It was a Thing on TV: An Anthology on Forgotten Television

In the latest edition of the SCTM, Greg and Dane look at the Thanksgiving 1986 Episode of the syndicated wrestling newsmagazine show "Pro Wrestling This Week" hosted by Gordon Solie and Joe Pedicino, looking at the various wrestling territories around the world. In this episode, we get reports on Ricky Steamboat's injury at the hands of Randy Savage, Bill Apter's thoughts on Starrcade '86, Jimmy Snuka in a neckbrace cutting a hilarious promo on Col. DeBeers, a $100K tag team battle royal in Continental, a pre-Typhoon Uncle Fred in Memphis, a Gary Hart editorial on the dangers of drugs, Gordon Solie conducting a poolside interview, and a ladies battle royal in blindfolds! OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! You can follow along with the episode at this link on YouTube (Credit: 4WrestlingFans) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvSrtGOfNOk

Health clubs and aerobics were all the rage in the early 80s, thanks to Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons.  Eventually, this trend was bound to hit scripted television.  It did, in comedic form with Leslie Nielsen playing a former health show host turned health club owner.  Alas, this show didn't pump up the viewership and its membership was cancelled after just 5 episodes.

With the enduring success of a TV series comes the inevitable spinoff.  The first spinoff of Cheers was this entry about Carla's ex and his new trophy wife, and Carla's two kids.  13 episodes later, it was clear the spinoff went to the wrong character, something which would be righted years later.

You have had your Thanksgiving dinner.  Now it's time for dessert, the final Thanksgiving parade of the 1980s.  As always, highlights of pop culture from the year make appearances, as well as ads for the must-have items for the holiday season.  In 1989, we also get a weird appearance from The Joker (no Cesar Romero and his orange wedges) plus a troupe of dancing chickens.

Way back when, in the first year of the Podcast back in 2019, we covered the 1983 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Episode 9, and we've done the following year's edition every year since. Given we've now had a set formula for covering these parades since, we decided this year to do a "Revisited" for the 1983 edition. We got Shirt Tales, Jon Bauman, Yogi Bear, Charley Pride, the Superman balloon that hides in the corner depressed, Woody Woodpecker, a drunken Bullwinkle, Leonard Frey, and Mr. Smith! Plus, we also get some hot Atari 2600 commercials and some early info on buying VCRs for Black Friday 1983 during the parade! The second part of our Thanksgiving Day Parade Extravaganza will be posted at 12 Noon later today when we discuss The 1989 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

In honor of Thanksgiving, Greg and Dane go back to 1988 and look at the 2nd Annual WWF Survivor Series from the Richfield Coliseum in 1988. We got a confusing double turn between Demolition and the Powers of Pain, Akeem, Mr. Perfect, The Mega Powers, and so much more on this episode of The Squared Circle Time Machine! (Also, forgive Greg for working with a hoarse voice in this episode)

A personal favorite show of Greg and Mike's is this spiritual successor to The New Liar's Club, but with various types of lines from movies, songs, and factual statements, and without even a single mention of Shoddy Laroux.  The game is derivative, but the real reason we did the show is because someone wanted to bring up the end theme and its similarities to video games of the era.

It's the latest episode of The Masked Man arc on the SCTM as Hulk Hogan, Sting, and Dave Sullivan team up against the 3 Faces of Fear in a six-man tag team main event ref'd by Mr. T in a nightgown. We also see a return match between Pretty Wonderful and Stars and Stripes for the WCW Tag Titles and a hoss fight between Dustin Rhodes and Vader! We also learn from Bobby Heenan how devastating the sleeper hold can be!

We're giving you a double dose of McLean Stevenson today, on his 98th birthday.  Next is a very short-lived show with McLean playing a conservative priest who clashes often with a liberally-minded nun.  After 5 low-rated episodes, CBS was having nun of it.

In honor of McLean Stevenson's 98th birthday, we re-examine one of the first shows we covered, one synonymous with NBC's troubles in the late 70s and early 80s, but also one synonymous with Stevenson's failures post-M*A*S*H.  With more visual evidence of the show available, we take a second look at if Hello Larry was that bad, or if it was a victim of circumstance.

In this edition of the SCTM, Greg and Dane look at the in-ring debut of Kurt Angle in TNA Wrestling against the undefeated Samoa Joe at TNA Genesis 2006. There's a lot of good in-ring action and a lot of bad Russo-riffic crap on this show. We do at least get Kevin Nash wanting to win one for Bo ............... Derek.

