Place to Be Nation POP Experience
It was a Thing on TV
Episodes
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV
First, in the 70s, Sherwood Schwartz had an idea to introduce a couple with a multiethnic group of kids. The ahead-of-its-time idea was revisited in the mid 80s, but would anybody watch it? And what happens when nobody watches it? On this episode, we break down the strange case of “Together We Stand”…. Or “Nothing is Easy”.
Then, in honor of Susan St. James' 77th birthday back in August, Greg and Chico looked at this 2004 straight-to-DVD movie about a down on his luck clutz who teams up with a sea captain to find a sunken treasure. Also, Lou Rawls and Richard Moll are trying to stop them for some reason. We're also pretty sure that The Dove Foundation which "approved" this movie didn't actually watch this.
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Timestamps
0:36 - Together We Stand
30:20 - Classic Commercial Break from 1986
32:46 - Nothing is Easy
59:41 - Uh Oh! (The Movie)
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 413, 414, & 415 - Dabney Colemania Week
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we honor a legendary actor for the first time on this podcast by giving him a special series of episodes!
First, like Schuckapalooza last year, we're devoting a number of episodes to an actor, this time Dabney Coleman. First up is a show which didn't get many viewers, despite praise from critics. It's a show that, after cancellation, Brandon Tartikoff said was one of his biggest regrets. Coleman plays the prickly title character in the 80s classic Buffalo Bill.
Then, Dabney Colemania continues with another series fronted by Dabney. Unlike Buffalo Bill where he played an irritable, cantankerous TV host, Dabney played an irritable, cantankerous sportswriter. Like Buffalo Bill, The "Slap" Maxwell Story was a critical favorite. Also like Buffalo Bill, the ratings were not good.
Finally, we conclude our trifecta of Dabney Coleman shows by looking back at a show which was a complete contrast to the last two entries, where Coleman played an irritable, cantankerous TV host and an irritable, cantankerous sportswriter. This time, Coleman portrays an irritable, cantankerous 5th grade teacher.
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Timestamps
0:36 - Buffalo Bill
1:02:23 - Mike on Person, Place or Thing
1:03:39 - The Slap Maxwell Story
1:39:15 - Drexell’s Class
Wednesday Sep 27, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 411 & 412 - Mr. Smith Revisited/Billy (1992)
Wednesday Sep 27, 2023
Wednesday Sep 27, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we revisit an early episode while making it to the head of the class.
First, way back in episode 2, we originally covered Mr. Smith, on the basis of Leonard Frey being credited from it and the curiosity of what it was. Four years later and the upload of over half the series later, in honor of the 40th anniversary of its premiere, we can give Mr. Smith the justice it deserves. Does an orangutan with an IQ of 256 help fix Washington D.C., or do wacky shenanigans happen because Mr. Smith is into monkey business?
Then, Post-Head of the Class, the person who replaced Howard Hesseman was given a second chance, on another series where he played an educator. This educator, however, had some issues, the least of which was living with one of his students and the largest of which was living with her to remain in the United States.
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Timestamps
1:13 - Mr. Smith Revisited
1:07:59 - Billy (1992)
Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we celebrate the return of football and look at a truly (awful) quiz show.
First, we look at a game from last year that was so bad that we had to cover it for the podcast right away. What happens when two veteran QB's get traded to different teams in a marquee match-up in the debut season of Thursday Night Football on Prime Video? You get this epic crapfest.
Then, there have been many legendary characters behind the mic in the 50+ year history of Monday Night Football, from Howard Cosell to Frank Gifford to Joe Buck and Troy Aikman nowadays. For a brief period, the announcing crew consisted of the highly capable and competent Joe Tessitore and two people wet behnd the ears--the fish-out-of-water Jason Witten, and the human obstruction known as Booger McFarland.
Finally, Greg and Mike talk about an obscure show which ran very briefly in the early 1980s, hosted by a pair of brothers whose biggest claim to fame was being the shortest pair of twins in the world. The pair made some appearances on movies and TV, including a segment on Real People, which was apparently enough to give them this (awful) hosting gig.
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Timestamps
0:00 - Computer Voice Lady Cold Open
1:18 - The Colts/Broncos Thursday Night Football Game from 2022
43:51 - The Joey Gallo Update (from 9/7)
47:45 - Booger McFarland and Jason Witten on Monday Night Football
1:38:21 - That (Awful) Quiz Show
Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we go back to school while looking at a future starship captain play detective.
First, legendary NFL quarterback Joe Namath's last stop in his illustrious career brought him to Los Angeles, with the Rams in 1977. The next year, one of his first post-retirement gigs was on The Waverly Wonders, which was very reminiscent of a popular show on another network at the time. Just over a month later, the show got canceled. Its replacement, however, would last over 7 years.
Then, a bookish girl & a jock are selected to attend high school in space. An up-and-coming movie scribe & a legendary anime studio are chosen to bring them to life. What started as a Saturday morning failure turned into a cult classic. Strap in and hold on as we round out this year’s Back to School special with a trip to Galaxy High School.
Finally, Columbo was an NBC staple in their Mystery Movie rotation throughout most of the 70s. When the network went on a huge decline at the end of the decade, NBC tried anything to get viewers including a non-canonical spinoff. At least we got to see a young Captain Janeway.
