Random Access Television

Supernatural

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:58:46 GMT

This time around Zach Wilson & Joe Adalion take a look at the LOOOOOONG running horror drama Supernatural. Digressions include erotic fan fiction, Gilmore Girls, COVID delays, backdoor pilots, the joy and pain of 22 episode seasons, and as always lots of talk about TV ratings!

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Julia

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:33:48 GMT

This time around Zach & Joe take a look at the groundbreaking, and maybe misremembered dramedy Julia with a brief history of women of color on television thrown in for good measure. Digressions are few this time around as we mostly keep on topic!

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Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 22:13:08 GMT

This between holiday episode sees Zach & Joe taking on a favorite of them both, 90's late night legend "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" Digressions include: almost none, we actually stay on topic this time!

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Kula, Fran and Ollie

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:33:02 GMT

This time around Zach & Joe take a long look at the incredibly influential early children's puppet show Kukla, Fran & Ollie. Digressions include World War 2, Jim Henson, a baby David Letterman, kids YouTube videos, Mystery Science Theater, Breakfast Time on FX, AI upgrading, Match Game '79, and basically every puppet on television you can think of (except ALF, he knows why).

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Hail to the Chief

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 21:36:23 GMT

This time around Zach and Joe cover the short lived edgy 80's sitcom Hail to the Chief starring Patty Duke as the first female president. (Trigger warning she had a horrible life so there is a lot about the abuse she got in childhood) Digressions include Password & Super Password, ABC's pre-TGIF Friday night lineups, 30 Rock, opening credits effect on ratings & Redd Foxx's death.

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Webster

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 22:05:05 GMT

It's fall which means it's time for a new season of Random Access Television where we take a look at popular 80's sitcom Webster. Digressions include Mr. Belvedere's on set accident, sports gambling, PlutoTV, the current state of sitcom directors, Adam Rich faking his death, Diff'rent Strokes and the dozens of other sitcom orphans of the 80's.

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Hammerman (Reissue)

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:56:12 GMT

The summer of reruns concludes!

From the parking lot of the Oakland A’s Coliseum to the top of the Billboard charts, MC Hammer emerged a 90s branding powerhouse. Out of his many endeavors, the Hammerman cartoon became a short-lived Saturday morning staple. Zach and Nas reminisce about early 90s mega-fads, awful animation, and possibly the most complicated theme song of all time.

Graffiti: good or bad? MC Hammer can’t quite decide, but it makes for an entertaining episode! Join us to discuss the rise and inevitable downfall of Hammer, who influenced a lot of kids to wear puffy pants.

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Saturday Night Live (Reissue)

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:55:01 GMT

The summer of reruns continues!

As one of the longest running shows in history, if you haven’t heard of Saturday Night Live, where have you been? On our spooktacular Halloween special we watch the October 30th, 1993 edition of SNL - guest starring Christian Slater and the Smashing Pumpkins! Nas is in 90s heaven as she gets to talk about one of her favorite bands and hero, Billy Corgan. Zach is also in heaven, because he loves SNL lore and trivia. Come for Chris Farley’s golden era, stay for those Sassy Boys! But feel free to skip the Weekend Update, because it was dated and bad.

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Wings (Reissue)

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:53:24 GMT

Summer of reruns continues!

NOT the sitcom.

Are you ready for the world’s most sleepy show? Zach and Nas try not to fall into a deep slumber while recalling the precision, straight-from-the-manual schematics of World War 2 fighter planes! If you love planes, planes, and more planes, then Wings (the documentary-style show, not the sitcom) is for you. Content warning: we’ll be talking about Nazis a bit in this episode, so if historically-minded dialogue about such bothers you, please feel free to skip to the next episode.

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Sue Thomas F.B. Eye (Reissue)

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:51:53 GMT

Summer re-runs continue!

