TV Guidance Counselor

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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 274: Nick Prueher & Joe Pickett (Found Footage Festival) Jan 02, 2018

Show notes

Today Ken welcomes the men behind the Found Footage Festival, Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett.

Ken, Nick and Joe discuss Laura Palmer's corpse, revisiting your childhood home, Moonlighting, Cybil Sheppard, silk sheets, Divorced Dad Horny, tape trading, the Found Footage Festival, Waterbeds, News Bloopers, Joan Collins, angry "No"s, Silver Spoons, Beastmaster, HBO, Very Special Episodes, Diff'rent Strokes, Growing Pains, Mr. Belvedere, The Amish, thirtysomething, Sisters, Revenge of the Nerds, Tim Busfield, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Punky Brewster, the mystery of Jeremy Reems, Hal Sparks' Treasure Mall, having Ken's Dad on the show, Bozo the Clown, seeing eye ducks, turning garbage into gasoline, Shelly Duval, Herve Valechez, Fairy Tail Theater, bloopers, Newhart, Good Day LA, SCTV's Cinemax season, the Batan Death March's relation to dog fashion shows, black boxes, foxy boxing, the depressing fear of The Incredible Hulk, The Hulk Out List, beauty pageants, Gimme a Break, hypnosis, Family Ties, Carol Burnett on Magnum P.I., Jake and the Fatman, William Conrad getting no respect, Benson, Child's Play the Game Show, Webster, and why "Step by Step" plays in the Sacred Hour.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 273: Dave Brusie Dec 26, 2017

Show notes

November 14-20, 1987

Today Ken welcomes writer Dave Brusie to the show.

Ken and Dave discuss Cheers, Rebecca vs. Diane, the socio-economic hierarchy of Cheers, academia, nicknames, Sledgehammer, the weirdness you missed, Small Wonder, The Edge, The Simpsons, David Merkin, being banned from In Living Color, parental rules, Troll Book Club vs. Scholastic Book Club, Elementary School, specialization, The Facts of Life, Sherrie Krenn/Austin, Golden Girls, Amen, Empty Nest, The News Adventures of Beans Baxter, Comic Relief, tape trading, being on a Gameshow, Celebrity Jeopardy, Newhart, major cast replacements, Family Ties, loving Michael J. Fox, the underrated comedic chops of Justine Bateman, Moonlighting, John Cleese, The Muppets, Muppet Babies, showing your kids things you loved as a kid, current kids' shows, Puffin Rock, Mr. Rogers, Just the Ten of Us, the early days of Saved by the Bell, Teacher Shows, The Charmings, Night Court, The Cosby Show, Mr. Belvedere, why there are always Hospital shows, and interviewing Big Bird.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 272: Ella Morton Dec 19, 2017

Show notes

July 27 - August 2, 1996

Today Ken welcomes writer and personality Ella Morton (Atlas Obscura) to the show.

Ken and Ella discuss Boston's strange museums, ether dome, The Maparium, growing up in Australia, going to high school in Dallas TX, why TV lockers give you a false sense of hope, Dynasty, Beverly Hills 90210, The X-Files, John Safran, America's short lived obsession with Australia, cultural views of blackface, Michael Crawford on Some Mothers do 'ave em, hoping they might kiss, technology driven fan communities, online message boards, Xena, She Wolf of London, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Millenium, The Lone Gunmen, New Zealand, Peter Jackson, Forgotten Silver, Salem MA's weird tourist history, The Nanny, Round the Twist, sleazy three camera sitcoms, live episodes, musical episodes, The Drew Carey Show, how the main characters getting together ruins the show, Cheers, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Comic Books, Stephen Hawking, The Simpsons, Chris Carter's transgressions, Fish Police, My Two Dads, Kate and Allie, Women in Prison, learning how to be a better you through Captain Picard's example on Star Trek The Next Generation, The Howling III, Peter Boyle, why it's weird for teachers to hang out with their students, why it's irresponsible to let someone watch Battlestar Gallactica alone, Xena as pride, Sydney, how Halloween isn't a thing outside the US, Australian news bloopers, and why Ken won't shut the hell up about Fringe.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 271: Sam Walsh Dec 12, 2017

Show notes

September 19-25, 1998

Today Ken welcomes friend and quality human being Sam Walsh to the show.

