Because It Was On

Kevin Can, By Popular Demand, F Himself Oct 29, 2024

We're back, baby! This week Jessica and Zach talk about AMC's Kevin Can F Himself after dozens of listener requests. Thank you all for your patience during our unannounced break.

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American Horror Story: Coven is Not a Sitcom Sep 24, 2024

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Jessica plays her birthday card and we sit down and talked about Season 3 of American Horror Story

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It's Lemon Chicken All the Way Down Aug 26, 2024

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Jessica and Zach are back on their bullshit with another Everybody Loves Raymond Episode. This time it's all about canisters.
Season 2, Episode 15: Marie's Meatballs
Season 5, Episode 19: The Canister

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Guy Love: A Love Between Two Guys Jul 29, 2024

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Episodes Watched This Week:
Scrubs -S6E6 - "My Musical"
Scrubs -S5E4 - "My Jiggly Balls"
Scrubs - S1E8 - "My 15 Minutes"
Scrubs - S7E8 - "My Manhood"
Boy Meets World- S4E11 - "An Affair To Forget"
Boy Meets World- S5.E3 "It's Not You It's Me|}
BMW- S6.E16 My Baby Valentine
BMW- S3.E3 What I Meant to Say

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The Trial of Lois Malcomsmom Jul 09, 2024

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Jessica and Zach convene proceedings to answer the incredibly important question: Is Lois from Malcolm in the Middle a good mother?

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Disney Tweens and Exceptional Girls feat. Dr. Christina Hodel Jun 17, 2024

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Jessica and Zach talk with very special guest Dr. Christina Hodel about Disney Channel's decade of the tween.
Check out Christina Hodel's website here!
Disney Channel’s Extraordinary Girls book
American Foulbrood

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Punky's Inferno Jun 03, 2024

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Jessica and Zach take a journey into the hellish psychological thriller that is The Perils of Punky (S2:E6&7) of Punky Brewster.

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High Fi Apr 29, 2024

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Our second annual 4/20 episode where Jessica and Zach review a series of sitcom episodes with strong Just Say No messages:

Archie Bunker's Place- Season 4, Episode 21
The Facts of Life- Season 1, Episode 13
Punky Brewster- Season 2, Episode 8
Home Improvement- Season 7, Episode 16

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Mulaney: We'll Allow It, But Watch Yourself! Mar 18, 2024

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This week Jessica and Zach talk about John Mulaney's short-lived sitcom from 2012!

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Wearing Oneself as One Might Wear a Glove: Hand to Gland Combat in Sitcoms Mar 04, 2024

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Folks, we're talking about private intimate time this week. Can't really say more without the algorithm being mean to us.
Shows Discussed:
That 70s Show, "Happy Jack
Dinosaurs, Dirty Dancing
Seinfeld, "The Contest"
Friends, "The One with the Sharks"

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Millennial Gray's Anatomy Feb 20, 2024

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Bring your ironic mustache's and cigarette jeans cuz it's millennial week! Jessica and Zach talk about the Millennial generation's impact on sitcoms and sitcoms impact on the Millennial generation.

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Two Dates to Prom Feb 12, 2024

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Happy Valentines Day! This week Jessica and Zach discuss one of the basic bedrocks of the sitcom genres: agreeing to two dates at the same time!
Episodes Watched:
The Brady Bunch, S4E18: "The Subject was Noses"
The Brady Bunch, S5E18: "Two Petes in a Pod"
The Partridge Family, S4E6: "Double Trouble"
Saved by the Bell, S2E6, "Blind Dates:"
Cheers, S4E16: "Cliffs Big Score"
Community, S4E8: "Herstory of Dance"

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Yada Yada Yada Feminism: Elaine from Seinfeld Feb 05, 2024

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This week on Because It Was On Jessica and Zach talk about one of their favorite sitcom characters of all time: Elaine Benes from Seinfeld. Is her character sponge worthy for feminism? Find out!

