This week join us for a truly Steve-centric episode as Steve Voorhees welcomes longtime CBS Manager of Prime Time Feature Films, Steve Besserman to the program. If you love the nuts-and-bolts of late-20th Century network television practices as Steve Voorhees does, you'll dig this episode. Learn about how the network chose, edited, scheduled, and promoted certain feature films to achieve the highest rating possible. Hear how certain directors would actually get involved with the edits needed for either timing or censorship reasons. Also, hear about the role "made-for-TV-movies" had on the presentation of feature films on TV.

This week join Jonathan in conversation with Dr. Kendall Phillips about his recent book, Kolchak, The Night Stalker, a part of Wayne State University Press's Milestones series. Don't worry, Steve Voorhees is here too to comment on our conversation that includes ideas including: "Where was horror at in the U.S. by the late 1960s / early 1970s?", Kolchak's trio of creatives behind the scenes, Kolchak as an influential gothic investigator, and would Kolchak show up these days on What We Do in the Shadows? Whether you're a longtime Kolchak fan or brand-new to the character, we think there is something here for you during our conversation.

This week join Jonathan and Steve in conversation with fellow academic, David Brokaw to discuss his new book, Monsters on Maple Street: The Twilight Zone and the Postwar American Dream. We discuss the false dichotomy between "good writing" and "bad television" during the 1950s, the psychology of advertising within 1950s culture, the effect Rod Serling's service during World War II had on his later writing, and where Twilight Zone-style social commentary can and can't be found today.

This week join Steve and Jonathan in conversation with television writer and producer, Stan Zimmerman. Listen as Stan talks about writing for the first season of The Golden Girls, writing that VERY famous episode of Roseanne that got the country talking, and what it was like to work for his friend, Amy Sherman-Palladino, writing on Gilmore Girls. Stan also discusses what it takes to make it in a tough industry and how back-in-the-day, writers' rooms weren't as inclusive as you might have expected them to be - particularly on shows with inclusive reputations.

This week join Jonathan and Steve as we commemorate the 9/11 terrorist attacks by speaking with Dr. Paul Arras (SUNY: Cortland) about his new book, American Television's Live Coverage of the 9/11 Attacks: Journalism on the Screen (Rowman & Littlefield).

Join Jonathan for a short episode that explains the end of this podcast season and what to look forward to in the future and when.

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…

This week join Steve and Jonathan as we usher in the holidays by discussing Christmas TV shows with author and expert, Joanna Wilson. Be sure to check out Joanna's website: http://www.christmastvhistory.com/p/about-joanna-wilson.html for all the information you need about her multiple media appearances, articles, and books on the topic of Christmas on TV!

This week Jonathan, Steve, and Andrew attend the All-Star Party for Ronald "Dutch" Reagan. Do you like barely warmed over jokes? Do you love generic sound stages in Burbank? Want to see Sinatra struggle through a song that should be an easy home run? Want to see a group of aged genuine Hollywood stars pretend Reagan was a star? Well, rent your tux, call your driver, let us know whether you'd prefer the fish or the steak and join us for a lighthearted episode through one of the most surreal parties ever held on TV.

As a way to pay tribute to recently passed television producer Norman Lear (1922-2023), 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…

This week join Steve in conversation with welcomed returned guest, Dr. Craig Coenen as they discuss the current state of Regional Sports Networks in the U.S.