It Was a Thing on TV: An Anthology on Forgotten Television
664 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★ - 5 ratingsPartially 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.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
It Was a Thing on TV Instant Reaction--Greg Plays EA Sports College Football '25 for the first time
July 16, 2024 02:47 - 19 minutes - 8.42 MBEA 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
July 11, 2024 04:00 - 47 minutes - 41.4 MBAs 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.
Episode 481--We The People 200: The Constitution Parade
July 03, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 73 MBEvery year when we celebrate the United States' birthday, we offer up a patriotic show. This Independence Day is no different, except the event covered in this episode happened in September 1987, to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. This parade didn't offer much in terms of celebrities, but it gave viewers a look at how things were done in 1787.
It Was a Thing on TV Delayed Reaction--Guillermo Rodriguez on Celebrity Name Game
June 29, 2024 22:00 - 8 minutes - 7.85 MBMike shared a little nugget with the other guys earlier this week. That message became the seed of this Delayed Reaction, reacting to events which happened close to a decade ago. Dynasty? Really?
Episode 480--Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place, the two seasons with the titular pizza place
June 27, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 80.9 MBUnder normal circumstances, a popular show which lasted 4 seasons would not be fodder for this podcast. For our Marvel shows leading up to the release of Deadpool & Wolverine, we're making an exception. Anyway, we think the show got worse once the pizza place part of the premise was abandoned. Just to reiterate, this is only about the first 2 seasons with the pizza place.
Episode 479--Fifteen
June 20, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 81.8 MBWe begin our salute to the upcoming release of Deadpool & Wolverine with a show so bad it almost made Deadpool quit acting altogether. Imagine a run of the mill high school where “another day, another drama” isn’t just a saying, it’s a way of life. It really is an awkward stage and a difficult age when you’re… Fifteen. (Note: Apologies for some background noise you might hear. Me and Chico recorded on Skype and you might hear a popcorn-ish sound which is the sound of my wood chair creaking....
Episode 478--That Puppet Game Show
June 13, 2024 04:00 - 59 minutes - 51.4 MBThe Brits seem to try just about anything when it comes to game shows. Case in point, this entry from just over a decade ago, a primetime endeavor which combined game show elements with Henson Alternative puppets. The end result was That Puppet Game Show, which ran for only 8 episodes. Even though it aired overseas, listeners on the other side of "the pond" can watch it on a semi-frequent basis.
Episode 477--The Girl with Something Extra
June 06, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBIn the past, we have talked about the ESP fad in the 60s through the early 80s. A 1973 comedy used the sixth sense as a premise, one that was used less as time went on, turning the show into just another TV show. Despite two great leads, The Girl with Something Extra was not a show with anything out of the ordinary.
Live Show 50–Who Killed WCW? Part 1
June 05, 2024 03:38 - 1 hour - 35.9 MBWe covered a wrestling documentary series on VICE in our first live show and for our 50th live show, we cover another wrestling documentary series on VICE. From the people who gave you Dark Side of the Ring along with The Rock and Dani Garcia comes the first part of a four-part documentary series covering the rise and fall of World Championship Wrestling. Witness the rise of Eric Bischoff in WCW along with bringing in Hulk Hogan and the start of the Monday Night Wars! Join Greg and Chico a...
Episode 476--Twisters (1982 pilot)
May 30, 2024 04:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBWe close the door on yet another pilot month with this amalgamation of pieces and parts from various game shows from the Bob Stewart family, mixed with the theme from a past and future Stewart show, and add a shuffleboard table for good measure. The end result was Twisters, a truly unique concoction that didn't make NBC's schedule in late 1982/early 1983.
Episode 475--How I Met Your Dad
May 27, 2024 04:00 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBHot off the heels of How I Met Your Mother’s finale—and 8 years before appearing on Hulu—CBS & Fox began work on the next chapter, involving original creators Carter Bays & Craig Thomas, a future Oscar-nominated writer, a Golden Globe-nominated actress, a night of hard partying, a blue typewriter, and a girl named Cricket.
Episode 474--Just Our Luck
May 23, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 68.4 MBIt's Greg's 40th birthday and to celebrate the occasion, Greg has chosen the short-lived comedy from 1983 about a guy who buys a lamp which has a genie in it, who causes all sorts of mischief. Maybe it was Just Our Luck that this show ran for only 13 episodes. This episode is uncensored. Listener discretion is advised.
Episode 473--Red Dwarf USA, pilot 2
May 20, 2024 04:00 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBDuring last year's pilot month, we covered the 1992 Red Dwarf pilot for NBC in Episode 375. A second pilot, of sorts, was done shortly after. Running a mere 11 minutes long including previews of two episodes, this ambitious endeavor looked like it was shot in a broom closet, and that was before the lackluster quality of the video available online.
