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

In the second of our two birthday honorings this week, we celebrate what would have been Kevin Dobson's 83rd Birthday by looking at this short-lived 1981 CBS cop show. Kevin Dobson plays a widowed single father who moves from the NYPD to San Francisco. The ratings for this wouldn't be good, but better things would come for Kevin in the following year thanks to a cast opening on another CBS drama.

Greg and Dane take a trip to Jim Cornette's Smoky Mountain Wrestling on the SCTM. They look at the April 30th, 1994 episode of SMW as they took a look at some of the various wrestlers in the territory including a young Chris Jericho and Lance Storm as The Thrillseekers! They also look at the big monster heel in SMW known as Brusier Bedlam who's taking on Randy Savage at an upcoming show. Plus, we get to see an awesome taped promo from Jake Roberts.

In the next week, the legendary William Shatner turns 95 years old.  Our tribute to him is this entry from almost 20 years ago, which has Deal or No Deal tendencies but asks questions slightly more difficult than that show's title query.  It remains a classic among us, though the general population didn't agree.  We also get closure to what happened to the contestant on the final aired episode whose game was interrupted, never to be seen.

Here is yet another case of a spinoff of a hit show being an utter disaster.  Joey Tribbiani moved to L.A., away from his friends.  Nobody told him spinning off from the flagship show was gonna be this way.  After two lackluster seasons, this series ended up as one of the biggest spinoff flops in history.

In the newest episode of the SCTM, we continue with our look at 2010 TNA with Destination X 2010. In this PPV we get a great four-way ladder match, a Destination X match between The Motor City Machine Guns and the (not) Young Bucks, and the funniest ending of a Main Event of all-time according to Greg and Dane! Feel the power of the Hulkster's HOF Ring, Brother!

Mike's birthday happened earlier in the week.  As is tradition around these parts, during birthday time, each host picks an episode they want to cover as their Money in the Bank.  Mike chose this cartoon which was critical of the times in the 70s during season 1, but reverted to an animated sitcom with no controversial bite in subsequent seasons.

It's for reals this time as TNA Impact goes head-to-head against WWE RAW on Monday Night's in 2010 headlined by a tag team main event between The Hulkster and Abyss against Ric Flair and AJ Styles! We also got two championship matches on this special Impact, a big debut, and WHAT DID SCOTT HALL SAY OUT LOUD?!?!

They're beautiful. They're talented. They're poised. They're competing on a grand stage for $10,000 and the title of Miss… Dog. FOX arrives with another idea where one didn't exist, only for it to be neutered after one go.

Greg and Dane return to the WWE Vault channel for this episode of the SCTM as they review the 1994 Coliseum Video "Wham Bam Bodyslam!" We get some goodies from the New Generation Era in the WWF, including a Bret vs. Owen lumberjack match where we get chaos! We also have a banger between Alundra Blayze and Bull Nakano for the WWF Women's Championship, along with Doink and Dink clowning around at Titan Tower. BTW, boy did Pat Patterson let himself go!

Usually, we don't cover shows that ran for more than two seasons.  An exception was made not because this was bad but rather the plethora of changes which arose, primarily with talent wanting raises.  Despite that, What's Happening Now!! actually had a longer run than the original series.

We're a little late to the 100th birthday celebration of Leslie Nielsen.  Surely, you'll forgive us.  (And don't call us Shirley.) After the success of Airplane!, its producers brought a show with similar humor to the small screen with Police Squad!  The show was not a success for several reasons, but it was loved so much that it spun off into four movies over the last 40 years.

In the next chapter, Greg and Dane continue their look at 2010 TNA, which is a review of TNA Against All Odds 2010. We have an 8-Card Stud Tournament to determine the #1 contender for the TNA World Title; meanwhile, AJ Styles faces Samoa Joe for the TNA championship with Eric Bischoff as the Special Guest Ref. Special Thanks to Tim Taylor at Place to be Nation for creating the new logo for the podcast.

It's a midweek edition of It Was a Thing on TV Presents. First, Greg and Mike go over Super Bowl LX and talk about the Winter Olympics among various sports topics. Then, Greg invites Dane in Segment 2 to talk about the Wrestling Observer awards and oh boy, they got a lot to say about it.

Our tribute for Joe Garagiola's birthday takes us back almost 4 decades, to a show that has been forgotten, for good reason.  Kline and Friends' second endeavor was not good, though we know one way a current generation could have gotten into it:  #nobanditnobandit.  (We have had a little too much fun with that lately.)

