Episode 58: The Remote Control

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This week join Jonathan as he discusses the origin of the television remote control, how it worked and works, and humorously, how it was advertised.

Chris Woodford’s wonderful article on how remote controls work: link

Daniel Engber’s history of the remote from Slate.com: link

Steven Beschloss’s article from The New Yorker: link

Then be sure to stop back two weeks from now on May 18th, 2017 to listen to our next full length episode. You can leave a comment on this page and can always reach us via email at: feedback@tvhistorypod.com

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: Philco Mystery Control for Radio

: “Lazy Bones” Remote Control

: 1950 Wired TV Remote Control

: 1956 Zenith Flash-Matic print ad

: Flash-Matic Light Gun

: George Burns and Grace Allen help sell Zenith Remotes.

: a collection of old-school remotes

: Motorola TV Remote

: early 70s large remote

Episode 57: Colorization of TV

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This week join Jonathan and Andrew as they discuss CBS’s recent efforts at colorizing and packaging classic episodes of I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Then the conversation takes a historical turn as Andrew and Jonathan discuss what role black and white plays in our understanding of history and what role, if any, “generations” play into it.

Wonderful Website: Television Obsurities: link

Interesting color film shot in 1951 during an I Love Lucy taping: link (The Wrap)

Then be sure to stop back two weeks from now on May 4th, 2017 to listen to our next full length episode. You can leave a comment on this page and can always reach us via email at: feedback@tvhistorypod.com

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: Ted Turner infamously colorized Casablanca (1942)

: The Christmas Episode in color

: I Love Lucy in color

: CBS’s colorized I Love Lucy episode starring Superman

: The New York Post supplies a side-by-side comparison

: CBS’s colorized Pickle episode from The Andy Griffith episode.

: President Lincoln beautifully colored

: Mandi Johnson (fashion enthusiast) provides a wonderful comparison when she hand colors Mary Tyler Moore’s show costume.

: CBS’s colorized Dick Van Dyke

Episode 56: TV Shows That Never Existed

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This week join Jonathan and Andrew as they discuss the online archives that have been built to TV shows that never existed: the 1963 Fantastic Four series and the late 1970s show Kresky. They discuss the particulars of each of these archives, whether we can classify them as hoaxes, and whether each of these can be understood as practices in alternative history or merely genre experiments.

Kresky Archive: link

Fantastic Four Archive: link

Then be sure to stop back two weeks from now on April 20th, 2017 to listen to our next full length episode. You can leave a comment on this page and can always reach us via email at: feedback@tvhistorypod.com

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: The archive shows us the 1963 Fantastic Four cast in costume.

: Ben Grimm in rock form doesn’t seem so unbelievable if we remember the creations from Lost in Space (CBS, 1965-1968)

: The 1967 ABC Fantastic Four cartoon title card

: The leading man of our archive: Kresky

: Kresky was one in a long line of tough and cool TV cops like ABC’s Baretta (1975-1978)

: cool, tough, and suave fellow TV protagonist to Kresky, Thomas Magnum.

: Kresky had a gruff but lovable supervisor similar to Hunter’s (1984-1991) Capt. Devane

: Cast photo for the 1980 Enos spinoff show that inspired Cantrell.

: M*A*S*H* 1984 attempted spinoff pilot W*A*L*T*E*R* similiar to Cantrell.

Episode 55: Late ’80s Boomer Nostalgia on/for TV

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This week join Jonathan, Andrew, & Steve as Jonathan introduces the potential significance of nostalgia that occurred on U.S. television beginning in the late 1980s. Using the shows The Wonder Years, Quantum Leap, and Dream On as case studies the guys discuss and debate the significance of nostalgia not only for a childhood but a childhood that grew in parallel with a particular medium (TV). Also, enjoy as Jonathan and Steve argue over Mike Post’s Quantum Leap theme.

Then be sure to stop back two weeks from now on April 6th, 2017 to listen to our next full length episode. You can leave a comment on this page and can always reach us via email at: feedback@tvhistorypod.com

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: The Big Chill’s 1983 soundtrack successfully sold ’60s pop nostalgia.

: The film Stand By Me’s soundtrack boasting nostaglic hits.

: creators of The Wonder Years: Neal Marlens and Carol Black

: Parents on The Wonder Years dual recording (16mm film & still camera) the moment for future revisiting.

: The role of film is built into The Wonder Years DVD package aesthetic.

: Recreation of physical nostalgia is built into The Wonder Years DVD boxset.

: Producer Donald Bellisario with his Quantum Leap star Scott Bakula.

: Quantum Leap episodes set the temporal stage for audiences each week.

: Dr. Samuel Beckett leaps into his boyhood self in the episode “The Leap Home.”

: Little Martin Tupper grows up literally in front of the TV in the intro for Dream On

: Dream On intro’s TV

: The cast of HBO’s Dream On.

