TV CONFIDENTIAL (www.televisionconfidential.com) talks to the stars, writers, directors and other creative people behind the scenes of some of America's most popular shows. An engaging blend of talk and entertainment, TV Confidential often compares today’s programs with those of the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s…
The TV CONFIDENTIAL: A radio talk show about television podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in the world of television. Hosted by the knowledgeable and enthusiastic Ed Martin, this podcast offers insider access and genuine insight into the TV industry.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is the incredible lineup of guests. Ed Martin brings on industry insiders and legends who share their experiences and stories from classic TV. It's truly fascinating to hear these icons being interviewed by such a respectful and knowledgeable host. The interviews provide a unique perspective and give listeners a behind-the-scenes look at their favorite shows.
Another great aspect of The TV CONFIDENTIAL is its sound quality. The production value is top-notch, ensuring that every episode is crystal clear and easy to listen to. There's no yelling or cussing, making it a classy show about classic TV. Whether you're listening through headphones or speakers, you're guaranteed a pleasant listening experience.
However, one potential downside to this podcast is that it may not appeal to those who are not interested in television history. The focus on nostalgia and reminiscing about yesteryear's TV programs may not resonate with everyone. But for fans of classic TV or those looking to learn more about the medium's rich history, this podcast delivers informative content that satisfies any craving for television knowledge.
In conclusion, The TV CONFIDENTIAL: A radio talk show about television podcast is an entertaining and informative listen. Ed Martin's expertise shines through as he conducts insightful interviews with industry insiders, providing listeners with an in-depth look into the world of television. If you have an affinity for classic TV or simply enjoy learning about the medium's history, this podcast should be at the top of your playlist.

TVC 711.1: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of My Three Sons (CBS/ABC, 1960-1972), one of the few series that enjoyed long runs on two different networks, back in the three-network universe. Topics this segment include why the ABC episodes of My Three Sons, which were filmed in black and white, were rarely seen in syndication until Nick at Nite acquired the rights to them in the 1980s; the various Walt Disney connections among My Three Sons cast members; and how certain stipulations in Fred MacMurray's contract allowed him to continue his motion picture career, even while the show was in production.

TVC 711.2: Emmy Award-winning writer, producer, director, and author Joseph Dougherty (thirtysomething, Pretty Little Liars, The First Cylinder, Comfort and Joi, Rod Serling at 100) joins Ed, Tony, and Dan Farren for a roundtable discussion about some of our favorite local TV horror movie hosts—a staple of television that began in the late 1950s and continued into the 1980s and which, for many of us, was an indelible part of our growing-up years. Topics this segment include how the genre began circa 1958, when Universal released its entire library of horror movies from the 1930s and '40s to local TV stations; why part of the charm from these local TV productions comes from their threadbare production values; and the many ways in which John Zacherle (pictured) set the standard for local TV horror hosts, first in Philadelphia, then in New York.

TVC 711.3: Joseph Dougherty, Dan Farren, Tony Figueroa, and Ed remember Chilly Billy Cardille, Sir Graves Ghastley, Moona Lisa (pictured), and other local TV horror movie personalities from the 1960s and '70s—including Count Floyd, the character played by Joe Flaherty on SCTV that was both a parody of and a homage to the genre.

TVC 711.4: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with actress, comedienne, author, and entrepreneur Rhonda Shear (Up All Night, Rhonda Shear Intimates, Up All Night: From Hollywood Bombshell to Lingerie Model, Life Lessons From An Accidental Feminist). Topics this segment include the famous “mannequin” act with Rhonda early in her career, along with Kenny Ellis; her many collaborations with game show impresario Chuck Barris, including appearances on The Dating Game and The $1.98 Beauty Show; and how Rhonda came up with the high-pitched “Up!” in Up All Night that is part of her trademark. Rhonda Shear Up All Night premieres Saturday, Oct. 25 at 10pm ET, 7pm PT at KingsofHorror.com, with additional specials scheduled to premiere Saturday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Dec. 20 (same time, same channel). The series will then expand to twice a month beginning in January 2026. For more details, go to RhondaShearAllUpNight.com. For more on Rhonda Shear Intimates, go to RhondaShear.com.

TVC 711.5: Ed welcomes musician, author, and comedy historian Paul Myers (Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy). Paul's latest book, John Candy: A Life in Comedy, is a heartwarming portrait of the beloved actor, improv comedian, and box office star who would have turned seventy-five this coming Friday, Oct. 31. John Candy died tragically of a heart attack in April 1994 at the age of forty-three. Topics this segment include how Paul's book explores a fundamental question: What was it about Candy that made so many people feel the loss of his life sp deeply, even if they only knew him from his movies. John Candy: A Life in Comedy is available wherever books are sold through House of Anansi Books, as well as Amazon.com.

TVC 711.6: Paul Myers, author of John Candy: A Life in Comedy, talks to Ed about Candy's impact in the movies, particularly at a time when many major comedy stars were also huge box office stars. John Candy: A Life in Comedy tells the full story of the man behind the laughs from the people who knew him best, including Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Steve Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Jennifer Candy, John Hughes III, James Hughes, Robert Crane, Mike Myers, and many, many others. The book is available wherever books are sold through House of Anansi Books, as well as Amazon.com. Paul Myers has several appearances in both the U.S. and Canada over the next several weeks. For details on these and other upcoming events, go to Houseof Anansi.com and type in John Candy A Life in Comedy Book Tour

TVC 710.1: Ed welcomes back Rich Podolsky, longtime journalist, onetime beat writer for the Miami Dolphins, onetime staff writer for CBS Sports and ABC Television, and the author of several books, including You Are Looking Live: How The NFL Today Revolutionized Sports Broadcasting. Rich's latest book, Madden & Summerall: How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting, takes a deep dive in the twenty-one-year broadcast partnership of John Madden and Pat Summerall—two stalwarts of the NFL who each, separately, left their own mark on the game, but, once they were paired together in October 1981, revolutionized how NFL games were broadcast on television while also becoming the greatest broadcast team ever. Topics this segment include how the rise of Madden and Summerall also marked the rise of the NFL as America's TV spectacle; how each man understood instinctively the other's love and understanding of the NFL; how Madden prepared for each television broadcast in much the same way as he approached every game that he coached; Madden's insatiable curiosity about people; and how Madden's dual career in radio (and, particularly, his early partnership with KSFO radio personality Gene Nelson) helped him hone his timing for his work in television. Madden & Summerall is available wherever books are sold through Lyons Press.

TVC 710.2: Rich Podolsky, author of Madden & Summerall: How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting, talks to Ed about the so-called “contest” between Pat Summerall and Vin Scully in the early weeks of the 1981 NFL season over who would welcome John Madden's permanent on-air partner on CBS; how the commercials Madden did for Lite Beer from Miller helped sell then-CBS president Van Gordon Sauter on Madden's appeal to audiences; how the introduction of the Telestrator (aka the CBS Chalkboard) allowed Madden to become “America's nutty football professor”; and how Rich's personal connection with Madden—which began in the early 1970s, when Rich was a beat writer for the Miami Dolphins, and which developed further when Rich worked for ABC and CBS—gives Madden & Summerall tremendous depth and insight. Madden & Summerall is available wherever books are sold through Lyons Press.

TVC 710.3: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of The Phil Silvers Show (CBS, 1955-1959), aka You'll Never Get Rich (the original title of the series), aka Sergeant Bilko and Bilko (as the show was both known once it went into reruns). The series not only made a star of Phil Silvers, but established Nat Hiken as a creative force in television.

TVC 710.4: Ed welcomes back actress, comedienne, author, and entrepreneur Rhonda Shear (Up All Night, Rhonda Shear Intimates, Up All Night: From Hollywood Bombshell to Lingerie Model, Life Lessons From An Accidental Feminist). Rhonda is bringing back Up All Night—by popular demand—as a series of specials, in partnership with the Kings of Horror channel on YouTube, that will spotlight all kinds of indie horror movies, from grassroots DIY to festival standouts, cult classics, and world premieres, while also featuring Rhonda's trademark comedy sketches and blackout segments and such celebrity guests as legendary scream queen Linnea Quigley. Rhonda Shear Up All Night premieres Saturday, Oct. 25 at 10pm ET, 7pm PT at KingsofHorror.com, with additional specials scheduled to premiere Saturday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Dec. 20 (also at 10pm ET, 7pm PT each night at KingsofHorror.com). The series will then expand to twice a month beginning in January 2026. For more details, go to RhondaShearAllUpNight.com. For more on Rhonda Shear Intimates, go to RhondaShear.com.

TVC 710.5: Rhonda Shear talks to Ed about studying improvisation from Harvey Lembeck when she first came to Los Angeles, and how Lembeck taught her to become fearless as a comedienne; why learning improv is a good skill to have, no matter what your profession; how the perception of women in comedy has changed considerably since Rhonda began her career; and Rhonda's approach to writing comedy. Rhonda Shear Up All Night premieres Saturday, Oct. 25 at 10pm ET, 7pm PT at KingsofHorror.com, with additional specials scheduled to premiere Saturday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Dec. 20 (same time, same channel). The series will then expand to twice a month beginning in January 2026. For more details, go to RhondaShearAllUpNight.com. For more on Rhonda Shear Intimates, go to RhondaShear.com.

TVC 709.6: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and author Mariette Hartley (The Incredible Hulk, Goodnight, Beantown, Breaking the Silence, Law and Order: SVU). In this segment, Mariette talks to Ed about “Cotter's Girl,” the classic episode of Gunsmoke from 1963 whose storyline is reminiscent of Pygmalion; her frequent appearances on shows produced by Quinn Martin; and her association with Rod Serling, which began when Mariette asked Serling to speak at her school after she had watched Requiem for a Heavyweight on television, and which culminated about ten years later, when Mariette appeared in “The Long Morrow,” one of the final episodes of The Twilight Zone. Mariette Hartley co-stars, co-wrote, and co-produced, along with her husband Jerry Sroka, in Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story, a charming romantic comedy that is available now for streaming on demand on Amazon Prime and other major platforms; it is also available on DVD and Blu-ray.

TVC 709.1: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of Captain Kangaroo (CBS, 1955-1984) and its impact on other children's television programs, including Romper Room and Bozo the Clown.

TVC 709.2: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed continue their look at the broadcast history of Captain Kangaroo (CBS, 1955-1984), including a few word about The New Captain Kangaroo, the reboot starring John McDonough, which ran on the Fox Family Channel from 1997-2000.

TVC 709.3: Part 2 of the conversation that began last week with Howard Smith, author of My Friend Johnny, a memoir of Howard's twenty-year friendship with Johnny Carson, which began in 1985 when Howard found himself living four doors down the street from Carson in Malibu, and which continued until the end of Carson's life. Topics this segment include a look at some of the other celebrities from business, sports, politics, and entertainment that Howard came to know during his career as a tech mogul, including NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton and President Gerald Ford. My Friend Johnny is available at MyFriendJohnny.com. Calendar year 2025 marks not only the twentieth anniversary of Carson's passing, but the 100th anniversary of his birth.

TVC 709.4: Howard Smith shares a poignant memory of the last time he and his wife had dinner with Johnny Carson, just before a few days before Carson's death in January 2005. Also in this segment: Howard shares a few memories of his friendship with actor Lloyd Haynes, which began a few years before Haynes became a star on Room 222 (ABC, 1969-1974), and which continued until Haynes' death in December 1986. Howard's new book, My Friend Johnny, is now available at MyFriendJohnny.com.

