This week on It Was a Thing on TV we look at a pair of forgotten game shows along with crazy shenanigans with funny cars and monster trucks.

First, usually around this time of the year BUZZR would air their “Lost and Found” marathon except they aren’t doing it seems. Whatever, we’ll have our own version! (with blackjack and hookers!) The week starts with a show from the 1950s, hosted by podcast favorite Tom Poston.  Split Personality didn't last long, though it technically aired in the 50s and 60s.

Next, as we've said many times, NBC in 1979 was desperate for anything that would draw eyes.  Mindreaders was helmed by a former primetime personality, trying to capitalize on an ESP craze at the time.  If only the people behind this show had ESP and could see this show not lasting all that long…

Finally, Saturday Night Live starts it's 48th season on NBC. In this special minisode we look back at a weird commercial parody making fun of monster truck shows where those boring funny cars turn out in the ad to be sentient beings able to achieve perpetual motion. Sadly those monster trucks are not amused by what these funny cars manage to accomplish.

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Seriously, that spoon truck by Yuri Gellar sucks.

Timestamps

0:30 - Split Personality

41:55 - Mindreaders

1:15:01 - SNL Funny Cars at Worcester Centrum

This week on It Was a Thing on TV we kiss the baby while reminding everyone that Zack Morris is trash.

First, with the start of NFL Season, we mark the occasion with a look at a short-lived reality/discussion show starring the two biggest diva football players of the early 2010s. Also, Mike tries taking their Twitter handle and...hilarity ensues.

Next, we revisit school briefly for this episode.  Before Saved by the Bell, some of its characters were in a short-lived Disney Channel show set in a middle school in Indianapolis.  Good Morning, Miss Bliss was a precursor to the popular series from the 80s and 90s.  One thing remained the same:  Zack Morris is trash.

Finally, 35 years ago, a series blended gritty stories, wartime allegories, and cutting edge special effects. If it wasn’t the violence that people were against, it was the toy tie-ins. A show that was ahead of its time could not have come at a worse time. Prepare for the Metal Wars as we talk about Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future.

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Timestamps

0:30 - The T.Ocho Show

1:29:42 - Classic Commercial Break

1:32:55 - Good Morning, Miss Bliss

2:42:43 - Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future

Greg and Chico continue their livewatches of the original Star Trek movies as they look at what is regarded as the best Trek movie in The Wrath of KHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!

Just a note this livewatch will be looking at the Director's Cut of the movie and not the Theatrical Cut. If you have the Director's Cut of the movie on either DVD, Blu-ray or Digital, Greg will give you instructions at the start on how to follow along with the episode.

This week on It Was a Thing on TV we head back to school while taking a field trip to the Starship Enterprise.

First, we start this week talking about why some movies should not make the transition to TV shows. Ferris Bueller had very little in common with the movie, and the title character makes that known in the first 2 minutes of the pilot.  But it did have Jennifer Aniston.

Next, we focus not on a TV show about the students, but rather the educators themselves.  Teachers Only had a short first season, but underwent a major overhaul of the cast (and even a new theme) for a slightly longer second season.

Finally, September 8th was Star Trek Day and we're talking about what is considered a continuation of the original series, done four years after the original's cancellation.  Is this true Star Trek canon?  Judge for yourself as we dive into Star Trek: The Animated Series.

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Timestamps

0:30 - Ferris Bueller

1:02:59 - Teachers Only

2:19:02 - Star Trek: The Animated Series

Greg and Chico resume their livewatch of Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+ as they look at the middle episodes as Obi-Wan and Young Leia encounter a not-so friendly alien truck driver, imperial spies and Ice Cube's kid.

Here are the timecodes to sync up with Episodes 3 & 4, if you are following along on Disney+.

Episode 3 - 1:46

Episode 4 - 45:35

This week on It Was a Thing on TV we celebrate our 299th and 300th editions by revisiting two of our earliest topics!

First, in our second 'revisited' episode, we go back to the first half of episode 3 and take a second look at the short-lived NBC perennial bomb Manimal.  We get deeper into the show, the guests, and we have Chico present this time around.

Then, we have reached another milestone, this time looking back at the show covered in the second half of episode 3.  Unlike the first time, Chico is with us this time and thankfully can make the trip with us to Zippers?!?! Also, Greg has a major announcement which is truly a game changer. What is the major announcement? You have to listen to Episode 300 and find out!

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Timestamps

0:30 - Manimal Revisited

1:36:33 - Automan Revisited

This week on It Was a Thing on TV we look at CBS’ attempt to dismantle TGIF and bring to you our third edition of Hometown Commercials.

First, In 1997, CBS took the bold steps of putting together a 2-hour comedy block on Friday nights versus ABC's TGIF, and even took two of TGIF's stalwarts in the process.  The two former TGIF shows were on its last legs.  We're here to talk about the two original shows to the Block Party--Meego and The Gregory Hines Show.

Then, on episode 98, we gave you Hometown Commercials. On episode 202, we gave you a second helping.  They're back for 298, more of the local commercials that are so bad, they're good. In the third edition we are introduced to new favorites including a man who sells gold, another lawyer, a taxidermist and a guy who wants to get serious about selling you windows.

