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

Episode 364--The Bad News Bears

The start of a new baseball season has arrived and we celebrate by looking back at the TV version of a movie from 3 years prior, about a rag-tag group of underdogs.  The toughest competition for The Bad News Bears didn't come from opponents on the field, but from its competition on other networks.

Episode 363--NES and Super NES Commercials

In honor of the upcoming release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie in theaters next week, we present this episode dedicated to commercials to our favorite 8-bit and 16-bit systems.

 

NES Commercials

NES “Will You Be the One” with Rob and the Zapper (1985) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-CwI14vaL0

NES “You Are About to Come Face to Face” (1986) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gP1XYki8Ew

NES “Will You Be the One” Commercial with Super Mario (1986) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uSOESHNhHY

NES “What Will the Future Bring?” (1986) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMroWPYQD9A

The Legend of Zelda Rap Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c17DYpe1APU

Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Z6PW9HhFY

Konami NES Commercial (1987) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_dNjJKsBOI

RBI Baseball from Tengen (1988) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXkv2Y_d_yA

NES Power Set with Power Pad (1988) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdXW5i1cjXY

Top Gun from Konami - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNtnyivyK-M

Anticipation Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KXTqPKXi2o

Super Mario Bros. 2 Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-oxEaddsUY

Acclaim Remote Controller - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cyZZIcdQCQ

Double Player System from Acclaim - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWMwfJ5hEO4

Tetris from Nintendo (1989) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUeQttn23Rk

Back to the Future from LJN (1989) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEtdLs85J4k

Power Glove from Mattel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po1IfM6nA6s

DuckTales from Capcom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zroYGD7iGV4

WWF WrestleMania from Acclaim - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BOmloRumKI

WWF WrestleMania Challenge UK Commercial (Nintendo World News) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLEypfdVMT4

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSaHaIAYBgU

Supersonic The Joystick from Camerica - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxPoD2V6B7U

Fester’s Quest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEOPztGblf4

Little Nemo the Dream Master from Capcom (1990) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNoAujWCIPM

Bases Loaded II Second Season from Jaleco - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqRR7eJSWxA

Super Mario Bros. 3 Commercial (1990) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZex2enPtNs

StarTropics from Nintendo (1991) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CE-pOTbrrA

Star Wars from JVC (1991) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zetkiWhvi8c

Game Genie from Galoob - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4wwXyKFeFA

 

Super NES Commercials

Toys R Us Super NES Commercial with Alan Kalter Voiceover - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUpKdkZ6QZo

Super NES Commercial with Paul Rudd (1992) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSBFw93V3Rg

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Commercial (JPN) - https://youtu.be/cjpHzLYHkwA

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Commercial (US) - https://youtu.be/7yjfTQ009ms

F-Zero commercial - https://youtu.be/c_i2caefzJ0

Street Fighter 2 Turbo commercials (JPN) - https://youtu.be/zmc1p3e0hc8

The same (Edited for the US market) - https://youtu.be/Eg-VGKEPNMw

Super Mario Kart commercial - https://youtu.be/5Wxklxi1lGs

Super Mario All-Stars commercial - https://youtu.be/XSiciyc20Sc

Super NES/Pepsi commercial with Bo Jackson - https://youtu.be/DBwbQU_3My0

StarFox Commercial - https://youtu.be/8FTZD-lljaU

Super Scope 6 commercial - https://youtu.be/CtvFZhwoGCE

SNES Super Set Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw8g9I3fHD8

Turbo Touch 360 Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOYmnTTwp8g

TMNT Tournament Fighters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMVyN6qQA7Y

Final Fantasy III commercial (or Final Fantasy VI if you want to get super official about it) - https://youtu.be/hk5RLCIhtMo

Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball Commercial with Cito Gaston - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnFEBLSwHt8

Super Punch-Out!! Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4lkRbAyhMo

Troy Aikman NFL Football - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_eTdrhTSdM

Super Mario RPG Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOzVQUOgSnk

Yoshi’s Island Commercial -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFHUyqDBmZQ

SNES 1996 “Now $99” Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNPtCVzBNyQ

 

Episode 362--Hulk Hogan’s Rock ’n’ Wrestling

Back in the day, you know you made it, in a pop culture sense, if your product had a Saturday morning cartoon.  In 1985, pro wrestling reached that pinnacle with Hulkamania running wild, wrestling scattered throughout the TV landscape, and the cartoon Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling.

Live Show 39–Dorf on the Diamond

In honor of MLB Opening Day coming up, we present this special live show recorded on Stream Lounge as Mike, Greg and Chico watch Tim Conway as that loveable Dorf try to show us how to play baseball and root, root, root for the home team!

Dorf on the Diamond - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKyCLX5eb10

Episode 30--The XFL (2001 and 2020) (Extended Cut)

With the XFL having returned last month for it's third version, we felt it was right to release a special extended edition of our XFL episode released around the launch of the 2020 XFL.

This time we've added a few additional segments on the 2001 version but we've also recorded an hour of new footage regarding the 2020 XFL.

Grab a cup to add onto the beer snake cause THIS IS THE XFL!

 

Timestamps

0:56 - The XFL (2001)

1:40:02 - Segment recorded in March of 2020 for Place to be Nation regarding the cancellation of the XFL 2020 season due to COVID-19

1:41:59 - The XFL (2020)

 

"The DC Defenders' beer snake is the XFL's greatest tradition" (SBNation) - https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/9/21171937/dc-defenders-fans-beer-snake-xfl-2020

It Was a Thing on TV Instant Reaction--The March 22, 2023 episode of Jeopardy!

Because of last night's episode of Jeopardy!, we have a new type of show.  Mike felt the need to talk about last night's episode of Jeopardy! and what could be called an historic moment.

Episode 361--Small Fortune (US)

Lost in Translation Week 2023 continues with a small show whose promotion was equally small and, not surprisingly, whose audiences and ratings were just as small.  Small Fortune didn't last long in the UK, yet it was still imported to the States where its run was equally short.

Episode 360--Australia’s Naughtiest Home Videos and Videos After Dark

The concept of home videos shows originated in Japan in the late 1980s and branched out all around the world.  In 1992 in Australia, a show aired which used footage deemed too racy or of questionable taste, titled Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos.  It didn't make it through one airing.  Fast forward to 2019, where a similar version was tried in America, titled Videos After Dark.  At least that ran for the full airing.

Due to language and questionable content, listener discretion is advised.

Live Show 38–The Kissing Booth 2

A few months ago, Greg & Chico covered the beginning of an era with "The Kissing Booth". The era continues as Elle & co. juggle senior year, long-distance relationships, college applications, and something that is similar to but legally distinct from Dance Dance Revolution. Pucker up as we talk about "The Kissing Booth 2."

Episode 359--The episode of Dinosaurs where Robbie got jacked on steroids

In this installment, we watch a very special episode that we have referred to on and off throughout the podcast.  Find out why drugs are bad when Robbie gets hooked on thornoids on Dinosaurs. Remember you can't say steroids Friday nights on ABC in 1993.