TV Guidance Counselor

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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 642: Maggie Langrick Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

This week Ken welcomes former actor (Harry and the Hendersons, 21 Jump St) and current speaker, writer and publisher of Wonderwall Press, Maggie Langrick.

Ken and Maggie discuss moving to LA when you're 19, and moving back recently, growing up in Vancouver, London, living in all of the world's most expensive cities, 21 Jump St, being in the pilot, seeing Johnny Depp replace the original actor, Jared Leto, Camp Wilder, Danger Bay, work ethic, playing the lead in My American Cousin, winning Genie awards, the TV series of Harry and the Hendersons, not meeting expectations, moving to London, the Vancouver to LA railroad, living in "LA Poor" conditions, being a thoughtful kid who reads a lot, the 90s in the Pacific Northwest, feminism, being disheartened with the misogyny of Hollywood, going in more of a "model direction", self esteem, the corrosive danger of acting for young people, the danger of a big pay check, high profile blue collar work, hanging out in the bad part of town, South London, how much of life is BS, faking it til you making it, having to go to work after only ever having been an actor, working as a magazine editor, being fascinated by words, the human condition, what makes an individual tick, self deprecation, reverse engineering humanity, displaying friendship, the human animal, being "outed" as a child actor in your non acting adult life, coming up with clever headlines, being able to hide behind your married name, imposter syndrome, how you stand out today, the glut of content, having no gatekeepers, bringing something unique and of value, being able to chose yourself, giving things it's best chance, quality, substack, working for your art, not being able to stream your work, being embarrassed by your past, identity shame, when timing is right, being mature enough to use your experiences, reading for utility, cult leaders, evil parents, Smothered, mother and daughter relationships, absorbing bad vibes, being the age when everything seems poignant, how difficult it is to do your best work and have it be successful, and the importance of having fun.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 641 1/2 : Abby and Ryan from Bothering the Band Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

October 26-November 1, 1996

It's Ken's birthday month, so this week you get ANOTHER BONUS episode. This time in celebration of THEIR 200th episode Ken welcomes Abby and Ryan from the fantastic Bothering the Band podcast.

Ken, Abby and Ryan discuss when the interviewer becomes the interviewee, the origins of the Bothering the Band podcast, booking big guests, getting rejected, Frank Turner, Counting Crows, when Ryan met Abby, cool schools, almost booking Keanu Reeves, Gavin Rosdale, Puka Shells, growing up in Orlando, The Party, boy bands, Disney, Nickelodeon Studios, dudes who look like Isaac Mizrahi, Bob Goen, never coming gymnastics, sprots to non sports, congregating a career, MST3K's switch from Comedy Central to Sci-Fi, winning a trip to England by knowing the Tetley Tea jingle, diaper ads, the Nirvana baby, hi waisted hips, no dick jokes, RL Stine, Batman the Animated Series, Superman the Animated Series, helping the Dragon Ball Z community, strange emails, Cartoon Express, a woman giving birth to a doll, the band Live, Columbia House, nerds, making your own video store, Bailey Kipper's POV, Hey Arnold, Lunchables, cooking pizza rolls in a VCR, vending machine lunches, The Young Comedians All Star Reunion, 80s nostalgia in the 90s, SNL, collector's plates, beautiful unicorns, Jacksonville FL, porcelain crap, The Shadowzone, Ron Silver, diecast, beer and tiny cars, Hess, Seventh Heaven, Jennifer Love Hewitt, when old TV is problematic, joining a gang, Her Costly Affair, Savannah, the Waynes Brothers, Roast Beef Tissues, wanting things to be good, the high school right outside Universal Studios, trick or treating, Burning Zone, national television debut of The Cramps, 90210, Peach Pit After Dark, Donal Logue, Stephen Bochco's comedy series, Jimmy the Cab Driver, Seinfeld, avoiding Halloween, Living Single, loving Ghostbusters, Ben Cooper costumes, Unsolved Mysteries, PCU, deceptive car ads, dolls, Johnny Carson's charity, hating 311, Ken's Third Wave Ska trauma, melting pennies, befriending your heroes, and facial injuries from laughing.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 641: Shawn Carter II Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

January 30-Feburary 5, 1993

This week Ken welcomes BACK to the show, former Boston and now TN comedian Shawn Carter.