TVC 709.5: Ed welcomes Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and author Mariette Hartley (The Incredible Hulk, Goodnight, Beantown, Breaking the Silence, Law and Order: SVU). Mariette stars, along with her husband Jerry Sroka (who we also hear from in this segment), in Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story, a romantic comedy about two people of a certain age who meet online, strike up an unlikely romance, and weather the storm when an untimely illness threatens to tear them apart. Mariette and Jerry co-wrote the film, as well as produced it, while the cast includes such other film and TV favorites as Tess Harper, Bernie Kopell, Morgan Fairchild, Peter Onorati, Peter MacNichol, Stuart Pankin, John Rubinstein, Jack McGee, Sam McMurray, Don Scardino, and many, many others. Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story is available now for streaming on demand on Amazon Prime and other major platforms; it is also available on DVD and Blu-ray.

TVC 709.6: Emmy Award-winning actress Mariette Hartley talks to Ed about some of her other movie and TV roles, including the back story of the long-running, highly successful series of commercials that she did with James Garner for Polaroid cameras—and how the chemistry between her and Garner was so natural, many viewers believed that they were actually married. Mariette co-stars, co-wrote, and co-produced, along with her husband Jerry Sroka, in Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story, a romantic comedy that is available now for streaming on demand on Amazon Prime and other major platforms; it is also available on DVD and Blu-ray. Photo of James Garner and Mariette Hartley courtesy Polaroid.

TVC 708.1: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of The Flintstones (ABC, 1960-1966), the first animated series development for prime time, along with the various spinoffs and reimaginings of The Flintstones over the ensuing decades.

TVC 708.2: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed look back to Game 1 of the 1955 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers, the first time that a World Series game was broadcast in color. Mel Allen and Vin Scully covered the game for NBC. Photo courtesy National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

TVC 708.3: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of Baywatch Nights (Synd., 1995-1997), the spinoff of Baywatch starring David Hasselhoff, Gregory Alan Williams, Angie Harmon, and Donna D'Errico, the premise of which was more or less “Mitch Buchannon, private detective.”

TVC 708.4: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed look back at how the print and television media covered the death of Rock Hudson. The legendary actor and screen heartthrob died from complications on Oct. 2, 1985. Photo of Rock Hudson courtesy People magazine

TVC 708.5: TV Confidential pays tribute to Academy Award winner Robert Redford by playing highlights from conservations we've had with actors who either co-starred with Redford or were directed by him, including Hank Garrett (Three Days of the Condor), Basil Hoffman (The Electric Horseman, Ordinary People, All the President's Men, The Milagro Beanfield War), and Dinah Manoff (Ordinary People). Also in the segment: special tributes from Stefanie Powers and Joan Van Ark, courtesy of B. Harlan Boll. Robert Redford passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at age eighty-nine.

As long as we're in a Robert Redford frame of mind... please enjoy this special preview of our upcoming conversation with Louise Sorel (Days of Our Lives, Santa Barbara). Louise's husband Herb Edelman starred with Redford in both the original 1963 Broadway production of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park as well as the 1967 film adaptation. Louise's new book, If There Were No Dogs: Musings and Mutterings, is now available through Book Baby, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online. Our complete interview with Louise Sorel will air later in October. Photo of Herb Edelman and Robert Redford courtesy Getty Images. Louise Sorel is scheduled to appear at United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival, in New York City on Saturday, Nov. 15 beginning at 2pm. She'll read passages from If There Were No Dogs, followed by a Q&A session. Click here for tickets and more details.

TVC 708.6: Ed welcomes Howard Smith, a retired tech mogul who not only found himself living four doors down the street from Johnny Carson in 1985, but became tennis buddies and, later, best friends with the legendary King of Late Night for the next twenty years. Howard shares many stories of the Johnny Carson he knew—a funny, kind, generous, modest, shy, yet deeply complex man that he knew simply as John—in My Friend Johnny: The Last 20 Years of a Beautiful Life with Johnny Carson and Friends, which you can find right now at MyFriendJohnny.com Calendar year 2025 marks not only the twentieth anniversary of Carson's passing, but the 100th anniversary of his birth.

