TV Guidance Counselor

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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 125: Ben Blacker Jan 13, 2016

Show notes

October 12-18, 1991

On today's show Ken welcomes writer, Thrilling Adventure Hour head honcho and host of the Nerdist Writer's Panel Ben Blacker to the show. Ken and Ben discuss growing up in the Boston area, Hal Hartley TV, the early 90s, CBS Monday Night, hereditary sci-fi fandom, American Gothic, Dark Shadows, Spenser for Hire, James at 15, Creature Double Feature, horror as metaphor, the humorless grim 21st Century, Supernatural, American Horror Story, Golden Girls and the Torkelsons, when Saturday Night isn't funny, Who's the Boss, Growing Pains, Just the Ten of Us, totally retooling shows, Bob, Family Ties, why it's not worth it to make a show for everybody anymore, taping Young Riders, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr, Sightings, the troubles of serialization, Young Guns II, Westerns turning into TV Cop Shows, The Comish, Life Goes On, low concept TV, blue collar TV, AIDS, Eerie Indiana, Parker Lewis, James Garner, evil John Stamos, Full House, Herman's Head, The early days of Fox, Women in Prison, Werewolf, Monday Night Hebrew school keeping you from Alf, Evening Shade vs. Davis Rules, Bonnie Hunt, hating Southern shows, Newhart, Get a Life, dumb characters, why it's hard to re-watch Seinfeld, Blossom, Murphy Brown, Julia Duffy, Northern Exposure, Lord of Illusions, great guest stars on Chuck, I'll Fly Away is not Brooklyn Bridge, Rescue 911, why friction can make a great show, Roseanne, Jackie O, the Mini-Series, Coach, Jobeth Williams, Dinosaurs, Unsolved Mysteries, CNBC is paying to watch your neighbors make love, Wonder Years, Doogie Howser, the final season of Night Court, Quantum Leap, Cosby, A Different World, The Simpsons, loving bottle episodes, the finale of Cheers, George Wendt, missing The Monster Mash, loving Tim Daly, LA Law, Perfect Strangers, Baby Talk, replacing George Clooney with Scott Baio, Cheer Heavy Weeks, making the big time as a Jeopardy Question, Murphy Brown's single motherhood, the heartbreak of Fall Previews and complaining about reality TV in 1991.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 124: Jenna Von Oy Jan 08, 2016

Show notes

In today's special BONUS! episode to start 2016 right, Ken welcomes actress, writer, musician and mom Jenna Von Oy to the show.

Ken and Jenna discuss Jenna's status as a frequent point of discussion on the show, Tales from the Darkside, Christmas Episodes, E.G. Marshall, being an old Soul, growing up in CT, the way New York City used to be, how an illustration of the flexibility of Jordace jeans leads to a career in acting, being the anomaly in your family. letting your kids act, the changing face of a television year, The Gritter, Monsters, "Glim-Glim" RIP, having a Goldfish memory of your own work, The West Wing, re-visiting your past via DVD, Jenna's status as the hardest working person in showbiz, Don Reo, working on Lenny and Blossom at the same time, being the one true Six, the foolproof disguise if crimped hair, places your bets on Lenny Clarke, discovering the great untapped resource of teenage girls, normal kids, Warren Littlefield's daughter single-handedly saving Blossom, The John Larroquette Show, awkwardly doing the Roger Rabbit, respectfully homaging sitcom cliches without the snark, Full House as the modern Brady Bunch, coining "A Very Special Episode", The Sassy Generation, opening talking about divorce and drugs, timeless storylines, getting hooked on Melrose Place, watching the Disney Sunday Night movie on a black and white TV as a family, acting opposite Tom Cruise in Born on the 4th of July without knowing who he is, not being a showbiz kid, being a victim of merchandising, what Joey Lawrence's love can't fix, crushing on your co-star, being the hardened veteran, Miss Mayim Bialik, Little Richard's definition of silk, recording a heartbreak album, Joey Lawrence's luscious locks, the wonder of TV theme songs, Parks and Rec, being in Nashville without being on "Nashville", wanting to be on The West Wing, Arrested Development, obsession over the X-Files, the difficulty of a changing business, being a mom, carving out your niche, "Situation Momedy", the terror of Ken's pregnancy, the power of laughter and benign self-deprecation, Blossom's syndication status, TiVo blowing your cover to your children, and how Mommy is a book author.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 123: Guitler Raphael Jan 06, 2016

