The TV Museum Podcast

Due to technical difficulties Jeffrey explains in the new intro to this archived episode, we are unable to bring you a new episode as we had hoped this week. So instead, with What We Do in the Shadows a cult hit on FX, we go to our archive for a look back at executive producer Paul Simms's first major series:  The Larry Sanders Show. But before that, Jeffrey touches on our experience with Sapphire & Steel! We'll be back with a real new episode soon. Thanks for bearing with us, Taters!

In this episode we wander down a dirt road to sit a spell with friends in a slower time. Wet your whistle, pull up a chair, and find out what it was like to spend the tumultuous 1960s...out of the fray. The Andy Griffith show lasted 8 seasons, 249 episodes, and nearly 6 decades of syndication, so something must be working for it, and it can't just be Don Knotts's sex appeal.   Tune in to learn the connection between Mayberry and the Big Bang Theory, discover the difference between a "generic spinoff" and and "planted spinoff", and gasp at the expected-but-still-somehow-shocking racism of early 60s stand up "comedy".    Learn more: Why People Still Watch the Andy Griffith Show (from The Atlantic) What it was, was football Mayberry Days 2019 schedule   The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.

When ABC decided it was time to air out two 70s classics from the incomparable Normal Lear collection, we agreed. Join us as we compare two original episodes of All in the Family and The Jeffersons with the star-studded tribute show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Lear himself. Can 45-year-old scripts sound fresh today? Which flavor of abrasive patriarch do we prefer, Archie Bunker or George Jefferson? And just how many times will we mispronounce Sherman Hemsley’s name?  Episodes we watched: All in the Family, “Sammy’s Visit”, season 2 episode 21 (available on Crackle) The Jeffersons, “Mr. Piano Man”, season 2 episode 5 (available on Hulu with Starz subscription or on YouTube) Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons'' (available on Hulu) The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.  

To commemorate 15 years since Friends stopped being there for us (in prime time, anyway), we take a look back at the pilot, searching for clues to the show’s eventual runaway success.  Was this beloved sitcom a gem from the start? Is Netflix smart to spend ALL THE MONEY to secure the streaming rights? Is the show as “smutty” as The Washington Post’s original review would lead us to believe? And, most importantly, does Jeffrey still know how to do the Pepsi Summer Chill-Out? Listen in for a trip back to 1994 and answers to all these questions and more. if you want to deep dive into Friends, we highly recommend this series on Vulture. More about 70s obscurity James at 15 from People, courtesy of our listener Brent.   

Hannah and Jeffrey return from a slightly longer-than-intended hiatus with big news about exciting changes on the home front and (hopefully) to the podcast! Then, your hosts load up the truck (it's a minivan, really) and head to Beverly... Hills, that is, for a look at one of the most popular series of all time and one of the most watched episodes in TV history.  How do your self-acknowledged snooty suburbanite hosts take to this beloved slice of Boomer nostalgia? About as well as you think.  LINKS: Go deep behind the scenes with The Television Academy Foundation's series of video interviews with "The Beverly Hillbillies" creator Paul Henning, and learn how the show shed Winston Cigarettes as its title sponsor. Hear Buddy Ebsen sing on The Wizard of Oz soundtrack (this is the source for the clip we used in the exhibit). 

As 2018 comes to a close, Hannah and Jeffrey look back at their favorites and least favorites of the third season. Listen in to learn what show Jeffrey puts on both his Top Five and Bottom Five lists! Keep listening to learn which episodes you absolutely must watch RIGHT NOW, and which series could be excised from our timeline, to no one’s detriment (except maybe Tim Daly’s - OOH, SPOILER). A big thanks to all our listeners for a great year. The Museum would never have grown to 45 exhibits without your support and enthusiasm. 

Journey back to the golden age of TV private eyes: the 1980s! Will big hair, man jewelry, and will-they-won't-they sexual chemistry help solve crimes and lock up bad guys? Will Hannah and Jeffrey stay awake long enough to find out? Listen in to learn how Remington Steele nearly didn't get made, find out how many puns can be made with "Steele", and discover which 80s classic almost featured Stephanie Zimbalist. If you enjoy this and other exhibits, be a patron at www.patreon.com/tvmuseum. Couch Potato memberships start at just $1/month, and supporters get access to exclusive content and swag. Join the ranks of the Tater Army today!  The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.

Join us in the 90s wing as we dust off the original comedy about six 20-somethings in the city. Listen in to learn the highlights of Queen Latifah's epic career, discover which 80s teen star made a young Jeffrey's heart beat faster, and find out why both Living Single and The Golden Girls owe a debt to Jane Austen. Read more: 25 years later, the cast speaks out in the Atlantic How the Golden Girls influenced everything Will there be a reboot? Kim Coles does everything ever If you enjoy this and other exhibits, be a patron at www.patreon.com/tvmuseum. Couch Potato memberships start at just $1/month, and supporters get access to exclusive content and swag. Join the ranks of the Tater Army today!  The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.

