Weird TV

Small Wonder

VICI's a Small Wonder! This show’s about a robot who looks like a little girl. Ted Lawson stole her from his work since his bosses were such big jerks. He’s got some nosy neighbors. Now his family has a secret. Hide and lie to protect inventions. Secrecy increases tension. A family sci-fi sitcom by the numbers. She’s not like other girls… She’s a Small Wonder. TOPICS Open 0:00 - My Dog Vicky 00:28 What The Hell is Small Wonder? 2:15 - Dramaturgy 2:21 -- "We've Got A Secret" Sitcoms 3:03 -- What Happened To Tiffany & Jerry? 6:00 - Inspirations 8:00 -- My Living Doll 8:03 - Intended Audience 9:18 - How It Was Received 9:50 How Well Was It Done? 11:56 - Is Ted Lawson A Moral Character? 12:12 - Too Hot For Syndicated TV 14:24 - Trapped In The Cabinet 16:07 - Too Old For His Age 17:23 - The Cover Story 18:36 - The Technology 19:45 Was It Worth Doing? 22:26 Bits and Baubles 24:55 - ARBITRARY SCALE 26:37 Listener Feedback 27:32 LINKS Small Wonder Pilot [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqqJJ1Lfsxw] My Living Doll [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Living_Doll] 'Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s [https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/small-wonder-30th-anniversary-vicki-1980s-tv-128290305450.html] Karishma Kaa Karishma [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karishma_Kaa_Karishma] | Theme Song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtTaMoTdG7c] Small Wonder on Fox 32 - 1986 Commercial [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPStxayjvk4] Tiffany Brissette SMALL WONDER 1980s PSA Commercial [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwohrLpfc_0] VINTAGE 80'S SMALL WONDER PROMO AD WITH TIFFANY BRISSETTE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MGBdw-wkwQ] Tiffany Brissette - 1991 co-hosting 700 Club Part 1 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n5VTxgmjHA] (Jerry Supiran) Blames His Fall From Grace On A Stripper [https://www.businessinsider.com/child-star-jerry-supiran-claims-he-is-broke-because-of-a-stripper-2012-5] Suggest A Show [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXhx9P1QtNHGwRugkipkFv5siYYi7Z5rLBu5Ns_aNzkeOgxw/viewform?usp=sf_link] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7YfmWFLbAc]NEXT WEEK – Jane The Virgin (The Whole Series) [https://www.netflix.com/title/80027158] E-mail: weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com [weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com] Voicemail: ‪(424) 274-2352 Twitter: @WeirdTVPod [https://twitter.com/WeirdTVPod] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod [https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod] Site: billmeeks.com/weirdtv [https://billmeeks.com/weirdtv]

Cop Rock

Sing along with the LAPD on Cop Rock, the musical police procedural. Look, there’s this junkie mother. The cops grab her in a raid. No conviction. Baby comes back. Deep addiction isn’t a life hack. Weeks shoots a cop in broad daylight. The “thin blue line” in action. Civil rights? Who cares about those? Death helps the mayor build jails unopposed. Songs are brand new, characters are stock, in a social justice musical called Cop Rock. TOPICS Open 0:00 - West Side Story 00:30 What The Hell is Cop Rock? 1:49 - Dramaturgy 1:43 - Inspirations 2:24 -- Steven Bachcho on Cop Rock 2:37 -- Great TV Musicals 4:40 --- Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 5:57 --- Schmigadoon! 7:07 - How It Was Received 8:25 - Get Involved 8:54 How Well Was It Done? 11:52 - Ralph Ruskin, Invisible Man 12:00 - The Cops Are All Bad People 15:25 - Talking At The Urinal 16:39 - Patty The Junkie Mom 19:32 - Animatronic Target Practice 21:23 Was It Worth Doing? 22:30 Bits and Baubles 24:11 - ARBITRARY SCALE 25:49 Listener Feedback 26:48 LINKS Cop Rock [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCwxnVAAC4A] Steven Bochco discusses Cop Rock [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxTRYfisPio] Buffy – I’ve Got A Theory [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gISEekxuEgk&list=PLecMIOf2u8hiHBqgNDkue2at8Zu1R4djE&index=2] Crazy Ex-Girlfriend [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Ex-Girlfriend] ABC Cancels Cop Rock [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/13/arts/abc-cancels-cop-rock.html] Mr. Cellophane [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKHzTtr_lNk&t=2s] Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – The Buzzing From The Bathroom [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlHf1Fc0OSg] "Til I Come Home" — Michael Chiklis Band (MCB) with the Boston Pops [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXGEX3D_AnA] Suggest A Show [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXhx9P1QtNHGwRugkipkFv5siYYi7Z5rLBu5Ns_aNzkeOgxw/viewform?usp=sf_link] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7YfmWFLbAc]NEXT WEEK – Small Wonder S01E01 – Vicki’s Homecoming [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqqJJ1Lfsxw] E-mail: weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com [weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com] Voicemail: ‪(424) 274-2352 Twitter: @WeirdTVPod [https://twitter.com/WeirdTVPod] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod [https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod] Site: billmeeks.com/weirdtv [https://billmeeks.com/weirdtv]

