article in the 3 Aug 1992HR reported the picture’s final budget was $3.9 million. Armyan Bernstein was listed as a producer in the 19 Jul 1991Screen International, but he is not credited onscreen.
       Working titles for the film included:Rob Roberts, Times Are Changing,Bob Roberts: Times Are Changing Back, andTimes Are Changing Back. One of the film’s main songs, “Times Are Changin’ Back,” was a reaction to Bob Dylan’s 1964 protest song, “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” which represented, for Bob Roberts, the liberal attitudes of the American 1960s that he was railing against.
      Gore Vidal, a well-known liberal political commentator and writer, ad libbed most of his lines. “Tim squatted down with the camera and asked me questions and I just improvised,” he said in production notes.
       The film was screened in May 1992 during the Directors Fortnight program of France’s Cannes Film Festival, as noted in the 7 May 1992DV and 15 May 1992Screen International. The following month, the 25 Jun 1992LAT reported that the picture would be shown that evening at the Motion Picture Academy Theater in Los Angeles, CA, for AFI’s Fest. Within five days after the film’s 4 Sep 1992 release in Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, D.C., the film had taken in $314,000 at the box-office, as noted in the 9 Sep 1992LAT.
       The film markedTim Robbins’ debut as a film screenwriter and director, and the first motion picture appearance of actorJack Black.
       End credits state: “Special Musical Thanks: The Freeway Philharmonic; Lyle Lovett; Margaret Ross; Dudley Oakes.” End credits acknowledge the following: “People Weekly Magazine logo and trademark used with permission, The Time Inc. Magazine Company; Rolling Stone logo and trademark courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine; Newsweek name and logo courtesy of Newsweek c. Newsweek Inc.; Billboard magazine logo and trademark courtesy of BPI Communications; Time trademark and format by permission of the publisher, The Time, Inc. Magazine Co.” End credits also state: “The producers wish to thank the following for their support: The Pittsburgh Film Office-Robert Curran; American Tourister, Warren, RI; Budget Rent-A-Car, Pittsburgh, PA; Cameron Coca Cola, Washington, PA; Channel Master, Smithfield, NC; Coca Cola Entertainment USA, Los Angeles, CA; Curtis Mathes Center, Washington, PA; Dom Perignon, Schieffelin & Somerset; Easy Spirits Footwear, Manning, Savage & Lee, NY.; Frito Lay, Dallas, TX; Herr Foods, Inc., Perryopolis, PA; Info-Grip, Baton Rouge, LA; Jones Brewing Company, Smithton, PA; Market Control, Canonsburg, PA; Pepsi Entertainment, Los Angeles, CA; Serengeti Eyewear, CA; Taylor Guitars, Santee, CA; The D.I. Clark Company, Pittsburgh, PA; Trilogic Computer Systems, Canonsburg, PA; the crews of KDKA and WQED, Pittsburgh; Nicole Bixler; Susan Shaw and The Bob Roberts Dancers: Kristin Altfather; Jennifer Clipplinger; Lori Doycich; Crystal Galipeau; Tracy Generalovich; Julie Harkness; Nadine Isenegger; Shari Jackson; Stephanie Lang; Erika Lingley; Cheryl Mann; Michelle Nagy; Keri Nowe; Elena Porco; Joy Short; Carolyn Sibray; Jennifer Stetor; Janine Willett.” End credits also acknowledge: “And special thanks to:Stephen Castellano; Andrew Cockburn; Jody Gottlieb; Sevket Gozalan; John Head; Shelly Houis; Gwynne Hunter; Alexander Jullan; Michael Kuhn; Eriq La Salle; Louis Licari; Steve Mangel; Stephanie Jo Meckler; Lorne Michaels; Jane Moore; Paula Muzic; Lalia Nabulsi; Larry Richmond; Malcolm Ritchie; Ratso Sloman; Kathryn Smith; Susan Starr; Jill Tandy.” End credits further state: “With very special thank to: Mary Robbins; Robert Altman; Frank Bednash; Jeff Berg; Boaty Boatwright; Brian Brophy; Sam Cohn; Elaine Goldsmith; Nora Guthrie; Marjorie Moore; Nellie Nuglei; Peter Raleigh; Thiery Robbins; Chelsea Robbins; Terry Tomalin; Bart Walker; R. A. White; The Actors’ Gang; Woody Guthrie; EMLA; JHR; SS; MGR.”
