Media Path Podcast

Bewitched By Classic TV & Finding Joy After Child Stardom with Erin Murphy

We welcome actress Erin Murphy, who spent her first eight years of life charming TV watchers as young Tabitha Stephens on Bewitched. Erin takes us behind the scenes at one of television’s most beloved classics, sharing vivid memories from a childhood spent witnessing the creation of Hollywood magic. Erin and her fraternal twin sister Diane were originally cast together to share the role of Tabitha, following child labor laws which severely limit the number of hours a toddler can spend working. But, as Erin reveals with a laugh, in the 1960s, rules were “suggestions.” Erin was the twin who took to the craft of acting and she was often brought right back to the set while producers pretended to swap her out. Soon, Erin became the show’s singular Tabitha. Erin recalls the delight of working with fantastical props, whimsical effects, and a cast she adored. A natural performer, she memorized not only her own lines but everyone else’s, and she truly cherishes her time on the set. Erin and Diane were treated with kindness and respect and were even given Donna Reed’s former dressing room where the amenities of home gave them space for play and nap time. Erin’s success on Bewitched soon led to appearances on other iconic shows, including Lassie. Erin is coming with “two Darrins” insights. She worked with Dick York and Dick Sargent for three years each and she  shares a touching story about reconnecting with the original Darrin, Dick York, years later through the Kevin and Bean morning radio show. She weighs in on whether Bewitched can be read as a metaphor for being different or even being closeted and she opines on why the show still resonates today as a fun, campy, nostalgic, yet surprisingly modern-feeling classic. Erin also recalls the many rising stars who made early Bewitched appearances and she shares thoughts on why she never truly  connected with Paul Lynde.  She reflects on a groundbreaking episode, written by high-school students, that confronted racism. The story involves Tabitha and her best friend Lisa who is black. When told by an adult that they  could never be sisters, Tabitha uses witchcraft to turn them both polka dotted. Erin identifies this as Elizabeth Montgomery’s favorite episode. After her early TV career, Erin enjoyed a normal childhood in Orange County before returning to the entertainment world as a host and reality-show participant in projects like Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Wrestling and RuPaul’s Drag U.  She went on to raise six children, including a son with autism, and has devoted herself to community service and volunteerism. Erin even launched her own alpaca farm, and turned it into a thriving business selling knit goods! This TV icon is as endearing as she is inspiring and Erin’s Hollywood and beyond journey is a testament to her grace, charm and character. In current media -- Weezy: One Shot With Ed Sheeran on Netflix Fritz: The American Revolution from Ken Burns Path Points of Interest: Erin Murphy on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ErinMurphy1964] Erin Murphy on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/erinmurphybewitched/?hl=en] Erin Murphy on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_Murphy] Erin Murphy on IMDB [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0614249/] One Shot With Ed Sheeran on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/82123114] The American Revolution - PBS [https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-american-revolution]

The Little House Legacy & A Prairie Reunion with Karen Grassley, Alison Arngrim & Dean Butler

