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Partially 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.
Episodes
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Episode 27–The Bud Bowl (Extended Cut)
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Back 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.
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Minisode 31–The Fanduel Kick of Destiny
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Sunday Feb 11, 2024
Last 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
Friday Feb 09, 2024
Episode 452–The Commercials of Super Bowl XXXIV
Friday Feb 09, 2024
Friday Feb 09, 2024
The 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/gmc-yukon-xl-agility-2000-030-usa
Disney Tony Hawk "Tarzan" VHS commercial - https://adland.tv/disney-tony-hawk-tarzan-2000-030-usa
Disney "Why do we love the mouse?" with Leonard Nimoy and Shaq - https://adland.tv/disney-why-do-we-love-mouse-2000-030-usa
Charles Schwab Retirement - https://adland.tv/charles-schwab-retirement-2000-030-usa
Pizza Hut/CD Now Commercial with Carson Daly - https://adland.tv/pizza-hut-cd-now-carson-daly-2000-030-usa
Budweiser "Fred is Great" - https://adland.tv/budweiser-fred-great-2000-030-usa
Monster.com "The Road Less Traveled" - https://adland.tv/monstercom-road-less-traveled-2000-030-usa
Motorola "Snake" - https://adland.tv/motorola-snake-2000-030-usa
E*Trade - Halftime Show Teaser - "Massage" - https://adland.tv/etrade-halftime-show-teaser-massage-2000-010-usa
Bud Light "Elevator" - https://adland.tv/bud-light-elevator-2000-030-usa
MicroStrategy "Stock Alert" - https://adland.tv/microstrategy-stock-alert-2000-030-usa
Budweiser "Rex's Motivation" - https://adland.tv/budweiser-rexs-motivation-2000-060-usa
Netpliance "Webhead" - https://adland.tv/netpliance-webhead-2000-030-usa
7 Up "Show Us Your Can" with Orlando Jones - https://adland.tv/7up-show-us-your-can-2000-030-usa
Volvo "Gus" - https://adland.tv/volvo-gus-2000-030-usa
Oxygen "I'm a Girl" - https://adland.tv/oxygen-im-girl-2000-030-usa
Our Beginning "Invites" - https://adland.tv/our-beginning-invites-2000-030-usa
FedEx "Wizard of Oz Lollipop Guild" - https://adland.tv/fedex-wizard-oz-lollipop-guild-2000-60-usa
Pets.com "If You Leave Me Now" - https://adland.tv/petscom-if-you-leave-me-now-2000-030-usa
Lifeminders "The Worst Commercial" - https://adland.tv/lifeminders-worst-commercial-2000-030-usa
E*Trade "Wasted $2 Million" - https://adland.tv/etrade-wasted-2-million-2000-030-usa
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Episode 429–The 1987 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Monday Nov 20, 2023
Monday Nov 20, 2023
It's an It Was a Thing on TV tradition like no other. Every year since 2019, we have looked at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in chronological order, starting with the 1983 parade. We're up to the 1987 parade. What characters will star in this parade? What products will advertisers shove down our throats? And did Charlie Brown ever get a growth spurt!
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Minisode 28--The Tom Emanski Baseball World Commercials
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Monday Jul 17, 2023
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.
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Episode 395--Hometown Commercials, Volume 4
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
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.