TVC 708.6: Howard Smith talks to Ed about the five characteristics that Johnny Carson, Sidney Poitier, Clint Eastwood, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, and many other successful people from business, sports, politics, and entertainment have all embodied throughout their life and career. Howard's new book, My Friend Johnny: The Last 20 Years of a Beautiful Life with Johnny Carson and Friends, is now available at MyFriendJohnny.com

We've been away for a few days, but we'll have a brand new edition of TV Confidential ready for you later this week. In the meantime, please enjoy this special preview of our upcoming conversation with Emmy Award-winning actress Mariette Hartley (Goodnight, Beantown, Law and Order: SVU). Mariette stars, along with her husband Jerry Sroka, in Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story, a romantic comedy that also includes a cast of such other film and TV favorites as Tess Harper, Bernie Kopell, Morgan Fairchild, Peter Onorati, Peter McNichol, and many, many others. Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story is available now for streaming on demand on Amazon Prime and other major platforms. Our complete interview with Mariette will air later in October.

Paul Myers, author of John Candy: A Life in Comedy, talks to Ed about the famous "I like me" speech that John Candy delivered as Del Griffith in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) and how director John Hughes understood the essence of Candy as few others did. John Candy: A Life in Comedy becomes available wherever books are sold Tuesday, Oct. 7 through House of Anansi Press, as well as Amazon.com. Listeners in the San Francisco Bay Area can meet Paul Myers at Mrs Dalloway's Literary and Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue in Berkeley, CA on Tuesday Oct. 7 beginning at 7pm. Paul will also appear on stage at the 4 Star Theatre, 2200 Clement Street in San Francisco, CA on Saturday Oct. 11 beginning at 7pm; Paul's appearance that night will be immediately followed by a screening of Uncle Buck. For details on these and other upcoming events, go to Houseof Anansi.com and type in John Candy A Life in Comedy Book Tour. Our complete interview with Paul Myers will air later in October on TV Confidential.

From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed look back at the broadcast history of The Wild, Wild West (CBS, 1965-1969), which originally premiered on CBS in September 1965.

From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of The Smothers Brothers Show (CBS, 1965-1966), a short-lived sitcom starring Tom and Dick Smothers that is mostly remembered today for being part of Nick at Nite's weekend lineup in the late 1980s. The failure of The Smothers Brothers Show spurred the Smothers (and Tom in particular) to take more creative control when CBS gave them a second chance in January 1967, with the premiere of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (CBS, 1967-1969).

TVC 707.1: From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the legacy of Get Smart (NBC/CBS, 1965-1970), which premiered on NBC on Sept. 18, 1965.

TVC 707.2: From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of Hogan's Heroes (CBS, 1965-1971) on Sept. 17, 1965.

TVC 707.3: From April 2012: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of Truth or Consequences on television on Sept. 7, 1950, ten years after it had premiered on in 1940.

TVC 707.5: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with John McCafferty, the actor known around the world as Billy Joe Wright on Texas (NBC, 1980-1982), and Tom Lisanti, sixties movie historian and 1970s daytime TV historian. John is among the many actors, writers, directors, NBC executives, and other behind-the-scenes personnel that Tom interviewed for his latest book, Texas: An Oral History of Daytime's Answer to Dallas. Topics this segment include how series producer Paul Rauch pushed for casting stage actors fro the series whenever possible, while then-NBC president Fred Silverman insisted on casting younger actors. Texas: An Oral History of Daytime's Answer to Dallas is available wherever books are sold through our friends at Bear Manor Media.

TVC 707.6: John McCafferty, Tom Lisanti, and Ed discuss why Texas (NBC, 1980-1982) remains popular with fans more than forty years later, and how the series was particularly popular in Canada during its original network run. Tom's latest book, Texas: An Oral History of Daytime's Answer to Dallas, is available wherever books are sold through our friends at Bear Manor Media.

TVC 706.1: From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed commemorate the milestone broadcast anniversaries for Green Acres (CBS, 1965-1970) and Xena: Warrior Princess (Synd., 1995-2001), both of which originally premiered during This Week in TV History.

TVC 706.2: From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember The Dean Martin Show (NBC, 1965-1974), which originally premiered during This Week in TV History. Topics this segment include Martin's initial reluctance to do a weekly series, and how the format morphed in later years into The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts.