Ken and Shawn discuss his move to Tennessee, living in an RV, and opening a comedy club in Bristol. He shares insights into the differences between Tennessee and Virginia, including tax rates and downtown areas split by state borders. The conversation also touches on the late-night talk show wars between Letterman and Leno. The TV Guide issue from January 30th to February 5th, 1993, is reviewed, highlighting the move of Seinfeld to Thursday nights and the lineup of must-see TV shows. The conversation concludes with a discussion on watching Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and local TV shows in Boston. In this part of the conversation, Ken and Shawn discuss various topics including TV shows, skiing, the Super Bowl, alternative programming, a puppet show at the comedy club, a burlesque show, strip clubs, and riding motorcycles. They also mention push-up contests, push stand-up comedy, arm wrestling, whiskey sours, bartending, visiting Asheville, movies and TV shows, living in Bristol, wildlife in Tennessee, open carry and gun culture, regional cuisine, and local news segments. They also touch on the Golden Palace spin-off series, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and the Barter Theater. The conversation provides insights into the unique aspects of life in different regions and the cultural experiences they offer.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 640: Rob Haze Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

February 2-9, 2002

This week Ken welcomes the comedian behind the YouTube Special "Frontin" Rob Haze to the show.

Ken and Rob discuss his experiences in the comedy scene, his love for the Bernie Mac Show, and the impact of the mockumentary format on sitcoms. He also highlights underrated shows from the 2001-2002 season and shares an interesting story about Disney's encounter with Dr. Dre. The conversation covers various topics, including the Boston comedy scene, the influence of African American actors, and the crossover between music and comedy on shows like All That. In this part of the conversation, Ken Reid and Rob Haze discuss the counter programming during the Super Bowl, including True Hollywood Stories and My Girl 2. They also talk about the influence of Fear Factor and the impact it had on Joe Rogan's career. The conversation then moves on to the programming on Monday night, including Malcolm in the Middle and the Heroes of Black Comedy series. They also discuss the controversy between the World Wildlife Fund and the WWE. Other topics covered include the movie Auto Focus, Comedy Central stand-up shows, and the Bavarian Cuckoo Clock controversy. In this episode, Ken Reid and Rob Haze review the TV Guide from February 8-14, 2002. They discuss the TV lineup for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, highlighting shows like Bernie Mac, My Wife and Kids, Titus, and Dark Angel. They also explore the Winter Olympics and the war in Congo. The episode concludes with a discussion of TV Guide's Cheers and Jeers section.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 639: Sam Brown Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

September 17-23, 1994 FALL PREVIEW

This week, kicking off Ken's Birthday month with an EXTRA special episode, Ken welcomes writer, actor and Whitest Kid U Know Sam Brown to the show.

Ken and Sam discuss West Coast East Coast confusion, growing up in Sandwich, the cops, being an hour from everything, going to school in NYC, meeting Trevor Moore, UCB, improv, the origin of MUNG, lingo, avoiding new people on the train, leaving home, Something Wilder, ER, Chicago Hope, Fall Preview roads not traveled, the other Anthony Edwards, basketball, Dudley Moore, Cosby Mysteries, Clariton, Capri cigarettes, My So-Called Life, MTV, how much of a failure Friends will be, Let's Go Bang, JLH, Nate Blackist on Twitch, Mid-Hunting, Dabney Coleman, things that look good on paper, working with Ivan Reitman, rebooting Stripes, John Candy's German insistence, taking studio notes, rewrites, refusing to play ball, Exit 57, Summer Series with Nepo Babies, E! doing original programming, Q&E, Walter Mondale's daughter, Trailer Boys, Jones Computer Network, Sega Channel, not knowing what Hackers are, Andrew Dice Clay's sitcom experience, boy bands, the Roseanne and Tom made for TV movies, Stephen King throwaways, Citizen X, Cast a Deadly Spell, Marlon Waynes as Robin, Ken's audition for The Good Son, Christian Slater hosting sex special on MTV, Late Nite with Elmo, John Stewart Show, when the Bermuda Triangle disappeared, when society wasn't nice to women, daytime TV, The Tick, Sweet Valley High, discovering your manhood, Schunckums and Meat, sambrownuniversity.com, Sam's Sketch Comedy Classes, streaming on Shout Factory and self editing.

June 5th at Piano's in NYC see Sam do stand up and June 6th at the Tribeca Film Festival it's the premier of the Whitest Kids U Know animated film "Mars".

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 638: Ahmed Al-Kadri Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

Feb 19, 2007

This week Ken welcomes comedian Ahmed Al-Kadri to the show.

Ken and Ahmed discuss TV viewing habits and the TV Guide from February 19th to 25th, 2007, favorite TV shows, watching TV as a family, and the impact of superhero TV shows, the post-9/11 TV landscape and the rise of ethnic diversity in stand-up comedy,shifting trends and cultural influences on television during this time, the structure of comedy, Tom Arnold and Orny Adams, the post-apocalyptic TV show Jericho, the fragility of technology, the impact of nuclear bombs, canceled and revived TV shows like Arrested Development and Futurama, as well as the success of Two and a Half Men, fame and infamy of stand-up comedians, the influence of political correctness on comedy, and the similarities between horror and comedy in terms of structure, fear and context in horror, the birth of stand-up in America, the longevity of Grey's Anatomy, the decline of sitcoms on Thursday nights, the rise of drama shows, the appeal of Los Angeles over New York, and the impact of reality TV shows on society.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 637: Tom Shubilla II May 27, 2024

Show notes

October 24-31, 1964

This week Ken welcomes BACK to the show, author of the new book "James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze", Tom Shubilla.