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Timestamps

1:29 - The CBS Friday Night Block Party (Meego//The Gregory Hines Show)

1:11:14 - Classic Commercial Break

1:14:23 - Hometown Commercials, Volume 3

This week on It Was a Thing on TV we look at a show from UPN, a Canadian kids game show and a legendary rant by Hannibal Smith.

First, UPN tried throwing almost anything on their schedule in the late 90s.  Shasta McNasty is no exception.  It was so bad that the title was cut in half to just Shasta during the show's run.  Even cross-promotions with WWF Smackdown couldn't lure viewers. This was basically the most 1999 TV show that ever 1999'd.

Next, in honor of Susan St. James’ birthday, we mark the occasion the only way we know how--by utilizing a running gag on this show.  Uh Oh! was a Canadian game show for kids, despite an antagonist who looks like he should be running a sex dungeon.  A kid's show with who appears to be a dungeon master ran for six seasons in Canada!

Finally, In 1979, early on in Password Plus' run, George Peppard made an appearance as a celebrity player.  On the first show, Peppard put his foot in his mouth, while ranting about forms NBC (and presumably other networks) had people sign.  As a result, Peppard never played another game.

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Timestamps

0:57 - Shasta McNasty

1:16:15 - Uh Oh!

1:51:34 - George Peppard’s rant on Password Plus

This week on It Was a Thing on TV we look at an adaptation of a popular movie that was made before the current adaptation of a popular movie while living in high society.

First, in honor of the “A League of Their Own” Amazon Prime series, this episode takes a look at the "blink and you'll miss it" television version of one of the breakout movie hits of 1992. This version had a handful of characters reprising their roles in one-off appearances and its TV fate may have been set in stone by a certain organization.

Then, in episode 61, we talked about the season when NBC owned and operated stations had primetime starting at 7:30.  We talked about one of those 5 shows, We Got it Made, in episode 66.  Another show from that experiment is this show's focus.  Marblehead Manor follows the antics of a wealthy family and their staff at their palatial residence.

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Timestamps

0:30 - A League of Their Own (1993)

31:55 - Classic Commercial Break

35:11 - Marblehead Manor

In this surprise It Was a Thing on TV Live Show we go back to a show covered in Episode 117 as we look at a special episode of Personal Injury Court.

In this episode, Gino gives us the legal sauce in a case where a lady gets blinded in an eye by a bag of peanuts at a baseball game thrown by the team mascot.

Let's just say that the costume of the mascot is something that has been seen to be appreciated.

You can watch the episode and follow along at the official YouTube channel for Personal Injury Court. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXfEgepI5UA

We're giving you two shows for the price of one this episode.  These shows premiered on the same day, the shows aired consecutively on NBC, and both looked technologically amazing for late 1976.  Alas, technology couldn't save the pair, as their final shows aired on the last day of the year.

This week on It Was a Thing on TV we conclude our MLB All-Star Special from last week while doing some wizardly stuff.

First, we talked last week about the 1990 MLB All-Star Game, with its long rain delay.  Now, we're talking about what happened during that delay.  CBS fired up an episode of its freshman hit Rescue 911.  It was a bit of an odd selection, maybe more so because this episode had a gruesome event, during a jovial event (The All-Star Game.)

Then, What if Merlin the Magician lived in the 20th Century instead of during Arthurian times?  In 1981, CBS gave us an answer to that question when Merlin lived in San Francisco and owned an auto repair shop.  It appears CBS had faith in the series, but it went up against difficult competition from the start.

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Timestamps

0:56 - The episode of Rescue 911 that aired during the 1990 MLB All-Star Game rain delay

43:36 - The Jenny Position Commercial

46:59 - Mr. Merlin

This week on It Was a Thing on TV we celebrate the recent Mid-Summer Classic by presenting to you two baseball themed episodes for the All-Star Game.

First, we watch dozens of legends participate in an old timers game whose participants span almost 50 years of Major League Baseball, the oldest of whom pulls off the highly improbable.

Then, our journey to this year's All Star festivities continues with the 1990 edition, one with great pitching, first appearances by several baseball legends, and a lengthy rain delay.  We'll continue talking about the rain delay next week.

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Timestamps

2:38 - The First Annual Cracker Jack Old Timers Classic (After Mike finishes his dumb rambling about the Guardians “winning” the Francisco Lindor trade to make himself feel better over not having Steve Cohen as an owner)

1:43:47 - Classic Commercial Break

1:47:45 - The 1990 MLB All-Star Game

This week on It Was a Thing on TV, we celebrate the return of Thor by presenting our second show celebrating the release of Thor: Love and Thunder and also provide one of our recent live shows for you.

First, we look at The Return of the Incredible Hulk from 1988. In this TV movie, Thor appears in the same universe as the TV show, but this isn’t the Thor that we all know and love.

Then, Greg and Chico watch the first two episodes of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" the latest Star Wars series on Disney+.

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Timestamps

0:42: - Intro to Episode 285

3:20 - The Return of the Incredible Hulk

1:33:53 - Obi-Wan Kenobi Episodes 1 & 2 Livewatch