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Partially an oral history of obscure TV shows, partially an oral version of MST3K, and partially a thorough episode guide, It Was a Thing on TV is an anthology podcast about obscure, forgotten, and odd TV shows, commercials, televised events, and almost anyone and anything else that was on television. For the most part, the subjects we cover are from the United States and Canada. We’re just three guys with a love for television. New episodes are generally every Monday and Thursday, sometimes more often.
Episodes
13 hours ago
Episode 506--Blackout
13 hours ago
13 hours ago
Daytime games in the 80s were a strength of NBC. CBS had a stable roster of shows, though the block was only two hours compared to three at NBC. For some reason, CBS canceled the venerable $25,000 Pyramid for this show. This show did not live up to expectations, so much so that its replacement was the same show it replaced.
4 days ago
Episode 505--Beverly Hills Buntz
4 days ago
4 days ago
NBC tried spinning off one of its most successful shows from the 80s, the drama Hill Street Blues, into a comedy/drama Beverly Hills Buntz. The first episode brought great ratings, but that was thanks to a cushy time slot. Naturally, the audience didn't carry over after moving to a not-so-cushy time slot and the show ended with 4 episodes still in the can.
5 days ago
5 days ago
In celebration of the Mets reaching the NLCS, Greg decides to open some of his junk wax packs to share with Mike and Chico. Enjoy the talk about Tom Candiotti, Todd Zeile and Glenn Braggs.
Thursday Oct 10, 2024
Episode 504--The Ropers Revisited
Thursday Oct 10, 2024
Thursday Oct 10, 2024
It's time for another Revisited episode. This time, we're looking at a show that, in recent months, has appeared on-demand and airs with regularity on a FAST channel. We're checking in again with The Ropers and questioning whether it truly is one of the 50 worst shows in TV history. You be the judge, but we think it does not deserve that moniker.
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Episode 503--Partridge Family 2200 AD
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Numerous successful scripted television shows made their way to Saturday mornings in the mid-70s, like I Dream of Jeannie, Gilligan's Island, and Star Trek. The Partridge Family got the same treatment in 1974, but with a catch--it's set over 200 years in the future. Also, some key components in the Partridge Family universe were missing. If you see the show image, it looks awfully similar to a venerable Hanna-Barbera series, and for good reason.
Saturday Oct 05, 2024
It Was a Thing on TV Delayed Reaction--The Mets Wild Week in Atlanta & Milwaukee
Saturday Oct 05, 2024
Saturday Oct 05, 2024
The New York Mets had a nutty last week and a half going from Atlanta to Milwaukee to Atlanta to Milwaukee as they clinched in a playoff spot in dramatic fashion on the last day of the regular season and advanced to the NLDS in a thrilling three-game Wild Card round.
Greg shares with Mike in this delayed reaction his thoughts regarding the week that was and at the end, they look at the upcoming Division Series match-ups.
Saturday Oct 05, 2024
The Best of It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 72–Go
Saturday Oct 05, 2024
Saturday Oct 05, 2024
Thursday, October 3rd marked the 41st Anniversary of the premiere of the short-lived 1983-84 NBC game show "Go" from Bob Stewart Productions. To mark the occasion this edition of "The Best of It Was a Thing on TV" goes back to Episode 72 when we discussed it back in the Summer of 2020.
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Episode 502--Hometown Commercials, Volume 5
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
We're back with another batch of goofy and bizarre hometown commercials.
Here is the line-up for this installment of Hometown Commercials:
- Unique Creations: https://youtu.be/9T_GZeZyYqU
- Shift It: https://youtu.be/1gYE5TyijxE
- West Palm Loan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XHUGEVMa8I
- Zachary’s Night Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvyS8dY2kQA
- Beacon Plumbing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M2F4-QRUdw
- Reckon and Reckon Plumbing: https://youtu.be/HS7yCO9_h_E
- Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley: https://youtu.be/lF7FhuhyA8c
- Bryan Wilson, The Texas Law Hawk: https://youtu.be/HL3MxAH-kDI
- Pete Ellis Ford: https://youtu.be/J3Ezn8eLfm8
- Fast Eddy: https://youtu.be/9nyS-B7_MyY
- Paolini’s Pizza: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edPBN4GghvY
- Stewart Olds Nissan Suzuki: https://youtu.be/otGuj7Z73bg
- Comet Burgers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBSCrOa-aUM
- China Star: https://youtu.be/Ez0jnbeOe_I
- Frankie & Johnny’s: https://youtu.be/XI7jC57GuZM
- N.Y. Men’s Clothing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usAzhVErnEg
- Lincoln Carpeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch
- Excalibur Sports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3IqqycBy-o
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Episode 501--Today's FBI
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Monday Sep 30, 2024
The FBI was a stalwart on ABC's line-up from 1965 through 1974. The network kicked the tires on a new, updated version of their venerable classic in 1981 with this show, which featured contemporary storylines and a more diverse cast of characters. Audiences weren't buying what ABC was selling, as this new version lasted merely a season.
Thursday Sep 26, 2024
Episode 500--Supertrain Revisited
Thursday Sep 26, 2024
Thursday Sep 26, 2024
Almost five years ago, we started this podcast. Now, we are celebrating our 500th episode by going back to an early favorite of ours and revisiting it, mostly for the caliber of guest stars that we didn't recognize back then. Enjoy as we go back to one of the biggest flops in television history, as we prepare to do the next 500, leading to show 1000.