We are heartbroken about the loss of the singular Mary Tyler Moore, whom our listeners know we revere and respect both as on-camera talent and as a force behind the scenes. We simply can't imagine TV without her incalculable contributions. In memorial, we are reposting our episode from December 2015 covering Mary Tyler Moore , and its hourlong spinoff, Lou Grant , and featuring our interview with the legendary Ed Asner. We join you in mourning Mary. Let's remember her together....
Jan 26, 2017•55 min
To celebrate both the holiday of Thanksgiving and the august tradition of special Thanksgiving episodes, we look back at two shows we covered in previous exhibits, watching holiday-themed episodes we skipped in the first go-round. Both A Different World and Third Rock From the Sun tackled everyone's favorite family-and-food holiday in their own unique way. Do they hold up as great TV? Do they capture the hallmarks of their respective shows? Is Whitley a classy drunk? Does Jan Hooks smear gravy i...
Nov 24, 2016•23 min
As we go on a brief hiatus to welcome the tater tot, we invite you to join us for a look back on the highs and lows of the first 20+ exhibits of the TV Museum Podcast! And, we give you a preview of what's to come when we return for Season Two in October!
Aug 15, 2016•26 min
Wrapping up our trifecta of alien-in-the-living room sitcoms, we set the time machine for “not that long ago” and took a look at 3rd Rock from the Sun , which left the airwaves in 2001, just making our 15-year cut-off. Would this show outshine its predecessors, or would it be yet another out-of-this-world dud? Listen in to learn which star made history behind a newsdesk, find out who is the American John Cleese, and discover what double-entendre episode titles make Jeffrey and Hannah snicker lik...
Jul 21, 2016•39 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In this exhibit we continue our foray into the world of high-concept sitcoms, specifically of the alien-in-the-livingroom subgenre. Where My Favorite Martian portrayed the visitor as a font of wisdom and experience, Mork and Mindy substituted zany naivete in the form of white-hot superstar Robin Williams. Can a show succeed for four seasons on the back of a comedic genius in rainbow suspenders? Listen in to learn about the show's unlikely genesis in the brain of grade schooler, discover who popp...
Jul 07, 2016•35 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Join us to look back at a prime example of one of the strangest trends of the 60s: the scifi/fantasy sitcom. In the course of this exhibit we unearthed a treasure trove of TV trivia. Learn what a first-class time slot can do, find out about the connection between MFM and The Beatles, discover what happens if you turn a squirrel into a man, be amazed by the longevity of Lassie , and find out which star of MFM went on to appear in an 80s classic and which had to settle for a movie called Steambath...
Jun 15, 2016•26 min•Season 1Ep. 18
If, like Hannah, you have ever bought a lot of Agatha Christie paperbacks off eBay, we have the show for you! Not just another 70s police procedural, Columbo turns the detective genre upside down, as we start each episode watching the killer commit the crime. How will everyone's favorite soft-spoken, disheveled sleuth unravel the mystery? But more importantly, is Columbo worth your TV time? Learn much (MUCH) more about one of TV's most memorable icons: The Ultimate Columbo Site Get the rights to...
Jun 01, 2016•36 min•Season 1Ep. 17
If old Hollywood, 90s topical humor, and general zaniness are your cup of tea, then you're likely already acquainted with the topic of this week's exhibit. Animaniacs introduced a new generation to the wacky, highbrow-meets-lowbrow aesthetic of the Looney Tunes, and it's now available on Netflix. "Toon" in to learn which movie parodies zinged and which fell flat, who were the best and worst of the huge cast of characters, and what was the dirtiest joke those three kooky Warner siblings ever got ...
May 18, 2016•41 min•Season 1Ep. 16
By popular request, we've tackled a classic from the early 90s, a show that brought the world one of the top ten most distinctive southern accents, an Aretha Franklin-sung theme song, and the greatest (pre-Warby Parker) development in stylish eyewear. This Cosby spin-off came into its own when it ditched the Huxtable element, embraced a large cast, and took on the social issues of the day. Learn more: Jezebel's The Muse rewatches ADW 14 Things You Might Not Know About A Different World Learn How...