Mr. T's Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!

We learn to be high achievers from Mr. T's Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool! Mr. T pities the kids. He’ll teach them to be better. His sketches, music, song, and dance help the children of the world advance. He’s building a kid army for reasons he’s not saying. They’ll be bold, hip, creative and respectful, running in the sand. The kids in this grew up to be cool. You're gonna  Be Somebody, Or Be Somebody’s Fool! TOPICS Open 0:00 - Get Involved 3:14 What The Hell is Be Somebody? 4:37 - Dramaturgy 4:47 - Inspirations 6:35 - How It Was Received 8:41 How Well Was It Done? 9:46 - Can Everybody Be A Leader? 10:08 - Try by Valerie Landsburg 12:01 - Visualization Exercises 14:42 - The Fashion Show 18:19 - The Typical Fat Kid 20:38 - Everybody's Got A Rap! 23:09 Was It Worth Doing? 25:17 Bits and Baubles 27:03 - ARBITRARY SCALE 28:48 Listener Feedback 29:45 LINKS Mr. T’s Be Somebody or Be Somebody’s Fool [https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=0Y1abMt1UGw] Key and Peele Parody [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g-s-pghtYQ] Mr. T Theme Song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLaPjOdLZhM] Agony Booth Summary [https://www.agonybooth.com/mr-t-s-be-somebody-or-be-somebody-s-fool-1984-part-1-1118] Topper Carew [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topper_Carew] Jeff Margolis [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0546791/] Mr. T on Bloomberg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0MLJncXLcs] Coffee Achievers Commerical (1984) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7YfmWFLbAc] NEXT WEEK - Cop Rock [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCwxnVAAC4A] E-mail: weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com [weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com] Voicemail: ‪(424) 274-2352 Twitter: @WeirdTVPod [https://twitter.com/WeirdTVPod] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod [https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod] Site: billmeeks.com/weirdtv [https://billmeeks.com/weirdtv]