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Gen X and Sitcoms: Daria, Alf, and Cultural Depression Jan 29, 2024

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Join hosts Zachary and Jessica on a nostalgic journey through the history of Generation X as they delve into the iconic sitcoms that defined an era. In this episode of "Because It Was On," we explore the cultural impact of beloved shows like Daria, Alf, Friends, and 30 Rock, examining how they not only entertained but also shaped the worldview and humor of an entire generation. From relatable characters to memorable catchphrases, Zachary and Jessica reminisce about the shows that Gen Xers grew up watching and later helped create. Tune in for insightful discussions, fun anecdotes, and a deeper understanding of the Gen X experience, all through the lens of our favorite sitcoms.

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And Boomer Goes the Dynamite (We're Back!) Jan 22, 2024

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We're back, baby! This week we take a look at the history of Boomers as seen through the lens of sitcoms. All in the Family, Family Ties, Bewitched, M*A*S*H, Roseanne, Maude, and so much more!

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Update! See You in the New Year! Nov 27, 2023

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Jessica and I got left at the altar so we joined a convent. Will we take our vows and marry Christ or will we return to the podcast life? Find out, next season on Because It Was On.

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Zach Forces Jessica to Watch Los Espookys Nov 14, 2023

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Zach pulls his birthday card and chooses to do a Los Espookys episode. Los Espooky's is a bilingual comedy about a group of friends in Mexico City who run a business that pulls off Scooby Doo-style haunting hoaxes for members of the community.

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Newest Episode will be released Tuesday Nov 13, 2023

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BIWO Nation?
BIWOnauts?
BIWOpsies.

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Dr. Huxtable and the Fresh Prince ft. Dr. Brian Garrett of "Grab Your Y" Nov 06, 2023

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Check Out Brian's Linktree including his new podcast!
Episodes Watched this Week:
Fresh Prince
S1 E6 "Mistaken Identity"
S1 E17 "The Ethnic Tip"
S2 E7 "The Big Four Oh"
S2 E8 "She Ain't Heavy"
S2 E17 "Community Action"
S2 E20 "Those Were The Days"
S3 E3 "That's No Lady...That's My Cousin"
The Cosby Show
S5.E13 Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten
S3.E8 Vanessa's Rich
S2. E4 Cliff in Love (pretty sure this is the "make me a sandwich" episode you are referring to.
S1.E10 How Ugly Is He?
S7.E8 The Infantry Has Landed (and They've Fallen Off the Roof)

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Saved by the Heeeeeelll: Zack Morris Morris Must Be Stopped Oct 30, 2023

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Jessica and Zach discuss Saved By the Bell: Season 3, Episode 26, "Mystery Weekend.
Check Out Our Patreon!
Jake F: Jake found themself mistakenly elected as the mayor of a small town known for its bizarre local traditions, including the annual "Potato Sack Race to the Moon."

Alex L: Alex became a professional life coach, but their first client turned out to be a squirrel who wanted help organizing their nut collection.
Garrett M: Garrett's attempt to become a competitive eater led them to a quirky contest where participants had to consume oversized cotton candy sculptures.
Chelsea: Chelsea's dream of opening a cat-themed bakery took an unexpected turn when they discovered the local cat population was secretly running the bakery.
Tater L: Tater became the owner of a struggling food truck that served only potatoes in various bizarre forms, attracting a cult following.
Jessica K: Jessica was accidentally transported back in time to a Renaissance fair where they were mistaken for royalty, creating hilarious historical chaos.
Andrew H: Andrew inherited a haunted mansion and decided to turn it into a ghost-friendly bed and breakfast, leading to comical interactions with mischievous spirits.
Emmett Anderson: Emmett got a job as a professional thumb-wrestler, but their biggest rival turned out to be a world champion thumb-war champion
Gavin T: Gavin's quest to become a master of extreme sports led them to an eccentric sports academy specializing in competitive tree-climbing.
Cullen: Cullen was hired as a zookeeper at a wildlife park full of mischievous animals with a knack for escaping and causing chaos.
Ridley: Ridley's attempt to build a backyard roller coaster turned into a neighborhood sensation, attracting an array of eccentric roller coaster enthusiasts.
Rhiannon C: Rhiannon joined a dance group made up of senior citizens, and they found themselves rehearsing for a competition to win a lifetime supply of prune juice.
Sarah R: Sarah mistakenly became the captain of a synchronized swimming team made up of aquatic animals, including talented dolphins and witty sea otters.
Stephanie A: Stephanie decided to organize a surprise party for their pet parrot, who had a knack for impersonating famous celebrities, creating unexpected guest appearances.
J M: J M got a job as a clown for a children's party, but their shy and introverted nature led to unpredictable and heartwarming interactions with the kids.
Amber T: Amber took on a new career as a stand-up comedian at a comedy club where the audience was composed entirely of inanimate objects, including talking mannequins.
Lordspider: Lordspider found themself leading an adventure club for arachnids, with activities such as spider bungee jumping and web weaving contests.
J Jay: J Jay became the captain of a hot air balloon team with an eccentric crew, embarking on hilarious and unpredictable high-flying escapades.
Samson: Samson was mistaken for a superhero and was tasked with rescuing cats stuck in the most unusual and unexpected places, including atop tall bookshelves.
James D: James accidentally stumble