- Tim Misny - https://youtu.be/LLshVZ6mzqc
- Pines Motor Lodge - https://youtu.be/6ExEKKShxrI
- River Fair at River Mall - https://vimeo.com/340782677
- 1982 Public Insurance San Diego Commercial - https://youtu.be/_p9mEFTaQwI
- Apple Auto Sales - https://youtu.be/X1XilfKuYaQ
- Gebco Commercial featuring Jonathan Ogden - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjmXkWJN1FM
- Christopher Knight for Rockingham County School Board - https://youtu.be/nLi5B0Iefsk
- Len’s Mill Stores (watch to the end) - https://youtu.be/AqqSCVT4Fkc
- Darryl Issacs (Big Trucks) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp9nGolQI5k
- Darryl Issacs (Hit the Bullseye) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9IGe9isYws
- Image Auto Detailing (Fairbanks, AL) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ACG5MjOe5Q
- Santa’s Village - https://youtu.be/Ok3ACI6kuDI
- The Diamond Center - https://youtu.be/7O84dpaJu3c
- “Paul from The Diamond Center is not my Uncle” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v5wmJzBvX8
- Vern Fonk Insurance (2003) - https://youtu.be/tL0Z2dZCqys
- Christmas at Old Tucson - https://youtu.be/z4U2gDgMHA0
- Leader TV/VCR (Rochester, NY) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H8Brhl-ykM
- Rocco Gaetano D’Angelo Fine Cigars Ltd - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgwjB8fpzCw
- Benjamin Franklin: The Practical Plumber: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNKhsWGqNlo
- Marc Norton “Devils” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtIHGHvvhqk
- WKFT CounterForce 40 - https://youtu.be/3hHYEJolrAU
- Sports Cards Unlimited - https://youtu.be/Saeh5res7Ik
- Schuylkill Mall Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbo7UKb-Ckc
- Michigan Power Rodding - Horror of Clogged Pipes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wQPExKw--U
- Italian Oven - https://youtu.be/ENQ6GIhKy6o
- Frankie & Johnny’s Furniture with Free Chicken (Closed forever) - https://youtu.be/gD-KZYy1UHM
- Crazy Gideon Funny Farm (1986) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlUYmMLDgtk
- Crazy Gideon TV Ad from BizBOX TV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTxxV_BiKtE
- Crazy Gideon 2008 Recession Ad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5x6CCDWs00
- All-New Pelham Cafe (Frankie Flight) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPUp0oO_CLc
- Gilliard Day (Frankie Flight) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iyjL1QYuS4
- Rhett & Link - Grand Finale - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LSkX46dS4
- The Professionals - Insurance Comp. with Doug Llewelyn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ4H_O-qU4U
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Episode 394--The Great American Telephone Trivia Game
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
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.
Saturday Apr 22, 2023
Episode 371--Shaq Commercials
Saturday Apr 22, 2023
Saturday Apr 22, 2023
In the past, we have paid respects to Hulk Hogan commercials, Ric Flair commercials, and our annual favorite of hometown commercials. We add another legend to the commercial family with Shaq commercials. Grab your Reeboks and a Pepsi, and prepare for almost 30 years of ads featuring Shaq Diesel.
Shaq Reebok Commercial (1993) - https://youtu.be/taKQHlEAeNE
Shaq Attack Toy Commercial - https://youtu.be/uBMi037Oh60
Shaq All-Sport Commercial “2044” (1994) - https://youtu.be/DEqp3tN7muE
Shaq Fu Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrwWXqlhEN8
Pepsi Big Slam - https://youtu.be/tPiMvRrISlc
Reebok Shaq vs. Shaq (1995) - https://youtu.be/-CYOjklUEBU
Taco Bell Double Decker Taco with Hakeem Olajuwon (1995) - https://youtu.be/FVmaYNtgu4g
Reebok Olympic Commercial with Emmitt Smith (1996) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ABstuWWHJE
Taco Bell Taco Neck (1997) - https://youtu.be/CsGwPyrSNVE
Pepsi Commercial (1997) - https://youtu.be/N4M_OcgP2ko
Pepsi Commercial with Michael J. Fox (1997) - https://youtu.be/dTyyGgiMCAU
NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC for Midway (1999) - https://youtu.be/88SePMME0r4
Burger King Shaq Pack - https://youtu.be/EXweq5wKOd
RadioShack Commercial with Carmelo Anthony (2004) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3Xh_-Olq7I
NBA on TNT “Spanish Class” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzJbTuidtZo
Vitamin Water “Horsin’ Around With Shaq” Super Bowl XLII Commercial - https://youtu.be/ti4aCoikJBE
This is SportsCenter “Hero” - https://youtu.be/FZdplRRmCQ0
Icy Hot Dance Moves - https://youtu.be/IOTsV-ydJ_0
The General Commercial (Truck) - https://youtu.be/Fwc1bGbcerI
The General “Best Friends” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNUxsqvl3dg
The General Trampoline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEb3UG-EuII
The General with Michael Buffer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j8L0BQZd2k
Harbin Beer (China) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH2146LMdkE
Nestle Crunch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQEDwrpwJ6M
Alkaline 88 Water - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqnf-2-1PuE
Age of Beard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwr73cCo3KA
Frosted Flakes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGmvlaKFyCc
Papa John’s Stuffed Crust - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYOwqAtaNvg
Oreo Acrobat Commercial (2017) - https://youtu.be/u6CKP47CIQ
Epson EcoTank for Epson Canada - https://youtu.be/rMtEGc7u71g
Gold Bond Compilation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGERvTGQvwc
Saturday Apr 08, 2023
Minisode 26--The San Francisco Giants Crazy Crab Commercial
Saturday Apr 08, 2023
Saturday Apr 08, 2023
In 1984, the San Francisco Giants needed something to get fans' attention away from their poor play on the field. Enter the first ever anti-mascot a crustacean mascot which drew heat from not only the fans, but the Giants and the opposing teams as well. It's all immortalized in one of the best baseball commercials ever.
