95.1K
Downloads
623
Episodes
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
Saturday Feb 18, 2023
Minisode 25--The Golden Dollar Commercials from 2000
Saturday Feb 18, 2023
Saturday Feb 18, 2023
In honor of Presidents' Day we at It Was a Thing on TV present another example of someone trying to make fetch happen.
When the US Treasury Department launched the new golden dollar coin in the year 2000, they commissioned the father of our country to help promote the new coin along with getting Batman himself Michael Keaton to voice him.
Saturday Jan 14, 2023
Minisode 24--The Morgan and Morgan Metaverse Commercial
Saturday Jan 14, 2023
Saturday Jan 14, 2023
Greg saw this commercial one day and felt it was deserving of a minisode. Did you ever feel the Metaverse deserved it's own law firm? We didn't either.
You can view the commercial at this link. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmDaT1hnDlw
Thursday Dec 22, 2022
Episode 334--Atari 2600 Commercials
Thursday Dec 22, 2022
Thursday Dec 22, 2022
We have brought you shows on Hulk Hogan commercials, Ric Flair commercials, and three separate installments of Hometown Commercials. Our early Christmas present to you is a look at ads for something everybody wanted under the tree from 1979 to 1982--the Atari 2600 VCS, and games for the system.
Atari 2600 Commercial (December, 1977) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJNbhekKShI
Atari VCS Commercial with Pete Rose, Pele and Don Knotts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs34_7_kC64
Atari VCS Commercial with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Carol Channing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lexverCcFFk
1978 Atari Commercial with Billie Jean King, Bobby Riggs and Jack Palance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ary-G-GYO60
Space Invaders (1980) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct_I2C_9Kf8
Kaboom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkNztWEVxD4
Activision Ice Hockey with Phil Hartman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=celKZ-vwsCc
RealSports Baseball with Billy Martin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SI7zqsVoas
Atari Test Facility commercial with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Mario Andretti and Pele - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0cSWi1V_wI
Laser Blast (1981) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SWzv
Atari Toys R Us Asteroids Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFciGLGHiY4
Sears 1981 Christmas Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqBlPdz0G-M
Atari we don’t need a babysitter commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krGlnXY4HaY
Atari UK Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMLhvlAxsPw
Beany Bopper (1982) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OK5COuF6xg
Spider-Man (1982) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-usbQDfTIqE
Pac-Man Commercial with Mr. Hooper!!! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxsUCRSoUrE
Solar Fox with Jane Krakowski - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgUTq5pL3gE
Pole Position - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhRIneQFmHA
Ms. Pac-Man with Don Pardo voiceover - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKM5-k8uD7Q
Ms. Pac-Man Australian Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp1CKap2v28
Donkey Kong (1982) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzFCXfjuNjI
Donkey Kong Jr. (1983) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNTpXX43QxY
Dig Dug (1983) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VFjbPlq_nw
Pitfall! with Jack Black - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfLgSdAAHMA
Moon Patrol - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1fp8g3yimU
Sega Star Trek with Ernie Anderson voiceover - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28r4iGf7M98
Atari Sesame Street Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnQrQE4Y6Ow
Atari Christmas 1983 Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z2nyvfJDwk
1984 Atari 2600 Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ZLov8Xne0
Urban General Atari 2600 Commercial (1984) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLryP7IrM1A
1986 Atari 2600 Commercial (The Fun is Back) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp1CbPpaWKw
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.
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Episode 198–Fall TV Campaigns (Director’s Cut)
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Since the new fall TV season has gotten underway, we thought it was time to release the Director's Cut version of our Fall TV Campaigns episode from last year.
We have about 45 minutes of new material added from the original version that we released over on the Place to Be Nation last year.
So let's all be there for this look back at one of our best episodes as we give you the touch.
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
Episode 298--Hometown Commercials, Volume 3
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
On episode 98, we gave you Hometown Commercials. On episode 202, we gave you a second helping. They're back for 298, more of the local commercials that are so bad, they're good. In the third edition we are introduced to new favorites including a man who sells gold, another lawyer, a taxidermist and a guy who wants to get serious about selling you windows.