Good evening. This week your humble hosts will be digging into the second most well-known black-and-white anthology series.  How will Alfred Hitchcock Presents stack up against The Twilight Zone? Will the Hitch maintain his title of the master of suspense within the constraints of the small screen? Will Jeffrey stay awake?  All this plus reader mail, a hot take on The Conners, and play-at-home games (yes, plural!). Learn more: The AV Club takes on AHP Amazing interview with producer/director/actor/cool old dude Norman Lloyd If you enjoy this and other exhibits, be a patron at www.patreon.com/tvmuseum. Couch Potato memberships start at just $1/month, and supporters get access to exclusive content and swag. Join the ranks of the Tater Army today!  The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.

The Museum is taking flight this week, as we soar through the 90s with a staple of NBC's famed Thursday night line-up. (If by staple you mean the show that ran between Cheers and LA Law while you were in the kitchen getting a snack.) Take a listen to find out which cast member got her showbiz start singing creationist novelty songs, discover which other 90s sitcom Jeffrey refuses to watch, and revisit your hosts' undying affection for Bebe Neuwirth's Lillith.  Eager to learn more? Check out: Wing's feature Kickstarter If you enjoy this and other exhibits, be a patron at www.patreon.com/tvmuseum. Couch Potato memberships start at just $1/month, and supporters get access to exclusive content and swag. Join the ranks of the Tater Army today!  The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.  

This week your two incongruous and divergent hosts take on a classic from the late great Neil Simon and titan of 70s sitcoms Garry Marshall. Will we be charmed by comedic mismatch of Tony Randall and Jack Klugman? Or will we find the public's continued affection for this show just...odd? Listen in to discover who was Klugman's unexpected real life roommate, learn how to play Password, and enjoy an episode of Trivia Only Hannah Could Care About. For more Odd Couple, check out Dana Steven's tribute to Tony Randall Felix and Oscar sing (?) "You're So Vain" If you enjoy this and other exhibits, be a patron at www.patreon.com/tvmuseum. Couch Potato memberships start at just $1/month, and supporters get access to exclusive content and swag. Join the ranks of the Tater Army today!  The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.

Rev your motor and tighten that helmet, because we're hitting the road with the heroes of the California Highway Patrol. Come along with us, as the 70s merge into the 80s, a time when action was gentle, aviators were made for lowering suggestively, and racquetball reigned supreme. Listen in to learn how costars Estrada and Wilcox got along (or didn't), what surprising turns their later careers took, and just how much Jeffrey loves Airport 1975. By listener demand we also take another (brief) look at the eps we watched for Exhibit 38 (Boy Meets World). Become a "CHiPs" super fan and read more: Five Things You Never Knew About Erik Estrada Get a CHiPs action figure! The Wedding of the Century Your dorm room's newest decor item If you enjoy this and other exhibits, be a patron at www.patreon.com/tvmuseum. Couch Potato memberships start at just $1/month, and supporters get access to exclusive content and swag. Join the ranks of the Tater Army today!  The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.

Wandering down this [podcast] we call life...it's good to know I have [listeners] who will always stand by me... Well, we hope you'll stand by us as we roll back to the peak of the 90s, with TGIF stalwart Boy Meets World. We watched child actors actually age gracefully while tackling a plethora of "very special" issues in a way only a 22-minute family-friendly sitcom can. Were we charmed by this particular boy and his world? Who comes out on top in the battle of the Savage wunkerkinds? Can we see beyond the "curtain" haircuts and mom (and dad!) jeans to appreciate this listener favorite? If you want a deep dive into the Boy Meets World, er, world, check these out: Uproxx's oral history of BMW "Dark secrets" of BMW Rider Strong's 2008 Obama ad Rider Strong's Literary Disco Podcast   If you enjoy this and other exhibits, be a patron at www.patreon.com/tvmuseum. Couch Potato memberships start at just $1/month, and supporters get access to exclusive content and swag. Join the ranks of the Tater Army today!  The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.

Seek not to contend, for it is the eyes that blind the man, so should the podcaster become the podcast. That's right, Couch Potatoes, we're busting open the fortune cookies and rolling back to the old west – and we're bringing former Shaolin Temple disciple and current Bruce Lee biographer Matthew Polly with us! Listen up to learn what Matt has in common with Kung Fu's Caine, discover just what kind of adventures you can have on peyote in Laurel Canyon, and hear the groovy musical stylings of David Carradine. More from Matthew Polly: Read Bruce Lee: A Life (it's a very TV Museum kind of book – you 'll love it) Check out Matt's website Matt's Author Page @ Amazon.com Follow Matt on Twitter   Become a Kung Fu master: Office Space loves KF Let Grasshopper install your TV   Can't get enough TV Museum Podcast? Be a museum patron at Patreon.com and get access to insider content and more!  

If you like British comedy, we've got a classic this week that's quite the ticket. We'll take a close look at Watery Fowls -- er, Fawlty Towers -- the show deemed the greatest of all time by the British Film Institute. Will this 70s television treasure still shine today? Can the operatic virtuosity of Cleese and company overcome Hannah's antipathy for farce? Will Jeffrey talk at length about Monty Python? Tune in to learn more about the charms of Torquay, the peculiar British tradition of video in/film out, and where you can experience the glamour of dinner à la Fawlty. But whatever you do, just don't mention the war. Learn More! Why Brit Shows Look Different in Exterior Shots The "Faulty Towers" Dining Experience Shaddap Your Face  Waiter, There's a Flea in my Soup The Travel Bug with August Lindt Top Ten Fawtly Towers Moments FT Bloopers and Outtakes If you enjoy this and other exhibits, be a patron at www.patreon.com/tvmuseum. Couch Potato memberships start at just $1/month, and supporters get access to exclusive content and swag. Join the ranks of the Tater Army today!  The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.

It's Christmas in July! Grab some leftover roast goose and plum pudding (as we understand British folk tend to do after the holidays), because in this exhibit we’re taking a look at the 1987 "Christmas special" of A Bit of Fry & Laurie! This British TV classic sprang, like Monty Python and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, from Cambridge University’s Footlights comedy troupe. The titular Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie are now well-known on both sides of the pond, but you can listen in to discover what these two hilarious guys were cooking up in their salad days. Tune in to learn which Oscar winner worked with Fry and Laurie on an ill-fated scifi mockumentary sketch show, what Hugh Laurie thinks is mysterious, and just how fluffy, gorgeous, and lovely Stephen Fry is.   If you enjoy this and other exhibits, be a patron at www.patreon.com/tvmuseum. Couch Potato memberships start at just $1/month, and supporters get access to exclusive content and swag. Join the ranks of the Tater Army today!   The TV Museum Podcast is dedicated to exploring classic TV, from the westerns of the 50s, to the family sitcoms of the 80s. We trace the history of TV aliens, cops, and single girls and travel through time and space. If it’s been beamed through the air (and can be streamed through the internet), we’ll cover it! Subscribe and listen for nostalgia, analysis, and silly in-jokes, brought to you by a husband-and-wife team with a devotion to the tube.

Grab your towel and DON'T PANIC! We're off to discover the mysteries of the life with the universe's best-selling guidebook. Listen and learn about the many incarnation's of Douglas Adams's silly, subversive, and strangely intelligent space saga, find out what the cast is up to nowadays, and discover how Jeffrey can always slip in a joke at Gene Roddenberry's expense. Also, hear how fellow Taters responded to our Adam-12 exhibit. Want to be thanked on-air for your dedication to The Museum? Be a TV Museum Patron! Dive deeper into HHGttG: The Dixionary (David Dixon fan site) Links to the COMPLETE Marvin the Paranoid Android singles:  Marvin, the Paranoid Android Metal Man  Marvin, I Love You Reasons to be Miserable Play the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy game! A bit more about Mark Wing-Davey Neil Gaiman's great bio of Douglas Adams

Buckle up, friends – we're on the beat with Officers Reed and Malloy. Join us as we cruise the mean streets of LA, apprehending camper thieves and saving the lives of kittens. Listen in to learn about the amazing "Webb" connecting Adam-12 to both Lost in Space and Columbo! Find out which Hollywood powerhouse guested in knee socks! Discover just how many jokes Jeffrey can make at Gene Roddenberry's expense! And don't forget to be a supporting member of the Tater Army. Sign up at our Patreon page! Learn more: Blacks and White TV Add some Adam-12 style to your lunch routine

Couch potatoes, please show your love by becoming a patr(e)on of the Museum! In this exhibit, join us for further wanderings through the Cop Shows Wing of the TV Museum as we take a look back at a long-running contemporary of Dragnet, the post-Perry Mason Raymond Burr vehicle Ironside. Learn what The Beastie Boys, Quincy Jones, and Quentin Tarantino all appreciated about this show, delight in what may be the most Planet of the Apes connections of any exhibit to date, and marvel at the difficulties of unloading stolen liturgical treasures. Read more: Caftan Woman on the charms of Ironside MeTV's 11 Things You Didn't Know About Raymond Burr and Ironside And don't forget to check out our Patreon page to learn how to support the Museum --  Patreon.com/TVMuseum!

