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It was a Thing on TV
Episodes
Friday Mar 22, 2024
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 461 & 462 - Iron Chef USA/Life on Mars (US)
Friday Mar 22, 2024
Friday Mar 22, 2024
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we ask ourselves is there Life on Mars?
First, in Episode 461, in the late 90s and early 2000s, one of the surprise cult classic hit TV shows was the original Iron Chef from Japan. Naturally, an American network had to take their stab at a domestic version. The end result was two episodes where William Shatner got more screen time than the food itself. Unfortunately, the charm of the original version was lost in translation when it originally went across the Pacific.
Then in Episode 462, this year's Lost in Translation block concludes with an import from the UK about a police detective who was hit by a car in 2008, but ends up in 1973 after regaining his consciousness. Life on Mars was part of a powerful ABC Thursday night line-up, but lasted only one season.
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Timestamps
0:11 - Akira Toriyama Tribute Cold Open
1:20 - Iron Chef USA
47:05 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (3-12-84/3-16-84)
58:36 - Life on Mars (US)
1:52:41 - The Russell Westbrook Update
1:56:47 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (3-19-84/3-23-84)
Saturday Mar 16, 2024
Saturday Mar 16, 2024
It's the final voyage with the OG Trek crew as the Federation and Klingon Empire are close to intergalactic peace. However, Kirk and the Enterprise crew must deal with Klingon Christopher Plummer and a potential traitor on board the ship. Join Greg and Chico as they head second star to the left and straight on til morning.
Friday Mar 08, 2024
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 459 & 460 - Easy Street/Days Like These
Friday Mar 08, 2024
Friday Mar 08, 2024
This week on It Was a Thing on TV
First, in Episode 459, Hugh Wilson and Loni Anderson worked together on a popular series in the late 70s and early 80s, WKRP in Cincinnati. They tried to parlay that magic into another series four years after WKRP's end, one where a former showgirl, played by Anderson, married her wealthy husband, who died. When you're battling family members who want that money, life isn't so easy on Easy Street.
Then in Episode 460, the annual Lost in Translation episodes start with another British adaptation of a beloved American sitcom. Despite American scripts being localized for a UK audience, Days Like These didn't click. Maybe it needed a catchy phrase in its opening like "Hello Luton!"
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Timestamps
0:11 - Richard Lewis Tribute Cold Open
3:12 - Easy Street
55:59 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (3-5-84/3-9-84)
1:00:07 - Days Like These
Friday Mar 01, 2024
Friday Mar 01, 2024
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we’re going mental!
First, in Episode 457, Black History Month 2024 concludes with a comedy starring a comedic legend, trying to capitalize on the success of a similar show on another network. Despite pulling the stops to make it popular including adding a familiar face later in its sole season, Charlie & Company is just a footnote in history.
Then in Episode 458, Mike's birthday is this weekend and he played his Money in the Bank on this short-lived cartoon that, while absolutely hilarious, aired at the wrong time slot and/or aired either a few years early or a few years late. Celebrate Mike's birthday by getting completely mental with Ed Grimley and those in his universe.
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Timestamps
0:11 - Correction from Episode 455 (Melba)
2:27 - Charlie & Company
39:34 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (2/27/84-3/2/84)
44:57 - The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley
Friday Feb 23, 2024
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 455 & 456 - Melba/Baby...I'm Back!
Friday Feb 23, 2024
Friday Feb 23, 2024
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we continue our celebration of Black History Month
First in Episode 455, Broadway legend Melba Moore was given a starring vehicle for her own CBS sitcom in Early 1986. Sadly, it had the misfortune of premiering the same day as a tragic news story.
However, was the news story the reason the show failed or something else entirely?
Then in Episode 456, Demond Wilson's first post-Sanford and Son role was in this series, as a husband who abandoned his wife and family for seven years and was legally declared dead. Not only was Wilson back on TV after a short time away, but baby, he's back for his family.
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Timestamps
0:11 - The Russell Westbrook Update All-Star Break Edition Cold Open
5:34 - Melba
54:05 - Baby…I’m Back!
1:31:16 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (2/20/84-2/24/84)
Friday Feb 09, 2024
Friday Feb 09, 2024
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we get ready for Super Sunday.
First in Episode 451, in a similar spirit to The Flintstones and The Jetsons, Hanna/Barbera created a cartoon about the work and home lives of a family. This time, as you'd expect this week, the husband was a quarterback on a football team. Where's Huddles? aired in Summer 1970, then in non-primetime reruns the following year.