Zach and Nas take a look at this heartwarming adventure between a hearing impaired woman and her hearing-ear dog Levi. What ever happened to inspirational TV? The uplifting, feel-good stories of white women being girlbosses? With Sue Thomas, FB Eye, you can relive the early 00s in all its beige glory. We do have to praise Deanne Bray though, we stan an inclusive hero! It’s awesome to see a disabled actor get a chance to play her character. In this episode, we discuss the now defunct PAX network, mean FBI agents, and Canadian acting.

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One Life to Live (Reissue)

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:50:29 GMT

Random Access Television is pleased to introduce our first guest: the talented Jamie! Join Zach, Nas, and our special guest as we converse about one of TVs longest running soap operas: One Life to Live. Soap operas were always outrageous, but they’ve gone through some changes over the years. Amnesia? Anagrams that reveal secrets? Crazy dreams? A gun wielding psycho wife who we all adore? SNOOP DOG? This show has it all! A rollercoaster from beginning to end.

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The Tortellis (Reissue)

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

The summer of reruns continues as...

Spinoffs, spinoffs, spinoffs! Would this 80s era Cheers offshoot be as successful as its sister show, Frasier? Zach and Nas discuss the pitfalls and minor successes of this strange sitcom starring Nick Tortelli, estranged husband of Carla from Cheers. Travel with us to a Las Vegas suburb to join everyone’s least favorite TV repairman and his sad adventures in obtaining a Frank Sinatra autograph. Oh hey, look! Cliff and Norm show up too! What makes a television show great?

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Monday Night Baseball (Reissue)

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 10:00:00 GMT

The summer of reruns continues with...

Is Pete Rose going to break the 44 consecutive hit streak world record? Find out during this New York versus Philadelphia classic! You might notice that “Charlie Hustle” didn’t play for the Mets or Phillies in 1978, and you’d be right! Nas and Zach grab some popcorn and a hot dog, settle on for the seventh inning stretch, and discuss baseball’s TV history. Sponsored by the Italian Stallion Lee Mazzilli, Howard Cosell’s yellow jacket, and our fabulous Hawaiian vacation!

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Gunsmoke (Reissue)

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 08:00:00 GMT

The summer rerun season continues as....

Zach as Nas travel to the Wild West to discuss one of the longest running television shows to ever air! James Arness stars as the stoic Marshall Dillon, who works hard to keep Dodge City free of corporate capitalists. Come for the frontier shootouts, but stick around for Miss Kitty’s excellent hairdos and calming demeanor. Sponsored by dust, desert sand, and other sweaty western things.

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The Mary Tyler Moore Hour

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 23:00:09 GMT

The summer of reruns continues as...

The Mary Tyler Moore Show is widely considered one of the greatest shows to ever exist. As a sitcom spanning over seven seasons, Moore delighted audiences with hilarious skits and progressive plotlines. So where does one go after such a smashing success? Join Zach and Nas as they discuss Moore’s follow-up endevor: The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. Come for the dancing, stay for the riveting song about Canada. Yes, that is indeed Lucille Ball, David Letterman, and Michael Keaton!

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The David Letterman Show (Reissue)

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:00:00 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

Does the world need ninety minutes of David Letterman? 1980s daytime TV definitely thought so. Join Zach and Nas as they travel to Long Island (both metaphorically and literally) to enjoy the musings of the future Late Show host. Come for the copious amounts of advertisements geared toward housewives, but please stay for Hester Mundis’s riveting tale of raising a baby chimp in her Manhattan apartment. Sponsored by cleaning products, gym memberships, cat food, and uh…..douches. We’ll explain, I promise.

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St. Elsewhere (Reissue)

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:00:00 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

Zach and Nas tackle the first two episodes of one of TV’s most renowned shows! This intense hospital drama series had it all: terrorists, romance, and STDs. As a remarkable slice of 1980s workplace culture, we dissect how the show portrays the long hours, medical maladies, and bizarre casual racism exhibited by Mr. Feeny (William Daniels.) In what was one of the first types of shows of its time, Zach discusses the legacy of St. Elsewhere as found in more modern dramas.Small spoiler alert: This show does not pass the Bechdel test.

