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

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. 

By |2023-11-24T11:01:20-05:00November 24, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

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

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.

By |2023-10-04T13:23:31-04:00September 26, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

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

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.

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

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?

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

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."

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

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

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." 

By |2023-11-17T09:57:45-05:00November 17, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Carlton Fisk’s Home Run Wave Changed TV Sports, But It Almost Didn’t Get Filmed At All (Cool Weird Awesome 639)

Today in 1975, game 6 of the World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox. The iconic clip of Carlton Fisk waving his game-winning home run fair was caught by the camera kind of by accident. Plus: a couple in the UK gets a ticket because a traffic camera caught their car driving in the bus-only lane, except that they weren't in the bus-only lane. Or in a car. Or in that city. 

The Jetsons Gave 1962 A Glimpse Of The Future (Cool Weird Awesome 619)

Today was the day in 1962 that “The Jetsons” premiered on ABC. Fitting for a show about the future, it was the first color broadcast for the network. Plus: it's National American Pot Pie Day - though the world record in the category for “Largest pie, meat” belongs to a group of catering students from the UK.

By |2021-09-23T08:49:53-04:00September 23, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Leonard Cohen, Of All People, Once Played A Villain On “Miami Vice” (Cool Weird Awesome 618)

Today in 1934, Leonard Cohen was born. His music and poetry have influenced other songwriters and poets for decades, but today we’re talking about another part of his career, and maybe the weirdest part: the time he guest starred on the 80s action series “Miami Vice.” Plus: today in 1997, Dunkin gave out free donuts to mark the last hurrah for their longtime TV pitchman, Fred the Baker. 

By |2021-09-22T07:28:09-04:00September 22, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

Women Couldn’t Compete In The Ancient Olympics, So They Held The Heraean Games Instead (Cool Weird Awesome 584)

In ancient Greece, the Olympics were for men only. But from what we can tell, women representing 16 city-states would come together every four years to weave a robe for Hera, the queen of the gods, and hold a footrace for single women. Plus: the 1960 Summer Games were the first to be telecast in the US. In the days before satellites, it took a lot of work to get tapes from the Rome Games to the US broadcast networks. 

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