ABC's Cavemen with Anne Marie DeSimone

We get prehistoric with the ABC sitcom CAVEMEN. Cavemen as minorities, with all their modern problems. It’s played for laughs, which feels weird, right? Also weird, the actors are white. Joel thinks his date’s embarrassed by his caveman genetics. Sneak and stalk, confront his girlfriend. Stereotypes are bound to offend. GEICO buried this deep in their basement. Let's dive deep on long-form Cavemen, with special guest Anne Marie DeSimone TOPICS Open 0:00 What The Hell is Cavemen? 1:23 -Inspirations 2:12 -Mascots That Went Legit 4:23 -- Ernest 4:54 -- California Raisins 7:03 -- Ted Lasso 8:23 - How It Was Received 10:23 How Well Was It Done? 11:51 - Guest Intro 12:01 - Where Are Cavemen From? 12:21 - Crystal Clear Characters 14:21 - 2007-ish 17:39 - Nick, The Xenophobe 19:17 - Kate and Joel 21:50 Was It Worth Doing? 24:37 Bits and Baubles 27:11 - ARBITRARY SCALE 29:43 Listener Feedback 31:41 LINKS Cavemen Episode 1 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZyCPZsk_5M] Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer - SNL [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AzAFqrxfeY] 99% Invisible Interview [https://beta.prx.org/stories/84066] Esquire – The Evolution of the Postmodern Caveman [https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a2765/geico032007/] GEICO Cavemen ad compilation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8o_YqzMBoo] Nick Kroll & John Mulaney Look Back On 'Cavemen' & 'Mulaney' | PeopleTV [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcckJzUN2Bo] Cavemen Unaired Pilot [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xlt5_nTFx4] TV Guide Network's "25 Biggest TV Blunders" Special [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20100302tvguide01] Ernest P. Worrell [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_P._Worrell] Ernest Greatest Clips Volume 1 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-DKut7_Rvg] Jim Varney Does Shakespeare [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1G7KQZpP3c] The California Raisins [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_California_Raisins] An American Coach In London (Ted Lasso) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KeG_i8CWE8] Ted Lasso series trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u7EIiohs6U] Anne Marie DeSimone (Twitter [https://twitter.com/amdesimone] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ubannemarie/] | Etsy [https://www.etsy.com/shop/UniverseBox]) [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001704/?ref_=tt_cl_t_5] NEXT WEEK - Mr. T's Be Somebody or Be Somebody's Fool [https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=0Y1abMt1UGw] E-mail: weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com [weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com] Voicemail: ‪(424) 274-2352 Twitter: @WeirdTVPod [https://twitter.com/WeirdTVPod] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod [https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod] Site: billmeeks.com/weirdtv [https://billmeeks.com/weirdtv]

Heat Vision and Jack

We get weird with the failed pilot HEAT VISION AND JACK. Jack Austin was a spaceman who flew up way too high. Now he's smart when the sun's about, much dumber when the sun's blacked out. His roommate's a machine now who got hit by a laser. On the road, seeking adventure, fighting, fun, action, and lectures. It's an 80s show starring Jack Black. Let's dive deep on Heat Vision and Jack. TOPICS Open 0:00 What The Hell is Heat Vision and Jack? 1:22 - Dramaturgy 1:26 - Inspirations 3:00 - Intended Audience 4:03 - How It Was Received 4:35 How Well Was It Done? 5:31 - Paragon The Incel 5:45 - I Can't See Clearly Now 7:39 - Low-Hi-Tech 9:24 - The Incredible Jack 11:06 - Exposition Dumps 12:47 - "SMART" 15:55 - Ron Silver 16:56 Was It Worth Doing? 18:50 Bits and Baubles 21:57 - ARBITRARY SCALE 23:29 Listener Feedback 24:35 LINKS Heat Vision and Jack Pilot [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lWgXDOAJ5s] Behind The Scenes [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWbDjt17NPI] Northstar Pilot [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-8bMBY7viQ] Channel 101 Wiki [https://channel101.fandom.com/wiki/Heat_Vision_and_Jack] Rumored Animated Series [https://www.avclub.com/dan-harmon-hints-at-heat-vision-and-jack-animated-serie-1798266887] Fan Site [https://web.archive.org/web/20060327223410/http:/www.altslashgo.com/hvaj/index.shtml] Script [https://web.archive.org/web/20060327223529/http:/www.altslashgo.com/hvaj/heat.txt] TV Tropes – The Drifter [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheDrifter] Vincent Schiavelli [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001704/?ref_=tt_cl_t_5] NEXT WEEK - Cavemen [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZyCPZsk_5M] E-mail: weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com [weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com] Voicemail: ‪(424) 274-2352 Twitter: @WeirdTVPod [https://twitter.com/WeirdTVPod] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod [https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod] Site: billmeeks.com/weirdtv [https://billmeeks.com/weirdtv]