TV Guidance Counselor

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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 361: Mathew Klickstein Jul 08, 2019

Show notes

May 20-26, 1978

Today Ken welcomes writer and fellow pop culture enthusiast/victim Mathew Klickstein to the show.

Ken and Mat discuss why you should never let get do the ordering when going out to eat, growing up in Orange County, Sk8TV, pop punk, Blink 182, Nickelodeon, Pinwheel, Teenie Little Super Guy, how TV killed Vaudeville, stand up on TV, Jackass, getting introduced to new worlds via mix tapes, Fugazi, Riot Grrl, Spaced, Red Dwarf, UK TV, College, being invested in media, trying to get viewers/readers hooked right away, why you need rules to make good stuff sometimes, David Lynch, Terry Gilliam, Three's Company, Mary Tyler Moore, Gong Show,Theater of Blood, Vincent Price, Witchfinder General, The Wicker Man, All in the Family, orange juice ad campaigns, religion on TV, Mott the Hoople, PBS Documentaries, Louise Lasser as writer/director/star, Charles Grodin playing Charles Grodin, The Bastard, Don Knotts, the endless supply of John Ritter movies, Monty Python, Steve McQueen week, sexual stereotypes, deaf musicals, burning off pilots, The Incredible Hulk, Prince's Revolution, outsider art, and the wonders of The Kids of Widney High.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 360: Chip Chantry Jul 01, 2019

Show notes

This week Ken welcomes Philly based comedian Chip Chantry to the show.

Ken and Chip discuss Ken's studio, how Paul Chantry III became "Chip", fancy names, Garbage Pail Kids, Candy Castle, homes for the ugly, rejected Saturday Morning Cartoons, deleted scenes from The Goonies, Philly punk rock, classic kids' lies, playing Sonny Crockett's son, Herbie vs. Hermie, Hollywood Teen Hunks, People's Court, Rusty, Spencer Gifts, animals on COPS, scumbag lore, The Cosby Show's Flubberoos, Golden Girls, being on the red carpet for the Batman '89 movie premier, winning a Nickelodeon Contest, attending the 1989 Kids Choice Awards, Will Wheaton, Nicole Eggert, Bobby The Brain Heenan, 80s Coke fueled stand up, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Alphy's Soda Shop, You Can't Do That on Television, Chris Gethard Show, Married...with Children, Hersey's Hollywood, Brian Austin Green is THE BAG, Ken's absolute love of Body Building Champs and Twin Brothers - The Barbarian Brothers, Roseanne, dwarf mongooses, Head of the Class, San Francisco, Get a Life, Zoo Animals on Wheels, The Midnight Hour, loving "Moving Violations", Jesse Jackson's guest spot on A Different World, Cheers, Mr. Belvedere, Just the Ten of Us, pink leopard skin, and getting cranberries to kiss your grits.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 359: Joanna Cassidy Jun 24, 2019

Show notes

Today Ken welcomes legendary actress Joanna Cassidy (Blade Runner, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead) to the show.

Ken and Joanna discuss airplanes, growing up in Haddonfield, being from a family of artists, Eleanor Parker, working with everybody, Joan Crawford, made for TV plays, coming to California, San Francisco, being a young Mother, modeling and acting, fashions by Mary Mako, falling into a career, having a scientific mind, Dick Shawn, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, pet monkeys, Love Boat, the glamour of old Hollywood, Burt Lancaster, Buffalo Bill, MGM, Roller Derby Girls, the state of the world, insects, Eagle Eyes, comedy, Call Me Fitz, managing your energy levels on a set, the art of communication, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, being uncomfortable on set, watching dailies, the issues that arise when a director lacks confidence, Phil Silvers, Live from Death Row, acting without blinking, actors who bring a life lived to their work, auditioning to play the part of yourself, beautiful people, being lost in visuals, willing things into existence, child actors, the strangeness of a life in the spotlight, the golden age of television, having a commitment to watching a show, After Life, Carry On films, Vanessa Redgrave, Terry Thomas, Italian films, Steven Weber, staying on an actor's face, Nicolas Refn, ballet, Cher, The Intruder, William Shatner, Will Farrell, Jackie Gleason, silly comedy, Melissa McCarthy, making something you know isn't great, editing TVGC, remaking Joan of Arc and how movies are youth.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 358: Tracy Wells (Tofte) Jun 17, 2019

Show notes

This week Ken welcomes Tracy Tofte (formerly Wells) of Mr. Belvedere to the show.