Ken and Sam talk about lost recordings, the best Quaid, Innerspace, being attacked by dogs, having a "sausage pockets" look, Teenie Drinks, lactose intolerance, the odd relationship of Asian people and dairy products, Home Improvement, Tim Allen's wooden suit, Tool Time ladies, Chevy Chase, Fox's Target America, being horrified of America's Most Wanted, being murdered, growing up in Boston, being a Vietnamese immigrant, Everybody Loves Raymond, Ken's love of Jim Belushi, Russians on TV, The Miss America Pageant, Sci-Fi Channel movies, Dog Soldiers as formula, Weird Al, Florence Henderson, "Holding the Baby", The Simpsons, Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, Two Fat Ladies, 90s actors in 21st Century Religious films, WCW/WWF Monday Night wars, Ken's fear of mirrors in dark rooms, why Howard the Duck may be the best Marvel movie, Messiah of Evil, Penn & Teller, loving magic, Bram Stoker's Dracula, annoying actors, Mr. Bill hosting Mr. Bean, Mad About You, Blank Check, Third Rock from the Sun, UHF, Newsradio, Executive Decision, Steven Segal bait and switch, Fraiser, Booker T, Fright Night, sabotaging a roller coaster, going full TGIF, Frank Whaley, Dennis Farrena, Michael McKeon, and loving the Little League World Series.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 270: Andrew Durso Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

February 16-22, 2002

Today Ken welcomes comedian Andrew Durso to the show.

Ken and Andrew discuss fine sodas, Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise, MMA, aspiring rappers, why sports fans are the new nerds, Professional Wrestling, NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt, robot fighting, Ken's love of Winona Ryder, Cops, America's Most Wanted, SNICK, Extreme Sports, The Undertaker, Limp Bizkit, Wilfred Brimley's executioner status, Beavis & Butthead, Nicktoons, being obsessed with "Log", Somerville pizza, Buffy, Bernie Mac, sinking subs, Justin Timberlake, Mermaids, Japanese Wrestling, the dark times of music of the early 00s, Undeclared, That 80s Show, Competitive Eating, fighting a reversal, creepy swingers, Stonecutters tattoos, David Cronenberg's later career, WCW movies, Ready to Rumble, The War at Home, Weakest Link, Mad TV, Friday Twang, Jason X, anime, pre-Power Rangers Power Rangers, 8mm, Making the Band, weird couple combinations on Friends, and celebrity weddings.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 269: Josh Caterer (The Smoking Popes) Nov 27, 2017

Show notes

October 20-26, 1979

Today Ken welcomes musician Josh Caterer (The Smoking Popes, Duval) to the show.

Ken and Josh discuss early afternoon punk rock matinees, WKRP in Cincinnati, shows evolving past their pilot episodes, gay characters on television, Barney Miller, The NEW WKRP, Hugh Wilson, The Famous Teddy Z, Bait and Switch, KISS, The Clash, Andy Capp, loving substance abusers, Cheers, anti-authoritarians, punk rock on TV, Dragnet, Mr. Rogers, a life of kindness, cycles of maturity, not enjoying life until you are about 30, The Brady Bunch, Jim Henson, The Museum of the Moving Image, The Monkees, The Young Ones, The New Monkees, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Ted Knight, why you can't argue with Cloris Leachman, rock music on TV, having a lifelong passion for music, culture clashes, Sylvia Sidney, Doctor Who, Tom Baker, appreciating a slowness in visual media, hindsight, What's New Pussycat?, wanting to be Peter O'Toole, Twin Peaks, hating Twin Peaks: The Return, why Cheers may be the best theme song, David Lynch's body of work, The Straight Story, Better Call Saul, and why The Twilight Zone made a generation of people better people.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 268: Michael Chiklis & Ryan Hurst LIVE! at Denver Comic Con Nov 24, 2017

Show notes

It's a Thanksgiving Leftover Special!

Two chats left over from this Summer's Denver Comic Con.

First up chats with Michael Chiklis. Ken and Michael chat Miami Vice, art thieves, The Comish, The Shield, Fantastic Four, the horrors of being trapped in "The Thing" costume, Gotham, Donal Logue, being a team oriented actor, trying to make people think and feel, panel wars, the grey area in law enforcement, Purgatory, and a possible Shield reunion.

