David Kessler is a high school student who will go to any lengths to impress a pretty cheerleader and lose his virginity, while juggling his job at a chicken restaurant and trying not to get thrown out of Beverly Hills High School — a fate that could get him sent to the Vietnam War.
The film was based on a novel by Paul Diamond, the 23-year-old son of screenwriter I.A.L. Diamond. "It's a very funny very dirty book," said Diamond senior.[3]
Film rights were sold to Paramount before publication. A screenplay was done by Ned Wynn in 1975 with Paul Monash the producer.[4] The film was not made. However two years later Paul Diamond was working on a script for Avco Embassy.[5]
It was the first lead role for Steve Guttenberg. "Some actors get embarrassed about their early work," Guttenberg said, "but we all don't start out as 'artistes.' Nobody is going to confuse "Chicken" with 'Citizen Kane' but I learned a lot. They took a chance with me. I didn't get rich on it but it was a start."[6]