Love that Crazy Crab!
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Episode 363--NES and Super NES Commercials
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
In honor of the upcoming release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie in theaters next week, we present this episode dedicated to commercials to our favorite 8-bit and 16-bit systems.
NES Commercials
NES “Will You Be the One” with Rob and the Zapper (1985) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-CwI14vaL0
NES “You Are About to Come Face to Face” (1986) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gP1XYki8Ew
NES “Will You Be the One” Commercial with Super Mario (1986) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uSOESHNhHY
NES “What Will the Future Bring?” (1986) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMroWPYQD9A
The Legend of Zelda Rap Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c17DYpe1APU
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Z6PW9HhFY
Konami NES Commercial (1987) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_dNjJKsBOI
RBI Baseball from Tengen (1988) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXkv2Y_d_yA
NES Power Set with Power Pad (1988) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdXW5i1cjXY
Top Gun from Konami - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNtnyivyK-M
Anticipation Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KXTqPKXi2o
Super Mario Bros. 2 Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-oxEaddsUY
Acclaim Remote Controller - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cyZZIcdQCQ
Double Player System from Acclaim - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWMwfJ5hEO4
Tetris from Nintendo (1989) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUeQttn23Rk
Back to the Future from LJN (1989) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEtdLs85J4k
Power Glove from Mattel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po1IfM6nA6s
DuckTales from Capcom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zroYGD7iGV4
WWF WrestleMania from Acclaim - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BOmloRumKI
WWF WrestleMania Challenge UK Commercial (Nintendo World News) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLEypfdVMT4
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSaHaIAYBgU
Supersonic The Joystick from Camerica - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxPoD2V6B7U
Fester’s Quest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEOPztGblf4
Little Nemo the Dream Master from Capcom (1990) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNoAujWCIPM
Bases Loaded II Second Season from Jaleco - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqRR7eJSWxA
Super Mario Bros. 3 Commercial (1990) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZex2enPtNs
StarTropics from Nintendo (1991) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CE-pOTbrrA
Star Wars from JVC (1991) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zetkiWhvi8c
Game Genie from Galoob - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4wwXyKFeFA
Super NES Commercials
Toys R Us Super NES Commercial with Alan Kalter Voiceover - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUpKdkZ6QZo
Super NES Commercial with Paul Rudd (1992) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSBFw93V3Rg
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Commercial (JPN) - https://youtu.be/cjpHzLYHkwA
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Commercial (US) - https://youtu.be/7yjfTQ009ms
F-Zero commercial - https://youtu.be/c_i2caefzJ0
Street Fighter 2 Turbo commercials (JPN) - https://youtu.be/zmc1p3e0hc8
The same (Edited for the US market) - https://youtu.be/Eg-VGKEPNMw
Super Mario Kart commercial - https://youtu.be/5Wxklxi1lGs
Super Mario All-Stars commercial - https://youtu.be/XSiciyc20Sc
Super NES/Pepsi commercial with Bo Jackson - https://youtu.be/DBwbQU_3My0
StarFox Commercial - https://youtu.be/8FTZD-lljaU
Super Scope 6 commercial - https://youtu.be/CtvFZhwoGCE
SNES Super Set Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw8g9I3fHD8
Turbo Touch 360 Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOYmnTTwp8g
TMNT Tournament Fighters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMVyN6qQA7Y
Final Fantasy III commercial (or Final Fantasy VI if you want to get super official about it) - https://youtu.be/hk5RLCIhtMo
Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball Commercial with Cito Gaston - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnFEBLSwHt8
Super Punch-Out!! Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4lkRbAyhMo
Troy Aikman NFL Football - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_eTdrhTSdM
Super Mario RPG Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOzVQUOgSnk
Yoshi’s Island Commercial -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFHUyqDBmZQ
SNES 1996 “Now $99” Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNPtCVzBNyQ