Fanacek

"Chico, don't get discouraged, the Man he ain't so hard to understand."  Ah...Chico and the Man.  I have to admit, this was a really fun rewatch.  Freddie Prinze was full of charm and optimism and Jack Albertson was...well...Jack Albertson.  This show isn't talked about as much as it should be as it was cut short for obvious reasons.  In a TV Landscape dominated by Norman Lear, this series was "controversy light".  It shined a light on urban blight, blue collar struggles, and racial clashes in a very easy to swallow pill.  So, sit back and enjoy while I give 'ol Chico the credit he deserves.

This was a listener request and I was glad to deliver!  Bob Newhart is a comedy legend and this pilot episode is arguably one of the best pilots I've ever watched.  Watching our guy Bob weave his way through life all calm and collected while everyone around him is batshit crazy is...well...comedy gold.  Newhart's comedy is seamlessly translated into a sitcom format and the supporting cast is superb.  Watch it, enjoy it, and then let me know how right I am!

"Come and knock on our door"...Oh boy, did I love this show as a kid!  Suzanne Somers, sexual innuendo, misunderstandings...did I say Suzanne Somers?  Let's face it, this was not meant to be a thinking man's series, nor a critical darling (although it was nominated for tons of Emmy and Golden Globe Awards).  Rather, this was a fun, escapist show chock full o' horny young adults.  That said, the writing was sharp, the acting was solid, and...it had Suzanne Somers!  Enjoy.

Taxi. The series that gave brought legends into our living rooms: Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman, and Christopher Lloyd.  It's also the series that started Tony Danza down a path of only playing characters named Tony.  Join me as I explore Taxi's shared DNA with the Mary Tyler Moore Universe and how it paved the way for it's illegitimate child, Cheers.  A sweet mixture of humor and unfulfilled dreams.  Enjoy.

Yes, it's another Fanacek episode about a show you probably don't enjoy, but you absolutely must revisit this pilot as it is almost as batshit crazy as the rest of the series.  Mr. Drummond plays white savior to two black orphans who just lost their mother.  Lucky for them, they don't have a chance to grieve because Mr. D is "shaking hands like a brother", showering them with toys and a pony, and offering a soak in his jacuzzi.  What could have been an interesting commentary on loss and racial divides became this cotton candy descent into lunacy.  Enjoy.

That's right.  The Golden Girls.  The horniest show in television history...and maybe, pound for pound the "jokiest" show in television history.  Take a ride with me as I travel back in time to discuss the pilot episode of this series while also examining the television and cultural landscape in which it was birthed.  Yep.  I said birthed.  Enjoy.

"Boy the way Glen Miller played.  Songs that made the hit parade..  Guys like us we had it made.  Those were the days".  Ahh...a classic intro for a classic show.  This season I will be focusing on pilot episodes of classic television shows and there is no better pilot episode to start with than 1971's "Meet the Bunkers".  Three different pilots were filmed before Norman Lear finally perfected this recipe of stellar writing, perfect acting, and...controversy.  Archie Bunker would soon become a lightning rod for debates about bigotry, tradition, and change and America would love every minute of it.  Join me and a returning guest as we dissect the episode and discuss how it has aged and how it is still shockingly relevant.  So, stifle yourself and play the damn episode.

Welcome to 2026, folks!  I'm starting the year off with a bang by bringing back author Thom Shubilla.  Thom's new book, "King Kong Versus Godzilla" explores the origins of King Kong, Godzilla, and dozens of other movie monsters as Kong and Godzilla make their way toward their inevitable showdown in the 1962 classic film, King Kong vs. Godzilla.  During our chat, we'll also explore Kong and Godzilla exploitation films, the rise of monsters films on television, the aborted Batman vs Godzilla movie, the various marketing campaigns used to promote the films, and King Kong becoming a Green Lantern!  The book is great, the author is great, and I hope you enjoy the interview.  Happy New Year!

Sure, the character of Cousin Eddie is a definite Hall of Famer and a Christmas staple...but what abut the actor playing him?  Let's dive into the resume of Mr. Quaid and take a close look at the legendary directors and fellow actors he's worked with during his 50+ year career.  We'll also chitchat about his tumultuous personal life while also discussing my personal connection to Not Another Teen Movie, Chuck Bronson not being a "fun" guy, the craziness that is The World According to Garp, the girl I dumped in 7th grade, my experience with Independence Day, and my Elvis audition that never happened.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  Like the shitter, my heart is full.

Ahh...Thanksgiving season...the gateway to Christmas.  A time for family, food, booze, football, and the Peanuts gang!  This special has become a staple of my family's Thanksgiving season, and probably yours as well, so why not take a look at the young folks who lent their voices to this 1973 classic?  Along the way, we'll also chat about Jeremy Miller, taking my 11 year old to Las Vegas, Jay and Silent Bob, MetLife, and meeting Martin Kove!  Happy Thanksgiving, folks.