Last year, we went over TV Guide's 50 Worst Shows of All-Time list from 2001 and thought about which shows should be removed from the list and what shows we would add from the last 20+ years since the list was released. This year, Mike, Greg, and Chico present their re-rankings of what they think are the 50 Worst Shows of All-Time based on what they kept from TV Guide's 2001 list and what shows they added from Part 1. For new listeners, you can listen to Part 1 of this special from last year at this link. - https://www.itwasathingontv.com/e/it-was-a-thing-on-tv-presents-tv-guides-50-worst-shows-of-all-time-list-part-1/

Over the years, overweight people were ridiculed on television and in the movies as slow, messy, dumb, lazy, and were often the butt of jokes.  One show avoided those stereotypes, showing a trio of overweight sisters trying to improve themselves health-wise and career-wise, and being empathetic souls looking out for their fellow men.  Credit Babes for attempting to dispel the outdated stereotypes, though the series only lasted a single season.

The newest edition of the SCTM sees a big reveal in the Masked Man storyline as Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair's careers are on the line in a Steel Cage for the WCW title. Greg and Dane discuss Terry Funk being awesome, Big Boss Man Behaving Badly five years early, and Dave Sullivan's new theme song, among others. Don't *BUTCHER* listening to this episode!

As happens in the TV business, having a successful TV movie equates to a run as a series.  This is no different, holding its own versus some huge 1985 competition.  The later series?  Not so much, against that same competition.  Robert Blake starred as a tough but fair priest in a tough and not-so-fair portion of Los Angeles, trying to make Hell Town not so hellish.

It's October of 1993 in the newest episode of The Squared Circle Time Machine as Greg and Dane look at an episode of Monday Night RAW where Randy Savage and Crush meet head-on to try and settle their issues. Meanwhile, the good folks at the WWF are making us call a 1-900 line to ask us if Shawn Michaels should be reinstated. Plus, we got a rare Joe Fowler in the WWF sighting on the Podcast! How about that?

We have returned with another batch of those wacky commercials from all parts of the U.S.  Ladies (and guys), let's have a Hometown Commercial party. Here is a list of links to the ads featured in this installment: We Are the Spitzer Shuffling Crew:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxx-v2S7YRA Another Spitzer ad, with bad CGI:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP9yVuD38Ac Little John's Derby Jewelry - Super Gold Man Returns - https://youtu.be/HXYmeeijUJM?si=h-upU0j-rlNRTGAO Neil's Finance Plaza - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LmQVxl5hP4 Lawson Boxing - February 2006 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npF-vbm8Rzc Smoking Santa (Toledo) - https://youtu.be/gz-3cL0V5-o?si=_mKteB3x65xCpgqY Pizza Pan Jeopardy: - https://youtu.be/sEIZp7D9Ks8?si=2SrVxnjc3a3hV3pn Gordo's Chimichangas - https://youtu.be/OF77D8a3nmI KWBB Texas: WB Family Night at Lamar University - https://youtu.be/YvTd-1Yt9z4 Mr. Belvedere Commercial with Robot (Detroit) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9hDmJuARok South Bay Toyota - Wack it! - https://youtu.be/qVWBOXM61Tw?si=Cqn8WZp1uNYCEfoU JTM Beef Taco Filling Commercial with Cris Collinsworth - https://youtu.be/x9H-ESBm6Vc?si=8O2eHKW4646oZfMA Fretter Appliance 11 Hour Sale (1983) - https://youtu.be/QPeNrTZWrPA Denvil Crowe - Pay Me Now - https://youtu.be/lANJc_QIXU0?si=gxOVDkTmNiWZBSPS  Save A Lot (Frankie Flight) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1t3_Exjyoc Carvel (Cookie O'Puss) - https://youtu.be/f7wj9UmcjYk Burger Ranch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVgrRjt82gw Crazy Bruce's Liquors - https://youtu.be/SNkK-aQEtMI?si=00YHPmXwoTdukibX  Jim “The Hammer” Shapiro (Rochester, NY) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zToHQ8oQvgA Dodd's Serta Trek - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cip0TY91sjI Mayflower Buffet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQlfxI8r9jM Red House Furniture - Black and White People (Rhett & Link) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnOyMSEWNTs Grand Finale - Mr. Submarine Commercial with Scottie Pippen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40YkCQcMCpQ

With TNA Bound for Glory 2025 happening tonight, as of the posting of this episode, we look back on the 15th Anniversary this week of a date that only comes once a Century! 10.10.10! Greg and Dane look at TNA Bound for Glory 2010! Greg and Dane look at various things on this show, including a Lethal Lockdown match between EV 2.0 and Fortune, Mickie James' TNA debut, RVD and Abyss in a Monsters Ball match, and the three-way match for the vacant TNA World Title between Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, and Mr. Anderson. THEY want you to listen to this episode!