May 04, 2016•38 min•Season 1Ep. 15
"Holy amazing guest, Batman!" We're joined by NPR critic, author, Pop Culture Happy Hour panelist, and one of our favorite voices on culture, Glen Weldon, to discuss his new book, The Caped Crusade: Batman & The Rise of Nerd Culture, and the two major TV series featuring the not-always-so Dark Knight. How did the character change from the comic page to the TV screen with the garish campiness of the live action series that ran on ABC in the mid-1960s? Did fans reclaim their hero with the dark...
Apr 20, 2016•41 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Grab your six shooters and your ten gallon, 'cause the TV Museum's finally tackling a Western! We take a look at one of the 28 (yes, really!) primetime shows set in the Old West that aired in 1958: The Rifleman. Listen in to hear about star Chuck Connors's bizarre and varied pro sports career, find out which Rat Packer made not one but two guest appearances on the show, and learn where to go when you just can't afford enough salt to get through the winter. Note: We apologize if you hear a little...
Apr 06, 2016•40 min•Season 1Ep. 13
This exhibit explores a critically-acclaimed but never-before-seen (by your hosts, anyway) show that offers up plenty of surprises. Tune in to find out what makes Taxi such a keystone in the history of the American sitcom. Hint: echoes of Taxi are all over better-known hits like Cheers and Seinfeld . Episodes we watched: Pilot/ “Like Father, Like Daughter” S1 E3 "Blind Date" S1 E17 "Elaine and the Lame Duck" S3 E20 - “Latka the Playboy” S4 E1 - “Jim the Psychic” S4 E21 "Latka’s Wedding" Learn mo...
Mar 23, 2016•49 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this installment of the TV Museum we dig into the fondly remembered cult hit Quantum Leap - will it succeed where its ancestor The Time Tunnel failed? Listen in to learn more about the largely glow-in-the-dark nature of future technology, discover how meteorological conditions affect time travel, and hear a guy in a truly horrible suit rap about the ABCs. More importantly, we'll answer the question: does Quantum Leap have The Right Stuff? Episodes we watched: Pilot/Genesis Parts 1 & 2 Col...
Mar 09, 2016•45 min•Season 1Ep. 11
On this (very!) special episode of the TV Museum Podcast, we meet up with The Munsters ' Butch Patrick for an in-person interview. Listen in to hear his take on life as a child star in 1960s Hollywood, his time as a resident of 1313 Mockingbird Lane, and some of the highs and lows he's experienced in the years since. Many thanks to Butch for his time and to Joel McGee (America's Toy Scout) for playing host to our interview. Butch Patrick's The Munsters Website America's Toy Scout If Chins Could ...
Feb 24, 2016•36 min
In this episode we hurtle through time to explore a 60s cult classic. The facial expression that defined a series. What do a cancer patient aboard the Titanic, a scarlet lady in ancient Jericho, and the 16th president of the United States all have in common? Getting their butts saved by Doug and Tony, of course! Tune in to learn what other hijinks these two valiant scientists get up to while careening through history. Episodes We Watched: "Rendezvous With Yesterday" (Pilot) "The Walls of Jericho...
Feb 11, 2016•25 min•Season 1Ep. 10
This week we visit one of the most beloved families of 80s TV, the Keaton clan. Tune in to hear more about the only sitcom in network history in which someone gets laid after attending a lecture on conservative fiscal policy! Reminisce about heads stuck in bannisters and watch a future Oscar winner tie one on at a PBS affiliate! Discover how many Family Ties stars later formed not-very-famous bands and which Keaton sought therapy on what appeared to be the set of Charlie Rose! Episodes We Watche...