It Was a Thing on TV Instant Reaction--The EA Sports College Football 25 Trailer
May 19, 2024 16:00 - 15 minutes - 14 MBOne of the most anticipated sports video games in a long time just released its first gameplay trailer. Mike, Greg, and Chico in this Instant Reaction watch the trailer for EA Sports College Football 25 trailer, the first entry in the EA College Football franchise since 2013.
Episode 472--Fast Friends (1984 pilot)
May 16, 2024 04:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBAs we have said in the past, Jay Wolpert is the master of the overly complex but unique game show format. In this show, two people build a team of players with the end goal of winning that captain $10,000 and making some fast friends. Apparently, NBC passed this up for a show that John Davidson predicted would be on for a very long time.
Episode 471--Let's Get Personal (1982 pilot)
May 13, 2024 04:00 - 40 minutes - 37.8 MB1982 was a time of flux at NBC in the daytime. Game shows were out earlier that year minus Wheel of Fortune, replaced with soaps and sitcom reruns. NBC had a pilot that was part-game, part-psychological analysis with Let's Get Personal, hosted by a familiar face to NBC game show watchers, but also with an acting troupe of three big names around these parts.
Episode 470--The Virtual Ed Sullivan Show
May 09, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 64.4 MBIn 1998, the variety show as we know it had been a dead format for close to 20 years. However, what if you could revive one of the greatest variety shows ever with a host who had been deceased for nearly a quarter century? That was attempted by UPN with a virtual Ed Sullivan, voiced by John Byner. The result was this one-off pilot which was reminiscent of a more recent format, and with star power packing arenas to this day.
Episode 469--The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
May 06, 2024 04:00 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBOne of the amazing technological marvels of the mid-1980s was the story telling teddy bear Teddy Ruxpin. A cartoon was later created around the world of Teddy Ruxpin but before that, a live-action pilot was created. Coincidentally, this pilot aired in two parts in late 1985, just in time to purchase Teddy Ruxpin as a holiday gift. View the pilot and follow along at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAyeKcKC4Xs
Episode 468--Best of the West
May 02, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 65 MBIt's a western! It's a comedy! It has legends including Joel Higgins, Meeno Peluce, and Leonard Frey! And occasionally Christopher Lloyd! It can't fail! There is one small problem--half the nation didn't see its first episode because of football. Maybe it would have truly been the Best of the West if the western half of the country saw it.
The Best of It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 87–College Comedies of 1979
April 29, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 76.6 MBIn our newest "Best of" we go back to the Summer of 2020 when we looked at a trio of television shows that looked to capitalize on the popularity of "Animal House". All three shows would premiere around the same time in Early 1979 and would all be canceled by the end of the season. Let's look back at when we talked about "Delta House", "Brothers and Sisters (1979)", and "Co-Ed Fever".
Episode 467–Rags to Riches
April 25, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBIt’s a classic story: member of the 1% needs an image makeover and decides to adopt not one, but six…err, five… girls. The audiences loved them on Sunday, but NBC thought they’d love them even more on Friday. It’s a classic “Rags to Riches” story… that lasted only 20 musically tinged episodes.
The Best of It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 21–The $1.98 Beauty Show
April 22, 2024 04:00 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MBIn the newest "Best of" we go back to one of our early episodes from January of 2020. What do you get when you have the king of the wacky Game Show produce a spoof of beauty contests? You get Rip Taylor, barrels of confetti, and a $1.98. Take a journey back as we look at "The $1.98 Beauty Show".
Episode 466–Guess What
April 18, 2024 04:00 - 34 minutes - 32.2 MBIn honor of the 80th birthday of Canadian TV personality and host of former entry To Tell the Truth from 1980 (episode 139), we present another show hosted by Robin Ward, one which looked incredibly dated, plus had a miniscule budget. Guess what the answer is and you might take home hundreds of dollars Canadian on Guess What!
Episode 466: Guess What
April 18, 2024 04:00 - 34 minutes - 32.2 MBIn honor of the 80th birthday of Canadian TV personality and host of former entry To Tell the Truth from 1980 (episode 139), we present another show hosted by Robin Ward, one which looked incredibly dated, plus had a miniscule budget. Guess what the answer is and you might take home hundreds of dollars Canadian on Guess What!
It Was a Thing on TV Presents: Before the Show V
April 15, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBIn the latest "Before the Show" Greg and Chico in segment one give their thoughts about WrestleMania XL where Cody Rhodes was crowned the new WWE Champion ending Roman Reigns' three-year title reign. They also talk about AEW airing the backstage footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry from All In London 2023. The less said about that the better. Then Mike comes in for segment two where they discuss various topics including the recent renewal of "Press Your Luck", "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" o...