Our SNL 50th birthday celebration wraps up with a contender to the throne which was a direct rip-off of SNL; the head of ABC admitted as much!  Fridays had its moments, but it sorely missed making recurring characters who would be remembered nowadays.  It also had thrilling guest hosts like Henny Youngman!  Grab a bite to eat, as this is one of our longest shows to date.

In Fall 1975, two different shows named Saturday Night Live premiered--the one we know, albeit without the Live moniker, and this show, a variety/talk show hosted by arguably ABC's biggest personality (and definitely ABC's biggest mouth) at the time.  Despite its deserving role as one of the worst shows in television history, very little footage of this series exists...which may be a good thing.

The Masked Man arc continues on the SCTM as Greg and Dane go to Center Stage in Atlanta for a special live episode of the WCW Main Event as Hulk Hogan and Dave Sullivan team up against Ric Flair and a mystery partner. We also react to Ric Flair putting his career on the line against Hogan's at the upcoming Halloween Havoc PPV, along with discussion regarding the Honky Tonk Man, the Sega 32X, and a young Road Dogg as a jobber for Double A.

The 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live's premiere is happening tomorrow night, October 4.  We decided to look at another disasterous SNL season, having covered Season 6 (episode 97) and Season 11 (episode 265) previously.  SNL was at a time of weakness, having lost key contributors in the previous year.  The show lost even more contributors in S20.  To add insult to injury, there would be a new kid on the block on another network.

The Squared Circle Time Machine gets ready for war as Dusty and Dustin Rhodes team up with The Nasty Boys to do battle with Col. Parker and his Stud Stable in the War Games Match at Fall Brawl 1994. We also continue the arc with The Masked Man from Episode 18 and see if he enters into the picture as Hulk Hogan tries his best to get Ric Flair back into the ring for a rematch at Halloween Havoc, brother!

Last year, Greg put this show up in the annual Viewer's Choice vote.  It did not win.  As always, we cover the shows that didn't win the vote in the following year.  After seeing this, Greg regretted ever picking this.  We all make mistakes, just like ABC did in 2012 after picking up this show which was like Bosom Buddies, but that's where the comparisons end.  The complete series aired, but not domestically, for some reason.  Suffer along with us, won't you?

In episode 34, we first talked about the Jason Bateman classic sitcom, It's Your Move, with very little video of the show at that time.  Fast forward five and a half years where some intrepid individual(s) uploaded all the episodes.  We felt it was time to give this show a proper revisiting.

CBS had a slew of hits in the early 70s, including a wartime comedy called M*A*S*H.  CBS went to the wartime well again in 1973 with this comedy about a battalion of primarily African-American soldiers in France during World War II.  As bad as the ratings were, that may not have been what got the show cancelled so quickly.  It's not good when your lead and a supporting cast member were arrested during the show's brief run.

The title of this series unintentionally goes deeper than the premise of the show.  It's not easy to keep the kids together after a divorce.  It wasn't necessarily easy to replace two actors who starred in this show's pilot, one of whom passed away to tragic circumstances.  It also wasn't easy for this show going up against two relatively new shows on TV, two favorites from the 1980s.  Certainly, it wasn't easy for one of the show's stars to balance this show with another gig he had at the time.

We had ECW One Night Stand from WWE in 2005, and then WWE did it again in 2006, followed by the blah revival of ECW, so when most of the OG ECW roster jumps from WWE to TNA by 2010, what happens? Dixie Carter decides she'll have her own One Night Stand! WITH BLACKJACK! AND HOOKERS! Greg and Dane look at TNA Hardcore Justice 2010, where they go over dance-offs with the Full Blooded Italians, Raven and Tommy Dreamer having the most cringe hardcore match ever, a lightsaber fight and RVD facing Sabu in the Main Event! Be sure to thank Dixie for this episode everybody, because this wouldn't be possible without her (heavy sarcasm).

In honor of our annual Star Trek Day, we have that moment when Jadzia Dax was an up-and-coming model working for someone whose assistant was Will Riker. Because it's the 80s, it'll be a melodramatic rise to the top. Lucky for her, she's got the world's top teenage fashion model in her corner. We go inside the world of two “Paper Dolls” and why they managed to… fold… so quickly.

