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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
7 days ago
Episode 466: Guess What
7 days ago
7 days ago
In 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!
Thursday Apr 11, 2024
Episode 465--The Baseball Bunch
Thursday Apr 11, 2024
Thursday Apr 11, 2024
Baseball 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.
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
Episode 464--How Ken Jennings Almost Didn't Happen
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
In 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.
Thursday Mar 28, 2024
Episode 463--(Filmation's) Ghostbusters
Thursday Mar 28, 2024
Thursday Mar 28, 2024
Earlier 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.
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.
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
Episode 461--Iron Chef USA
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
In 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.
Thursday Mar 07, 2024
Episode 460--Days Like These
Thursday Mar 07, 2024
Thursday Mar 07, 2024
The 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!"
Monday Mar 04, 2024
Episode 459--Easy Street
Monday Mar 04, 2024
Monday Mar 04, 2024
Hugh 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.
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
Episode 458--The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
Mike'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.
Monday Feb 26, 2024
Episode 457--Charlie & Company
Monday Feb 26, 2024
Monday Feb 26, 2024
Black 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.