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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 Sep 21, 2023
Episode 412--Billy (1992 comedy)
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Post-Head of the Class, the person who replaced Howard Hesseman was given a second chance, on another series where he played an educator. This educator, however, had some issues, the least of which was living with one of his students and the largest of which was living with her to remain in the United States.
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Episode 411--Mr. Smith Revisited
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Way back in episode 2, we originally covered Mr. Smith, on the basis of Leonard Frey being credited from it and the curiosity of what it was. Four years later and the upload of over half the series later, in honor of the 40th anniversary of its premiere, we can give Mr. Smith the justice it deserves. Does an orangutan with an IQ of 256 help fix Washington D.C., or do wacky shenanigans happen because Mr. Smith is into monkey business?
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Episode 405--The Waverly Wonders
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Legendary NFL quarterback Joe Namath's last stop in his illustrious career brought him to Los Angeles, with the Rams in 1977. The next year, one of his first post-retirement gigs was on The Waverly Wonders, which was very reminiscent of a popular show on another network at the time. Just over a month later, the show got cancelled. Its replacement, however, would last over 7 years.
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Episode 404--Jennifer Slept Here Revisited
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Early on in this podcast's life, we originally covered Jennifer Slept Here, but it was one of the few episodes Greg missed. He had things to say about this show. Thus, we are revisiting another episode from early on.
Saturday Aug 12, 2023
Live Show 44–Uh Oh! (The Movie)
Saturday Aug 12, 2023
Saturday Aug 12, 2023
In honor of Susan St. James' upcoming 77th birthday, Greg and Chico look at this 2004 straight-to-DVD movie about a down on his luck clutz who teams up with a sea captain to find a sunken treasure. Also, Lou Rawls and Richard Moll are trying to stop them for some reason. We're also pretty sure that The Dove Foundation which "approved" this movie didn't actually watch this.
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?!?!
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Episode 397--Pepper Dennis
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Single female news journalist! Having lots of sex!
She had everything going for her… Looks, talent, intelligence, the right people surrounding her (even if one of them was “the best sex she ever had” who ended up taking her job). There was one problem… she was on a dead network. This week, we go to the newsroom to investigate the life and career of… “Pepper Dennis”.
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Episode 396--Angie
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
In 1979, Angie was bound for great success. Then ABC meddled with the schedule a number of times and despite being a top 5 show the season before, Angie found its way to cancellation a year later.
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Episode 392--Camp Cucamonga
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
NBC had a thing for summer camp movies with some of the most popular teenage talent at the time. (See Episode 278, Poison Ivy.) Unlike Poison Ivy, Camp Cucamonga wasn't well-remembered, nor was it even that good. Enjoy some stereotypical rapping and a predictable ending with some of your favorite teenage stars from 1990 in this installment.
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Episode 390--Blansky’s Beauties
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Monday Jun 12, 2023
We have talked about many failed spinoffs in the past, but this one is unique in the sense that it didn't happen concurrently with the parent show. Rather, this was set in 1977, versus Happy Days' 50s/60s setting. That is just the beginning of the confusion regarding Blansky's Beauties.