College football officially kicked off last week.  Years ago, we looked at what might be the worst Monday Night Football game ever.  20 years ago today (September 5), what might have been the worst college football game between two true collegiate football powerhouses occurred.  Get used to the phrase "three and out."  It is used with frequency this episode. "The game that killed the Golden Era of Miami-Florida State" (Worst Game Ever) (Colton Denning) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5GRxnKbOyY

In honor of the Eagles' start of the defense of their Super Bowl title, Greg and Dane on the SCTM go back to February of 1983 for a big WWF House Show at the Philadelphia Spectrum on PRISM. We got a big 10-Man Tag Team Match featuring Andre the Giant, Superstar Billy Graham, Pedro Morales, Jimmy Snuka, Don Muraco, and others. We also got Bob Backlund defending the WWF title against Big John Studd, along with a fun brawl between The Wild Samoans and the Strongbows for the Tag Team titles! Plus, we also meet our new favorite ring announcer, THE ZINC! COME BACK ZINC! COME BACK!

Over the last 30 plus years, MTV has had some decent cartoons, most notably Beavis and Butthead and Daria.  3-South isn't on that list, but it holds a place in the heart of at least one of us.  Goofy and stupid but with some notable contemporary voice talents, this show might be best known as one of the gigs Brian Dunkleman took after the first season of American Idol.

Continuing from the last episode of the SCTM, Greg and Dane look at the first-ever event held at Chicago's United Center in WWF SummerSlam 1994. Leslie Nielsen will solve the mystery of the two Undertakers while Bret and Owen Hart battle in an epic Steel Cage match for the WWF title. Also, we got Sweetness himself, Walter Payton, helping Razor Ramon regain the Intercontinental title against the now two-belt Big Daddy Cool Diesel! Make sure Anvil isn't sitting behind you during this episode.

Over 5 years and 500 episodes ago, we tried a "concept" episode where Greg read actual titles to episodes of Maury.  (Episode 60, if you want to visit that show.)  We are back with a second compilation from shows which aired after our initial May 2020 episode.  How many ways can Maury's staff describe DNA test episodes?  The answer is 'many.'

In prior episodes, we have talked about the first two iterations of The Joe Schmo Show.  While it is an often funny and unpredictable format, one can't go to the well with that format too often, due to the familiarity of the personnel and the wacky (and suspicious) scenarios which unfold.  After a hiatus of over a decade, the format returned with the same host, the same crazy situations, actors trying to sell their characters, and Lorenzo Lamas?  Wearing next to nothing?!

It's eight days before SummerSlam 1994, and on the latest episode of The SCTM, Greg and Dane look at this USA Network special hyping the PPV. They look at Leslie Nielsen's search for The Undertaker, the possibility of Lex Luger selling out to Ted DiBiase, and Bret Hart fat-shaming Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Make sure to eat a Domino's Pizza before you listen to this episode.

You've heard many stories about Elvis… his music, his moves, his crappy movies, but have you listened to the one where he invites Miss Tennessee to a kung fu movie and then starts a relationship? In 1981, Stephanie Zimbalist was the beauty queen, and Don Johnson was her King in a made-for-TV tragedy about the last few years of his life.

In this installment, we have yet another revival whose shelf life was incredibly short.  Was it because of the competition?  Was it because all the major characters were played by new actors?  Was the original series too fresh in the minds of viewers?  No matter the answer, The Case of the Quickly Cancelled Show got a swift verdict from viewers and CBS executives.

Greg and Dane begin their first real-time arc here on The Squared Circle Time Machine as they review a storyline from 1994-95 WCW. It's the August 1994 episode of the Clash of the Champions featuring the big rematch from Bash at the Beach between Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair for the WCW title! But this rematch may be ruined by a man in a mask pulling a Nancy Kerrigan on the Hulkster brother! Can Hogan walk five blocks from the hospital to his match with the Nature Boy in time? We also got Dusty and Dustin Rhodes battling Col. Rob Parker's Stud Stable, along with an epic US title match between Ricky Steamboat and Steve Austin among others!

A long time ago in a galaxy far away, there was a crew of space garbage pickers before previous installment Salvage 1.  (See episode 399.)  NBC aired the pilot episode with little fanfare and little success.  However, something happened within two weeks of the pilot airing which gave NBC a reason to turn this pilot into a full-fledged series, albeit for just a smattering of episodes.

Here is another case of taking a successful movie and turning the general premise into a lackluster TV show.  Though there is no connection between this show and Look Who's Talking, outside of slightly changed names, the similarities are there.  Despite being called the worst show on TV in its first season, the show got a second season and remained bad.