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Timestamps
0:00 - Greg Cold Open
1:40 - The Waverly Wonders
45:48 - Galaxy High School
1:26:20 - Mrs. Columbo aka Kate Columbo aka Kate the Detective aka Kate Loves a Mystery (yes, the show went by all these names)
Sunday Sep 10, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Live Show 43 - The Kissing Booth 3
Sunday Sep 10, 2023
Sunday Sep 10, 2023
Recorded back in June on Stream Lounge. “It’s the end of an era… and the beginning of everything else.” What college will Elle pick, the one with her heartthrob or the one with her bestie? Can they pull off the best summer ever with Mario Kart and DDR? And will this girl ever learn to say no? Greg & Chico answer most of these questions as we round out The Era with The Kissing Booth 3.
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 403 & 404 - Dynaman/Jennifer Slept Here Revisited
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Power Rangers in America and revisit one of our earliest shows.
First, thirty years ago, Haim Saban brought the Super Sentai to the US, and Power Rangers was born... but before THAT, a similar series was brought to the US purely for laughs and/or played-up stereotypes. We look back on the show that was Dynaman, who brought it to life, and what exactly a main squeeze is.
Then, early on in this podcast's life, we originally covered Jennifer Slept Here, but it was one of the few episodes Greg missed. He had things to say about this show. Thus, we are revisiting another episode from early on.
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Timestamps
0:36 - Dynaman
31:22 - Intermission (The Joey Gallo Update)
34:34 - Jennifer Slept Here Revisited
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 402 - Skooled
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
It's that time of the year when kids are going back to school. In this installment, we look at a Canadian reality show where the roles are reversed--the teenagers are the teachers and the adults are the students. It's time to do some learning on Skooled.And for the first time in podcast history, we talk to someone who took part in the show, about his Skooled experiences among other things.
Reminder: Episode 401 on The Shockmaster will be posted on the PTBN Wrestling feed so look for it over there.
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 399 & 400 - Salvage 1/Tequila and Bonetti
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we celebrate our 400th episode of the podcast!
First, in Episode 399, the late 70s experienced a sci-fi kick in theaters and on television. Someone had the idea to create a show which crossed science fiction with Sanford and Son, somewhat. Salvage 1 was about a crew who went to the moon to bring lunar junk back to Earth, but they did everything but that. What was Andy Griffith thinking?
Then, we have reached Episode 400! This time, we're talking about a show whose formula worked in theaters as Turner and Hooch, but the dog can talk?! And Italy enjoyed this so much, they revived it in 2000?!?!
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Timestamps
0:36 - Salvage 1
56:19 - Intermission (The Joey Gallo Update)
59:08 - Tequila and Bonetti
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we talk about Stephen J. Cannell and The Cube!
First, J.J. Starbuck fit a formula one prolific producer had used repeatedly and successfully. It got good ratings, despite being moved multiple times, though the ratings weren't good enough for the most popular broadcast network at the time. It also got beaten three separate times by a person who has problems with cheese.
Then, we present a live show that we recorded back in May here on PTBN Pop as Mike, Greg, and Chico watch the Season 2 Premiere of The Cube on TBS
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Timestamps
1:48 - J.J. Starbuck
1:28:30 - The Cube Season 2 Premiere
Sunday Aug 13, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Live Show 41 - The 2023 XFL Championship Game
Sunday Aug 13, 2023
Sunday Aug 13, 2023
The 2023 XFL has made it farther than its second incarnation by making it to the Championship Game! Can the title game fare better than the original XFL's 2001 Championship Game? In this Live Show recorded back in May, Greg and Chico live-watched the 2023 Championship between DC and Arlington from the Alamodome as they smell what The Rock is cooking.
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 397 - Pepper Dennis
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
Wednesday Aug 09, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV, Single female news journalist! Having lots of sex!
She had everything going for her… Looks, talent, intelligence, the right people surrounding her (even if one of them was “the best sex she ever had” who ended up taking her job). There was one problem… she was on a dead network. This week, we go to the newsroom to investigate the life and career of… “Pepper Dennis”.
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we talk about how this is the drop that gets results!
First in Minisode 28, one of the enshrinees this year’s Baseball HoF inductions was slugger Fred McGriff. While most people know him as a basher for a number of MLB teams, others remember him from appearing in frequently aired ads for baseball skill videos. We look back at the videos, and discover something amazing about those ads about a quarter century later.
Then in Episode 396, in 1979, Angie was bound for great success. Then ABC meddled with the schedule a number of times and despite being a top 5 show the season before, Angie found its way to cancellation a year later.
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Timestamps
0:36 - The Tom Emanski Baseball World Commercials
18:21 - Angie
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Live Show 40 - Titanic II
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
It's a special It Was a Thing on TV Live Show! This epic cinematic masterpiece from Dick Van Dyke's grandson comes from the same people who brought you those straight-to-video mockbusters! Titanic II!
Originally released by The Asylum back in 2010, Titanic II is set in the far-off future of 2012! A wealthy billionaire builds his own version of the Titanic (with blackjack and hookers!) but little do they know that history is about to repeat itself!
Can Brooke Burns and Bruce Davison save Greg and Chico from boredom in this movie? Just remember never to let go!
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 395 - Hometown Commercials, Volume 4
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
It's a podcast tradition like any other. We have found more ads from podcast favorites like Marc Norton, Rhett & Link, and Darryl Isaacs. We have also discovered new favorites. By the end of this episode, you'll know what we do.