       The following statement precedes end credits: “Vote.”

In October 1990, British documentary filmmaker Terry Manchester follows Bob Roberts, a stockbroker and right-wing conservative folksinger, during his U.S. Senatorial campaign in Pennsylvania. Bob’s opponent, incumbent Senator Brickley Paiste, leads in the polls, but Paiste is accused of having an affair with his granddaughter’s friend, and loses his lead. Bob continues to gain support as he travels across the state, performing songs about the evils of drug use and liberal thinking, and promoting his anti-drug charity, Broken Dove. Meanwhile, Bugs Raplin, reporter for the Trouble Times Journal, informs Terry that Bob’s campaign manager, Lukas Hart III, is a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent who ran a drug smuggling operation called “Broken Dove.” Raplin insists that Hart and Bob purchased airplanes for the mission with loans from the recently defunct West Pennsylvania Savings and Loan that were supposed to be spent for low-income housing. After a local news station picks up Raplin’s story, an investigation ensues and Hart is forced to appear in front of a Senate subcommittee. The accusations cause a slip in Bob’s popularity, and his campaign manager, Chet MacGregor, books the candidate on the popular television comedy show, Cutting Edge Live. Arriving in New York City for the taping, Bob performs a self-endorsement song. Carol, the producer’s assistant, is appalled by the impromptu performance and cuts off the electricity. As Bob leaves the studio, shots are fired and he falls to the ground. His campaign accuses Bugs Raplin of attempted assassination ...

In October 1990, British documentary filmmaker Terry Manchester follows Bob Roberts, a stockbroker and right-wing conservative folksinger, during his U.S. Senatorial campaign in Pennsylvania. Bob’s opponent, incumbent Senator Brickley Paiste, leads in the polls, but Paiste is accused of having an affair with his granddaughter’s friend, and loses his lead. Bob continues to gain support as he travels across the state, performing songs about the evils of drug use and liberal thinking, and promoting his anti-drug charity, Broken Dove. Meanwhile, Bugs Raplin, reporter for the Trouble Times Journal, informs Terry that Bob’s campaign manager, Lukas Hart III, is a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent who ran a drug smuggling operation called “Broken Dove.” Raplin insists that Hart and Bob purchased airplanes for the mission with loans from the recently defunct West Pennsylvania Savings and Loan that were supposed to be spent for low-income housing. After a local news station picks up Raplin’s story, an investigation ensues and Hart is forced to appear in front of a Senate subcommittee. The accusations cause a slip in Bob’s popularity, and his campaign manager, Chet MacGregor, books the candidate on the popular television comedy show, Cutting Edge Live. Arriving in New York City for the taping, Bob performs a self-endorsement song. Carol, the producer’s assistant, is appalled by the impromptu performance and cuts off the electricity. As Bob leaves the studio, shots are fired and he falls to the ground. His campaign accuses Bugs Raplin of attempted assassination and has him arrested. At a press conference, Bob’s personal physician, Dr. Caleb Menck, announces that Bob’s legs have been paralyzed. The story is reported nationally, and Bob regains his lead in the Senate race. Meanwhile, Terry meets Raplin’s lawyer, Mack Laflin, who claims his client could not have fired a gun as he has restrictive palsy in his right hand. Later, Bob is released from the hospital and returns to Pennsylvania. On Election Day, Bob releases his new musical album, and all charges against Lukas Hart III are dropped. Bob defeats Paiste and becomes the new Senator. When evidence proves Raplin’s fingerprints were not on the gun, he tells Terry that he did witness the shooting, and it was staged. In Washington, DC, Bob performs a song for a formal dinner in his wheelchair, and Terry’s camera captures his supposedly paralyzed foot tapping to the music. Afterward, Bob’s fans sit outside his office building, and news breaks that Bugs Raplin was murdered. As the crowd celebrates, Terry’s camera documents the silhouette of Bob Roberts walking pass the window and turning off the light.