The It Was a Thing on TV Podcast Network

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 the early 70s.  Gene Roddenberry hit it big with Star Trek and is looking to create the next big thing.  He pitches Genesis II to CBS in 1973, who is not interested.  He tinkers with the format a bit, pitches it to ABC as Planet Earth in 1974, and is shut out again.  There was a third pilot with this format pitched a year later and guess what?  Three strikes and you're out.

This is the first (of hopefully many) It Was a Thing on TV Hall of Fame ceremonies.  Our inaugural class of 12 includes some known names, a definite unknown, and even an animal.

In 1986, Disney did what Disney does best--make money, specifically with a new cartoon that already had a line of plush dolls.  But the direction Disney went was unconventional.  Fluppy Dogs were not dogs.  Rather, they were interdimensional travelers.  It's not your average Disney cartoon.

Fluppy Dogs - History of Disney Television Animation (Toonamp) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oNfB1biUnc

We start our 3rd annual pilot month with a look at a potential revival of the Wonder Woman franchise from 2011.  And we thought the worst part was Dr. Phil, Nancy Grace, Jeffrey Toobin and Alan Dershowitz in the first 5 minutes.  This isn't your Lynda Carter Wonder Woman.

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.

The Power Rangers franchise has made bank off of taking an existing Japanese series and creatively editing it for an American audience. On one occasion, they took it another step. Was it a parody? Was it a tribute? Who knows? Lost in Translation Week continues with… “Lost & Found in Translation,” the Bad American Dubbing episode.

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.

Greg and Chico on the latest It Was a Thing on TV Live Show cover one of the big movie hits of last year in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. There's all sorts of fun involving bus battles, floating water, dragons, weird magic creatures and Ben Kingsley being awesome!

If you have Disney+ follow along and hit play right after Greg gives the five second countdown.

Back 219 episodes ago (episode 25, if you can't do the math), we talked about the original reality show with one contestant and everything was created with him in mind.  Now on episode 244, we're talking about the sequel with new actors, twice the Schmoes, and a falcon.

Due to some mature subject matter, listener discretion is advised.