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.
Our tribute to Conan O'Brien continues with his rough and all too brief era hosting The Tonight Show back in 2009. We look at some of the memorible moments of this era of Conan from the Twitter Tracker to Shatner recites Palin to In The Year 3000.
All in all, Jeff Zucker did Conan real dirty, all because of a certain Mr. Black (Not THAT one, the OTHER one). You all know who we're talking about.
Houston's NBC affiliate did Conan real dirty, airing his show at 2:40 AM local time for a period. Conan went deep in the heart of Texas to see it for himself, and encountered some interesting characters in the process.
Complete segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQs_oRJtcno
In 1997, Conan O'Brien had an audience of just kids. What kind of mayhem could happen? Just don't end up in Naughty Land and don't awaken the Boredom Monster.
Complete episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFHKnq5MQb0
In honor of Conan O'Brien's TBS show coming to an end, we're devoting most of the next two weeks to the legend. We start at the beginning, with the first episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He was nervous, he was unfinished, but some of what was seen was the Conan O'Brien comedy fans would love for over a quarter century.
The First Episode of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q471WB5Tgw
Conan O'Brien on Late Night with David Letterman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJKKy2X4mb0&t=939s
We have had two episodes devoted to TV themed video games (with a third coming in the future) and we have done a trading card show. Now, we venture into pinball machines, virtual and real.
1988 Monday Night Football pinball open: https://youtu.be/C8Lpd0R1keM?t=19
Doctor Who Pinball Tutorial (PAPA Pinball): https://youtu.be/iawmrs69jrQ
Misfits of Science might have been a little ahead of its time. It sort of resembles a show from 20 years later, Heroes. It had a cushy time slot between Knight Rider and Miami Vice. Yet, it was still gone by February of 1986. At least one of its stars went on to much bigger and better things.
The Story & Tragedies of The Misfits of Science (Toy Galaxy) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fupb6I07Xtk
The first half of the remastered series wraps up with Episode 12 looking at show favorite McLean Stevenson and his 1979-80 NBC vehicle Hello, Larry. In this episode, the crew tries to find reasons as to why this show was considered one of the worst shows ever and if it was justified.
Put Hulkamania in a Baywatch setting with a boat like KITT but also like the TARDIS and it will bring the viewers! But it didn't. Thunder in Paradise lasted one season, but it ran long enough or was popular enough to justify a CD-i game. If you listen to nothing else, listen to the last 15 minutes (starting at 1:07:05) about what happened to the boat.
Now You See It is another beloved Goodson-Todman classic that doesn't get enough credit, partially due to a year run, then a 15-week return fourteen years later. But OMG, those sets, those hosts, and that music. We also talk about the 1985 pilot hosted by Jack Clark.
It's time to take a visit back north of the border for the latest episode of the remastered series. This time we go back to Episode 11 and Pitfall. A Canadian game show that ended up stiffing everybody from Alex Trebek to the contestants.