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My Generation / The Generation Gap (Reissue)

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 08:00:00 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

An entire show about song lyrics and trivia? Nas is in her element as she and Zach discuss the intricacies of this pop culture game show. Watch as the older generation faces off against the young in all matters of music, movies, and hip fashion. How did one contestant not know the lyrics to a hit Nirvana song? The 1990s is way more square than you remember it! However, 1969 is way more rad than you’d imagine. Check out our thoughts on teenage fads, Victor’s excellent hair style, and Blockbuster gift cards.Sponsored by 1990s nostalgia: Panasonic televisions, CD-ROMS, and the smell of your local Blockbuster.

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Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Reissue)

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:00:00 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

Take a trip to the 25th century and join the space adventure! For this classic 1970s television series, Zach and Nas discuss the impact of disco music on future generations and their galactic dance parties. This show has it all: time travel, sexy space princesses, apocalyptic Chicago, and a silver robot named Twiki. We also talk about one of our favorite media tropes: the impact of the Cold War on TV shows and the idea of the “nuclear holocaust.”We’re contractually obligated not to compare this show to Star Wars, Star Trek, or any other “Star” series, so we’ll just call it a “powerful, hero-driven space chronicle!”

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Dungeons and Dragons (Reissue)

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

Thunder…..thunder…..Thundercats!!! Whoops, wrong 80s cartoon. Zach and Nas put on their robes and wizards hats, and watch the first two episodes of the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon. Do you love dragons, knights, talking mushrooms, and Peter Gabriel-era Genesis? This cartoon is for you. Amusement parks, Lord of the Rings, monsters, and fantasy plotlines abound! Sponsored by the One Ring to Rule Them All. Just kidding - it’s sponsored by your local Dungeon Master!

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Dave's World (Reissue)

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:00:00 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

Is there anything as characteristic of 1990s sensibilities as the prime time family sitcom? The writing of Dave Barry gets television treatment, starring Harry Anderson as the title character. Zach and Nas discuss the multiple plot lines taking place in the Dave’s World episodes we watched, including 1994s era movies, eating alone, annoying yuppies, disappearing lizards, and more! Mediocre television continues to be a hotly debated topic between your RATV hosts. Is it the focus on parenting? Nostalgia? Laugh tracks? Zach and Nas share an emotional moment over their love of weird television moments (but usually not the same moments.)The two episodes we discussed are available to watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64oNeiUPOeg&list=PL_rgmo7DIqebwt8WwCwzCin6KCdPlLOA3

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The Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahoney Show (Reissue)

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:00:00 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

An exciting new episode about a television show which follows the adventures of a man and his beloved puppet. If you like the 1950s media aesthetic, we have it all for you - there’s singing, there’s dancing, there’s ventriloquism, there’s housewives hawking Cheer detergent to a live studio audience. Spoiler alert: Paul Winchell is one of the most interesting people on the planet that you’ve never heard of. Listen to find out why!Aggressively sponsored by the most pushy Tootsie Roll advertising campaign that Zach and Nas have ever seen! The episodes we watched are available here: at our podcast YouTube playlisthttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_rgmo7DIqebwt8WwCwzCin6KCdPlLOA3

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All That (Reissue)

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 12:00:00 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021! (Which means that some of the information is outdated, especially in this ep)

Ready yet, get set, it's All That! This episode Zach & Nas discuss the long running Nickelodeon sketch comedy show, past & present. We discuss Nas's lack of Nick nostalgia, himbos, Kenan Thompsons omnipresence and (sigh) Dan Schneider. Also, Nas completely loses it! The two episodes discussed are episode 201 from 1995 & episode 24 of the 2019 version.