Then in Minisode 30, before two victories in "The Big Game", before almost all of his Pro Bowl nominations, and before his current squeeze (you know who), Travis Kelce looked for love on a reality program. Catching Kelce didn't catch on with viewers and neither did Kelce's catch on the series. What would Taylor say?
Finally in Episode 452, the 2000 edition of "Super Sunday" pitted the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans in the first Super Bowl of the new millennium. TV viewers were treated in-between action with commercials for Budweiser, trucks, and many dot-com companies! Most of which came and went less than a year following the game. We'll go over some of them in this episode.
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Timestamps
0:11 - Carl Weathers Tribute Cold Open
1:49 - Where’s Huddles?
43:53 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (2/6/84-2/10/84)
48:26 - Catching Kelce
1:02:58 - The Commercials of Super Bowl XXXIV
Friday Feb 02, 2024
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 449 & 450 - The Cheap Show/Cop Rock
Friday Feb 02, 2024
Friday Feb 02, 2024
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we reach a milestone with our 450th episode!
First for Episode 449, in an era where game shows were goofy, outrageous, and random, this game show was the goofiest, most outrageous, and the most random. The Cheap Show was ridiculous, messy, and...well...cheap. Sorry for the short episode. There isn't much multimedia out there, nor is there much information about it.
Then for Episode 450, Steven Bochco, the genius behind hit shows including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, and Doogie Howser, created Cop Rock, which was labeled as being revolutionary and potentially changing the landscape of television. Despite tons of promotion, the show ran 3 months and has been deemed one of the biggest failures in television history. Not only do we cover the series as always, but we will feature one song from each episode.
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Timestamps
1:13 - The Cheap Show
17:15 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (1/30/84-2/3/84)
21:53 - Classic Commercial Break (October 1990)
24:31 - Cop Rock
2:03:00 - The Russell Westbrook Update
Friday Jan 26, 2024
Friday Jan 26, 2024
This week on It Was a Thing on TV
First, by the time you hear this, Chico will have celebrated his birthday. As is tradition around here, Chico gets to pick a special birthday topic. He selected this movie which could only be acquired at your local Chuck E. Cheese's redemption center in 1999. And it's for the best you could only get it there.
Then, in 1984, history was made after Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman to be on a major party Presidential ticket. Possibly piggybacking on this historic occasion, the people behind Soap developed a show about a female President trying to balance her work life with running the most powerful country in the world. After a short run, this entry didn't get a second term, and its replacement became one of the iconic sitcoms of the 1980s.
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Timestamps
0:36 - Chuck E. Cheese in the Galaxy 5000
43:03 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (1/23/84-1/27/84)
52:54 - Hail to the Chief
Friday Jan 19, 2024
Friday Jan 19, 2024
This week on It Was a Thing on TV
First, in television history, there have been several attempts at becoming a viable competitor to ABC, NBC, and CBS. Some have succeeded (FOX), while others were not so lucky (MyTV, PAX). In this installment, we turn the clock back to the mid-60s where a mogul in the warehouse industry started his own network which had a name change before going to air, aired one series in its existence, and lasted a month.
Then, in the mid-to-late 2000s, VH-1 was looking for a comedic complement to its highly successful Best Week Ever. One such complement was this show, created by some names who would go on to bigger and better things, where the home audience decided which short series did not cut the mustard, and which ones would see another week because...they were acceptable (dot) tv.
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Timestamps
0:36 - The Overmyer Network AKA The United Network and The Las Vegas Show
30:43 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (1/16/84-1/20/84)
38:05 - Acceptable.tv
1:12:42 - The Russell Westbrook Update
Friday Jan 05, 2024
Friday Jan 05, 2024
For the first Friday drop of It Was a Thing on TV on PTBN Pop
First, Happy 2024! We start the new year with a show that debuted 30 years ago this week. It only ran the typical 13 episodes. Comparisons were made to more successful shows on TV at the time, though at least one of us saw a very raw version of a show which would become a hit two seasons later with one of the show's performers.
Then, timing can and very might have been the reason The Tim Conway Show did not have a longer life, even going from an hour to a half an hour for season 2. As is most anything with Tim Conway, it was entertaining. The rest of the cast was great. Unfortunately, the variety show was a dying breed in 1980.