In the newest "Best of", we go back to Episode 82 when the gang covered this ABC drama from Steven Bochco from 2005 that was his big follow-up to "NYPD Blue". It's about a NYC Police Detective who gets shot, he becomes blind, and he solves crimes! That's the show, everybody! But hey, it's the first episode we covered that has future show HoFer Rena Sofer in it! That counts for something, right? RIGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHTTTTTTTTTTTT?

The newest episode of the SCTM looks at a big episode of Smack-Smack-Smack-Smack-Down! It's Stephanie McMahon's first episode as SmackDown GM, and she's booked a big show that features a Steel Cage-Steel Cage-Steel Cage Match between Edge and Chris Jericho-Jericho-Jericho. Also, we got the WWE Debut of Rey Mysterio-Rey Mysterio-Rey Mysterio! And we got the SmackDown debut of The Next Big Thing-The Next Big Thing-The Next Big Thing, Brock Lesnar-Lesnar-Lesnar! But can Stephanie face the specter of Raw GM Eric Bischoff hanging over her head as Eazy E tries to poach talent from her roster?

104 years ago on July 23, one of our favorites, Calvert Deforest AKA Larry "Bud" Melman, was born.  In honor of this milestone, we are watching a VHS release of a workout video for those who think Jazzercise is too strenuous.  Sit back, grab your remote, as well as a cold one and your favorite snack for Larry "Bud" Melman's workout for couch potatoes.

In the latest episode of The Squared Circle Time Machine, we look back at one of the worst pay-per-views of all time in the 1991 Great American Bash from WCW. In this episode, we are joined by HypSports legend RickinBaltimore, who was at the Baltimore Arena in July of 1991, and we get his first-hand perspective on the crowd's reaction to Ric Flair leaving WCW and how they took their anger out during the entire show. We also get some funny stuff, including the debut of Eric Bischoff in WCW, Kevin Nash as Oz, a Scaffold Match with capture the flag rules, and El Gigante coming out to the ring with four little people! "WE WANT FLAIR! WE WANT FLAIR! WE WANT FLAIR!"

In our latest "Best of" we go back to Episode 47 and look at an instructional VHS tape put out in 1997 called "The Kids Guide to the Internet". Take a look at what all the kids in 1997 were doing when putting a web search on Yahoo! All the kids in 1997 wanted to surf to MTV dot com, get their sports scores, write an e-mail to Bill Clinton and watch Mister Ed in a pixelated small QuickTime video surfing!   YOU'RE GOING SURFING ON THE INTERNET!

In 1981, Major League Baseball held its All-Star Game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Early August following a players' strike which cancelled two months of the season. There was a lot of mystery surrounding the game and how the fans would react to the players upon returning to action. What we got at the 1981 MLB All-Star Game was a lot of exciting action, plus a cameo for Morgana: The Kissing Bandit! It was also the first All-Star Game for several Hall of Famers, including Ozzie Smith and Andre Dawson. Enjoy as we look back on the 1981 MLB All-Star Game.  

One thing all three of us enjoy is a good game of pinball.  With the 50th anniversary of this show happening earlier this week, it was a natural for us to cover this show.  What may have looked good on paper was not, for reasons ranging from the machine often broke down to the physics which made traditional pinball fun were non-existent.

In honor of the cinematic release of the new version of Superman, we look at a pilot that was sort of the spiritual successor to The Adventures of Superman, after its 6 season run.  This is one of those pilots that makes you ask why, between the premise of the pilot, the creepy costumes, and the overall cheapness in quality.  This time, we don't have a dog of a show for you.  We have a superdog!

In honor of the 4th of July, we take a look at the go-home show for Georgia Championship Wrestling on SuperStation WTBS, before their big 4th of July show at the Omni in Atlanta. In this episode, we get to see Tommy Rich, Don Muraco. Paul Orndorff, Ole Anderson and Stan Hansen among others. We also get to see Gordon Solie conduct a face-to-face interview with NWA Champion Ric Flair and WWWF Champion Bob Backlund before their big Champion vs. Champion match at the Omni show. As if that wasn't enough, Greg and Dane also have fun watching all the 1982 commercials during the show. Just be sure you don't have to call a different number in New Jersey when ordering. This episode of Georgia Championship Wrestling is available to watch on YouTube thanks to the Retro Wrestling Archive at this link. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnIVfvwQSB8

This time, we look at another anomaly that got cancelled despite good ratings like Bridget Loves Bernie.  Maybe CBS cooked Goodnight Beantown because the network wanted to go a different route on Sunday nights.  Maybe a single mother having relations with her neighbor/co-worker was a bit too much.  Maybe it's because the penultimate episode ruined sexual tension between the two main characters.  There is no definitive answer in our research.