With the Winter Olympics happening right now in Italy, we present our first-ever "Best of" involving a Live Show as we re-release Greg and Chico's live watch from the Stream Lounge era involving the 1993 Disney movie "Cool Runnings" recorded during the last Winter Olympics in 2022.

When we placed this on the schedule, it was to coincide with a 24/7 stream of the show.  A few days before we recorded, the stream ended.  To make matters worse, due to technical difficulties, the original Revisited show had to be scrapped.  Finally, it became a reality.  Relive the fun of Duke Moosekian, The Handsome Boy Modeling Agency, SPEWEY, and much more as we finally revisit Get a Life properly.

The Squared Circle Time Machine heads to the Manhattan Center as Monday Night RAW returns to the building where it all started as Jerry "The King" Lawler has issued a challenge to Paul E. and ECW to show up in this memorable episode of RAW.

Ever wanted to know the secret talents of NFL players? No? Well, NBC Sports thought otherwise and gave us this competition during the pregame of Super Bowl XXIII, which features four guys and Reggie White showing off their hidden talents to win money for charity with an all-star panel of judges, along with Ahmad Rashad and the star of the box-office hit of 1989, "Who's Harry Crumb?" John Candy? What?

In honor of this event's 40th anniversary this week, we look at a special episode of World Championship Wrestling on Superstation WTBS at The Omni in Atlanta. We have a loaded show with four competitive matches, including the Rock 'n' Roll Express facing the Midnight Express for the NWA World Tag Team titles and Ric Flair putting the NWA World Title on the line against Ronnie Garvin. Also, we get a cameo from Willie Nelson sitting with Dusty Rhodes and Tony Schiavone at a pool, and an appearance from Gaylord Perry for some reason?

This Sunday, the 60th installment of "The Big Game" is occurring.  We have pulled up some gridiron gems to commemmorate this event.  First, in 1970, football became more popular due to the AFL/NFL merger that year, the start of Monday Night Football, and the booming popularity of "The Big Game."  Earlier that year saw Where's Huddles?  (See episode 451.)  Later, Bob Stewart of Password and Pyramid fame came up with this prediction game where a celebrity and a pro player play "You Make the Call."

As you all know, we were supposed to bring you the Revisited episode of Get a Life today, but as Mike mentioned earlier this week, technical issues in the recording forced us to scrap it and redo it two weeks from now. However, since we have no episode this week, we are releasing our original episode of "Get a Life" from 2022 as a "Best of" for you this week. So enjoy Greg saying "Duke Moosekian".

We recorded episode 606 over the weekend.  There was one problem--Mike's computer was acting up, disconnecting from the web after a few minutes.  Since we utilize the web quite a bit in our preparation and recordings, this was a huge issue.  Mike went to his Surface as a back-up.  The results were horrible, with the audio skipping every few seconds.  Hence, we decided it was best to shelve this episode for now, though we will re-record it as episode 608.  For the record, Mike thinks he has solved his computer issues. We'll release a "Best of" on Friday to hold you over. The new episode 606 will be released on Tuesday, Feburary 3rd.

It's the finale of the Masked Man arc storyline on the SCTM as Greg and Dane look at the 30th Clash of the Champions from Caesars Palace in Vegas as the Hulkster and the Macho Man take on The Butcher and Kevin Sullivan in a tag team main event. If Vader doesn't ruin the main event and break his retraining order while paying $350 for ringside seats.

Part of the conversation in Episode 605 was about the once-prevalent fish and chicken franchise Arthur Treacher's, which only has 4 locations as of the time of recording.  Mike is about 10 miles away from their newest location.  He took the trip to try their offerings, to see how they stack up from what Mike remembers from his youth.  Was it a good value?  Would Mike go back?  Dive on in to this It Was a Thing first.

It has taken us over 6 years and over 600 episodes to finally cover one of the biggest turkeys in television history.  You would think anything a person nicknamed "The Great One" touches would, by default, be amazing.  This show is proof that is not true.  Jackie Gleason hosted one full episode of this, then gave the TV audience a grand apology the following week because what worked in runthroughs did not transition over that well to television.

It's the first TNA PPV of the Hogan/Bischoff era, brother! We had six sides, and it only got us so far jack! We got some debuts on this PPV while AJ and Kurt have their rematch from the January 4th Impact from the last episode for the TNA World Title. And whose side is the Nature Boy on?