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That Episode of King of Queens Where Jerry Stiller Has a Heart Attack on Halloween Oct 23, 2023

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LEMON ICES!!!
Thank you to our supporters on Patreon!
Our Supporters:

This week, Coates found themself trapped inside a massive balloon.

James D's new job as a super pogo stick tester had its ups and downs.

In a strange twist of events, Samson woke up to find themself's house transformed into a circus.

J Jay tried to break the record for the most number of rubber ducks in the bathtub, causing a bathroom flood.

Lordspider's pet parrot learned to mimic their boss's voice, causing amusing workplace confusion.

Amber T. decided to become a comedian on stage, but they received only a tomato during their first performance.

JM got stuck in an elevator with a talking puppet.

Stephanie A was mistakenly recognized as a famous chef and was asked to judge a cooking competition.

Sarah R attempted synchronized swimming in their neighbor's pool, resulting in a pool party disaster.

Riannon C tried to impress their crush by pretending to be a salsa dance champion, but they had two left feet.

Ridley's attempt to build a backyard roller coaster ended in a wild party.

(This episode was recorded before we started the Patreon, so we will begin reading this on the show week after next. )

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That Episode of Boy Meets World Where They Do a Scream Parody Oct 16, 2023

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It's Spoooooktober! Join Zach and Jessica as they discuss Season 5, Episode 17 of Boy Meets World and all the Freudian hijinks within.

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That Good Old Union Has Come in Here to Dwell: Unions as Represented in Sitcoms Oct 02, 2023

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Episodes Watched This Week:
King of Queens
S3E5 Strike One
S3E6 Strike Too
S3E7 Stike Out
Seinfeld
S9E10 The Strike
Hey Arnold
S1E24b Teachers Strike
Spongebob Squarepants
S40a Squid on Strike
Sister Sister
S3E17 Paper or Plastic
Superstore
S4E21 Sandra's Fight
S4E22 Employee Appreciation Day
S5E10 Negotiations
The Nanny
S2E13 The Strike

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That Episode of Malcolm in the Middle Where They Go Bowling Sep 25, 2023

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Inexplicably we talk about Howard Dean for quite a bit.

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Mamma Said There'd Be Pods Like This: Mom, George Lopez, and Problematic Moms Sep 18, 2023

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Episodes Watched This Week:
George Lopez
S2E1 Who's Your Daddy
S2E12 This Old Casa
S2E19 Secrets and Lies
S2E24 Long Time No See
S4E14 George Gets Assistance
S5E2 You Dropped a Mom on Me
Mom
S1E1 Pilot
S1E15 Fireballs and Bullet Holes
S2E1 Hepatitis and Lemon Zest
S2E12 Kitty Litter and Class A Felonies
S2E19 Mashed Potatoes and a Little Nitris
S3E1 Terrorists and Gingerbread
S3E20 Pure Evil and a Free Piece of Cheesecake
Melissa Harris Perry Open Letter

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Sitcoms Go to Washington: Veep, The Thick of It, and Yes, Minister Sep 11, 2023