TVC 706.3: From December 2011: Ed welcomes the Alberici Sisters (Maria Lauren and Linda Eichberg), co-authors of Beyond Our Wildest Dreams, a memoir of their two decades performing with Dean Martin as members of the Dean Martin Golddiggers that particularly focuses on the years 1973 through 1978, one of the last great eras of entertainment.

TVC 706.4: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Ruta Lee (High Rollers, Witness for the Prosecution, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Consider Your Ass Kissed), entertainment legend and the chairperson emeritus of The Thalians. Ruta recently announced that The Thalians will honor Neil Sedaka with its Mr. Wonderful award at this year's Thalians Christmas gala, which will take place at the Bel Air Country Club Saturday, Dec. 6. The evening will also include a special appearance by Ann Jillian. For tickets and more information, Thalians.org. Topics this segment include some of the previous recipients of Mr. Wonderful award, which include Lucille Ball (that year, of course, it became the “Ms. Wonderful” award) and Clint Eastwood.

TVC 706.5: Ed welcomes John McCafferty, the actor known around the world as Billy Joe Wright on Texas (NBC, 1980-1982), and Tom Lisanti, sixties movie historian and 1970s daytime TV historian. John is among the many actors, writers, directors, NBC executives, and other behind-the-scenes personnel that Tom interviewed for his latest book, Texas: An Oral History of Daytime's Answer to Dallas—everything you wanted about the highly touted spin-off of Another World (NBC, 1964-1999) that may not have lived up to the expectations of then-NBC head Fred Silverman, but which nonetheless remains beloved by its fans today. Texas: An Oral History of Daytime's Answer to Dallas is available wherever books are sold through our friends at Bear Manor Media.

TVC 706.6: TV Confidential marks the recent passing of renowned film and TV executive Frank Price by playing a clip from our April 2014 conversation with author Paul Green about the life and career of Roy Huggins. Price not only collaborated with Roy Huggins several times while they were both at Universal Television, but became Huggins' son-in-law after marrying Roy's daughter, actress Katherine Crawford. He was also among the many people that Paul Green interviewed for his book Roy Huggins: Creator of Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, The Fugitive, and The Rockford Files. Frank Price passed away on Monday, Aug. 25 at age ninety-five.

TVC 705.1: TV Confidential celebrates the recent centennial birthday of actress June Lockhart by bringing you an encore presentation of our conversation with June from March 2015 in which we discussed the ongoing popularity of Lost in Space (particularly, on MeTV), plus a few other stories from her showbiz career. June Lockhart turned 100 on June 25, 2025. Also in this segment: A replay from a segment that originally aired in September 2015 in which Tony, Donna, and Ed discussed the premiere of Lost in Space on CBS in 1965.

TVC 705.2: From August 2018: Chuck Harter joins Ed for the last of our three-part look at the era of pop music TV shows from the mid to late 1960s. This segment focuses on Malibu U (ABC, 1967), a summer replacement series hosted by Rick Nelson and featuring the Bob Banas Dancers (along with such guests as Leonard Nimoy, James Darren, Dionne Warwick, The Turtles, The Doors, and The Fifth Dimension); Groovy (Syndicated, 1967-1970), a beach party/teen dance show hosted by Michael Blodgett; and Happening '68 (ABC, 1968-1969), a music variety series hosted by Paul Revere and Mark Lindsday that aired both in prime time and in daytime.

TVC 705.3: From August 2018: Chuck Harter and Ed remember The Music Scene (ABC, 1969), the short-lived music comedy series from the fall of 1969 that featured such top Billboard artists as The Beatles, James Brown, Neil Diamond, Three Dog Night, Tom Jones, Janis Joplin, Sly and The Family Stone—all performing live every week. Hosted by comedian David Steinberg, and also featuring a house band led by Patrick Williams and a regular improvisational comedy group that included a pre-Laugh-In Lily Tomlin, The Music Scene is mostly remembered today for its odd length (45 minutes).

