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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
Thursday Mar 21, 2024
Episode 462--Life on Mars (US)
Thursday Mar 21, 2024
Thursday Mar 21, 2024
This 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.
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Episode 453--Frank's Place
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
CBS' 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.
Thursday Feb 01, 2024
Episode 450--Cop Rock
Thursday Feb 01, 2024
Thursday Feb 01, 2024
Steven Bochco, the genius behind hit shows including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, and Doogie Howser, created Cop Rock, which was labeled as being revolutionary and potentially changing the landscape of television. Despite tons of promotion, the show ran 3 months and has been deemed one of the biggest failures in television history. Not only do we cover the series as always, but we will feature one song from each episode.
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
Episode 438--The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
In our annual episode where you pick the topic, we gave you 3 shows from which to choose. The show with the most votes was this one, a one-season classic about an Old West bounty hunter avenging his father's death, with science fiction and steampunk elements.
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Episode 433--The Colbys
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Monday Dec 04, 2023
You are the network with the most watched show on television. What do you do? Create a spin-off. But not just any spin-off, a sequel, to outdo anything the mother program ever did, up to and including alien abduction. That’s what ABC did with Dynasty and The Colbys. We break down why that was a mistake with the help of a special guest.
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Episode 423–Gracepoint
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Monday Oct 30, 2023
We start our celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who by looking at this American adaptation of "Broadchurch". Adapted from the ITV drama created by future Doctor Who EP Chris Chibnall the American version brought back the Tenth Doctor himself David Tennant in the lead role. Did this limited event series find an audience on FOX in 2014 or was it another victim of Lost in Translation?
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Episode 421--Second Chance (2016)
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
We talked about the Second Chance from 1977 and the Second Chance from 1987. This Halloween season, we're covering a third entry with that name, from 2016. This version was loosely based on Frankenstein but it was "depressingly awful" and couldn't hold viewers after a decent lead-in show, albeit against tough competition.
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Episode 420--Invitation to Hell
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
In 1984, the same year horror master Wes Craven gave us "A Nightmare on Elm Street" he directed this ABC TV Movie starring Robert Urich, Joanna Cassidy, and Erica Kane herself Susan Lucci.
In this made-for, Susan plays a devilish dame who tries to tempt ol' Spenser for Hire with power if he can just join this hot country club that just about everyone at his company works for. Join us on an Invitation to Hell!
Monday Sep 04, 2023
Monday Sep 04, 2023
(Yes, this show went by all of those titles.)
Columbo was an NBC staple in their Mystery Movie rotation throughout most of the 70s. When the network went on a huge decline at the end of the decade, NBC tried anything to get viewers including a non-canonical spinoff. At least we got to see a young Captain Janeway.
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
Episode 400--Tequila and Bonetti
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
We have reached 400! This time, we're talking about a show whose formula worked in theaters as Turner and Hooch, but the dog can talk?! And Italy enjoyed this so much, they revived it in 2000?!?!