Live Show 49–Titanic: The Legend Goes On
April 14, 2024 19:00 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBToday is the 112th Anniversary of the Titanic hitting the iceberg and as is tradition at "It Was a Thing on TV" we honor this event as only we can ...... by talking about a rapping dog. This Italian animated movie tries to tell the story of the Titanic while also ripping off multiple Disney and Don Bluth animated movies. Hilarity ensues? Possibly? Join Greg and Chico as it's PARTY TIME!
Episode 465--The Baseball Bunch
April 11, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBBaseball season started a few weeks ago. In honor of the start of a new season of America's pastime, we look back at sports-related edutainment from four decades ago, starring a Hall of Fame backstop, who was joined by a Hall of Fame manager and an iconic character from the game. We have a hunch you'll enjoy The Baseball Bunch.
The Best of It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 138–The Powers of Matthew Star
April 09, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 72 MBIn memory of Lou Gossett Jr. we bring you our latest "Best of" the time we looked at the 1982-83 NBC show "The Powers of Matthew Star" It was a show so bad that it almost brought one of us to near tears. Also in what other episode of "It Was a Thing on TV" will you hear us bring up Tommy Heinsohn?
The ”It Was a Thing on TV” Hall of Fame Class of 2024
April 07, 2024 04:00 - 48 minutes - 46.1 MBIt's our third Hall of Fame show here at "It Was a Thing on TV" and we are inducting 17 new members into the Hall. They include some TV legends, some show favorites, and some legendary guys from "that thing".
Episode 464--How Ken Jennings Almost Didn't Happen
April 04, 2024 04:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MBIn honor of the 60th anniversary of Jeopardy! this past Saturday, we talk about how one of the greatest players in the show's history almost didn't happen. A somewhat lenient response and a rule change allowed Ken Jennings to become the show's all-time wins leader and eventually the host of the show.
The Best of It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 50–Tag Team
April 02, 2024 04:00 - 54 minutes - 50.6 MBWith WrestleMania XL coming up this weekend in Philadelphia, we are happy to bring to you in this week's "best of" one of our favorite shows we covered in our first Pilot Month back in 2020. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Jesse "The Body" Ventura play a pair of ex-wrestlers turned cops in an hour of action-packed mayhem! We almost got this as a series if not for financial issues involving the studio that produced this pilot (sigh).
Live Show 48–The UFL (2024) Premiere Week
March 30, 2024 22:53 - 2 hours - 156 MBThe merged league that has come out of the USFL and XFL is finally here! Mike and Greg watch some of the action from the new United Football League's first day while finding out about various things like what a former Penn State QB is doing now in 2024, Denver Nuggets Super Mascot Rocky, and Brown Energy! Don't ask about the Brown Energy.
Episode 463--(Filmation's) Ghostbusters
March 28, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBEarlier in March, the movie Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire hit theaters. To mark the occasion, we re-released episode 216, about the unrelated show The Ghost Busters from 1975, earlier this week. In addition, this episode is about the unrelated to the hit movie franchise yet also a continuation of the original TV series (Filmation's) Ghostbusters, where the two main characters' kids continue their dads' business.
The Best of It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 216–The Ghost Busters (1975)
March 25, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 69.5 MBWe're talking about the animated sequel series this coming Thursday with "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" now in theaters. But back in 2021, we talked about the original live-action series from the 70's when "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" came out. Unrelated to the later movie franchise with the same name, this Saturday morning show with Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, and a #GORILLER was a cult favorite but was cancelled despite having high ratings in 1975-76.
Episode 462--Life on Mars (US)
March 21, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 61.6 MBThis year's Lost in Translation block concludes with an import from the UK about a police detective who was hit by a car in 2008, but ends up in 1973 after regaining his consciousness. Life on Mars was part of a powerful ABC Thursday night line-up, but lasted only one season.
It Was a Thing on TV Presents (03.20.24)
March 20, 2024 04:00 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBIn the newest edition of It Was a Thing on TV Presents, Greg goes over his NCAA Tournament bracket and makes his choices for this year's Final Four. Afterward, we go to before the recording of this week's episode where the gang talks about Messi the Dog, Minor League promotions, and the return of Joey Gallo on an MLB roster in 2024.
The Best of It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 235–Mr. Bogus
March 18, 2024 04:00 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBStarting on Mondays during the one-a-week's until August we will be airing some of our best episodes from our back catalog. We look back in this "Best of" on when we met Mr. Bogus and hilarity ensued. Seriously how did this show last three seasons?!?!
