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

Episode 488–The First Episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? (US)

Tomorrow (August 16th) marks the 25th anniversary of the premiere episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? on ABC. The gang shares their memories and expectations leading up to the first episode while looking at some of the questions from the premiere.

Some of the questions in the premiere seemed easy in 1999 while some questions that looked hard in 1999 would be considered easy in 2024.

Episode 487--George

The 1990s was a renaissance for George Foreman, between regaining the WBA heavyweight championship, and the creation and rise in popularity of what became the George Foreman Grill.  Before those events, Foreman helmed a self-titled short-lived sitcom.  Happy 78th birthday, Susan St. James!

Episode 486--The Magic Hour

In the television landscape of 1998, there was a need for late night programming on FOX and other channels not part of The Big Three networks, something to fill the void when The Arsenio Hall Show ended.  Enter the NBA hoopster with a million dollar smile and the energy to match.  Unfortunately, said hoopster didn't have the chops to host.  It didn't help the show's sidekick got the boot during the 3rd episode.

The Best of It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 182–Man vs. Beast

As the 2024 Paris Olympics come to a close later this week, we go back again to our 2021 Olympics series of shows for this special "Best of" with one of our favorite episodes. Back in 2003-04, FOX presented a series of specials with man going against members of the animal kingdom.

Come for Kobayashi eating hot dogs against a bear, stay for the focused zebra that must realize that it's in a race!

Episode 485--The Dream Team vs. Angola at the 1992 Olympics

In 1988, the U.S. Men's basketball team finished with a disappointing bronze medal, after having won the gold in almost every other previous Olympiad.  For that reason or because some teams had professional players, the Olympics opened the games to professionals.  The United States loaded up their squad with 11 of the NBA's best, plus Christian Laettner.  The first game was against Angola which, to put it kindly, was slaughtered by the Americans.

Episode 484--Oddities at the Olympic Opening Ceremonies

As the Olympic Games are ready to start in Paris, the podcast will devote the next two episodes to happenings in previous years.  We start where each Olympics start--the opening ceremonies.  Each Olympic host city has their idea of what would be the perfect opening ceremony.  In retrospect, those ideas, while good in theory, were not for one reason or another.  The ceremonies also gather attention for who participated, and is amplified due to social media, see one specific Tongan athlete who stole the hearts of millions of women.

Episode 180--The Olympics Triplecast (Extended Cut)

The 2024 Paris Olympics are coming up. To celebrate, we give you this extended cut of a previous episode we did back in 2021 that started our Olympics series of shows celebrating the Tokyo Olympics. The Olympics Triplecast for the 1992 Summer Olympics on NBC was a Pay-Per-View series of networks where you could watch all the Olympics you could handle. It turns out nobody in 1992 was willing to pay $125 for what you can probably get for about $13.99 on Peacock in 2024.

Episode 483--Viva Laughlin

We put closure on this installment of Marvel month celebrating the release of "Deadpool & Wolverine" with a show that has been described not only as one of the worst shows of the 2000s, but in the history of television.  There isn't much good you can say about a show which, mercifully, lasted 2 episodes.  The best part of this installment of the podcast is the introduction of a new character, thanks to MeTV Toons.

It Was a Thing on TV Instant Reaction--Greg Plays EA Sports College Football '25 for the first time

EA Sports College Football '25 is now out digitally (the physical version comes out Friday 7/19) so Greg hitched a one-month subscription of EA Play on PS5 just to play the free trial. Here are some of his reactions to the game so far in this Instant Reaction.

Episode 482--Don't

As we continue our Deadpool and Wolverine month, we cover a recent show which rewarded participants for not doing stuff, though they really were doing stuff in a backwards way.  Despite a well-known actor hosting and a certain superhero narrating, the viewers followed in a way consistent with the premise of this show--don't watch.