Show notes

September 13-19, 1997 FALL PREVIEW

Today Ken welcomes comedian Guitler Raphael to the show. Ken and Guitler discuss the official Team Reid pizza, spinach, Haiti, Fall Preview, sibling bargaining, The Pretender, COPS, Maurice the Pants Man, Garth Brooks, The Real World, Xena, Miss America, Wet T-Shirts, being a bouncer, fooled by strippers, The New England Patriots, The Omega Man, the golden age of Video Stores, Malden, In the House, doing your best to identify with bad TV, the best "black" show, LL Cool J's Radio, Dateline NBC, Football vs. Wrestling, learning comedy via TV, past life regression, Malcolm and Eddie, good business ideas, teenage hangouts, B.L.L.T's, Step Dad murder, Brian De Palma, Breakin' Boobs, Cannon Films, Keeping Up Appearances, PBS, Ken's David Bowie, Toys, wall posters, Janet Jackson, Spin City, Isaac Mizrahi, Sister Sister, Jackee Harry, Smart Guy, .com bubble, cops teaching history, buying stocks, Keith Sweat, The Wayans Brothers, OJ, Steve Harvey, twins causing racism, Must See TV, Living Single, Martin, how Montel Jordan do it, Will Blacksmith, Beauty and the Beast, Fraiser, the sad death of Brandon Lee, Family Matter moving to CBS, Sabrina and the Little People, Boy Meets World, and the illustrious acting career of Shaq.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 122: Rick Moody Dec 30, 2015

Show notes

April 30 - May 5, 1977

On today's episode Ken welcomes author, novelist, journalist, musician and all around great guy Rick Moody to the show.

Ken and Rick discuss the atmosphere of cookies in Harvard Square, 60s TV, Richard Nixon, Richard Nixon's Teeth, dying of a broken heart, boarding school rules, cold turkey television, Irwin Allen, Disaster Movie fetishes, Airport 70-75, Airplane, all star casts, novelizations of the movie, JAWS, The Rock in San Andreas, man vs. nature, Steve McQueen's assessment that "they'll keep building them, and we'll keep putting those fire out", 70s Subversives, Harrison Ford fighting demons in the Possessed, burying your wife alive, Bad Ronald, Invitation to Hell, The Night Stalker, Gene Hackman, Fred Astaire, Xanadu, Linda Blair's finest work, After School specials, teenager drunks, Scott Baio is Stoned, Helen Hunt is Angel Dusted, The Six Million Dollar Man, Bionic Love, cultural capital, Game of Thrones, In Search Of..., Noah's Arc, Bermuda Triangle, John Davidson, PBS, The American Family, Albert Brooks, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, the weird whirlwind of Louise Lasser, bothering Norman Lear, pacing, David Lynch, Fernwood Tonight, Twin Peaks, violating the structure by leaving Thursday Blank, reading, punished with educational programming, seeing Serpico at an inappropriate age so Dad can have "me time", Chevy Chase vs. Richard Pryor, Love Boat III, lack of 21st Century All-Stars, niche programming, Hotels of North America, Motel Room Television, Dateline, Shock Theater, Chiller Theater, Creature Features, WPIX, Thanksgiving with King Kong, The 4:30 Movie, Mothra, Four Fingers of Death's relation to the Crawling Hand, why The Ice Storm and Garden State are period pieces, the Wire, Golden Age of TV, remaking movies, being too upset by horror movies, terrified of "The Thing", David Cronenberg, Hostel, The Mummy's Curse, The Blob, The Monkees, Teen Mom, HBO Go, The Bachelor, admitting addiction to Reality TV, Catfish, loving Mr. Show, Monty Python, Pee Wee's Playhouse and a violent hatred of cooking shows.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 121: Rick Canavan Dec 23, 2015

Show notes

September 28 - October 4, 1991

Today Ken welcomes comedian Rick Canavan to the show.

Ken and Rick discuss Rick's third visit to Reid Manor, not voting, cartoons, Barbara Bush, Rodeo, The Madison Square Garden Network, Ken's real email, Wrestling House Shows, satellite feeds, Who's the Boss, TV as comfort, new sitcoms on Saturdays, Shark Tank, infomercial nostalgia, meeting Tony Little, door to door salesman, The Topsfield Fair, Cows made of butter, slapping the big old pickle, Black Adder, Women of the Night, The Best of the Worst, Ripping Yarns, special Nurses, Murder She Wrote, Eerie Indiana, blue collar sitcoms, Dream On, Stand up Heavy, Herman's Head, Red Scorpion, Rick's hatred of Action movies, Steven Segal movies being better than Wrestling, Carmen San Diego, wacky acapella, MacGuyver, very special Blossom, Saturday Night's Main Event, Living Coulor, Full House Tuesdays, Baywatch, Vanessa Angel, The Night Stalker, Real People Reunion, NIN, Superman, hating Coach, the worst Van Dyke vs. the worst Van Patton, free surfboards, surfing, ABC's Dangerous Women, WPIX Shocktober!, Horror movies, Friday the 13th The Series, Freddy's Nightmares, Bubble Up soda trouble, The Wonder Years, Night Court, Comedy Club Network, Rick's lack of understanding of the modern world, That's My Dog, confusing Coach for Poltergeist II, Drexel's Class, Michael Olver: Problem Child, Rainn Pryor, Father Dowling Mysteries, Johnny Carson's 29th Anniversary, They Live, Step by Step, Brooklyn Bridge, Ken's hatred of Rod Stewart, Pearl Jam, Dear John, Baby Talk, Car Theft, narration for the blind, and Psycho cereal commercials.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 120: Claudia Wells & John Wesley Shipp Dec 18, 2015

Show notes

In this episode recorded LIVE! at the NorthEast ComicCon Ken welcomes Claudia Wells (Back to the Future, Fast Times) and John Wesley Shipp (The Flash, Dawson's Creek, The Flash) to the show.