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Or London, I guess.
Episodes Watched This Week
Yes, Minister
S1,E1, Open Government
S1,E7, Jobs for the Boys
S2,E1, The Compassionate Society
S3, E6, The Whiskey Priest
S3, E1 Equal Opportunity
The Thick of It
S3, E1
S2, E3
S4, E3
Veep
S2, E5 Helsinki
S3, E9 Crate
S4, E9 Testimony
S4, E1 Joint Session
S7, E6 Oslo
Lindsey Ellis's Hillary Clinton Video
Margaret Thatcher Skit

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Girl Power, Girl Power, Girl Power: That's So Raven, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Small Wonder Sep 04, 2023

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Episodes Watched This Week
Small Wonder
S3E2 Everyone in the Pool
S3E5 It's Okay to Say No
S3E12 The Bank Job
S1E13 Brainwashed
S3E13 Oooga Mooga
Wizards of Waverly Place
S2E26 Wizards vs. Vampires on Waverly Place
S2E27 Wizards vs. Vampires: Tasty Bites
S2E28 Wizards vs. Vampires: Dream Date
S2E22 My Tutor, Tutor
S3E8 Alex Charms a Boy
That's So Raven
S3E10 True Colors
S2E18 The Road to Audition
S3E13 Art Breaker
S3E15 Gettin' Outta Dodge
The Good Doctor's Thesis
The Harry/Draco Fanfic

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Chick Like Me: Boy Meets World's Queer Subtext Aug 28, 2023

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CW: Body Dysmorphia, Transphobia, Sexual Assault
The Dustin Hoffman Video
Studs Terkel Interview with John Howard Griffin

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I'm Glad I Got My Girls: Living Single in a 90's Kind of World Aug 21, 2023

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Episodes We Watched This Week:

"Pilot" (S1E1)
"Great Expectations" (S1E6)
"Love Thy Neighbor" (S1E18)
"Mystery Date" (S1E19)
"Five Card Stud" (S1E23)
"A Hair Raising Experience" (S2E13)
"Singing The Blues" (S2E15)
"Shrink to Fit" (S3E19)
"A Raze in Harlem" (S3E21)
"A Doctor in the House" (S4E12)
"Back In The Day" (S4E15)

Check out Melissa Harris Perry's talk on her book Sister Citizen

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How Much Does a Banana Actually Cost, Tho?: Arrested Development and Schitts Creek Aug 14, 2023

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Check out George on Tiktok @g.m.time2
Episodes We Watched This Week:
Schitts Creek
S1E1 Pilot
S2E2 Family Dinner (This one can be a bonus but it great)
S2E13 Happy Anniversary
S3E7 General Store
S5E4 The Dress
S6E12 The Pitch
S6E13 Start Spreading the News
Arrested Development
S1E1 Pilot
S1E2 Top Banana
S1E3 Bringing Up Buster
S1E22 Let Them Eat Cake
S2 E5 Sad Sack
S3E12 Exit Strategy

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Because it Was On is Moving to Mondays! Aug 11, 2023

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Come See us on Mondays!

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Leave it to Burger: a discussion of Bob’s Burgers and Leave it to Beaver with Landon Reid Aug 04, 2023

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Check out Landon's Linktree!
Episodes Watched for Today:
Leave It to Beaver:
S1:E2 Captain Jack
S4:E32 In the Soup
S1:E18 Child Care
S1:E37 Beaver Runs Away
S3:E13 June's Birthday
S3:E37 Wally's Play
Bob's Burgers
S3:E15 "OT: The Outside Toilet"
S6:E19 - 'Glued, Where's My Bob?'
S8E04 - 'Sit Me Baby One More Time
S13:E6 Louise Runs Away
S5:E18 Eat, Spray, Linda
S5:E6 "Father of the Bob"

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Let's Talk About the Boys: Frasier, Home Improvement, and Masculinity Jul 28, 2023

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Episodes Watched this Week
Frasier
S1E22 Author, Author
S2E22 agents in America iii
S5E14 The Ski Lodge
S5E15 Room service
S8E15 Hooping Cranes
S11E15 Caught in the Act
Home Improvement
S1E1 Pilot
S4E2 Don’t tell momma
S4E13 The Route if All Evil
S5E16 The Vasectomy
S6E3 Workshop til you Die
S8E17 Young at Heart
Thank you to James D'Amore for making the incredible cold open "Pickleball Grampire".

