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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

Thursday Aug 10, 2023
Episode 400--Tequila and Bonetti
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
We have reached 400! This time, we're talking about a show whose formula worked in theaters as Turner and Hooch, but the dog can talk?! And Italy enjoyed this so much, they revived it in 2000?!?!

Monday Aug 07, 2023
Episode 399--Salvage 1
Monday Aug 07, 2023
Monday Aug 07, 2023
The late 70s experienced a sci-fi kick in theaters and on television. Someone had the idea to create a show which crossed science fiction with Sanford and Son, somewhat. Salvage 1 was about a crew who went to the moon to bring lunar junk back to Earth, but they did everything but that. What was Andy Griffith thinking?

Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Episode 398--J.J. Starbuck
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
J.J. Starbuck fit a formula one prolific producer had used repeatedly and successfully. It got good ratings, despite being moved multiple times, though the ratings weren't good enough for the most popular broadcast network at the time. It also got beaten three separate times by a person who has problems with cheese.

Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Episode 397--Pepper Dennis
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Single female news journalist! Having lots of sex!
She had everything going for her… Looks, talent, intelligence, the right people surrounding her (even if one of them was “the best sex she ever had” who ended up taking her job). There was one problem… she was on a dead network. This week, we go to the newsroom to investigate the life and career of… “Pepper Dennis”.

Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Episode 396--Angie
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
In 1979, Angie was bound for great success. Then ABC meddled with the schedule a number of times and despite being a top 5 show the season before, Angie found its way to cancellation a year later.

Monday Jul 17, 2023
Minisode 28--The Tom Emanski Baseball World Commercials
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Monday Jul 17, 2023
The Baseball Hall of Fame inductions will be happening in a matter of weeks. One of the enshrinees this year is slugger Fred McGriff. While most people know him as a basher for a number of MLB teams, others remember him from appearing in frequently aired ads for baseball skill videos. We look back at the videos, and discover something amazing about those ads about a quarter century later.

Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Episode 395--Hometown Commercials, Volume 4
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
It's a podcast tradition like any other. We have found more ads from podcast favorites like Marc Norton, Rhett & Link, and Darryl Isaacs. We have also discovered new favorites. By the end of this episode, you'll know what we do.
- Tim Misny - https://youtu.be/LLshVZ6mzqc
- Pines Motor Lodge - https://youtu.be/6ExEKKShxrI
- River Fair at River Mall - https://vimeo.com/340782677
- 1982 Public Insurance San Diego Commercial - https://youtu.be/_p9mEFTaQwI
- Apple Auto Sales - https://youtu.be/X1XilfKuYaQ
- Gebco Commercial featuring Jonathan Ogden - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjmXkWJN1FM
- Christopher Knight for Rockingham County School Board - https://youtu.be/nLi5B0Iefsk
- Len’s Mill Stores (watch to the end) - https://youtu.be/AqqSCVT4Fkc
- Darryl Issacs (Big Trucks) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp9nGolQI5k
- Darryl Issacs (Hit the Bullseye) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9IGe9isYws
- Image Auto Detailing (Fairbanks, AL) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ACG5MjOe5Q
- Santa’s Village - https://youtu.be/Ok3ACI6kuDI
- The Diamond Center - https://youtu.be/7O84dpaJu3c
- “Paul from The Diamond Center is not my Uncle” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v5wmJzBvX8
- Vern Fonk Insurance (2003) - https://youtu.be/tL0Z2dZCqys
- Christmas at Old Tucson - https://youtu.be/z4U2gDgMHA0
- Leader TV/VCR (Rochester, NY) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H8Brhl-ykM
- Rocco Gaetano D’Angelo Fine Cigars Ltd - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgwjB8fpzCw
- Benjamin Franklin: The Practical Plumber: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNKhsWGqNlo
- Marc Norton “Devils” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtIHGHvvhqk
- WKFT CounterForce 40 - https://youtu.be/3hHYEJolrAU
- Sports Cards Unlimited - https://youtu.be/Saeh5res7Ik
- Schuylkill Mall Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbo7UKb-Ckc
- Michigan Power Rodding - Horror of Clogged Pipes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wQPExKw--U
- Italian Oven - https://youtu.be/ENQ6GIhKy6o
- Frankie & Johnny’s Furniture with Free Chicken (Closed forever) - https://youtu.be/gD-KZYy1UHM
- Crazy Gideon Funny Farm (1986) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlUYmMLDgtk
- Crazy Gideon TV Ad from BizBOX TV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTxxV_BiKtE
- Crazy Gideon 2008 Recession Ad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5x6CCDWs00
- All-New Pelham Cafe (Frankie Flight) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPUp0oO_CLc
- Gilliard Day (Frankie Flight) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iyjL1QYuS4
- Rhett & Link - Grand Finale - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LSkX46dS4
- The Professionals - Insurance Comp. with Doug Llewelyn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ4H_O-qU4U

Monday Jul 10, 2023
It Was a Thing on TV Presents: Before the Show 2
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
We did this for the first time last November. So much stuff happened in the last week that we decided to do it again. In this "Before the Show" conversation, among other things, we talk about what might be the greatest episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the start of Threads, "Super" SNES games, and Secret Invasion on Disney+.

Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Episode 394--The Great American Telephone Trivia Game
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Art Fleming, legendary Jeopardy! emcee, made a very brief return to television in the early 90s with The Great American Telephone Trivia Game. Is it an infomercial? Is it a game show? ¿Por qué no los dos? Is it a bunch of hooey? You bet it is, and it cost just $1.95 per minute!
Listener discretion is advised due to language.

Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Episode 393--Tales of the Gold Monkey
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Coming to theaters this week is the fifth and final outing of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. In 1982, ABC aired a show similar to *BUT* legally distinct from Raiders of the Lost Ark and it came from TV legend Donald Bellisario. It had action and excitement but could it capitalize on the adventure fever of Raiders? Weeeeeellllllllllllllllll, you'll have to listen to find out.