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Podcasts within The It Was a Thing on TV Podcast Network include: * It Was a Thing on TV--the original podcast, well over 500 episodes strong, covering the short-lived and forgotten events in television history. * The Squared Circle Time Machine--Greg Diener and Dane Woychuk take you on a journey about some of the more memorable events in the history of pro wrestling. Coming September 2025: What is a Podcast?: An Unofficial Jeopardy! Podcast. Mike Klauss and 4-time Jeopardy! champion Brian Henegar look back at the week that was on Jeopardy!, in an analytical manner. More podcasts may come in the future.
Episodes
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Traditional daytime TV shows were on the decline in the early 1990s, in an era ushered by Maury Povich, Jerry Springer, and Jenny Jones. The Joker's Wild in 1990 tried to rejuvenate a show which showed its age in the mid-80s, in an era where it was handily beaten by Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! The core of the game drastically changed but kind of reverted to its original format, but it was too late.
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
The Facts of Life is one of NBC's big hits from the 1980s and a true sitcom classic. But there was a time where not only was it unbelievably different, it was in danger of being canceled after the first four episodes! Join the guys as they talk about the first season and how & why half of the cast were forced out of Eastland Academy.
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Discussed back in Episode 16, Greg and Chico give The Star Wars Holiday Special it's due by revisiting it in a special live show.
We cover everything from Itchy's holographic boner to Art Carney to Jefferson Starship to the Boba Fett cartoon. We even cover that Flying High commercial where Pam had that great layover with Bobby Sherman!
May the Force be with you and Happy Life Day!
Video to follow along (sync to 0:48 and pause before Greg gives the five second countdown) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8MrPe6i5YU
Thursday Dec 08, 2022
Thursday Dec 08, 2022
It's 1985 and ABC wants to capitalize on Cagney & Lacey and Hill Street Blues, which were big hits on other networks...but let's make them married! MacGruder and Loud premiered after "The Big Game" in 1985, but barely made it to Spring 1985.
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Reg Grundy was on a hot streak in the mid-1980s with Sale of the Century and Scrabble. (See what we did there?) NBC took a chance on a third Grundy show, which was a blatant ripoff of The Price is Right with history. After 16 weeks, 2 different formats, and 3 versions of the final round, this show, like its subject matter, became history. But we did get John Davidson's first game show hosting gig.
Sunday Dec 04, 2022
Sunday Dec 04, 2022
It's the holiday season brother! In the latest Live Show, Greg and Chico watch the 1996 movie "Santa With Muscles" where the Hulkster plays an insane health food pitchman who gets amensia and now thinks he's Santa Claus! The Hulkster then has to save an Orphanage from a germophobic Ed Begley Jr.!
It's up to the Hulkster to save Garrett Morris, Robin Curtis and young Mila Kunis from the Zodiac killer brother!
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Not to be confused with its slashless namesake, E/R had two people in common with the more popular show, including a young George Clooney. The cast was diverse and talented, but this wonder lasted just a season after much early promise. You can't blame George for this one.
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
It's the week after Thanksgiving and we're getting rid of our holiday leftovers. Hot Potato was a Family Feud ripoff, but with better technology and the dean of hosts. Unfortunately, this potato's shelf life was very short, becoming a celebrity show in 13 weeks, with outright cancellation a few months later.
Saturday Nov 26, 2022
Saturday Nov 26, 2022
Recently featured in the third season premiere of Young Rock on NBC, we look at the Cyndi Lauper music video from the 1985 classic "The Goonies".
Can Cyndi save her family's gas station from the evil clutches of Roddy Piper, Iron Sheik and company while also trying to find pirate treasure? Just watch out for One Eyed Willie's booby traps.
Links to follow along.
"The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" Music Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhPujiA9BRY
Taffy Butt (Bob's Burgers) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9hCvuxgyuE
Thursday Nov 24, 2022
Thursday Nov 24, 2022
For our second Thanksgiving episode this year, we watch this NBC special hosted by comedian Alan King from 1980. Alan along with Dick Van Patten, McLean Stevenson and Angie Dickinson try to help us answer the question that's on our minds this season "what have we got to be thankful for?"