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The Trial of Mrs. Garrett: The Facts of Life and Sitcom Girlhood Jul 21, 2023

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Episodes watched for today's show:
Facts of Life

S1E1: Rough Housing
S2E10: Breaking Point
S2E12: The Secret
S3E18: Runaway
S3E14: The Amricanization of Miko
S5E13: The Chain Letter
S4E13: A Royal Pain
S5E17: A Death in the Family
S6E18: With a Little Help From My Friends
S9E16: The First Times

Check Out Eric G on:
Tiktok
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Youtube

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Sapphic Sitcom Surprises: Sitcom Characters Meet a Lesbian Jul 14, 2023

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Episodes Watched for this Episode:
Golden Girls S2E5 “Isn’t it romantic”
Married…with children S11E21 “Lez be friends” (Cut for time)
Roseanne S6E18 “Don’t ask, Don’t tell”
Designing Women S4E24 “Suzanne Goes Looking for a Friend”
All in the Family S8E3“Cousin Liz”
The Nanny S3E7 “oh vey you’re gay” (Cut for time)
Kate & Allie S2E2 “Landlady
Last Man Standing S1E9 "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"

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"So It's Gonna Be Forever, Or It's Gonna Go Down in Flames": The Sam and Diane Story (Cheers) Jul 07, 2023

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Jessica pulls her birthday card and insists we do a Cheers episode. Join us this week as Jessica and Zach talk about the Sam and Diane Will They/Won't They! They also give sound career advise to Shelly Long.
Episodes discussed:
S1E1 Give Me a Ring Sometime
S1E22: Showdown pt 2
S2E7: Old Flames
S2E21: I’ll be seeing you pt 1
S2E22: I’ll be seeing you pt 2
S3E25 Rescue me
S5E9: Thanksgiving Orphans
S5E25: A house is not a home
S5E26: I do Adieu
S11E27: One for the road pt 2
S11E28: One for the road pt 3

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Who Wants to Pay a Millionaire? Jun 30, 2023

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Jessica and Zach are still taking it light this week, but they put together a quiz show about Cameo.com! We'll be back to our normal format next week.

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Ugh, It's a Clip Show Jun 22, 2023

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It's Pride Month and we ain't doing any work. Here's a clip show. See you in July!

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That Episode of Everybody Loves Raymond Where That Lady Swallowed a Fly Jun 16, 2023

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That's it. That's the episode.

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Gays of Our Lives: Will and Grace and The Gay Best Friend in Sitcoms Jun 09, 2023

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Folks, this week friendship has been yaasified as Jessica and Zach talk about The Gay Best Friend trope in Will and Grace. They also use this opportunity to talk about their relationship and do some straight up couple's counseling with each other, not talking about Will and Grace in any detail until about the 40 minute mark.

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My Neighbor the Alien: 3rd Rock from the Sun, Mork and Mindy, My Favorite Martian, and The Neighbors Jun 02, 2023

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Greetings, Earthlings! This week Jessica and Zach talk about the sitcom genres depiction of Aliens and what it says about evolving attitudes towards "the other" and how we view ourselves. Featured on this episode: 3rd Rock from the Sun, Mork and Mindy, My Favorite Martian, and The Neighbors

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The Golden Girls and Designing Women: 80's Ladies May 26, 2023

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It's time to burn your bras and burn your dinners because there ain't much these 80's Ladies haven't tried. This week on Because It Was On Jessica and Zach discuss the two iconic television shows Designing Women and The Golden Girls. The discussion focused on the shows' depiction of female friendships, attitudes towards sex, and status as gay icons.

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The Nanny and Who's The Boss: Domestic Servants and the Wealthy Executives Who Love Them May 19, 2023

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This week on Because It Was On, Jessica and Zach ponder a question that has confounded philosophers and kings for millennia: Who's the Boss? Join us as we discuss The Nanny and Who's The Boss as it relates to class, gender, and Dr. Pepper in a wine glass.