Drive back in time to the Summer of Love and cruise the LA scene with two groovy cats– Sergeant Friday and Officer Gannon! Learn just how much of an overachiever series creator Jack Webb was, who guested on Dragnet years before running afoul of the real LAPD, and which of your devoted cohosts has an ex-hippie's distrust of the po-po.    While you're listening, don't forget to pop over to Barkbox to sign up for a free extra month for our listeners. Your best pal will thank you!

Hop on your turnip truck/transatlantic ship/cherry red Mustang, and meet us in Chicago for a reunion with everyone's favorite mismatched cousins! In this exhibit, Jeffrey and Hannah unveil the Miller Boyett wing of the Museum and reminisce about the now-defunct concept of the branded programming block (thanks, streaming), while exploring a series that is equal parts pro-America 80s pabulum and charming hat tip to the classic slapstick comedy. Is Perfect Strangers perfect for a re-watch today? Tune in to find out! And while you're at it, improve you writing and support the show with a FREE browser extension from our sponsor, Grammarly. Learn more about Balki and Larry than you ever thought you needed to know: Meego opening titles The AV Club's dishy interview with Bronson Pinchot Make your dreams come true with the Perfect Strangers Game And of course, the Dance of Joy  

Snap on your helmets and buckle in, Couch Potatoes, because we're getting LOST IN SPACE! Join Hannah and Jeffrey aboard the Jupiter 2 to discover all the dangers of the solar system and beyond, from menacing cyborgs to vindictive produce. Learn which star recorded history's best novelty song, who was both a Robinson and a Von Trapp, and what Party of Five has to do with all this. We'll also give you our quick take on the new Netflix reboot (a preview of Exhibit 21,378, release date: May 5, 2038). Support the Museum while improving your writing! Download Grammarly's free browser extension today! Get schooled in all things Lost in Space: The history of Lost in Space Explore Jonathan Smith's weird accent Build your own Robot!  

Given the mandate of the Museum, ripped-from-the-headlines topicality is not usually our bag. But in this exhibit we're diving headlong into the phenomenon that is Roseanne, both the first 9 seasons and the new version everyone's been talking about. Tune in to learn... who had more TV biopics in the early 90s, Roseanne Barr or Amy Fisher; how to pronounce Gary Sinise; how your hosts feel about The Big Lebowski; and what exactly was the deal with Roseanne's insane season 9! Don't forget to help your favorite TV history podcast and treat your best friend with a subscription to Bark Box!

“Hi, Bob.” Lie down on the couch, listeners, because we're taking you to America's favorite fictional, Midwestern psychologist! Before there was Newhart, there was The Bob Newhart Show. (And also...The Bob Newhart Show. Are you confused yet? Check out the exhibit, and all will be made clear.) Listen in to learn exciting trivia, such as which two Newhartites voiced seminal cartoon characters! Find out who compared Bob Newhart to a dragon-slaying choirboy! Discover which cast member went "the Full Hesseman" on stage!  Ignoring your dog while watching too much TV? Make it up to Fido with a subscription to Bark Box! Our listeners get a free extra month at www.getbarkbox.com/tvmuseum Become a Newhart expert: Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time Variety interview in which Newhart tries to steal Mike and Carol Brady's place as the first couple to share a bed on TV The AV Club gives props to TBNS Bob Newhart on the Garry Moore Show (This clip will make you question whether comedy had been invented yet in 1961.) AND:     Enter our sweepstakes to win a copy of Jeanine Furino's (aka Retro TV Lover) new book, All the Single Girls!  Just leave a review on Apple Podcasts and drop us an email with your Apple Podcasts ID by 6pm Pacific on Thursday, April 5, 2018! Details are in the show and full rules are available by clicking HERE or going to http://tvmuseumpodcast.com/apple-podcasts-review-contest-rules.    

Join Hannah and Jeffrey deep in the vaults for a peek at a 60s cult hit that still maintains a vigorous fan club. Watch a pre-Bond Roger Moore rub elbows with the rich, larcenous, and murderous as he Robin Hoods his way through high society. Listen in to learn more about the long history of Simon Templar, the most popular pop culture icon you may have never heard of. Find out just how much James Bond echoes the Saint, why George Lazenby got to be Bond, and what Maester Pycelle and the Muppets have to do with all this. Don't forget to start you FREE TRIAL of Audible.com to support the pod and catch up on those 50+ The Saint novels you haven't read... More Saintly Minutiae: How to Pronounce Charteris, by Leslie Charteris "Roger Moore and the Lighter Side of Bond" in The New Yorker Join The Saint Club!  