Episode 54: All In The Family, Part 02

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This week join Steve and Jonathan as they continue their discussion of the groundbreaking US sitcom, All In The Family. We discuss it’s transition from All In the Family to Archie Bunker’s Place, what other shows tried to fill the void, what shows today attempt to take on its themes, and whether the show could be re-done today to address our newest president…

Then be sure to stop back two weeks from now on March 23rd, 2017 to listen to our next full length episode. You can leave a comment on this page and can always reach us via email at: feedback@tvhistorypod.com

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: cast from season 1 of Archie Bunker’s Place

: Sally Struthers spun-off her AITF character for a 1982 solo series titled “Gloria.”

: cast of hte Fox sitcom Roc (1991-1994)

: Reality TV blurs the line between documentary and scripted scenarios. Nonetheless, Reality TV stars might seem “more real” than a fictional character like Archie.

: Norman Lear rebooted One Day at a Time on Netflix. Could AITF be next?

: President Trump’s tweets could be a stand-in for Archie’s old scripted one-liners.

Episode 54: All In The Family, Part 01

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This week join Steve and Jonathan as they discuss the groundbreaking US sitcom, All In The Family. Why it worked, in what ways is it a product of the 1970s and in what ways is it timeless? We’ll even tip-toe toward whether the show could be re-done today to address our newest president…

Then be sure to stop back two weeks from now on March 9th, 2017 to listen to Part 02 of our discussion on Archie Bunker and All In The Family. You can leave a comment on this page and can always reach us via email at: feedback@tvhistorypod.com

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Episode 53: MacGyver

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This week Andrew and Steve school Jonathan on appreciating the rare delicacy that is Richard Dean Anderson’s MacGyver. What lies at the heart of the show’s appeal? How exactly was this action hero different from all the others from the 1980s? And of course, does anyone have a paper clip? All this and more as Andrew deep dives into the kind of high stakes adventure only the Fonz could produce.

Then be sure to stop back two weeks from now on February 23, 2017 to listen to our next full length episode. You can leave a comment on this page and can always reach us via email at: feedback@tvhistorypod.com

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: Producer with Winkler, John Rich (1925-2012)

: Richard Dean Anderson and Dana Elcar (attibution: SarahCutter.com)

: Producer Henry Winkler during his guest appearance on MacGyver

: MacGyver with heavy artillery over shoulder

: Richard Dean Anderson headshot (attribution: macgyveronline.com

: Richard Dean Anderson’s wrap letter to cast and crew

Episode 52 – The Second Golden Age, Flow, and that Last Mile

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This week it is all hands on deck as Steve, Jonathan, and Andrew discuss the second golden age of television, how the concept of “flow” fits into it, and whether the consumer is cheated by those who own “that last mile.” Come along as we return to our first “traditional” episode of the new year and please join us for what we feel is a riveting round table discussion.

Then be sure to stop back two weeks from now on February 9, 2017 to listen to our next full length episode. You can leave a comment on this page and can always reach us via email at: feedback@tvhistorypod.com

Stuart Allan’s essay on Raymond Williams and The Culture of Televisual Flow: link

From Wired: The Science Behind What You’ll Watch Next on Netflix (2013): link

About Comcast Quietly Implementing Data Caps: link

More about Data Caps from ARS Technica: link

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: typical television programming schedule

: Scholar Raymond Williams (attribution: The Raymond Williams Society)

: Brandon Tartikoff (1949-1997), former president of NBC from 1980-1991, sets the flow during the early 1980s. (attribution: Alchetron)

: RCN Telecom’s explanation to its consumers about the system of programming flow

: Xavier Amatriain and Carlos Gomez-Uribe of Netflix. (attribution: Cody Pickens)

: Today’s flow

Episode 51 – Presidential Inaugurations

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This week we present a special solo episode from Andrew on the topic of Presidential Inaugurations on television. Bundle up, brave those cold Washington winds, and stir your patriotic heart for the role of television in our established ritual for the beginning of our elected official’s four-year term.

Then be sure to stop back two weeks from now on January 26, 2017 to listen to our next full length episode. You can leave a comment on this page and can always reach us via email at: feedback@tvhistorypod.com

Check out the Decades network special on presidential inaugurations: link

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: FDR’s first inauguration in 1933.

: Truman taking the oath after FDR’s death.

: Nixon’s second inauguration in 1973.

: Ford taking the oath after Nixon’s resignation.

: President Carter walks on the day of his inauguration.

: Reagan’s second inauguration.

Episode 50 – Changing Forms of Nostalgia

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This week join Jonathan as he provides a bite-sized portion of Inside the Box on the topic of the changing forms of nostalgia. He briefly discusses yesterday’s TV reunion industry, how it looked and happened versus today’s Netflix-based reunion programs and soft reboots. This topic is both silly and serious as it looks at the type of escapist, comfort-food TV that today beccomes not a singular, ephemeral event, but a standardized and pre-configured ongoing business strategy.

Then be sure to stop back two weeks from now on January 12, 2017 to listen to our next full length episode. You can leave a comment on this page and can always reach us via email at: feedback@tvhistorypod.com

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