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Reba and Single Moms Who Work Too Hard May 12, 2023

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This week on Because It Was On Jessica and Zach talk about single moms who work too hard, who love their kids and never stop. They, of course, talk about the iconic, the incomparable, the legendary Reba, as well as One Day at a Time and Kate and Allie. If you have gentle hands and the heart of a fighter, join us as we talk about the sitcom genres portrayal of single motherhood and how it has changed over time.

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Postmodernism in The Contemporary Sitcom 101: What Community Says About Community May 05, 2023

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It's Jessica and Zach in the Mooooorning! This week Jessica and Zach discuss Community, Dan Harmon's writing style, the themes of community, and surprisingly a lot about Penn and Teller.
Dan Harmon's Writing Circle
Penn Jillette's Wired Interview

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You're Gonna Go to There After All: 30 Rock and The Mary Tyler Moore Show Apr 27, 2023

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Folks, I hope you're in the mood for some gaslighting and gatekeeping because it's all about girl bosses this week. Jessica and Zach discuss 30 Rock and The Mary Tyler Moore show to explore the sitcom's depiction of women in the workplace and the historic significance of both of these shows.

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Honey, We Smoked The Pot: Sitcoms and Marijuana Apr 21, 2023

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This week on Because It Was On: You know why they call it "dope", don't ya? Jessica and Zach talk about episodes of classic sitcoms that include discussions of marijuana. And they even do a little first hand research. For science!
Shows discussed on this episode:
That 70's Show
Roseanne
Frasier
Modern Family
Dinosaurs

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Boy Genius: The Sitcom's Obsession With Special Little Boys Apr 14, 2023

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Need to get an A on your science project? How about reprogram your toaster? Do you need someone with a photographic memory to perform party tricks at your next mixer? Did you forget a calculator and need to multiply large sums stat? Do you need someone to perform surgery, land a plane, fix your car, and win Jeopardy for Kids? Have no fear, your local boy genius is here!
This week Jessica and Zach dive into the trope of the boy genius. By looking at Smart Guy, Malcolm in the Middle, and Young Sheldon this episode explores the gifts and struggles of living with a mini mega mind. Jessica and Zach review everything from the loneliness of the boy genius to the impact on the family to the socioeconomic elements at play. They also beg the question: Why are there so few girl geniuses?

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A Very Special Episode: The History of Sitcoms and AIDS Apr 07, 2023

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Jessica and Zach try something a little different and walk listeners through the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 80's and early 90's through the lens of sitcoms. Each episode they discuss this week is an important time capsule for the public's understanding of HIV/AIDS from the early days with Mr. Belvedere to A Different World.
Shows discussed this week:
Mr. Belvedere
Designing Women
Golden Girls
Doogie Howser (We thought it was a sitcom)
A Different World

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What Happened to Roseanne? Mar 31, 2023

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Roseanne Barr has been in the public eye for over almost forty years and for the vast majority of that time she has marketed herself as a loud and abrasive proponent of center-left politics. Her show that bears her namesake is universally understood as a progressive working class text, tackling such issues as abortion, gay marriage, gender violence, and birth control. She ran for the Green Party nomination in 2012, doxed George Zimmerman, and has openly called for the execution of Wall Street Bankers....and in just a few short years she has turned into an icon of the right, doing pronoun jokes on something called "Fox Nation".
Roseanne was an incredibly important show for Jessica and Zach as well as many other people. So the question is...what the hell happened to Roseanne? Find out this week on Because It Was On!
CW: Transphobia, Domestic Abuse, Racism

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The Orchids and Gumbo Poker Club: Girlhood in Lizzie McGuire, iCarly, and Square Pegs Mar 24, 2023

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Boys, parents, homework, and bullies! Middle school and high school can be such a drag. This week Zach and Jessica talk about three shows about teenage girls and how iCarly, Lizzie McGuire, and Square Pegs all depict girlhood.
(I'm going to be perfectly honest with you: watching these shows sent us places. Strap in for probably our weirdest episode yet.)