Grab some cheesecake, pour some OJ, and settle in! Hannah and Jeffrey end their unscheduled hiatus to look back at a groundbreaking stalwart of 80s* Saturday nights. Will the girls hold up thirty years later? Tune in to learn how Golden Girls connects to Mama's Family, what Julio Iglesias has in common with Quentin Tarantino, and just how Jeffrey feels about Park Overall. And while you're at it, be sure to support the show and get great audio content with a free trial from audible.com! Finally, as promised, the greatest artwork you'll ever see: The Birth of Zbornak by Sam Carter  *Do a Google search for 1990-1992 fashion. It was still the 80s.

Hannah and Jeffrey take a look back at the show-about-a-show that helped put HBO on the path to original programming greatness. If you missed Larry Sanders the first time around, start streaming now to see why this single-camera comedy of embarrassment is arguably as influential as The Big S itself.* *Yes, we just made up that nickname for Seinfeld. Listen in to learn whose ear was torn by Rip Torn, what was the other successful Delta Burke vehicle of the mid-late 80s, and which star of Entourage started out in the writers' room of Larry Sanders. Dive deeper: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Shandling's obit in Variety How to Binge Watch The Larry Sanders Show And don't forget to check out Warby Parker for all your fashion-forward but affordable eyewear needs. Get a free at-home try-on and support your favorite podcast! 

Hannah and Jeffrey are finally taking on Star Trek!  In this exhibit we cover (in semi-exhaustive detail) the folks behind the scenes and in front of the camera on TV's most influential sci-fi series. Beam in to learn which cast member's bar mitzvah prompted a return engagement, which star did unspeakable (fictional) things to Angie Dickinson, and who got career advice from MLK, Jr. himself. Keep listening to find out which TV legends (more than one!) had a hand in getting Star Trek to air, and decide for yourself which TOS cast member had the most "distinctive" recording career. To learn more, check out... Spock's Jewish roots Evil Facial Hair on TV A comparison of pre- and post-remastering of TOS's visual effects And if you love the Museum, please visit our sponsor, Audible.com. We suggest you use your FREE trial to get your ears on Fifty Year Mission: The Complete Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years by Edward Gross and Mark Altman. Just be sure to use our link.

Travel back with us to a time when men were men, the beach parking scene was laid back, and the cars were brown....1970s Los Angeles, where $200 a day (plus expenses) could get you the best private eye in town. Tune in as we assess the Rockford Files, a stalwart of syndication with a loyal following. Listen carefully and you'll learn ingenious tricks to avoid paying royalties, star James Garner's unfortunate birth name, and who had a battle of words with good ol' Newt Minow! Extra! Extra! Read more on Rockford and check out trivia from the exhibit: Garner: Why Steve McQueen Was Like My Brother The AV Club looks at "Sleight of Hand" Instrumentals That Cracked the Billboard Top 20 Off the Minnesota Strip promo

Sometimes you want go...watch one of the 80s' defining sitcoms! In this Season Two opener of the Museum, we turn back to NBC's legendary Thursday night line-up for a look at Cheers. Like its namesake watering hole, this show feels like home to almost anyone who watched TV between 1982 and 1993. Though Cheers is surely familiar to most listeners, in this episode Jeffrey and Hannah seek to uncover new information about a classic. Questions which may be answered include: Which cast member's sister wrote for the show? Where did creator James Burrows get his start? Who is more of a poncy blowhard, Sumner Sloan or Frasier Crane? How great is Bebe Neuwirth? (spoiler: very) How did Cheers inspire the best Halloween costume ever? Learn more:  Long list of Cheers's awards and nominations Opening credits of Once Upon a Spy The Ted Danson sandwich THR interview with James Burrows George Wendt hoofs it in Hairspray Terrifying Norm and Cliff robots BEST HALLOWEEN COSTUME EVER Kelsey Grammer falls off a stage

We are heartbroken about the loss of the singular Mary Tyler Moore, whom our listeners know we revere and respect both as on-camera talent and as a force behind the scenes.  We simply can't imagine TV without her incalculable contributions. In memorial, we are reposting our episode from December 2015 covering Mary Tyler Moore, and its hourlong spinoff, Lou Grant, and featuring our interview with the legendary Ed Asner. We join you in mourning Mary. Let's remember her together. 

To celebrate both the holiday of Thanksgiving and the august tradition of special Thanksgiving episodes, we look back at two shows we covered in previous exhibits, watching holiday-themed episodes we skipped in the first go-round. Both A Different World and Third Rock From the Sun tackled everyone's favorite family-and-food holiday in their own unique way. Do they hold up as great TV? Do they capture the hallmarks of their respective shows? Is Whitley a classy drunk? Does Jan Hooks smear gravy in her cleavage (spoiler: yes)? And most importantly, can these eps hold a candle to WKRP's classic "Turkeys Away"? Episodes we watched: A Different World, "If You Like Pilgrim Coladas", Season 2 Ep 6 Third Rock From the Sun, "Gobble, Gobble, Dick, Dick", Season 2 Ep 10  

As we go on a brief hiatus to welcome the tater tot, we invite you to join us for a look back on the highs and lows of the first 20+ exhibits of the TV Museum Podcast! And, we give you a preview of what's to come when we return for Season Two in October!