- Horrible Insurance Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l0ZmTLdy-A
- Hoot Wireless - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DMt3OMwArU
- Go Wireless! Kansas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8ivjjuo508
- All E Gators Restaurant (1985) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XauJZlXtCwA
- Golden Heart Utilities - Grease Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yscAsXED8jI
- Greenfield Video Laserdiscs - Laserdiscs - YouTube
- Big Al’s Pizza with Owl - https://youtu.be/dQZvtVafFqs
- Jeff Martin The Heavy Hitter - https://youtu.be/rJ6fecmCWmY
- Jeff Martin Dog Damage - https://youtu.be/VP8PRMIDmLQ
- Red Devil Games PSA - https://vimeo.com/1062144
- Ford Man Kansas - https://youtu.be/J06IWemV1U4
- Futon Max - https://youtu.be/msxEUhBdNPY
- Ojai Valley Taxidermy TV Commercial (Rhett and Link) - https://youtu.be/LJP1DphOWPs
- Mazda Commercial Tennessee (1992) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6BiDlx9UrY
- J&P Auto Mart - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN3nUcLs-Qc
- Taste of Art Auction 2006 “Celebrity Squares” Commercial - https://youtu.be/VzoNlVsZ8Fg
- Cecil Myers Rap - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WX207oDywA
- Eastern Motors with Willis McGehee - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXW62k1aQNI
- The Pizza Planet 1984 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AljsZSY2sPw
- Hoy Trial Lawyers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3WuHTn2qXs
- The Furniture Company in Lake Worth (2002) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkY3kTKGOjM
- Primetime Automotive Advertising with Gary Busey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCFflhzfi1A Summer Ad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWL2A8Lw7Os
- Little Johns Derby Jewelry Super Gold Man - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4eJNtFG10U
- Super Sash Window Co. (Chicago) (1982) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJy9EFf-tiM
- Crazy Gideon (“I’m Back!”) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56szyOQUA-U
- Crazy Gideon (“I Declare War!”) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wOCzf6HTrU
- Grand Finale (Rhett and Link) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYYdF0zcuSI&t=1s
Saturday May 28, 2022
Episode 274--The Noid
Saturday May 28, 2022
Saturday May 28, 2022
In the mid-80s, the pizza wars fueled up between primarily Pizza Hut and Domino's. Pizza Hut had a successful campaign aimed at students, with the Book It! project. Domino's promoted fast and hot delivery, and incorporated a Claymation spokesfiend named The Noid.
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Episode 240--The Other Super Bowl Commercials of Darryl Isaacs
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
In Hometown Commercials Volume 1 back in Episode 98, we featured some ads from Kentucky attorney Darryl Isaacs. We thought so much of them that we are dedicating an entire episode to "The Kentucky Hammer." This time we showcase the best of his Super Bowl commercials from years past including a special celebrity cameo from a football icon.
2007 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AF6772n6Xc
2008 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZl_7XwT8H4
2013 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Tns7fBnac
Mission Impossible Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI4AZ7GOnUU
2016 with Special Guest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgMhajkf5-s
2017 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hQxbDZJHBU
2018 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5QdNBO-_o
Tug of War Commercial (2019) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3eKxCVW2mg
Saturday Dec 04, 2021
Minisode 15--Mr. Delicious
Saturday Dec 04, 2021
Saturday Dec 04, 2021
In the early 90s, the fast food chain Rax thought outside the box with its mascot, selecting an animated spokesperson who was middle-aged, bland, monochrome, and going through multiple life crises, in order to attract the adult population. The campaign failed badly; Rax filed for bankruptcy 3 months later. Dickety-dee.
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Episode 219--The 1981 Sears Tele-Shop Laserdisc Catalog
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Laserdisc technology was new and hot in the early 80s. One time in 1981, Sears put out a catalog on laserdisc. We're not talking about it because of the technological innovations, nor are we here to talk about the general fashions of the day. We're primarily here to talk about one person, a key figure in this disc.