We are taking a heartwarming ride back to Walnut Grove with three beloved Little House On The Prairie cast members: Alison Arngrim, Dean Butler, and Karen Grassle, as they reunite to celebrate the show’s enduring magic and to preview a new documentary and a Simi Valley cast reunion event in December, 2025. We explore why Little House continues to resonate across generations, drawing parallels to Star Trek and its devoted fan culture. Audiences still crave the sense of simplicity, community, and frontier resilience the series embodies. Karen Grassle shares the story of landing her very first series regular role as Caroline Ingalls after eight lean years as a struggling New York actor. The cast reflects on the unexpected typecasting that followed their time on the prairie, and Alison recalls the heady moment when, at age 12, she recognized the deliciously devious nature of her role, Prairie Bitch, Nellie Oleson. We delve into the legacy of Michael Landon, his uncanny eye for casting, his individualized directing style, and why guest stars adored working with him, while Karen offers a candid look at her complicated relationship with Michael  and the challenges she faced as a women on that set. Alison and Dean walk us through the phenomenon of the Little House passport book, that allows Laura fans to mark every museum that celebrates the Ingalls family’s history in their town. And the cast previews what will make the Simi Valley reunion truly special for enthusiasts, including meet-and-greets, photo-ops, breakfast with the cast, a screening of the 'Little House Homecoming' documentary and a tote bag! We also discuss the real, sometimes harsh conditions the actors faced on set, including rain, snow, fire and Victor French leaping into a freezing creek. And we get into the new Netflix limited series currently in production (though the original cast isn’t officially involved, they share their openness to making appearances).  And of course we make time for game time. How well does the cast know what takes place in the Books vs. the Series? And we play the IMDB Roulette Sub-Genre,  Were You In it? This is a conversation that celebrates the past, embraces the future and shares the community of Little House. In current media -- Fritz: The documentary Being Eddie on Netflix Weezy: Netflix movie, Train Dreams Path Points of Interest: LHOP Holiday cast reunion Dec 12 - 14th, 2025 Little House Homecoming Documentary [https://www.littlehousehomecoming.com/] Dean Butler [https://deanbutler.com/] Dean Butler on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/officialdeanbutler/?hl=en] Dean Butler on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/officialdeanbutler/] Alison Arngrim  [https://alisonarngrim.net/] Alison Arngrim on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alisonarngrim/?hl=en] Alison Arngrim on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/alison.arngrim/] Karen Grassle [https://karengrassle.net/] Karen Grassle on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/karen_grassle/?hl=en] Laura Ingalls Wilder Tour Passport [https://lauraingallswilderhome.com/product/laura-ingalls-wilder-all-sites-tour-passport/] Confessions Of A Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim [https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Prairie-Bitch-Survived-Learned-ebook/dp/B003L77ZVQ/] Prairie Man by Dean Butler [https://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Man-Little-House-Beyond-ebook/dp/B0CK5CM8NH/r] Bright Lights, Prairie Dust by Karen Grassle [https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Lights-Prairie-Dust-Reflections-ebook/dp/B08W1H2CYZ/r] Being Eddie  [https://www.netflix.com/title/81094163] Train Dreams [https://www.netflix.com/title/82020378]

Making Teen Movie Classics & Tales Of The Second City with John Kapelos

We welcome actor John Kapelos, whose unforgettable turns in The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles enshrine him as a John Hughes Universe fixture. From Second City to Shermer High, John weighs in on comedy, character & The Hughes legacy. John takes us back to his youth in London, Ontario, Canada, and his first big leap into show business as a member of Second City Chicago, from where he toured for over three years and studied under the mentorship of John Candy: John Kapelos shares his thoughts on the recent Candy documentary and the warmth and sensitivity of the icon who showed him the way. He shares the magic of an electric comedy scene which included Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Dave Thomas and Catherine O'Hara, and how the Chicago and Toronto improv cultures differed. We also get his perspective on the sexism which permeated the comedy scene. We dive into John’s transition from stage to screen, his admiration for John Hughes’ ability to capture the voices of teenagers, and we get Breakfast Club behind-the-scenes intrigue. How did John manage to enrage Emilio Estevez? And how did he ultimately receive absolution from Martin Sheen on the set of The West Wing? It’s all here. And in a thrilling round of IMDB Roulette, we learn why Desperate Housewives was a piece of (cup)cake and how John sustained an injury on the set of Seinfeld, attempting to not crack up at Kramer! In current media-- Weezy: Netflix Limited Series,  Death By Lightning Fritz: Netflix Movie, A House Of Dynamite Path Points of Interest: John Kapelos on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kapelos] John Kapelos on IMDB [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438127/] John Kapelos on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thejohnkapelos/?hl=en] John Kapelos on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/john.kapelos] Too Hip for the Room [https://music.apple.com/us/album/too-hip-for-the-room/1439457760?i=1439457972] Death By Lightning [https://www.netflix.com/title/81438325] A House Of Dynamite [https://www.netflix.com/title/81744537]

Stories With Universal Themes & The Relatability Of A Gay Marine with Greg Cope White