Wrapping up our trifecta of alien-in-the-living room sitcoms, we set the time machine for “not that long ago” and took a look at 3rd Rock from the Sun, which left the airwaves in 2001, just making our 15-year cut-off. Would this show outshine its predecessors, or would it be yet another out-of-this-world dud? Listen in to learn which star made history behind a newsdesk, find out who is the American John Cleese, and discover what double-entendre episode titles make Jeffrey and Hannah snicker like fourth graders.   Dig deeper: French Stewart takes on Hollywood legend Buster Keaton 10 other roles from early in Joseph-Gordon Levitt’s career Kristen Johnston’s struggle with depression and drugs

In this exhibit we continue our foray into the world of high-concept sitcoms, specifically of the alien-in-the-livingroom subgenre. Where My Favorite Martian portrayed the visitor as a font of wisdom and experience, Mork and Mindy substituted zany naivete in the form of white-hot superstar Robin Williams. Can a show succeed for four seasons on the back of a comedic genius in rainbow suspenders? Listen in to learn about the show's unlikely genesis in the brain of grade schooler, discover who popped out of an egg in the final season, and find out what David Letterman was up to pre-Late Show.  Can't get enough Mork from Ork? Read more: Gizmodo calls M&M an "Unlikely Miracle" Thirteen Out-of-This-World Facts About Mork & Mind Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters Take Over The Tonight Show   Don't spend the summer squinting! Check out super affordable and fashionable prescription sunglasses from Warby Parker and support The TV Museum. Go to warbyparkertrial.com/tvmuseum .

Join us to look back at a prime example of one of the strangest trends of the 60s: the scifi/fantasy sitcom. In the course of this exhibit we unearthed a treasure trove of TV trivia. Learn what a first-class time slot can do, find out about the connection between MFM and The Beatles, discover what happens if you turn a squirrel into a man, be amazed by the longevity of Lassie, and find out which star of MFM went on to appear in an 80s classic and which had to settle for a movie called Steambath.  And for more fun, check out producer Jack Chertok's Oscar-winning (really) short: How to Sleep. Don't forget to shop our new and exciting sponsor Loot Crate! Enter promo code bridge10 to get 10% off your subscription of awesome geek gear.    

If, like Hannah, you have ever bought a lot of Agatha Christie paperbacks off eBay, we have the show for you! Not just another 70s police procedural, Columbo turns the detective genre upside down, as we start each episode watching the killer commit the crime. How will everyone's favorite soft-spoken, disheveled sleuth unravel the mystery? But more importantly, is Columbo worth your TV time?  Learn much (MUCH) more about one of TV's most memorable icons:  The Ultimate Columbo Site Get the rights to Prescription: Murder! Relive every episode with two Scottish guys   And if you like The TV Museum, please support us by supporting  our sponsor, Audible.com! Get a FREE 30-day trial with a FREE audiobook of your choice of over 180,000 selections at www.audibletrial.com/tvmuseum.   

If old Hollywood, 90s topical humor, and general zaniness are your cup of tea, then you're likely already acquainted with the topic of this week's exhibit. Animaniacs introduced a new generation to the wacky, highbrow-meets-lowbrow aesthetic of the Looney Tunes, and it's now available on Netflix.  "Toon" in to learn which movie parodies zinged and which fell flat, who were the best and worst of the huge cast of characters, and what was the dirtiest joke those three kooky Warner siblings ever got past network censors. Chicago Tribune review from 1993 Way More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Animaniacs (Mentalfloss) Tom Ruegger on Reddit A compilation of racy jokes from Animaniacs  Can't get enough TV history? Sign up for a FREE TRIAL of Audible.com to access titles like Steven Spielberg: A Biography by Joseph McBride.

By popular request, we've tackled a classic from the early 90s, a show that brought the world one of the top ten most distinctive southern accents, an Aretha Franklin-sung theme song, and the greatest (pre-Warby Parker) development in stylish eyewear. This Cosby spin-off came into its own when it ditched the Huxtable element, embraced a large cast, and took on the social issues of the day.  Learn more: Jezebel's The Muse rewatches ADW 14 Things You Might Not Know About A Different World Learn How to Wave, Whitley Style

"Holy amazing guest, Batman!"  We're joined by NPR critic, author, Pop Culture Happy Hour panelist, and one of our favorite voices on culture, Glen Weldon, to discuss his new book, The Caped Crusade: Batman & The Rise of Nerd Culture, and the two major TV series featuring the not-always-so Dark Knight.  How did the character change from the comic page to the TV screen with the garish campiness of the live action series that ran on ABC in the mid-1960s? Did fans reclaim their hero with the darkly faithful animated series that aired on Fox in the 1990s? Tune in to find out!   On this episode:   Batman (1966):  "The Bookworm Turns/As Gotham Burns" (S1 Eps. 29-30)   Batman: The Animated Series (1992):   "Heart of Ice" (S1 E14) "The Joker's Favor"  (S1 E22) "Legends of the Dark Knight"  (S4 E19)     The Real Comic Book Origins of the Batman '66 TV Series The AV Club picks the 10 campiest Batman episodes Complex picks the 25 best eps of The Animated Series   Don't forget to check out Glen's book! You can get it FREE with a 30-day Audible Trial!

