29 08, 2023

An Urban Legend Says The Devil Took Over Everybody’s TV Screens In 1968 (Cool Weird Awesome 1075)

By |2023-08-29T07:53:12-04:00August 29, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

There’s an urban legend floating around the web that claims today in 1968, the television industry was briefly stopped in its tracks by the devil. We'll unpack this wild story.

5 08, 2023

On Live TV, The Show Must Go On, Even If A Cast Member Collapses And Dies (Cruel Weird Awful 10)

By |2023-08-05T09:03:11-04:00August 5, 2023|Categories: Cruel Weird Awful, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Live broadcasting is a place where a lot can go wrong. Like a 1950s broadcast in the UK in which a key actor in a live drama had a fatal heart attack mid-show.

30 06, 2023

Irna Phillips Brought The World Of Soap Operas To Life (Cool Weird Awesome 1038)

By |2023-06-30T09:53:39-04:00June 30, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , |

Today in 1952, the first TV episode of the soap opera Guiding Light. It was one of many hit shows led by a writer and producer sometimes called the “queen of soaps,” Irna Phillips.

8 05, 2023

Guy Goma Became An Internet Expert By Accident On Live TV (Cool Weird Awesome 1004)

By |2023-05-08T07:53:54-04:00May 8, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Today in 2006, IT job candidate Guy Goma rose to the occasion when a BBC TV producer mistakenly brought him onto a live show to talk about the internet, even though they were actually supposed to interview a different Guy on the air.

24 11, 2022

When “WKRP” Thought Turkeys Could Fly For Thanksgiving (Cool Weird Awesome 895)

By |2022-11-24T16:09:50-05:00November 24, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

There aren't a lot of top-drawer Thanksgiving specials, but the "WKRP In Cincinnati" episode "Turkeys Away" may qualify. Here's some of the real life story that inspired the absolutely bonkers plot of the show. 

26 09, 2022

Cop Rock, The Show Where Police Sang As They Solved Crimes (Cool Weird Awesome 852)

By |2022-09-26T08:52:46-04:00September 26, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Today in 1990, the premiere of one of the most bewildering TV experiments of all time: Cop Rock. We'll explain how the show happened and why it didn't quite catch on.

12 08, 2022

George Jetson Has Just Been Born, According To The Internet (Cool Weird Awesome 826)

By |2022-08-15T08:51:57-04:00August 12, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

If you’re a Jetsons fan on the internet these days, you’re probably living the dream right now. Because, if you look really closely at the futuristic cartoon show’s backstory, the main character, George Jetson, may have just had his birthday.

21 04, 2022

The Time Geraldo Rivera Opened Al Capone’s Vault And Found A Whole Lot Of Nothing (Cool Weird Awesome 760)

By |2022-04-21T06:38:58-04:00April 21, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , |

Today in 1986, I was one of millions of people who watched Geraldo Rivera host the infamous live TV special "The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault." How did it come to be, and why did it go so far off course?

17 12, 2021

When A Saturday Night Live Fan Got To Host Saturday Night Live (Cool Weird Awesome 674)

By |2021-12-17T07:42:47-05:00December 17, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Today in 1977, the Not Ready For Prime Time Players were joined by perhaps the most unusual guest host ever: Miskel Spillman, an 80 year old grandma from New Orleans and the winner of the "Anyone Can Host SNL Contest."

17 11, 2021

The Star Wars Holiday Special Brought Extra Weirdness To The Galaxy (Cool Weird Awesome 658)

By |2021-11-17T07:56:17-05:00November 17, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Today in 1978, George Lucas's least favorite part of the Star Wars universe, "The Star Wars Holiday Special," aired on TV. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's the only one that has a Jefferson Starship video, a Bea Arthur-owned cantina and opening dialogue that's entirely in Wookiee. Plus: today in 1968, NBC cuts away from the final minutes of a nail-biter football game because it was time to show the movie "Heidi." 

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