We’re joined by two authors whose stories illustrate courage, creativity, and the unpredictable tides of adversity and accomplishment, while also uniting us through humanity’s common threads. Greg Cope White is the Marine whose true story inspired Boots on Netflix. His book is called The Pink Marine and Greg takes us behind the scenes on its screen adaptation with the cast going through actual bootcamp to emerge as actors who could realistically portray Marine recruits. In serving as a writer and Executive Producer on the show, Greg had the opportunity to flesh out stories beyond those of himself and his best friend, Dale. Greg’s character is called Cam and he joins The Marines before “Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell,” when it was completely illegal to be gay in The Marine Corps. We quickly learn that every recruit is hiding or trying to prove something. Dale became Ray in the series and he is running from an abusive father, attempting to build pride in himself.  We also meet characters who struggle with their weight or have had brushes with the law or have never fit in. Pressure makes diamonds and Marines. Bonds form and Greg reports that the actors in the show are as tight as any fighting unit. Michael Gregg Michaud introduces us to Christopher Jones: Wild in the Streets, his new book chronicling the meteoric rise, and mysterious disappearance, of one of Hollywood’s most compelling shooting stars. From 1960s heartthrob to sudden recluse, Chris’s story is one of talent, turmoil, mental illness and cultural transformation. We hear about Greg's solidarity buzzcut and we learn about the Christopher Jones - Sharon Tate connection, it's an episode brimming with mystery, tragedy and triumph! And in current media--  Weezy: Season 3 of The Diplomat on Netflix  Fritz: Mr. Scorcese - A documentary series on Apple TV+ Path Points of Interest: Boots on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/81427990] Greg Cope White The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0997285710] The Pink Marine on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thepinkmarine] Greg Cope White on X [https://x.com/eatgregeat?lang=en] Greg Cope White on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eatgregeat/?hl=en] Greg Cope White on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/GregCopeWhite] Christopher Jones: Wild in the Streets by Michael Gregg Michaud [https://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Jones-Wild-Streets-Biography/dp/B0FHD4M5YM/] Michael Gregg Michaud on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001K7Z9W6/about] Christopher Jones on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Jones_(actor,_born_1941)] Michael Gregg Michaud on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/michael.michaud.90] Michael Gregg Michaud on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/michaelgreggmichaud/] The Diplomat on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/81288983] Mr. Scorcese on Apple TV+ [https://tv.apple.com/us/show/mr-scorsese/umc.cmc.4a06j5lm5pxny9nx505zo5g0y]

Johnny Carson's Legacy & The Power Of His Tonight Show

We’re pulling back The Tonight Show curtain, not only to reveal Johnny Carson, but to explore the lore and the legend that were Johnny’s Tonight Show reign. Joining us are Love Johnny Carson author and The Carson Podcast host, Mark Malkoff, along with Carson Tonight Show guest and Leno Tonight Show writer, Jimmy Brogan. Mark’s new Carson book offers a decade-by-decade deep look at the King of Late Night. Through his multitude of podcast interviews with Carson insiders, Mark peels away the stony myth to reveal that the real Johnny was more like the brilliantly charming, funny man you saw on TV and less like the icy, ramrod figure,  of legend, stealing himself from social intimacy. In actual fact, in order to get from points A to B, Johnny had to hold his gaze on the horizon and keep moving or he would attract a crowd.  Mark and Jimmy share what made Johnny so important to them and to comedy itself. Jimmy recalls turning down his initial invitation to guest on the show because although his crowd work was extraordinary, you can’t do that with a studio audience and he knew he wasn’t ready. Fritz, a standup comedian who became an NBC weatherman worked upstairs from The Tonight Show. He was groomed by talent coordinator Jim McCawley to appear on Carson and then easily fill in when a guest fell out. Mark’s deep research reveals a Johnny few have seen: the private man behind the poise. We learn about his secret yearning to be a singer. (he took three weeks of lessons to duet with Julio Iglesias as Willie Nelson ), his need for strong boundaries with fans, and his quiet interest in humanism and social justice.  Mark also debunks myths about famous feuds with Wayne Newton and Joan Rivers, while Jimmy shares his own Joan Rivers talk show audition story and memories of the bumpy Carson into Leno transition. From Kermit the Frog guest-hosting The Tonight Show to Johnny’s competitive streak, sensitivity and complex charm, this episode dives into the brilliance, insecurity, and humanity of a television legend.  Plus, Mark tells us about his own outrageous social experiments, including overcoming his fear of flying by living on an airplane for 30 days, visiting every Starbucks in Manhattan in one day and collecting keys to cities from Mayors across America! In current media -- Weezy:  Netflix Documentary, The Perfect Neighbor Fritz: Apple TV+ documentary, Stiller and Meara: Nothing Is Lost Path Points of Interest Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey To Find The Genius Behind The Legend by Mark Malkoff [https://www.amazon.com/Love-Johnny-Carson-Obsessive-Journey/dp/0593472551/] Mark Malkoff [https://markmalkoff.com] Mark Malkoff on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Malkoff] The Carson Podcast [https://carsonpodcast.com] Mark Malkoff on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/markmalkoff/] Jimmy Brogan [https://www.jimbroganonline.com] Jimmy Brogan on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Brogan] Jimmy Brogan on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jimmybroganhaha/] Jimmy Brogan on Mark's Podcast [https://carsonpodcast.com/?s=Jimmy+Brogan] The Perfect Neighbor [https://www.netflix.com/title/82018736] Stiller and Meara: Nothing Is Lost [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37674658/]