TVC 705.4: Ed welcomes back Ruta Lee (High Rollers, Witness for the Prosecution, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Consider Your Ass Kissed), legendary singer, actress, and philanthropist, and the chairperson emeritus of The Thalians, the charitable organization to which Ruta has dedicated much of her life over the past seventy years, and which to date has raised has raised more than $50 million for mental health related causes. Ruta recently announced that The Thalians will honor Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Neil Sedaka with its Mr. Wonderful award at this year's Thalians Christmas gala, which will take place at the Bel Air Country Club Saturday, Dec. 6. The evening will also include a special appearance by the one and only Ann Jillian. For tickets and more information, Thalians.org. Topics this segment include the back story of Mr. Wonderful award (which was designed by Walt Disney), and why Ruta believes that Southern California “is the place where God lives.”

TVC 705.5: Entertainment legend Ruta Lee talks to Ed about why live theatre has always been near and dear to her heart. The Thalians, the charitable organization to which Ruta has dedicated much of her life over the past seventy years, will present Neil Sedaka with its annual Mr. Wonderful award at this year's Thalians Christmas gala, which will take place at the Bel Air Country Club Saturday, Dec. 6. The evening will also include a special appearance by the one and only Ann Jillian. For tickets and more information, Thalians.org.

TVC 704.1: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with award-winning producer, director, and author Joseph Wallenstein (Knots Landing, Hotel, Seventh Heaven, Flynn vs. Miranda, Nothing Dies for Film), longtime director of physical production for the USC School of Cinematic Arts and the host of the new podcast Whatcha Know Joe? Topics this segment include Joe's experience working with Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Screamin' Jay Hawkins in American Hot Wax; working with Alex Karras, Garo Yepremian, Mike Lucci, and other NFL players in Paper Lion; and how Joe singlehandedly “nearly ruined” The Godfather (according to director Francis Ford Coppola). Whatcha Know Joe? is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you find podcasts.

TVC 704.2: Ed welcomes retired U.S. Army Airborne Ranger Barry Todd. Barry is the author of Stand Your Ground: One Man's Self-Defense Nightmare, a firsthand look at the emotional and financial toll of defending oneself within a flawed judicial system, which Barry had to do in 2014 after he was wrongfully incarcerated on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault—despite overwhelming video security camera evidence to the contrary—and how the ordeal ultimately fueled Barry's determination to help others through the Defense Resources Foundation, a nonprofit organization that Barry founded to make sure other people receive a fair chance in the justice system. Stand Your Ground is available at Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, StandYourGroundBook.com. All proceeds from sales of the book will support the efforts of the Defense Resources Foundation.

TVC 704.3: TV Confidential commemorates August 29, The Day The Running Stopped, the date on which the famous final episode of The Fugitive originally aired in 1967, by bringing you encore presentations of some of our interviews with actors who appeared on The Fugitive, beginning with a clip from a conversation that originally aired on Talking Television in which Barry Morse shares a few memories with Dave White and Ed Robertson about his career in stage and television, including insight into how he approached playing Gerard on The Fugitive. This interview originally aired in May 2007, about nine months before Barry's death in February 2008. The accompanying photo of Barry with Ed Robertson was taken in November 1995.

TVC 704.4: TV Confidential commemorates August 29, The Day The Running Stopped, by bringing you encore presentations of some of our interviews with actors who appeared on The Fugitive, including this clip from August 2015 in which Richard Anderson (The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Perry Mason, Dan August) talks to Ed and guest co-host Alan Doshna about meeting Gary Cooper and Clark Gable early in his career at M-G-M; working with Rock Hudson and John Frankenheimer in Seconds; and playing Lt. Steve Drumm in the final season of Perry Mason.

TVC 704.5: TV Confidential commemorates August 29, The Day The Running Stopped, with an encore presentation of our January 2012 conversation with actress Jacqueline Scott (The Fugitive, Duel). Among other topics in this segment, Jacqui answers email questions from listeners about working with David Janssen and Barry Morse on The Fugitive.