Continuing with the magic theme from the last installment, our birthday boy Chico has selected this show as his annual Money in the Bank.  Instead of Bill Bixby as a master magician/crime solver, it is Hal Linden.  The results were similar--one season and done, but this has a place in our hearts.

As we near a new era with TNA Impact about to debut on AMC, we go back 16 years to when TNA launched a new era to start the 2010's on the January 4th, 2010 episode of Impact on Spike TV. We have the debut's of Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff running the Impact Zone, Brother! Along with some great suprisements that Dixie Carter has in store for us. Also, why is the security for TNA so bad we ask throughout this episode?

On the newest edition of Before the Show, Mike and Greg look at the controversy with the first week of the new CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil and how we aren't saluting it or him. They also look at some of the recent purchases they made on eBay and the ineptness of David Stearns running the New York Mets. Then Chico joins in during Segment 2 as they talk about Miami's win in the Fiesta Bowl and some of the seeding in the NFL Playoffs. Also, how exactly do Chip and Dale, along with Lisa Hartman, fit into this episode, you're wondering? That's a good question and you'll have to listen to find out!

To start 2026, we look at a show which many consider one of the best one-season wonders in television history.  What happens when you get a playboy who lives in a plane and drives a white Corvette, performs magic, and solves crimes?  You get The Magician, an enjoyable series from 1973-4.

With the bowl season going on in College Football, Greg and Dane look at this one-time event from the New Year's Day 1996 episode of Monday Night RAW featuring a Fatal Four-Way Tag Team match down with football-style rules known as the RAW Bowl. The winning team in this match is gonna receive the Lombardi trophy, but it's not what you think it is! Also, we see a preview of the upcoming Royal Rumble, hyping a big debut in the WWF!

Congratulations!  We have successfully completed another orbit around the sun!  As we have done for the last 5 years, we have summarized the year in television, this time in one part and in under 2 hours, spanning from Netflix buying everything to the disasterous year with CBS/Paramount.  Thanks as always for listening in 2025.  We have many more goodies in store for 2026!

Happy holidays!  Our gift to you this holiday season is a television movie from 1977, which was a carbon copy of the Christmastime favorite It's a Wonderful Life, but gender-swapped.  Included in the cast is one of our favorite names, as well as the person Warren Beatty said is the best in Hollywood at something.

Greg and Dane head to the next-to-last chapter of The Masked Man arc on the SCTM as Hulk Hogan takes on his former best friend in the whole world Brutus "The Butcher/Barber/Booty Man/Disciple/Man With No Name or Face" Beefcake for the WCW Championship. We also have Macho Man Randy Savage making his WCW PPV Debut as he will either shake the Hulkster's hand or slap him in the face! Plus, we get a visit from Santa Claus, although he looks awfully familiar, HMMMMMMMMMMMM!

A Longhorn Network tradition becomes an It Was a Thing on TV holiday tradition as we watch the University of Texas' live mascot, Bevo, in his natural habitat to muzak of songs from the holiday season. We also share some fun facts about Bevo and the University of Texas while watching Bevo. You can follow along with us at the following link from the Longhorn Network website. - https://watch.longhornnetwork.com/video/651299

We did it!  600 episodes!  As we do with milestone episodes, we cover a very special topic.  No topic is more special or more appropriate for this podcast than one of television's biggest bombs ever.  People thought the Happy Days magic would last via another spinoff.  Audiences initially said yes, but that quickly changed to a no, and the storybook relationship between Joanie and Chachi would end just as it began.

Greg and Dane go all the way to the UK for this edition of the SCTM filled with "great surprisements" as we have a fatal four way match between Stone Cold, Mankind, Undertaker, and Kane with Vinnie Jones as a guest enforcer. We also got Vince at Oxford University, D'Lo Brown touring London, and Christian teaming up with Sable? Buckle up because it's gonna be emotional! 

The Little Rascals shorts were very popular in syndication during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, to the extent that NBC ordered an animated Christmas special based on the shorts in 1979. Spanky and Porky have to retrieve a coat that their mother sold with the help of the gang, but all sorts of hilarity ensue. Can the gang get Spanky and Porky's mother's coat back in time for Christmas?

As we have done for years, we let you, the listeners, decide which of three series will be covered through our Viewer's Choice vote.  You have spoken loud and clear that you want us to talk about a live action kid's show from 1976 where a science teacher has a little sip from The Fountain of Youth while visiting Florida.  At that moment, he gained the ability to become a younger version of himself, but had no control over when the transformation happened.  The trademark Sherwood Schwartz hilarity definitely ensued.

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/