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It was a Thing on TV
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 429 & 430 + Minisode 29 - IWATOTV Thanksgiving 2023
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we bring to you our annual Thanksgiving celebration!
First, it's an It Was a Thing on TV tradition like no other. Every year since 2019, we have looked at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in chronological order, starting with the 1983 parade. We're up to the 1987 parade. What characters will star in this parade? What products will advertisers shove down our throats? And did Charlie Brown ever get a growth spurt!
Then, the holiday tradition at the podcast now starts its trek going back in time, starting with the 1982 edition of The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. How does it compare to what we have seen from later in the 80s and why are so many kids expressing their emotions?
Finally, thirty Thanksgivings ago, Leon Lett committed one of the most boneheaded plays in NFL history. Oddly enough, less than a year earlier, Lett previously committed another one of the most boneheaded plays in NFL history, on the biggest stage of them all.
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Timestamps
0:46 - The 1987 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
1:21:36 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History
1:28:53 - The 1982 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
2:31:53 - The Russell Westbrook Update
2:40:33 - Leon Lett’s Thanksgiving ‘93 blunder
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV it’s Week 3 of the Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebration!
First, by the mid 1980s, Doctor Who had emerged as one of the BBC’s longest-running brands, but even then it was getting long in the tooth. In 1986, they tried something big - a season-long arc, resulting in “The Trial of a Time Lord”. Will the Doctor be brought to justice? Will audiences be brought to watch?
Then, "Doctor Who" has had a storied history these past 60 years, but thanks to the economics of television at the time, it - much like that of any TV show at the time - is sketchy at best. But recently, the BBC has ramped up efforts to find and restore episodes long lost to tape wiping by any means necessary. We look at how this piece of TV history is being preserved and what is still missing media.
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Timestamps
0:11 - Correction from Episode 424
2:02 - Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord
50:27 - The Missing Episodes of Doctor Who
1:25:02 - This Week in Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour History
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 425 & 426 - The Stranger/Time Express
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we continue with our Doctor Who 60th Anniversary celebration!
First, Doctor Who was an instantaneous sensation that, in 1964, the ABC in Australia commissioned a show similar to yet different from The Doctor. Thought to be lost for decades, The Stranger found its way to the Internet in 2019. Judge for yourself as we continue our tribute to the Doctor's 60th anniversary.
Then, Vincent Price wanted to bring Doctor Who to the States, with an American version. When that failed, he decided to make his own version aboard a train. Time Express was a limited series, starting while Supertrain was still airing. Both shows got derailed in May 1979.
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Timestamps
0:10 - The Season Ending Joey Gallo Update
2:43 - The Stranger
45:52 - Time Express
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we honor two anniversaries of popular shows.
First, We start our celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who by looking at this American adaptation of "Broadchurch". Adapted from the ITV drama created by future Doctor Who EP Chris Chibnall the American version brought back the Tenth Doctor himself David Tennant in the lead role. Did this limited event series find an audience on FOX in 2014 or was it another victim of Lost in Translation?
Then, our tribute to Doctor Who continues with an entry that picks up where it all began. Join the students of Coal Hill Academy as they team up with an alien prince and the teacher/warlord he’s psychically tethered to as they protect the school from otherworldly threats for all of 8 episodes. “Class” is in session.
Finally, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise, Greg and Chico in this live show recorded back in September go back to 1993 and take a look at where it all began with the premiere episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in this special live show.
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Timestamps
0:11 - Richard Moll Dedication Cold Open
1:51 - Gracepoint
50:48 - Class
1:40:47 - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - Day of the Dumpster
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 421 & 422 - Second Chance (2016)/The ESPN Halloween Derby
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV
First, we talked about the Second Chance from 1977 and the Second Chance from 1987. This Halloween season, we're covering a third entry with that name, from 2016. This version was loosely based on Frankenstein but it was "depressingly awful" and couldn't hold viewers after a decent lead-in show, albeit against tough competition.
Then, on Halloween Eve 2006, ESPN got several fans involved in a unique event where the fans were dressed as Monday Night Football personalities. This happened once and never again. Were fans creeped out by a big-headed Chris Berman racing down a football field? Could it be because several of the big heads almost fell off? Join Greg and Mike as they look at this one-time experiment.
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Timestamps
0:11 - Matthew Perry Dedication Cold Open
4:47 - Second Chance (2016)
39:28 - The ESPN Halloween Derby
Wednesday Oct 25, 2023
Wednesday Oct 25, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV we celebrate Halloween like only we can.
First, while not spooky in any way, Child's Play shares its name with a well-known horror movie franchise from later in the 80s. Besides being Bill Cullen's last show with Mark Goodson, it may be better known for being replaced by the game which typified the 80s, Press Your Luck.
Then, in 1984, the same year horror master Wes Craven gave us "A Nightmare on Elm Street" he directed this ABC TV Movie starring Robert Urich, Joanna Cassidy, and Erica Kane herself Susan Lucci.
In this made-for, Susan plays a devilish dame who tries to tempt ol' Spenser for Hire with power if he can just join this hot country club that just about everyone at his company works for. Join us on an Invitation to Hell!
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Timestamps
0:36 - Child’s Play (1982 CBS Game Show)
40:40 - Invitation to Hell
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV: Episodes 417 & 418 - Police Academy Week
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
This week on It Was a Thing on TV
First, a favorite comedy movie franchise around these parts is the Police Academy series. Between installments 5 and 6, an animated series aired in syndication, following the exploits of those crazy cops...and talking police dogs?! All the characters from the series appeared, but with none of their movie talent counterparts.
Then, almost a decade after the animated version we covered in episode 417, there was a live-action version of Police Academy, 8 years after the franchise's last nationwide theatrical release. Unlike the animated show, personalities from the Police Academy movies made appearances. After a season, the powers that be opted to put these cops on desk duty.
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Timestamps
0:36 - Police Academy: The Animated Series
57:13 - Police Academy: The Live Action Series
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.