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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 Dec 24, 2023
Episode 439–The David Letterman Holiday Film Festival
Sunday Dec 24, 2023
Sunday Dec 24, 2023
In 1985 and 1986, David Letterman presented two special episodes of Late Night with David Letterman around the holiday season highlighting short films by various celebrities. We analyze these short films and offer our commentary in this holiday episode of It Was a Thing on TV.
1985 segments
"PMS - Premenstrual Syndrome" (Andrea Martin/Catherine O'Hara) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwLTCayIeSw (Uploaded by Darian Glover)
"Angst on a Shoestring" (Bette Midler) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6Jfs8bK6WQ (Uploaded by Darian Glover)
"Dress Cool" (Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band ft. Dave) - https://youtu.be/eTRc_IIMtk4?si=qba3H9i_xS-K6aYf&t=92 (Uploaded by the Letterman YT Channel)
"The Making of You Wouldn't Believe Our World" (Harry Shearer ft. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean & Marcia Strassman" - https://youtu.be/eTRc_IIMtk4?si=qba3H9i_xS-K6aYf&t=92 (Uploaded by Darian Glover)
"But I'm Happy" (Michael Keaton ft. Ron & Clint Howard) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq88ORPeQAQ&t=183s (Uploaded by the Letterman YT Channel)
1986 segments
"Feelin' In Love" (Dave ft. Paul Shaffer and Hal Gurnee) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtGaNgZyUUU (Uploaded by Darian Glover)
"My Day With the Stars" (Jonathan Winters) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7LMSRFBKAE (Uploaded by Darian Glover)
"Chris Elliott: A Television Miracle) (Chris Elliott ft. George Takei, Don King & Dave) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgKqko5ZvMA (Uploaded by Darian Glover
"Diane Sawyer's Shocking Expose" (Diane Sawyer ft. Mike Douglas & Andy Rooney) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rweOsVEfI_M&t=146s (Uploaded by the Letterman YT channel)
"The Ice Man Hummeth" (Michael J. Fox ft. Howie Mandel) - https://youtu.be/56lk7cp5Umg?si=O_9gQ6ZDQey2fb5Z&t=93 (Uploaded by the Letterman YT channel)
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Minisode 27--Sex Box
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Monday Jun 05, 2023
National Sex Day is happening on Friday of this week! (6/9...nice) We're doing three episodes with related titles, though only this episode is really about the act itself. This short-lived WeTV entry could be summed up as sex therapy in The Cube. We advise listener discretion.
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Episode 377--Bob Rooney Day on Late Night with David Letterman
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Today, May 9th, marks 40 years since David Letterman dedicated an entire day to an assistant sound engineer on his show. We go back and relive that day with a beer, a BLT, and another beer.
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Episode 354--Madame’s Place
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
It's time for Mike's annual Money in the Bank selection. This year, he went with a comedy set around a puppet, her life, and her TV show. Madame's Place was racy and had big guest stars. But when you're going up against late night fare like Carson, it won't end well.
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
Episode 338--Hey! Spring of Trivia
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
Thursday Jan 05, 2023
January 4 was National Trivia Day. In honor of the event, we look at a Japanese show which made the translation to American television about weird and wonderful trivia. Give a listen to Hey! Spring of Trivia and there may be some melon bread in it for you, and the melon bread is shaped like a brain.
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Episode 323--Infomercials from the 1990s
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Monday Nov 14, 2022
They're a staple on TV today, specifically in the overnight hours. Half-hour infomercials came on the scene in the early 90s, filling holes in television schedules at all hours of the day. In this installment, we look back at 9 such infomercials from the 1990s and talk about how cheesy they were and memories we had watching them.
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Monday Oct 24, 2022
In 1986, NBC expected to air Saturday Night Live in its usual post-news time slot. The New York Mets had other plans, forcing SNL's hand to record that night's show in the dead of night, and causing the episode to air weeks later.
Saturday Oct 08, 2022
Minisode 22--Ball, Get Out of My Nachos
Saturday Oct 08, 2022
Saturday Oct 08, 2022
Before baseball season began in 1999, during a viewer mail segment, a viewer asked David Letterman how Letterman prepared for opening day. The response was the first of three appearances of this segment, Ball, Get Out of My Nachos.
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
Episode 304--The T.Ocho Show
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
Tonight (September 8) is the start to the National Football League season and we mark the occasion with a look at a short-lived reality/discussion show starring the two biggest diva football players of the early 2010s. Also, Mike tries taking their Twitter handle and...hilarity ensues.
Thursday May 05, 2022
Episode 265--Saturday Night Live Season 11 (1985-86)
Thursday May 05, 2022
Thursday May 05, 2022
Marvel Month concludes with possibly the second-worst season of SNL ever. We talked about probably the worst season of SNL on episode 97, about the 1980-81 era. Now, we look at the 1985-86 season, a transition season of sorts, when most of the cast lasted just this one season if not less, and the writers lasted just as long, ushering in one of the best eras in the show's lengthy history.