The Tv Museum

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

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

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, brou

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! Subscr

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 st

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

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

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, fr

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

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 e

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 Museu

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!