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

Episode 400--Tequila and Bonetti

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?!?!

Episode 399--Salvage 1

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?

Episode 398--J.J. Starbuck

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.

Episode 397--Pepper Dennis

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”.

Episode 396--Angie

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.

Minisode 28--The Tom Emanski Baseball World Commercials

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.

Episode 395--Hometown Commercials, Volume 4

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.

1. Tim Misny - https://youtu.be/LLshVZ6mzqc
2. Pines Motor Lodge - https://youtu.be/6ExEKKShxrI
3. River Fair at River Mall - https://vimeo.com/340782677
4. 1982 Public Insurance San Diego Commercial - https://youtu.be/_p9mEFTaQwI
5. Apple Auto Sales - https://youtu.be/X1XilfKuYaQ
6. Gebco Commercial featuring Jonathan Ogden - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjmXkWJN1FM
7. Christopher Knight for Rockingham County School Board - https://youtu.be/nLi5B0Iefsk
8. Len’s Mill Stores (watch to the end) - https://youtu.be/AqqSCVT4Fkc
9. Darryl Issacs (Big Trucks) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp9nGolQI5k
10. Darryl Issacs (Hit the Bullseye) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9IGe9isYws
11. Image Auto Detailing (Fairbanks, AL) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ACG5MjOe5Q
12. Santa’s Village - https://youtu.be/Ok3ACI6kuDI
13. The Diamond Center - https://youtu.be/7O84dpaJu3c
14. “Paul from The Diamond Center is not my Uncle” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v5wmJzBvX8
15. Vern Fonk Insurance (2003) - https://youtu.be/tL0Z2dZCqys
16. Christmas at Old Tucson - https://youtu.be/z4U2gDgMHA0
17. Leader TV/VCR (Rochester, NY) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H8Brhl-ykM
18. Rocco Gaetano D’Angelo Fine Cigars Ltd - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgwjB8fpzCw
19. Benjamin Franklin: The Practical Plumber: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNKhsWGqNlo
20. Marc Norton “Devils” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtIHGHvvhqk
21. WKFT CounterForce 40 - https://youtu.be/3hHYEJolrAU
22. Sports Cards Unlimited - https://youtu.be/Saeh5res7Ik
23. Schuylkill Mall Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbo7UKb-Ckc
24. Michigan Power Rodding - Horror of Clogged Pipes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wQPExKw--U
25. Italian Oven - https://youtu.be/ENQ6GIhKy6o
26. Frankie & Johnny’s Furniture with Free Chicken (Closed forever) - https://youtu.be/gD-KZYy1UHM
27. Crazy Gideon Funny Farm (1986) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlUYmMLDgtk
28. Crazy Gideon TV Ad from BizBOX TV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTxxV_BiKtE
29. Crazy Gideon 2008 Recession Ad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5x6CCDWs00
30. All-New Pelham Cafe (Frankie Flight) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPUp0oO_CLc
31. Gilliard Day (Frankie Flight) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iyjL1QYuS4
32. Rhett & Link - Grand Finale - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LSkX46dS4
33. The Professionals - Insurance Comp. with Doug Llewelyn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ4H_O-qU4U

It Was a Thing on TV Presents: Before the Show 2

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+.

Episode 394--The Great American Telephone Trivia Game

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.

Episode 393--Tales of the Gold Monkey

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.