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Three Wishes (Reissue)

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:00:00 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

Amy Grant serves up a triple dose of emotional sentiment in the short lived reality show, “Three Wishes.” In this episode, we discuss gratuitous product placement, growing up in Northern California, and the need for universal healthcare. Can you believe how far reality TV has come since the early 2000s?Reluctantly sponsored by a Canadian plastic grass company.We watched the pilot which is on YouTube, part one is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tT0K5QFwZU&pbjreload=101

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Pokemon (Resissue)

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 23:58:48 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

Gotta watch 'em all! Or not, as this episode hosts Zach & Nas discuss the long running TV show & franchise "Pokemon." Join us for talk of childhood nostalgia, endangered 10 year olds, Team Rocket's absence & lots of Pokemon Go puns. For this we watched the first episodes each of Pokemon: Indigo League & Pokemon Journeys

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Suspense (Reissue)

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 23:56:27 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

Zach and Nas discuss the mid-century anthology TV series Suspense. In this episode, we discuss atmosphere, aesthetics, and Autolite. If you’re curious about getting away with murder, we tell you how someone might go about doing that. Zach’s love of disaster flicks and Nas’s fear of nuclear blasts merge to form a spectacular analysis of atomic age history. Oh, and a detailed history of mannequins!The episodes we watched for this were "Goodbye New York" & "Nightmare At Ground Zero" both of which are on YouTube, links below.Goodbye New York: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64oNeiUPOeg&t=794s&pbjreload=101Nightmare At Ground Zero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68uIx2N_bOE&pbjreload=101

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Step by Step (Reissue)

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 23:53:47 GMT

It's summer which for TV means re-runs! So this summer we'll be reissuing podcasts from the first version of the podcast with your hosts Zach and Nas fresh from the distant past of 2021!

This time, we discuss the TGIF favorite, “Step By Step.” Have you ever wondered what the Brady Bunch would look like in the 1990s? Let us tell you all about it! Hair salons, horny parents, and grunge rock.If you'd like to watch ahead of time, we watched the Pilot (S1 Ep1) & the episode "Forever Young (S5 Ep17)

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Animaniacs

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 20:59:05 GMT

It's time for Animaniacs!

And we podcast to the max.

Joel likes it and Zacho yaks.

So just sit back and relax.

Listen to our podcast.

About Animaniacs.

Digressions include the early FOX Network, HBO cancelling Sesame Street and Joe's days at variety but mostly it's Zach gushing about a show from his (not so youthful) youth!

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Whew!

Sat, 03 May 2025 18:30:45 GMT

Welcome all to our latest episode where Zach & Joe take a look at the short lived game show Whew!. Digressions include Fear Factor, Steve Harvey, being divorced, Hanna-Barbera, reality show production and lots of talk about every American game show ever, basically, Joe really loves his game shows! (Also Zach calls Joe Joel multiple times for no good reason)

If you liked the ep, please tell everybody you know and give us a 5 star rating!

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Insight

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 22:28:34 GMT

On this spring episode of Random Access Television, Zach & Joe take a look at the groundbreaking 1970's religious anthology Insight, a series that starred almost every star of the 1970's including Carol Burnett, Walter Matthau and Ed Asner in just the one episode we watched! Digressions include televangelism, Davey & Goliath, the Troubles, hippies, Hallmark Movies, God Friended Me, Evil, and basically any network TV show with a religious theme and yes, we get political, how could we not?

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Gilmore Girls

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 02:24:56 GMT

Hi there every one, this time around Zach & Joe take a look at the cozy light drama Gilmore Girls from the early 00's. Digressions include the Bangles, the nature of episodic TV dramas, the traveling cast of Cats, Roger Ebert's review of Bring it On, Canadian small town sitcoms, UP! Network's censorship & a long talk about how there's no more opening credits.

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Life with Lucy

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:36:26 GMT

This time around we take a look at the infamous 1986 flop "Life with Lucy" Lucille Ball's unfortunate final sitcom. Digressions are surprisingly few but include 80's TBS sitcoms, Aaron Spelling and frequently the Golden Girls! (PS, why I thought it was a good idea to drink something with ice while making a podcast I'll never know but hopefully I cut most of out.)