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It's Always Sunny in Seinfeldia: Great Sitcoms About Terrible People Mar 17, 2023

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This week Jessica and Zach are talking about two shows that center around terrible people! Seinfeld and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia are two shows that are often compared to each other due to their amoral protagonists. An interesting question to explore, then, is what moral vision, if any, can be found lurking behind the many crimes of the protagonists of these two shows. Do sitcoms even have to have morals? Do they have to teach you lessons?
Youtube video referenced near the end about It's Always Sunny and HD: Captain Midnight's "HD TVs Ruined Sitcoms"

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A Gay Man Searches for Family in Ohio: The Forgotten John Goodman Sitcom Mar 10, 2023

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Before they did The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Rec, The Big Bang Theory, and How I Met Your Mother Jessica and Zach have decided, for no discernable reason, to do Normal, Ohio, John Goodman's first project after Roseanne that only lasted seven episodes.
Normal, Ohio follows Butch, a gay man played by John Goodman, who returns to his titular hometown to reconnect with his family. It...is objectively terrible, but is an interesting time capsule for how gay characters have been depicted in American Comedy.
So join us as Jessica and Zach put on their flannel shirts and crack open a cold one and take a trip to Normal, Ohio.

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The Education of an Omnipotent Sociopath: Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Girl Power Mar 02, 2023

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The witch has long since been an icon for female power, repression, and queerness. Enter Sabrina the Teenage Witch where the biggest issue is finding the perfect date to prom and ruining your friends’ lives on the daily. Join Jessica and Zach as they gaze into the crystal ball and hope to crack their family secrets. They take a look at Hilda and Zelda and also reluctantly talk about their niece, Sabrina, because she is kind of the titular character of the show. All the while Jessica and Zach unpack a magic incel, debate which Harvey is supreme, and lament the aggressive heterosexuality in this text that will not budge.

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A Judge can't be with a Witch and other Lessons from Night Court Feb 24, 2023

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It's court...at night! Join Jessica and Zach as they take a journey through the municipal halls of Night Court as they try to better understand the NBC property that ran from 1984–1992 and has recently been dusted off on Peacock. It is a bizarre court where the rules are made up, the laws don't matter, and everyone involved should be disbarred.
Bonus that this episode features what is now Jessica's favorite sitcom episode ever: Season 3, Episode 5: "Halloween, Too". The episode from which we draw our title is a dead serious take on why a judge cannot date a witch. Jessica is obsessed.
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"Are You There, God? It's Me, Tim Allen": Sitcoms and Political Correctness Feb 17, 2023

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Folks the PC Police are everywhere! Or at least people and media figures whining about them. For decades now the term "political correctness" has proven to be a fascinating, amorphous concept where people of a certain political persuasion can dump all of their anxieties and societal grievances. Join us as Jessica and Zach suit up with their Antifa battle gear to go head to head with sitcom episodes rail against this (mostly) imagined enemy.
Episodes Featured on this week's show:
Murphy Brown
Last Man Standing
Toast of London
Roseanne
Peep Show

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That's On Periodt: Sitcom's Depiction of 'That Time of the Month' Feb 10, 2023

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Get the guest bedroom ready because this week Aunt Flo is coming for a visit! Jessica and Zach will be talking about the sitcom genre's depiction of periods from episodes where characters have their first period to episodes where men cower in fear at the dreaded PMS.
Shows discussed this week:
Everybody Loves Raymond
Roseanne
Black-ish
Married With Children
The IT Crowd
The Cosby Show
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Gay Vampires and Sad Ghosts: Immortality in Sitcoms Feb 03, 2023

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Does time heal all wounds or just turn everyone a little gay? Should you go to the bad place for watching reality tv? If you were a ghost would you make it your mission to start small scale drama in a marriage? All of these topics and more are covered in this week's episode where Zach and Jessica explore what they for some reason thought would be a light and easy breezy topic: immortality in sitcoms.
Fair warning that this episode does discuss grief, death, and loss. If those are sore spots for you right now then this may not be the best episode.
Show discussed:

What We Do In The Shadows
The Good Place
Ghosts (US)
Ghosts (UK)

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Email us at becauseitwason@gmail.com -- We would love to hear your episode ideas!