Episode 461--Iron Chef USA
March 14, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBIn the late 90s and early 2000s, one of the surprise cult classic hit TV shows was the original Iron Chef from Japan. Naturally, an American network had to take their stab at a domestic version. The end result was two episodes where William Shatner got more screen time than the food itself. Unfortunately, the charm of the original version was lost in translation when it originally went across the Pacific.
Episode 460--Days Like These
March 07, 2024 05:00 - 30 minutes - 28.6 MBThe annual Lost in Translation episodes start with another British adaptation of a beloved American sitcom. Despite American scripts being localized for a UK audience, Days Like These didn't click. Maybe it needed a catchy phrase in its opening like "Hello Luton!"
Episode 459--Easy Street
March 04, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 57.5 MBHugh Wilson and Loni Anderson worked together on a popular series in the late 70s and early 80s, WKRP in Cincinnati. They tried to parlay that magic into another series four years after WKRP's end, one where a former showgirl, played by Anderson, married her wealthy husband, who died. When you're battling family members who want that money, life isn't so easy on Easy Street.
Episode 458--The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley
February 29, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBMike's birthday is this weekend and he played his Money in the Bank on this short-lived cartoon that, while absolutely hilarious, aired at the wrong time slot and/or aired either a few years early or a few years late. Celebrate Mike's birthday by getting completely mental with Ed Grimley and those in his universe.
Episode 457--Charlie & Company
February 26, 2024 05:00 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBBlack History Month 2024 concludes with a comedy starring a comedic legend, trying to capitalize on the success of a similar show on another network. Despite pulling the stops to make it popular including adding a familiar face later in its sole season, Charlie & Company is just a footnote in history.
Episode 456--Baby...I'm Back!
February 22, 2024 05:00 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBDemond Wilson's first post-Sanford and Son role was in this series, as a husband who abandoned his wife and family for seven years and was legally declared dead. Not only was Wilson back on TV after a short time away, but baby, he's back for his family.
It Was a Thing on TV Delayed Reaction--The 2024 NHL Stadium Series
February 21, 2024 00:43 - 17 minutes - 16 MBGreg is 48 hours removed from attending the 2024 NHL Stadium Series game between crosstown NY rivals the Rangers and Islanders at MetLife Stadium. Greg shares in the first-ever It Was a Thing on TV Delayed Reaction his experience at the game along with some of the exciting action including a fight and a wild late comeback.
Episode 455–Melba
February 19, 2024 05:00 - 55 minutes - 51.5 MBBroadway legend Melba Moore was given a starring vehicle for her own CBS sitcom in Early 1986. Sadly, it had the misfortune of premiering the same day as a tragic news story. However, was the news story the reason the show failed or something else entirely?
Episode 454--Cleghorne!
February 15, 2024 05:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBEllen Cleghorne was a groundbreaking talent when she was on Saturday Night Live. The WB gave her her own show, which was gone in months. Was the problem that Cleghorne! was on The WB, or was it something else?
Episode 453--Frank's Place
February 13, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 64.5 MBCBS' most hyped show in 1987-88 was Frank's Place, about an academic who inherits a New Orleans restaurant. There was so much publicity for it that its two main stars hosted CBS' series of unsold pilots in Summer 1987. Despite the hype and critical acclaim, it was done in a season. There was one big name who admits to liking it and recording it.
Episode 27–The Bud Bowl (Extended Cut)
February 11, 2024 22:00 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBBack in 2020 before Kansas City and San Francisco played on "Super Sunday" we covered The Bud Bowl in one of our early episodes. Today in honor of both teams returning to "The Big Game" we bring you this extended cut featuring over 15 minutes of new materials including radio spots from Bud Bowl IV, the Bud Light players doing their own version of the "Super Bowl Shuffle" and the Basher's foul mouth.
Minisode 31–The Fanduel Kick of Destiny
February 11, 2024 05:00 - 12 minutes - 12 MBLast year on "Super Sunday" former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski was involved in an ad campaign for Fanduel where he'd attempt to make a 25-yard field goal in the Arizona desert in a live commercial during the game. We'd soon find out that this attempt was about as accurate as a three-dollar bill. "The BIGGEST SCAM in Super Bowl Commercial HISTORY (JaguarGator9) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Fc-KzjouA
Episode 452–The Commercials of Super Bowl XXXIV
February 09, 2024 05:00 - 52 minutes - 48.7 MBThe 2000 edition of "Super Sunday" pitted the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans in the first Super Bowl of the new millennium. TV viewers were treated in-between action with commercials for Budweiser, trucks, and many dot-com companies! Most of which came and went less than a year following the game. We'll go over some of them in this episode. Microsoft "Flight Annoucement" - https://adland.tv/microsoft-flight-announcement-2000-030-usa GMC Yukon XL "Agility" - https://adland.tv/gm...