The It Was a Thing on TV Podcast Network

It's a tradition unlike any other here at It Was a Thing on TV.  Last year, we looked at the 1983 Thanksgiving Day parade.  This year, we jump to 1984, a time with Avril the Eccentric, creepy Cabbage Patch Kids, and a Fraggle with permanent sex face.

Rankin-Bass' first holiday cartoon was this highly fictitious take on the traditional and now-highly outdated take on the first Thanksgiving, involving a mouse who saves everything with a printing press?!  All the talent in the world couldn't save this antiquated relic, given what we know now.

A personal favorite of ours, what happens when you combine a Christmas episode with a naive teenager, then sprinkle in two of the goofiest mafiosos you'll ever meet?  You'll get a very special episode with one heck of a takeout business.

It's another show from the late 70s which tried capitalizing on the disco craze.  Unfortunately, timing is everything.  Makin' It even had a Travolta, just not that one.  Also this installment, we return to full strength.

1-900 numbers were a staple of television advertising back in the 1980's and 1990's. It seems you couldn't go one half-hour back in the day without seeing a commercial for a 1-900 number. Chico and Greg go through some of the best(?) of these ads for you in this episode.

Freak Phone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq97QAYDDoI

Elvis Hotline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBhLWiU4rSs

Boglins Hotline Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21OJlhs0Obg

Dial an Insult - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fMTGImPh-8

Hot Hints - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxfeaUHCHWI

Mac and Me Hotline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IELT_qAuyw

1-900 Spell It Hotline Commercial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvWcHXHP3Zw

1-900 Cry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRiNuB_Y1qY

Corey Hotline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk2CKwJ3hGo

MC Hammer Hotline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWg-BTIUFDg

Tiffany 1-900 Commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kERC9t9BOiw

Fresh Prince Hotline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o932cAf3t1U

KISS 1988 Hotline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExQ09g7I82g

Twin Peaks Hotline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrpfProfqbM

Let’s Make a Deal Hotline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBrUJ6nfiFg

Santa’s Rap Hotline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeS9TBzEkfs

Grandpa Munster’s Junior Vampires of America - https://youtu.be/KjQKkUaVOVY

Freddy Krueger Hotline - https://youtu.be/lZpiCSrEtgI

Captain Lou Hotline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkcaYw_Y8DE

Rhonda’s Private Fun Line - https://youtu.be/Z0OalcRlAeg

Mean Gene Hotline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs-hdGYUycI

In honor of the upcoming reboot on Peacock, we look at the time the Bayside gang spent their summer vacation for a nice relaxing trip to Hawaii at Kelly's grandfather's hotel. Over the course of the trip they encounter Hawaiian natives, greedy hotel owners, shady lawyers and yes Mr. Belding. Also, Zack Morris being trash tries to hook up with a women who works at the rival hotel. You won't believe what happens.

As chosen by our listeners on our Facebook page we present possibly the craziest subject on our podcast yet. Featured in the 10th season of Mystery Science Theater 3000, A Case of Spring Fever is a 1940 educational short subject about a man who has a problem with springs and wishes to never see another spring again. Don't say we didn't warn you about what happens next. NO SPRINGS! TEEHEEHEEHEEHEE!

In 2001, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone created a send up of television sitcoms involving the then brand new presidency of George W. Bush. It had the brilliance that the duo is known for, so why did this show only get eight episodes? Chico and Greg try to find out the reasons why in this episode.

We're covering our second baseball episode of the month. In Episode 54 we covered the 2004 reboot pilot of Mister Ed so now we're covering one of our favorite episodes from the original series.

For the show's fourth season premiere in 1963, our favorite horse and Wilbur pay a visit to Dodger Stadium to see their favorite team along with legendary coach Leo Durocher. This episode answers the question can a HAWSE go deep against the great Sandy Koufax? 

In our previous episode we discussed Paul Lynde's self-titled sitcom at ABC in 1972-73. After another failed sitcom with Paul in a starring role at ABC, Paul did various guest spots on shows to fulfill his contract with the network. In 1976, Fred Silverman decided to give Paul his own primetime special for Halloween and in true Paul Lynde fashion he made it his own.

Listen as Paul is trapped in a haunted mansion with The Wicked Witch of the West and Wilhemina W. Witchiepoo while having to battle with Tim Conway. Also it's got KISS, Betty White, Billy Barty and Florence Henderson singing disco, how can you go wrong?