It Was a Thing on TV: An Anthology on Forgotten Television

Episode 531--Bridget Loves Bernie

Falling in love and becoming a couple have long been a staple of television series.  In 1972, CBS, after the overwhelming success of a controversial sitcom in All in the Family, added this show, another controversial entry which was about an interfaith relationship.  Despite superb ratings, the series lasted one year due to said controversy.

Episode 530--Team Knight Rider

Chico's birthday is coming up and he chose this as his Money in the Bank.  In 1982, NBC had an upstart sci-fi drama starring David Hasselhoff and a talking car.  Fast forward 15 years and the franchise now had quintuple the vehicles, with quintuple the drivers.  Do more talking cars mean more success?  (We're covering it.  There's your answer.)

Minisode 33--The Many Formats of the Chain Reaction (1980) bonus game

Today, January 14, marks 45 years since the premiere of the original Chain Reaction on NBC.  In honor of this anniversary, we look at the many (three) bonus rounds from this series which ran 5 months, where Fred Grandy once declared, "Ten bucks!"

Episode 529--The Reel to Reel Picture Show

In our previous episode, episode 528, we covered one of the first shows on a new network, The WB.  This time, we're covering one of the first shows on PAX in 1998, an adaptation of a Canadian board game about movies.  The whole production had one major issue, one which led to the show's demise just over a month after its premiere.

It Was a Thing on TV Presents (01.12.25)

There were a lot of things happening with the wrestling on TV that Greg wanted to do an It Was a Thing on TV Presents to discuss them. But for this edition of presents, Greg brought along a guest as his pal Dane Woychuk comes on to talk about RAW on Netflix, NJPW Wrestle Kingdom, TNA's improved TV coverage in Canada, and AEW being AEW.

Episode 528--Muscle

When The WB started out, it had two hours on Wednesday night with three funny favorites, but there was a need for a fourth comedy.  It needed something the pushed boundaries but also felt familiar.  It needed something with gags and a storyline.  The WB muscled up to the plate with this 13 episode and done wonder.

Episode 527--The Charmings

Once upon a time, a television network aired a show about Snow White and Prince Charming living in comtemporary times, complete with a family and a magic mirror.  Alas, the enemy in this fairy tale come true was the counter-programming and the absurd premise.  After about a year, the show bit the poison apple and was sent to television heaven.  The end.

It Was a Thing on TV Outtakes: The Gang Looks at Lookwell's Ratings

Since we'll briefly mention Adam West in our upcoming episode on Thursday, we figured we'd post this outtake from when we covered Lookwell in Episode 55. Needless to say, Greg struggles to try and figure out what the hell FOX was airing in 1991.

Episode 526--C.P.O. Sharkey

The military has long been a staple of comedic television, see The Phil Silvers Show, McHale's Navy, and M*A*S*H.  In late 1976, NBC joined the fray with an insulting, caustic chief petty officer running the ship, portrayed by the most insulting and most caustic comedian playing the role.  

Episode 525--The 2024 Year in Review, Part 2

We put a bow on the year 2024 with a look back at the shows which ended this year, as well as those we lost in 2024.  Party on and have a great 2025!