Next Ken talks to Ryan Hurts (Sons of Anarchy). Ken and Ryan discuss Saved by the Bell the New Class, being a second generation actor, being an ambiguous character, improv, Men in Dresses, having your own wolf pack, motorcycles, loving stand up, character actors, Robin Williams, Ron Pearlman, Punch Line, Ghost Rider, collecting comics, Paul Chadwick's Concrete, Werewolves on Wheels, and a possible SoA prequel.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 267: Josh Hadley Nov 21, 2017

Show notes

October 17-23, 1987

Today Ken welcomes writer and cult personality Josh Hadley to the show. Ken and Josh discuss time travel, the golden age of pay cable movies, 8 Million Ways to Die, 9 Deaths of the Ninja, Citizen Kane, Return of the Living Dead, Emmanuel, Skinemax, Beastmaster, reality TV, hoarding, Chicago, Wisconsin, butter burgers, Central time, bedtimes, pre-Prime Time, Tales from the Darkside, Freddy's Nightmares, Friday the 13th The Series, bad Star Trek, good Star Trek, having a thing for Jo on Facts of Life, Spenser for Hire, Hawk, Werewolf, being terrified of Chuck Connors, Entertainment Weekly, Fangoria, Hunter, The New WRKP, Cop Killer, The New Twilight Zone, Small Wonder, She's the Sheriff, Neo-Nazi groups, Peter Weller, Frank's Place, Morton Downey Jr, Geraldo, Cropsey, The Day My Kid Went Punk, Quincy Punx, Crime Story, Gregory Hines: Action Star, Wolfen, First and Ten, HBO getting greedy after the OJ Simpson Trial, Ray Bradbury Theater, Monsters, Night Court, Headbangers Ball, MTV's The Cutting Edge, Miami Vice "The Big Thaw", and the hypocrisy of undercover reporting circa 1987.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 266: Michael Ian Black (MIB II) Nov 16, 2017

Show notes

June 23-28, 1978

HOMECOMING WEEK! Ken welcomes back Michael Ian Black to the show.

Ken and Michael discuss the Eastern Block part of Boston, Mexican Ice Cream Parlors Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles events, marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, VTRs, renting the Blues Brothers because your father passed away, censored State sketches, performing in an arena, Scientology, cults, Awards Ceremonies, Laurie Metcalf, they/them vs. him/her, Rhoda, the horrors of Valerie's firing from Valerie, Baseball, unplugging from the horrors of today, Trump, MSNBC, Chris Mathews, Airplane, Wet Hot American Summer, bowling, and the wonders of news bloopers.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 265: John Hodgman II The Return Nov 13, 2017

Show notes

May 31 - June 8, 1980

Ken welcomes back to the show TV Guidance Counselor Legend John Hodgman.

Ken and John discuss dream jobs, The Coolidge Corner Theater, Vacationland, Boston, Halloween Specials, Rosemary's Baby, all night movie marathons as a kid, The Evil Dead, The Movie Loft, Friday the 13th, Dana Hersey, The Canned Film Fest, being an only child, having your own apartment in your parents' house, Weird Al Yankovic being the best, The Big Slick in Kansas City, levels of fame, Paul F. Tompkins's bit, leaving it all on the field, true showmanship, Levar Burton's secrets, Bozo the Clown, Candlepins for Cash, passive aggressive gameshow hosts, being embarrassed to be on TV, SCTV, Sale of the Century, Robert Urich, Vegas, artwork of yourself, when Flash Gordon fought the Incredible Hulk, Robert McKenzie's love of Here's Boomer, Jeff Goldblume's jazz show, Bart Braverman, Wednesdays, Happy Days, Zoom, The Gong Show, Oingo Boingo, Doctor Who, WGBX 44, You Wrote It You Watch It, Sha Na Na, the LIVE! event at the Coolidge Corner, being pressed for time, Daniel Kitson, John's Book, having a show on WMFO as a teenager, Harold and Maude, celebrity encounters, Roger Corman's love of free popcorn, The Gone with the Wind basement, Stop Making Sense, stalking celebrities, John's boat, city vs. country, why Mainers want to be left alone, phone calls from David Horowitz, snap judgement, questions for John, Ken's old punk band, becoming a writer, ukuleles, Roadrunner and standing ovations.

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