Jan 27, 2016•36 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode we look at one of the most successful primetime soaps of the 80s, in which a secretary can marry a billionaire, long-lost daughters turn up nearly every week, and Moldavian freedom fighters can really ruin a celebration. Is Blake Carrington about to choke a ... lady? Listen in to learn how many last names Joan Collins's character had, why Rock Hudson's guest starring stint on the show was so controversial, and what drove William Faulkner out of Hollywood. Episodes we watched: Pil...
Jan 13, 2016•36 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this special bonus episode, guest hosts Sylvia (7) and Judith (4) take a look at Peabody's Improbable History . Learn more: Full Segment List Courtesy of Wikipedia Peabody's Improbable History at Toonpedia Go visit the Paley Center to learn more about Jay Ward's work....
Dec 25, 2015•7 min•Season 1Ep. 7
This week we combine two great tastes: Mary Tyler Moore , a comedy about a woman who can turn the world on with her smile, and that show's landmark hour-long spin-off, the newsroom drama Lou Grant . Tune in to learn which Robocop star goose-stepped through an episode of Lou Grant , hear Cloris Leachman sing about social disease, and discover why Ron Burgundy's dog is named Baxter. Keep listening for an interview with Lou Grant himself, the great Ed Asner. Episodes we watched: The Mary Tyler Moor...
Dec 23, 2015•55 min•Season 1Ep. 6
This week we brave the horrors of late 70s fashion to give you a review of a television show about radio: Tune in to learn whatever happened to Dr. Johnny Fever, who the heck Ol' Lonely is, and how to make a career out of a sultry swimsuit photo. Show links: NPR calls WRKP the first show to take rock seriously Nedra Volz IMDB Vincent Schiavelli IMDB...
Dec 10, 2015•26 min•Season 1Ep. 5
This week we looked at a show whose reputation permeates pop culture but which we'd never actually seen. A show in which a sweet mullet, a roll of duck tape, and a phone number for the Boys' and Girls' Club will get you out of any sticky situation: MACGYVER! Pilot (9/29/85) Partners (S2 E40 3/2/87) Runners (S4 E77 3/13/89) Tune in to learn the second best use for chocolate bars, how not to succeed in the world's oldest profession, and what the 80s Action Show Rule of Three is all about. Get geek...
Nov 25, 2015•35 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Did you watch this seminal series gathered around the TV with your parents and siblings, slightly uncomfortable about your feelings for either Kevin or Winnie? We took a deep dive into a childhood favorite and watched six full episodes of the highly-decorated The Wonder Years: PilotSwingers My Father’s OfficeSummer Song (S3 Ep 1)Summer (S6 Ep 21)Independence Day (S6 Ep 22) Listen to find out what Kevin Arnold and Jason Voorhees have in common, learn whatever happened to Paul Saviano (spoiler: he...
Nov 12, 2015•34 min•Season 1Ep. 3
For our second foray into the archives we watched three episodes of the short-running but long-syndicated CBS gothic sitcom The Munsters: THE FIRST ONE: "Munster Masquerade" THE FAMOUS ONE: "Hot Rod Herman" THE RANDO ONE: "Treasure of Mockingbird Lane" Listen as we dive into the history and trivia of this quirky family comedy. Which cast member recorded a regrettable novelty song? What's the connection between The Munsters and Syfy's FaceOff ? Just how much of an earworm is the theme song? Subsc...
Oct 26, 2015•25 min•Season 1Ep. 2
"That twilighty show...about that zone." -- Homer Simpson We begin our first exhibit in the TV Museum with a look at the iconic CBS sci-fi anthology The Twilight Zone . This cult hit ran for five seasons and spawned various spin-offs, but is it worth revisiting? We watched three episodes to find out: THE FIRST ONE: "Where is Everybody?" THE FAMOUS ONE: "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" THE RANDO ONE: "The Hunt" Listen to the full show to learn more about notable " Hey! It's That Guy "s and ...
Oct 22, 2015•27 min•Season 1Ep. 1