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Laugh tracks, three cameras, and a theme song: What Makes a Sitcom? Jan 27, 2023

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Jessica and Zach attempt to answer the question that has plagued philosophers for millennia: What makes a tv show a sitcom? Is it the three cameras, the laugh track, press photos of the principal cast hugging while wearing matching shirts? Or perhaps sitcoms are more than the sum of their parts.
In this episode we explore the history of sitcoms, create our own framework for what makes a sitcom a sitcom, and then play everyone's new favorite game: "Is It A Sitcom?!".
Some shows discussed include:

Everybody Loves Raymond
Parks and Recreation
30 Rock
Seinfeld
The Good Place
Stranger With Candy
Rick & Morty
The Simpsons
& Many More

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Ross and Rachel: Will They, Won't They, Should They? Jan 20, 2023

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What makes a great will they / won't they? Jessica and Zach take a look at perhaps the most famous example of the trope, Ross and Rachel from Friends, to find out. Along the way they discuss the gender dynamics at play in the show and mount multiple epic takedowns of Ross. Listen in to see if Jessica and Zach conclude if Ross really is Rachel's lobster.
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Email us at becauseitwason@gmail.com for correction, opinions, ideas, or to just say hi!

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Jessica and Zach Talk about "The Talk" Jan 13, 2023

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Hey, champ? Got a sec? I think it's time we had a serious talk about the facts of life.
Join Jessica and Zach as they discuss The Birds and The Bees is sitcoms throughout the ages. We discuss several episodes that deal with teen sexuality and topics such as shame, consent, queer representation, and "hand to gland combat".
Shows discussed:

Leave it to Beaver
The War at Home
Family Matters
Blossom
Boy Meets World
The Cosby Show
Black-ish
Good Times
The Facts of Life

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Powerless Powerful Women -- Fantasy Sitcoms of the 60s (Part Two) Jan 06, 2023

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Jessica and Zach investigate the common sitcom problem of women with godlike powers giving it all away to be with mediocre dudes.
In this episode, we take a look at what we call "Powerless Powerful Women" these are the women of Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and just splash of The Flying Nun.
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My Mother the Podcast - Fantasy Sitcoms of the 1960's (Part One) Dec 30, 2022

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Can a show about a car inhabited by the reincarnated soul of a man's mother tell us something about changing conservative reactions to media? Can a show about a Martian trying to ensure his roommate's boss' dog finds love tell us something about the military industrial complex? How subversive was The Addams Family really and does intent matter to how we understand it today? Jessica and Zach explore all of this and more as they wade into the groovy waters of 1960's fantasy sitcoms.
Shortly after sitcoms became the dominant fictional comedic format on television, creators began to experiment with the premise. As American society itself experienced significant cultural upheaval in the 1960s, creators had to use inventive metaphors to tell stories reflective of the social change at their doorstep while also skirting censors and conservative studio executives. Looking through the lens of fantasy sitcoms on the 1960's, Jessica and Zach will see how fantasy sitcoms have been used as a tool to tell stories of marginalized groups and where they have significant blind spots born of the cultural context in which they were created.
Shows Discussed:

The Addams Family, Charles Addams & David Levy, ABC, 1964-1966
The Munsters, Allan Burns & Chris Hayward, CBS, 1964-1966
My Favorite Martian, John L. Greene, CBS, 1963-1966
My Mother the Car, Allan Burns & Chris Hayward, NBC, 1965
Mister Ed, Walter R. Brooks, CBS, 1961-1965

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Because It Was On: An Introduction Dec 30, 2022

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Do you remember the shows your grandparents played while they babysat you? Or maybe you also watched the 6 hour programming blocks of The Nanny on Nick-at-Nite. If so, you will feel right at home listening to Because It Was On. Because It Was On takes those sitcoms and dissects the familiar sitcom formula to tease out the often potent social and political messages they carry in their 22 minute casing.
In this episode, Jessica and Zach discuss what sitcoms mean to them and how sitcoms actually have significant cultural importance. It is also canonically established in this episode that Jessica is the official domme of this podcast.

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