Grab your six shooters and your ten gallon, 'cause the TV Museum's finally tackling a Western! We take a look at one of the 28 (yes, really!) primetime shows set in the Old West that aired in 1958: The Rifleman. Listen in to hear about star Chuck Connors's bizarre and varied pro sports career, find out which Rat Packer made not one but two guest appearances on the show, and learn where to go when you just can't afford enough salt to get through the winter. Note: We apologize if you hear a little audio crackle in this ep. Just imagine we're all sitting around a camp fire, shootin' the breeze.... Mentioned in the exhibit and worth a look: Inside the Box podcast talks about the Dumont Network AV Club's The Rifleman Roundtable The Encyclopedia of TV on westerns FCC Chair Newton Minnow on the "vast wasteland" of TV A look at the special effects challenges of The Ordeal The Rifleman's casualty list on RiflemanConnors.com The Johnny Crawford Dance Orchestra   We are sponsored again by Audible and hope you'll take advantage of a FREE 30-DAY TRIAL so you can check out one of the following audio books: John Wayne: The Life and Legend by Scott Eyman The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral - and How It Changed the American West by Jeff Guinn Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Just go to http://www.audibletrial.com/tvmuseum today!              

This exhibit explores a critically-acclaimed but never-before-seen (by your hosts, anyway) show that offers up plenty of surprises. Tune in to find out what makes Taxi such a keystone in the history of the American sitcom. Hint: echoes of Taxi are all over better-known hits like Cheers and Seinfeld.  Episodes we watched: Pilot/ “Like Father, Like Daughter” S1 E3 "Blind Date" S1 E17 "Elaine and the Lame Duck" S3 E20 - “Latka the Playboy” S4 E1 - “Jim the Psychic” S4 E21 "Latka’s Wedding" Learn more: Museum of Television entry on Taxi Extensive video interview with co-creator James L. Brooks Jeffrey Tambor talks about Taxi Tony Danza in Animal House Talking Apes TV Skywalking Through Neverland And, just for fun, here's a picture of Tony Danza wiping out on rollerblades:   Step up your glasses game with Warby Parker and a FREE five-day at-home trial of five stylish frames. Check out Warby Parker's funky, chic offerings now!  

In this installment of the TV Museum we dig into the fondly remembered cult hit Quantum Leap - will it succeed where its ancestor The Time Tunnel failed?  Listen in to learn more about the largely glow-in-the-dark nature of future technology, discover how meteorological conditions affect time travel, and hear a guy in a truly horrible suit rap about the ABCs. More importantly, we'll answer the question: does Quantum Leap have The Right Stuff?   Episodes we watched: Pilot/Genesis Parts 1 & 2 Color of Truth (S 1 EP 7) What Price Gloria  (S2 EP 4) Catch a Falling Star  (S2 EP 10) The Leap Back (S4 E1)   Dive deep to be a true Leaper: Al's Place (the ultimate QL fan site) Eight Sad Truths You Realize When Re-Watching Quantum Leap QL soundtrack on Spotify   Step up your glasses game with Warby Parker and a FREE five-day at-home trial of five stylish frames. Check out Warby Parker's funky, chic offerings now!  

On this (very!) special episode of the TV Museum Podcast, we meet up with The Munsters' Butch Patrick for an in-person interview. Listen in to hear his take on life as a child star in 1960s Hollywood, his time as a resident of 1313 Mockingbird Lane, and some of the highs and lows he's experienced in the years since. Many thanks to Butch for his time and to Joel McGee (America's Toy Scout) for playing host to our interview. Butch Patrick's The Munsters Website America's Toy Scout If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell Get a FREE 30-Day Trial of Audible NOW!

In this episode we hurtle through time to explore a 60s cult classic. The facial expression that defined a series.   What do a cancer patient aboard the Titanic, a scarlet lady in ancient Jericho, and the 16th president of the United States all have in common? Getting their butts saved by Doug and Tony, of course! Tune in to learn what other hijinks these two valiant scientists get up to while careening through history. Episodes We Watched: "Rendezvous With Yesterday" (Pilot) "The Walls of Jericho" (Ep. 20) "The Death Trap" (Ep. 12)   Need more? The Lost World trailer (aka Iguanas in Hats) Original Time Tunnel trailer The TV Party of The Time Tunnel   Can't get enough TV history? Sign up for a FREE TRIAL of Audible.com to access titles like The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business.  

