95.9K
Downloads
628
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
2 hours ago
Episode 469--The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
One of the amazing technological marvels of the mid-1980s was the story telling teddy bear Teddy Ruxpin. A cartoon was later created around the world of Teddy Ruxpin but before that, a live-action pilot was created. Coincidentally, this pilot aired in two parts in late 1985, just in time to purchase Teddy Ruxpin as a holiday gift.
View the pilot and follow along at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAyeKcKC4Xs
5 days ago
Episode 468--Best of the West
5 days ago
5 days ago
It's a western! It's a comedy! It has legends including Joel Higgins, Meeno Peluce, and Leonard Frey! And occasionally Christopher Lloyd! It can't fail! There is one small problem--half the nation didn't see its first episode because of football. Maybe it would have truly been the Best of the West if the western half of the country saw it.
Monday Apr 29, 2024
The Best of It Was a Thing on TV: Episode 87–College Comedies of 1979
Monday Apr 29, 2024
Monday Apr 29, 2024
In our newest "Best of" we go back to the Summer of 2020 when we looked at a trio of television shows that looked to capitalize on the popularity of "Animal House". All three shows would premiere around the same time in Early 1979 and would all be canceled by the end of the season.
Let's look back at when we talked about "Delta House", "Brothers and Sisters (1979)", and "Co-Ed Fever".
Thursday Apr 18, 2024
Episode 466–Guess What
Thursday Apr 18, 2024
Thursday Apr 18, 2024
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!"