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Batman 66

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 22:23:03 GMT

This time around Zach & Joe look at an obscure little show called Batman, specifically the live action sitcom starring Adam West that aired from 1966 to 1968. Digressions this time around include the comic book code, baseball uniform fabrics, Austin Powers and TV demographic surveys!

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TJ Hooker

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 23:03:14 GMT

Hello to all you Shatner fanatics do we have a treat for you this time Zach & Joe take a look at the early 80's police "drama" TJ Hooker starring the Shatman himself, William Shatner! Digressions are surprisingly few but include the Starsky and Hutch movie, 7th Heaven and the life and career of one Aaron Spelling.

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Garroway at Large

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 22:23:30 GMT

This time around join Zach & Joe for what's probably our favorite show we've covered so far, early late night variety show "Garroway at Large". Digressions include Conan vs. Letterman, streaming demographics, Sadie Hawkins Day, and the G4 Network.

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In the House

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 23:37:59 GMT

We're back after a brief summer hiatus with an episode focusing on the long running yet mostly forgotten 90's sitcom "In the House" starring LL Cool J and a ever changing supporting cast. This time around digressions include Jeff Foxworthy, Blossom and, of course, Dog with a Blog.

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Mister Ed

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 01:53:41 GMT

This time around on Random Access Television, the fickle finger of fate has chosen for us to watch the beloved 1960's sitcom "Mister Ed" about a man and his talking horse. Digressions include Burns & Allen, shared universes, Nick at Nite, several talking donkeys and, of course, Dog With a Blog.

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I Witness Video

Sat, 04 May 2024 23:17:35 GMT

Join Zach & Joe as we take a look at the "early" reality TV show I Witness Video, where you can see such amazing and spectacularly rare things as an alligator in Florida and very minor criminals! Digressions include golden toilets, the Olympics and Mr. Beast.

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The Father Dowling Mysteries

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 23:49:04 GMT

This time around Zach & Joe take a look at the cozy mysteries of one Father Dowling, a priest who inexplicably solves crimes on the side. Digressions include the G4 Network, sexism in film criticism and a long tangent with some great ideas for streaming television. As always if you like it, give us some feedback at ratvpod@gmail.com and rate us highly in whatever app you listen with.

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Drew Carey's Green Screen Show

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 02:04:50 GMT

In this episode Zach and Joe look back a "Drew Carey's Green Screen Show" and all the rest of Drew Carey's and others improv comedy series of the last 30 years. Digressions include Canadian comedians, the GAC Network and late night Family Channel watching.

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Johnny Jupiter

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 01:28:38 GMT

Direct from the 50's and the fifth planet from the Sun this time around Zach and Joe take a look at the forgotten sci-fi sitcom Johnny Jupiter. Speaking of forgotten here you can get an in-depth look into the history of the lost television network and it's founder. Digressions include puppets, the FOX network and of course, Mystery Science Theater.

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Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 03:33:54 GMT

This time around Zach and Joe take a long look at the 90's juggernaut that was "Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee". In addition to the usual series history and episode discussion (an episode you can see yourself on YouTube in the Random Access Television playlist) we also talk about Zach's experiences with New York, the state of local TV and, oh yeah, the time Joe had a 1 on 1 lunch with Regis himself!

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Platypus Man

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:29:06 GMT

After a long layoff, Zach is back, this time with his brand new co-host Joe Adalion of Vulture Magazine. While the host may be new the format is the same as each episode Zach and Joe talk about an American TV Show picked at random for us by our vintage super computer and this time around it picked the short lived Richard Jeni starring sitcom Platypus Man from 1995! Thrill as we talk the show, stand-ups on TV, Certs (with Retsyn) and which one of us doesn't like the Golden Girls (hint, it's Zach).

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