Ken and Tom discuss the cold war, spy culture, how we looked at spies different each decade after WWII, James Bond, Euro Spy, Japanese Spy flicks, surfing and spying, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Tupperware parties, Abe Lincoln, wrestling, Johnny Quest, The Saint, Lawrence Welk, Gilligan's Island, The Outer Limits, The Rolling Stones on Ed Sullivan, Halloween episodes, Bachelor Father, The Addams Family, Don Rickles, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Car 54, Where Are You?, Jack Benny, Children in Danger, Patty Duke, Shindig, computerized election coverage, Steve Allen, Rich Little, The Flintstones, Andy Williams, real world leaders in spy movies, The Finale Programme, Rob Hill, being a monster kid and a preview of Thom's next book.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 636: Adam Cayton-Holland May 20, 2024

Show notes

Feb 15-21, 1997

This week Ken welcomes writer, comedian and man behind the new YouTube Comedy Special "Wallpaper", Adam Cayton-Holland.

Ken and Adam discuss climate change, Colorado, David Letterman, Letterman's "I'm David F*&king Letterman" phase, serialized comedy, how Letterman invented Impractical Jokers, having nostalgia for 1997, the FINAL episode of The Monkees that was made in 1997, Tanya Harding, celebrity boxing, ice skating, Nancy Kerrigan, Hepcat, Sabado Gigante, Columbia House, buying things off TV, mail order, Those Who Can't, being replaced with Young Sheldon, Fast Times, the misnomer that is The Mandela Effect, Murphy Brown, Chicago Hope, how sometimes something isn't an "effect" you're just stupid, Singled Out, Tom Rhodes, Ren & Stimpy, Roseanne, Mad About You, Fraiser, Beverly Hills 90210, Party of Five, Friends, Martin Seinfeld, Living Single, A Different World, Comic Justice, Stormy Justice, Cheers, Ellen, too many hostage episodes, offending Roseanne, not understanding what "normal" means, and HBO's Monkey Business.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 635: Chris Morgan II May 13, 2024

Show notes

September 19-26, 1998

This week Ken welcomes BACK to the show author of the new book "99 Episodes That Defined the '90s: Television Milestones from Arsenio to Homer to Yada Yada Yada, Chris Morgan"

Ken and Chris discuss his book, Detroit, Tim Allen, Jack Kavorkian's lawyer, Cigarette ads, Heidi Klum, Spin City, French Stewart, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Sex with Cindy Crawford, reality TV, the classic SNICK line up, Celebrity Death Match, Mad TV, Baywatch, Night Man, the frequency of Evil, Rising Star Barbie Alan Jackson, commemorative plates, Will & Grace, That 70s Show, Monday Night Football, Holding the Baby, The Marriage Fool, King of Queens, Brian Benben Show, Say What MTV, Superman II, King of the Hill, the greatness of Clueless: The Series, Newhart, Working, Hyperion Bay, Hey Arnold!, The Drew Carey Show, the impact of Phil Hartman's Death, comedy vs drama, Two Guys a Girl and a Pizza Place, Ryan Reynolds, the decline of Must-See TV, Newsradio, the odd pairing of crystal meth and Seinfeld, ER, the hammock spot, the rise of Keith Oberman, Beetlejuice, the underappreciated gem that is Buddy Faro, the decline of CBS, Nash Bridges, and Chris' future book topics.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 634: Joanne Rubino May 10, 2024

Show notes

This week Ken welcomes actor, producer and woman behind Be Brave Media Joanne Rubino.

Ken and Joanne discuss the path from in front of the camera to behind it, moving a lot, being your own friends, getting guest spots on big series, ER, production management, indie films, volunteering to help run a tight ship, how long projects take, Hatfields & McCoys, ITV, never giving up, believing in the project, working with the best people, being nominated for an Emmy, making stuff happen, getting interviews with big Hollywood actors, Marlon Brando, telling real life stories, documentaries, docudrama, scripted TV, the difficulty of getting past gatekeepers, how you have to do everything, how the same people in a small group are A-listers, the difficulty of getting older in Hollywood, how critical acclaim doesn't always lead to making money, Barbie, things you HAVE to see on a big screen, telling smaller stories, character driven pieces, red carpet premieres, The Slinky, The Pez Outlaw, IP, labors of love, trying until you succeed, early days of reality TV, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, telling important stories, curing cancer some day, never stopping working, being able to do everything, matchmaking, The Partridge Family, The Sopranos, loving The Diplomat, Stand up comedy specials, geniuses, and the importance of treating everyone with respect.

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