Ken and Tracy discuss real estate, loving the San Fernando Valley, traffic, acting with your sister, The Bad Seed, stage moms, being in a Pepsi Commercial with Michael Jackson, Pennies from Heaven, being a dancer, ABC, Growing Pains, guest starring, After School Specials, No Means No, if things are better or worse now, Very Special episodes, difficult discussions, ton shifts, being in Gremlins, getting cut out of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the tough lessons learned while acting as a kid, keeping mementos, being famous and not knowing it, the fizzle out cancellation of Belvedere, being cast as the best friend, navigating the loss of a parent, strangers being at your birthday for publicity, losing a role to Hilary Swank, guesting on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, how there's enough business for everybody, saying goodbye, having Belvedere reunions, missing out on the social aspect of actually going to High School, shooting in front of live audiences, building a show around Bob Uecker, warm up comics, movie actors vs. TV actors, movie stars, having trouble watching yourself, cooking shows, Good Eats, Julia Child, being a chef, shared experiences, James at 15, acting horror stories, going back to civilian life, Hollywood History, murder houses, Ben and Matt and Ken's strange relationship with the Wahlbergs.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 357: Paul Haynes Jun 10, 2019

Show notes

Ken and Paul discuss illegal Burbank tattoos, jaywalking, Unsolved Mysteries, growing up in Orlando, being scared of the dark, Gremlins, being into astronomy, The Discovery Center, Ernest Saves Christmas, pizzeria arson, second run cinemas, Polyester, 3M Stage blood, Beetlejuice, the 80s Gross Out fads, Garbage Pail Kids, stumble upon culture, how access was taste, Nick Drake, having Bugs Bunny as your mom, mix tapes, Twin Peaks, binge culture vs. week to week viewing, The Wacker Family, haunted bunk beds, the gift of fear, ghosts, Updates, People's Court, Divorce Court, Forensic Files, the Van Dykes, Diagnosis Murder, the Millennial re-discovery of 80s murder mysteries, how autopsy TV changed the world of media, House of Games, TV's Bloopers and Practical jokes, second hand oral R-Rated movies, Len Cella's Silly Cinemas, musicals, Hull High, Ken's crush on Nancy Valen, The Flash, the terrifying "Max Headroom" incident, Golden Girls, Barbara Crampton, soaps, Family Feud, aspiration, the change in marketing, Roseanne, infomercials, little people real estate moguls, Dead of Night/Deathdream, anthology shows, Tales from the Darkside, Monsters, Glim Glim, Retribution, the weird late 80s early 90s horror aesthetic, The Willies, Garbage Pail Kids: The Movie, living in a department store, Today's Special, having a crush on Muffy, Christopher Lee, Faerie Tale Theater, Nick at Nite, SCTV, Love Connection, Serial Killers on dating shows, Blind Date, Manuunter, Tom Noonan, Peeping Tom, haunting images, Police Sketch artists, why Victor Salva shouldn't be allowed to work again and is human garbage, Woody Allen's transgressions, people being forced to confess to murders they didn't do so cops could close cases, why it's not the grue that haunts you with a dead body, You Can't Do That on Television, David Bowie's acting career, Highway to Heaven, confusing Lean on Me and Stand and Deliver, and the lasting influence of Blackboard Jungle.

Paul is a writer and researcher who contributed to and helped finish his friend Michelle McNamara's book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" after her tragic and untimely death. The book is now an upcoming HBO docuseries on which Paul is co-executive producer and will be appearing,

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 356: Charlotte Stein Jun 03, 2019

Show notes

November 2-9, 2001

This week Ken welcomes producer, director and all around coolest person Charlotte Stein to the show.