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Timestamps
0:36 - The Good Life (1994)
49:41 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (1/3/84-1/6/84)
55:59 - Mid-Show Classic Commercial Break (January 1994)
58:56 - The Tim Conway Show (1980)
1:45:55 - The Russell Westbrook Update
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 440 - The 2023 Year in Review
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
This week on It Was a Thing on TV, it’s our annual Year in Review about all the things on TV in 2023!
As is tradition on this podcast, we look at the news, events, and happenings in 2023 to close out the year. In Part 1, we cover the news and some of the shows which ended in 2023.
And then in Part 2, we wrap up 2023 by talking about some of the people who made bad decisions this year, a selection of our favorite shows of the year, and looking back at those who we lost.
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Timestamps
0:11 - Greg Cold Open
1:41 - 2023 Year in Review, Part 1
44:45 - Intermission
45:40 - 2023 Year in Review, Part 2
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
Wednesday Dec 27, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV
First, our mini-tribute to the new Aquaman cinematic release comes to an end with this series which was marine-adjacent about the last survivor from an underwater civilization. Four TV movies were made, with decent enough ratings to merit a series, one that lasted an additional 13 entries.
Then, in our annual episode where you pick the topic, we gave you 3 shows from which to choose. The show with the most votes was this one, a one-season classic about an Old West bounty hunter avenging his father's death, with science fiction and steampunk elements.
Finally, in 1985 and 1986, David Letterman presented two special episodes of Late Night with David Letterman around the holiday season highlighting short films by various celebrities. We analyze these short films and offer our commentary in this holiday episode of It Was a Thing on TV.
Stay tuned to the end of the third episode where Greg makes an announcement regarding future drops right here on PTBN POP.
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Timestamps
0:11 - Andre Braugher Cold Open
2:05 - Man from Atlantis
57:58 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (12/19/83-12/23/83)
1:02:09 - The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.
1:47:55 - The Russell Westbrook Update
1:53:29 - The David Letterman Holiday Film Festival
3:09:08 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History (12/26/83-12/30/83)
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 435 & 436 - That’s My Line/Aquaman (2006 pilot)
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV
First, In honor of what would have been Bob Barker's 100th birthday on the 12th of December, we talk about one of his lesser-known ventures.In 1980, both ABC and NBC had popular reality shows in the forms of That's Incredible! and Real People, respectively. CBS wanted a piece of this reality action. The result was a show somewhat based on a title which was successful for the network for almost 20 years.
Then, in theaters soon is a new Aquaman movie and in honor of its release, we have two special episodes dedicated to it. First, we start with a pilot which should have made it to air but the timing may have been horrible, plus the price tag on the pilot was astronomical. Greg spent his hard-earned money to see this pilot and offers up a thorough recap.
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Timestamps
0:11 - Norman Lear Tribute Cold Open
2:07 - That’s My Line
1:13:03 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History
1:17:11 - Mid-Show Classic Christmas Commercial Break
1:20:11 - Aquaman (2006 pilot)
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 433 & 434 - The Colbys/The New Liar’s Club
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV
First, you are the network with the most watched show on television. What do you do? Create a spin-off. But not just any spin-off, a sequel, to outdo anything the mother program ever did, up to and including alien abduction. That’s what ABC did with Dynasty and The Colbys. We break down why that was a mistake with the help of a special guest.
Then, 9ne of our current favorite shows from the past is The New Liar's Club, a reboot of the popular game from the late 1970s. The game's the same but the caliber of celebrities was very much Canadian because, as Greg would say, John Barbour's son did all the casting for the show. Maybe all the money was spent getting a Rolls Royce in the show's open...
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Timestamps
0:41 - The Colbys
1:09:10 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History
1:13:00 - The New Liar’s Club
1:43:54 - The Russell Westbrook Update
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV
First, we cap our celebration of the Doctor Who 60th anniversary with a look at “The Curse of Fatal Death”, a Red Nose Day special from 1999. The Doctor’s looking to settle down but can’t stop regenerating, the Master is rebuilt with Dalek spare parts, and it’s all going down on a planet with a special form of communication. The BBC got some amazing talent for this one-off that foresaw a lot of things.
Then, November 29th marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary ABC News anchor Frank Reynolds. Although this man has not been with us for the last 40 years he left a great legacy of journalism on TV that lives on today with World News Tonight as one of the program's three founding co-anchors. We will showcase some of his great moments on this special episode of It Was a Thing on TV.
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Timestamps
0:36: - Doctor Who: The Curse of Fatal Death
29:39 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History
32:59 - Mid-Show Classic Christmas Commercial Break
35:31 - The Frank Reynolds Centennial