The It Was a Thing on TV Podcast Network

For the 109th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking last year, we looked at S.O.S. Titanic, a TV movie from 1979 with Susan St. James among others.  (UH OH!)  This year for the 110th anniversary, we're covering a much more light-hearted take, answering the question "What if Disney made a movie about the Titanic?"  Thanks to Robert Smigel, we think it might look a little like Titey.

The WB (and now, The CW) like their superhero shows.  In 2001, The WB piloted a reboot of a mid-70s superhero duo, but brought them to the modern day including making the main character (we're not joking) a 50-year-old divorcee who lives in a trailer and is a raging alcoholic.  Needless to say, The WB said thanks but no thanks to Electra-Woman and Dyna-Girl.

In the early 90s, if you had a beef with someone, you couldn't necessarily take them to a TV courtroom.  Enter a show with boxing, trash cans, and feather dusters, where combatants took their issues to the ring.  The Grudge Match is a show we have wanted to cover for some time and thanks to another podcast, a full episode made its way online recently.

CBS was having a tough go in the late 80s, in an era dominated by NBC.  They gave a pilot not unlike UHF spearheaded by Eddie Murphy a chance, but it was one and done.  Don't change that channel and discover What's Alan Watching?

It's Mike's birthday and he played his Money in the Bank on this?!  Take three musical brothers who gained a modicum of popularity in the 70s despite having no big musical hits and add a cast of zany characters including the future Unknown Comic.  What do you get?  A repetitive and derivative show which lasted 16 shows.

We start our 2nd annual "Lost in Translation" week with a hit comedy from Australia which bombed in the States in 2008.  Kath and Kim was to be the next big NBC Thursday night comedy.  Despite a plum time slot, a great cast, and a plethora of great guests, it was sent packing after 17 episodes.

Without question, Lucille Ball is a legend.  Unfortunately, even legends make missteps.  Life with Lucy in 1986 was Lucy's misstep.  Thirteen episodes were shot and only eight aired. In this episode, we look at the reasons why this misfired, was it because ABC was that desperate for a hit? was it because audiences were weary of Lucy's physical comedy at her age? was it because the executives were afraid to say no to Lucy?

On a lighter note, enjoy our discussion of a Pre-Life Goes On Kelle Martin on Card Sharks in 1986.

One of this podcast's favorite people is Chris Elliott.  Post-Letterman, Elliott starred in the FOX sitcom Get a Life.  While hilarious and brilliant, it might have been a little too out there, even for the hip and relatively new network. This episode has been Handsome Boy approved.

With only The Office and Parks & Recreation leading off its comedy portfolio, NBC would put their fortunes in a sitcom manned by producers for both (and one from How I Met Your Mother) would come together to form a Voltron of the next great sitcom. So... how come nobody watched "Abby's"? Belly up to the bar as we try and answer this question.

It's 2006 and How I Met Your Mother was CBS' sophomore hit featuring 20- and 30-somethings.  Why not follow that with a series with people around the same age who all went to school together decades earlier?  It can't miss!  It did. But at least most of the cast of this show went on to bigger and better things.