Ken and Charlotte discuss Harry Potter, Charlotte's TV Guide shoplifting, X-Files, cryptic spines, helping teach in Summers, Jeri Ryan, Star Trek, Philosophers vs. Sorcerers, King of the Hill, Sightings, Luke Wilson, Roshomon, Halloween, Butterfinger, The Simpsons, elaborate Trick or Treating rituals, costume changes, John Steed, The Avengers, inappropriate Catwoman costumes, The Faculty, USA vs. TBS, Friday the 13th Part 5, Savage Streets, New York Sleaze, cartoon C.O.P.S vs Cops, feeling mature, Jennifer Love Hewitt's "Let's Go Bang", Denise Richards, Wild Things, Kevin Bacon's bacon, Josh Hartnet's bedhead, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, Kiefer Sutherland in Dark City, The Blair Witch Project, Hammer vs. Tigon vs. Amicus, why Templars are for dorks, Eddie Furlong as Tracy Gold's husband, the Dog Soldiers formula, "Greeking", Blast from the Past vs. Pleasantville, Dave Foley, Millenium, Allie McBeal, Boston Public, David E. Kelly, when Ken ruined Crossing Jordan, Mad TV, Queer Eye, disliking Frank Sinatra, Eagleheart, everyone's favorite Nightmare on Elm St movie, candy based super powers, Greg Nicotero, not being into Mr. Boogedy, The Monroevill Mall, visiting your favorite filming locations, Hidden Camera comedy, Argento cuts, and the tv turmoil immediately after 9/11.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 355: Tim O'Donnell May 27, 2019

Show notes

This week Ken welcomes writer, producer, showrunner and childhood hero Tim O'Donnell (Growing Pains, Clueless, Uncle Buck, Just the Ten of Us) to the show.

Ken and Tim discuss The Mommies, being on the #1 show and the #100 show, Gloria, working in TV News, adapting movies into TV shows, basing a show around a stand up comedian, the Sandy episode of Growing Pains, Matthew Perry, Very Special Episodes, Valerie/The Hogan Family, working in radio, P.A. ing on The Carol Burnett Show, working on The Glenn Campbell Show, the pitfalls of multi-cam shot on video shows, how film look took over, Newhart, Cheers, Clueless, Paul Rodriguez, warm up comics, the writers' room system, watching actors learn to be writers, pitching jokes, Dog Weddings, being an ex-Seminarian, Just the Ten of Us, Catholic Jokes, breaking the 4th Wall, Rich Reinhart, Rock N Roll Fantasy, The Lubbock Babes, Mr. Belvedere, Ken's college age anthrax shield job, Dick Van Patton as a bigot on Growing Pains, Heather Graham, The Dewy High Hooters, Dance Fever Part 1, clip shows, Free Spirit, busted pilots, high concept shows, Brad Pitt, I Married Dora, Exporting Raymond, translating American sitcoms into Russian sitcoms, how Growing Pains became the first American sitcom to air in China, being mistaken for Alan Thicke, John Candy being the greatest guy ever, Clueless, James at 15, how great "Action" with Jay Mohr was, being told "there's nobody in America who wants to be Latino who currently isn't", stand up comedy showcases, network notes, why stand up comics are pre-disposed to not be great actors in an ensemble, being a showrunner, an alternate universe where Joss Whedon writes for Growing Pains, and the long discussed definitive origin of clip shows.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 354: Emma Dumont May 19, 2019

Show notes

Today Ken welcomes actor Emma Dumont (The Gifted) to the show.

Ken and Emma discuss Emma's Golden Girls fandom, The Facts of Life, being a Jo, The Facts of Life reunion, loving private school uniforms, roller skates, RollerReid, Roller Derby, Whip It!, being very tall, getting good at something through sheer will and hard work, Ken's failure at practice, Magic, learning Mandarin, doing ballet in Russia, regional oddities, "bubblahs", Seattle, underground cities, being Shanghai'd, vintage airplanes, Brownie uniforms, James at 15, virginity loss on TV, NYC vs. LA, why Americans dress badly now, learning empathy, Eastland Academy, presenting disabilities on TV, Lisa Whelchel's christian dance pop album, sitcom tone, Very Special Episodes, the teenage prostitute FoL, Rose Red, Rock n Rollergames, American Gladiators, G.L.O.W., which FoL girl Ken is, weirdness about Jo's boyfriend, failed backdoor pilots, Pam Adlon, Nurses, spin off of spin offs, Jocko, America's obsession with Australia, Ken's crush on Sherrie (Austin) Krenn, Ten Little Indians, Maurice LaMarce as Rod Serling, tough girls, McKenzie Astin, "Sexy Lingerie", Lisa Whelchel's ventriloquism skills, bunheads, Poison Ivy, Alex Rocco, Jo's Dad, Betty White, TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes, cool Summer jobs, Ken's job history, martial arts, Emma's quest for mystery robots at the end of an off brand Pinocchio tape, Will Wonka, being a diehard iPod owner, and the horrors of made for TV movies in the 90s.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 353: Caissie St. Onge May 13, 2019

