This week on It Was a Thing on TV we look at sham marriages, outer space and Corinne Tate from Soap acting alongside Danny Thomas.

First, McCormick from Hardcastle and McCormick and Audrey Griswold #3 star in a sitcom about marrying someone to ensure they aren't deported from the country.  Of course, hilarity ensues.  The best moment of the show came at the very end of the final episode, when everybody knew the writing was on the wall.

Next, outer space science fiction was everywhere in the late 70s--in your movie theater, on public television, in primetime, even on Saturday mornings.  The crew at Filmation gave us their take on space adventures with Jason of Star Command, which featured a veteran from an outer space classic.

Finally, Soap was riding high in 1980.  Its producers gave who would likely be the 6th most popular cast member on that show her own vehicle, with a cast that includes a comedy icon and a future comedy icon.  I'm a Big Girl Now was one (season) and done.

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Timestamps

1:22 - I Married Dora

49:49 - Classic Commercial Break

54:09 - Jason of Star Command

2:00:27 - Computer Voice Lady Intro to Episode 268

2:00:49 - I’m a Big Girl Now

This week it’s the grand finale of Marvel Month on It Was a Thing on TV as we look at Electro playing a single dad and Tony Stark doing a season on Saturday Night Live.

First, we start with one of the more recent shows this podcast has covered.  Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier and others showed a lot of promise when this debuted, but the plug was quickly pulled at Netflix.  Dad, Stop Embarrassing Me! was just a bland comedy which relied on many tropes.

Then, Marvel Month concludes with possibly the second-worst season of SNL ever.  We talked about probably the worst season of SNL on episode 97, about the 1980-81 era.  Now, we look at the 1985-86 season, a transition season of sorts, when most of the cast lasted just this one season if not less, and the writers lasted just as long, ushering in one of the best eras in the show's lengthy history.

To keep track of us on our social media feeds visit our Linktree page at www.linktr.ee/itwasathingontv to give our feeds a follow.

Timestamps

0:39 - Intro to Episode 264

2:42 - Dad, Stop Embarrassing Me!

41:22 - Classic Commercial Break

45:16 - Intro to Episode 265

47:32 - Saturday Night Live (‘85-’86 Season)

Greg and Chico go to warp speed in the newest It Was a Thing on TV Live Show as they look at the recent 4K restoration for The Director's Edition of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" on Paramount+.

To follow along on Paramount+ pause the stream at the 1:17 mark and start after Greg says "play" following the five second countdown.

Marvel Month on It Was a Thing on TV continues why we also pay tribute to a wrestling legend!

First, MCU month rolls along with a recent series where Cobie Smulders has a lot of lesbian sex and some other stuff happens in Portland. This was a good show but sadly the pandemic reared it's ugly head forcing the show's premature end. Also, there's a brief discussion spoiling Episode 4 of "Moon Knight" at the start. You've been warned.

Next, Bob Saget is playing a widower taking care of his daughters, but it's not Full House.  It's the early 2000s, this show is on the WB, and the two daughters on the show went on to much bigger and better things in the upcoming decades.  Marvel month rolls on with Raising Dad.

Finally, in honor of what would have been Mr. Fuji's 88th birthday on May 4th, we present perhaps the single greatest thing the legendary WWF manager gave us.

As part of a series of skits on WWF Tuesday Night Titans in 1985, Fuji and his wrestler Don Muraco play Crockett and Tubbs in this parody of the NBC drama. This sketch is so bad it's good.

To keep track of us on social media we have now added a Linktree account where you can go to linktr.ee.com/itwasathingontv which will provide you access to all of our social media platforms where you can follow us.

Timestamps

0:39 - Intro to Episode 262

2:08 - Stumptown

1:34:06 - Classic Commercial Break

1:37:20 - Intro to Episode 263

2:39:23 - Fuji Vice

Pilot Month 2022 concludes on It Was a Thing on TV as the gang looks at a pair of pilots with one common theme. They have someone who was on Night Court.

First, Kung Fu originally ran for 3 seasons on ABC and made David Carradine a star.  Just like any quality show, a network (in this case, CBS) wanted to reboot it.  Kung Fu: The Next Generation didn't make it out of pilot stage, but did air on CBS in the summer of 1987.  It did give us a glimpse of a future legend in a key role.

Then, The WB (and now, The CW) like their superhero shows.  In 2001, The WB piloted a reboot of a mid-70s superhero duo, but brought them to the modern day including making the main character (we're not joking) a 50-year-old divorcee who lives in a trailer and is a raging alcoholic.  Needless to say, The WB said thanks but no thanks to Electra-Woman and Dyna-Girl.

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Timestamps

0:30 - Kung-Fu: The Next Generation

49:47 - The Jenny Position Commercial

50:54 - Electra-Woman and Dyna-Girl (2001 Pilot)

Greg and Chico on the latest It Was a Thing on TV Live Show cover one of the big movie hits of last year in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. There's all sorts of fun involving bus battles, floating water, dragons, weird magic creatures and Ben Kingsley being awesome!

If you have Disney+ follow along and hit play right after Greg gives the five second countdown.