Abbie (Billy Crystal), a successful New York surgeon, has a heart attack and realizes he should reconnect with his father, Abe (Alan King), before it is too late. With his fiancée, Lisa (JoBeth Williams), he flies to Los Angeles, where Abe has made a career for himself as a film and television extra. Moreover, Abe regards his fellow background players as family, and they look up to him as their elder statesman. Abbie finds he must compete with Hollywood's unknowns for his father's attention.