Show notes

Today Ken welcomes fellow Massachusetts escapee and until very recently the showrunner of the excellent and criminally non-renewed "Busy Tonight", the great Caissie St. Onge.

Ken and Caissie discuss Busy Tonight, leaving Massachusetts, New England rage, why "it must be nice", Fitchburg state college, being David Letterman's assistant, 30 Rock, writing letters, being in the trenches of the Late Night Wars, mid 80s TV, WLVI TV56, WSBK TV38, growing up on a farm, how reception drove your viewing habits, Creature Double Feature, watching MTV at your grandparent's house, double featuring Jaws and the Exorcist on HBO, Ken's grandfather, The Outsiders, Red Dawn's dirty joke...maybe?, The Day After, how reading leads to drug addiction, Wacky Races, diverting from the course, Tennessee Tuxedo, Ben McKenzie, having your children discover The OC on their own, Best Week Ever, discovering the world via TV, New York City and all it's separate neighborhoods, Rosie O'Donnell, making googly eyes at Frank Oz, working with the Sesame St Muppets, Wonder Pets, Judy Gold, playing in the school band, gorging on fund raiser chocolate, soda machines in the teacher's lounge, surviving embarrassing school incidents, being an only child, Bonnie Hunt, women in television, Tina Fey, Carol Burnett, why women don't get to be eccentric, Laverne and Shirley, Gilmore Girls, Townies, watching things that just look nice, Boardwalk Empire, The Chevy Chase Show, shared experience, Big Mouth, hope for the future, how difficult it is to plug things in the time shift future, Saturday Morning cartoon previews, the pleasure of not binge watching, investing in things, how too much choice can be overwhelming, Pizzeria Uno, and Ken and Caissie's pact to re-unite in 20 years and do a Part II.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 352: Maylin Pavletic May 06, 2019

Show notes

March 15-21, 1997

Today Ken welcomes comedian Maylin Pavletic to the show.

Ken and Maylin discuss condemned properties, neighborhood politics, Somerville, drug fronts, pee pee/poo poo vs. poo poo/pee pee houses, uncomfortable sexual situations at work, veterinarians, dogs, Matt Smith, prostitute loving soccer players, bad statues, monkey jesus, brunch, Lord of the Flies businesses, Ren & Stimpy, Frank Zappa: Pope, The Head, MTV Oddities, Oddville, Nicktoons, The Maxx, Goosebumps, Strangers with Candy, Wishbone, Strip Mall, Julie Brown, PBS, Ghostwriter, Clarissa Explains It All erotica, Second Civil War, That Reagan Woman, Taxi, X-Files, The Real World, Jenny McCartney, Larry: Thief, news bloopers, Weather with Al, things that wasn't not funny, the scratch tickets of alcohol, sneaking booze in, Ken's creepy comforts, WWF, surprising wrestling writers, Baywatch, Mark Paul Gossler in Mad for TV movies, hurtful garbage pseudo-science, weird kids, docudramas, Carmen Elektra, Singled Out, Dennis Rodman, town liars, bikini girls, propaganda, Greg Louganis and his love of Mario Lopez, Silk Stalkings, "I'm Dangerous Tonight", the world's greatest movie that never was "Rub Down", sports on the silver screen, North Dallas 40, Blue Chips, water polo, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Tyson v. Hollyfield, having a big dump in your pants, Not of This Earth, Blind Date, Roger Lodge, Traci Lords, Studs, Blind Date, Ken's hatred of lionization of serial killers, American Psycho, sleazy Sweeps Stunts, and Chevy Chase getting destroyed by Steven Bochco.

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