This week we visit one of the most beloved families of 80s TV, the Keaton clan.  Tune in to hear more about the only sitcom in network history in which someone gets laid after attending a lecture on conservative fiscal policy! Reminisce about heads stuck in bannisters and watch a future Oscar winner tie one on at a PBS affiliate! Discover how many Family Ties stars later formed not-very-famous bands and which Keaton sought therapy on what appeared to be the set of Charlie Rose! Episodes We Watched: Pilot  S 1 Ep 4 "Summer of ‘82" S2 Ep 14 "Say Uncle" S3 Ep 11 “Don’t Kiss Me, I’m Only the Messenger”  S 4 Ep 1 and 2 “The Real Thing, Parts One and Two”  S 5 Ep 22 "A, My Name is Alex (part one)"     Learn more: The Atlantic on "very special episodes" Family Ties at the Museum of Broadcast Communications "How Family Ties Spawned a Conservative Hero" Bootjack and Bonz (Brian Bonsall's band)    Start your free trial of Audible and get a free audiobook. Our listeners might enjoy Lucky Man, a memoir by Michael J. Fox. CLICK HERE FOR FREE 30-DAY AUDIBLE TRIAL

In this episode we look at one of the most successful primetime soaps of the 80s, in which a secretary can marry a billionaire, long-lost daughters turn up nearly every week, and Moldavian freedom fighters can really ruin a celebration. Is Blake Carrington about to choke a ... lady? Listen in to learn how many last names Joan Collins's character had, why Rock Hudson's guest starring stint on the show was so controversial, and what drove William Faulkner out of Hollywood. Episodes we watched: Pilot “Enter Alexis” (S2 E1) “Royal Wedding” (S4 E30) Comprehensive list of Dynasty cat fights Fashion tips from Alexis Carrington Linda Evans on her scene with Rock Hudson Producer Aaron Spelling's unbelievably enormous mansion   Want to learn more about Aaron Spelling? We suggest you listen to Aaron Spelling: A Primetime Life, with your 30-day free trial from Audible. Thanks as ever to Minden for our theme music.

In this special bonus episode, guest hosts Sylvia (7) and Judith (4) take a look at Peabody's Improbable History.    Learn more: Full Segment List Courtesy of Wikipedia Peabody's Improbable History at Toonpedia Go visit the Paley Center to learn more about Jay Ward's work.

This week we combine two great tastes: Mary Tyler Moore, a comedy about a woman who can turn the world on with her smile, and that show's landmark hour-long spin-off, the newsroom drama Lou Grant. Tune in to learn which Robocop star goose-stepped through an episode of Lou Grant, hear Cloris Leachman sing about social disease, and discover why Ron Burgundy's dog is named Baxter.  Keep listening for an interview with Lou Grant himself, the great Ed Asner.   Episodes we watched: The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Pilot  “Love is All Around”  S3 E16 "Lou’s Place" S2 E1 “The Birds and..um..Bess”   S2 E 23 "Some of my Best Friends Are Rhoda"  S7 E 24 “The Last Show”  Lou Grant: Pilot - "Cophouse" S3 E1 "Cop" S1 E5 "Nazi"   Check out a photo from the interview on our Facebook page. Highlights from Someone I Touched Check out The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Lou Grant on Hulu   Get a free audiobook and free 30-day trial from our sponsor, Audible.  And thank you to the fabulous Minden, who composed our theme music.   

This week we brave the horrors of late 70s fashion to give you a review of a television show about radio: Tune in to learn whatever happened to Dr. Johnny Fever, who the heck Ol' Lonely is, and how to make a career out of a sultry swimsuit photo. Show links: NPR calls WRKP the first show to take rock seriously Nedra Volz IMDB Vincent Schiavelli IMDB

This week we looked at a show whose reputation permeates pop culture but which we'd never actually seen. A show in which a sweet mullet, a roll of duck tape, and a phone number for the Boys' and Girls' Club will get you out of any sticky situation: MACGYVER! Pilot (9/29/85) Partners (S2 E40 3/2/87) Runners (S4 E77 3/13/89) Tune in to learn the second best use for chocolate bars, how not to succeed in the world's oldest profession, and what the 80s Action Show Rule of Three is all about. Get geeky: MacGyver Online Will there be a MacGyver remake? The A.V. Club suggests 10 essential MacGyver eps Emerald Point N.A.S. intro (it stands for Naval Air Station) The Fall Guy theme song Animotion's Obsession (co-written by Michael des Barres)