First up, Ken and Claudia discuss Fast Times, modeling for the Sears Wishbook and JC Penny Catalogs, Family, growing up in San Francisco, starring in Martin Sheen's directorial debut as a fake pregnant teen, After School Specials, Off the Rack, The Brady Bunch, kissing everyone but Peter, when even Ed Asner can't get you out of a contract, Back to the Future, the divide between television stars and movie stars, Christopher Lloyd, Claudia's Scientist Father, the Back to the Future Video game, BTTF Animated Series, having Michael J. Fox in your back pocket, being shocked where you end up, owning Armani Wells Men's Clothing store for the last 25 years, the changing face of men's fashion, being recognized in civilian life, the difficulties of playing a role already played by someone else in a movie, sneaking into clandestinely see BTTF II and III, meeting and not meeting Elizabeth Shue, Sister Wives, CSI, Grey's Anatomy, the strange world of being a teenage actor, not being asked to the prom, Paparazzi, Jonathan Silverman, the pace of television, having Bob Gale as your travel agent, Family Ties, and having Private Eyes tail you.

Next up Ken welcomes John Wesley Shipp to the show. Ken and John Wesley discuss soap opera acting and the pace of soaps, musicals, working with teleprompters, the difficulty of memorizing huge amounts of pseudo-science babble, Fantasy Island, picking up Suand Lucci, The Flash (1990), the expense, making a movie every week for TV, why shows made by true fans are better, David Hasselhoff's music career, having fans at the Zoo, why soap opera fans are the most rabid, The Flash (current), the evolution of special effects, red leotards, celebrity culture and secret identities, how the baseball playoffs and the Gulf War hurt the 1990 Flash, Amanda Pays, the power of serialized drama and the human element, how the "will they won't they" can be an asset and a curse, the problems with metal helmets, Grant Gustin: Superhuman in real life, why Henry Allen left, niche audiences, and the thrill of playing a villain on TV.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 119.5 : Molly Crabapple Dec 17, 2015

Show notes

In this special Holiday Season bonus episode Ken welcomes illustrator, writer and all around talent Molly Crabapple to the show.

Ken and Molly discuss the perils of mispeaking, a natural inclination to introversion, growing up in New York, sneaking into Manhattan, social awkwardness, enjoying things from afar, being a punk rock teen, Fact Sheet Five, the wonder of 90s 'zines, maximumrocknroll, teenage life hacks, anarchists, Dawson's Creek, New York girls, re-writing your teenage years via media, hate watching, social media, D.A.R.E., how scare films can actually give you ideas, MTV, Liquid Television, The Head, Aeon Flux, My So-Called Life, Sassy, Daria, trying not to discount the pain of youth, Gender roles in media, Vice TV, having not watched TV in 16 years due to an uncomfortable couch, Mark Kistler's Secret City, drawing instruction on television, watching television in foreign countries, pro-Assaad regime TV, Propaganda on TV, how the whole world doesn't actually worship American mass media, Havana, being culturally illiterate, animation, translating Arabic to English for fun, loving Kurt Cobain and Hole, Low Low: Lures and Snares of Old New York by Luc Sante, needing to know the language of an art to make it, and having an aversion to being on camera as a proponent of the individual arts.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 119: Dana Gould Dec 16, 2015

Show notes

Today Ken welcomes writer, comedian, actor and podcaster Dana Gould to the show.

Ken and Dana discuss the memories of dark failure that hang over Harvard Square, replacing Steven Wright in Stationary, Boston Radio, having a member of the cars stare you down, Dana Hersey's Movie Loft, WSBK TV 38, Creature Double Features, being a Monster Kid, The Midnight Special, Rod Serling and the Night Gallery, Feep, horror hosts, Reel Wild Cinema, cursed used cars, the perplexing Japanese Box Office, TV Guide as the 70s video store, the wonders of stumbling on things, David Chase and the Night Stalker, Vampira, The Medveds, Ed Wood, Planet of the Apes, the strangeness that is Gloucester, Jonathan Ross, Incredibly Strange Film Show, how Dana's Dad became Buffy The Vampire Slayer, how the world has changed, being best friends with Greg Nicotero, intense Tom Savini, Frank Darabont, Mob City, The Simpsons, The Ben Stiller Show, Willfred Brimley, The Mystery of Kurt Russell, Elvis Presley's Moon Landing issue, Change of Habit, Hoyt Axton, Little Richard's innovations, Townies, SNL, George Carlin, SCTV, and the wonders of Martin Short's tiny hands.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 118.5: Andrew WK Dec 11, 2015

Show notes

Today on the show Ken welcomes musician, partier, motivational speaker and all around personality Andrew WK.

Ken and Andrew discuss Top of the Pops, Anne Arbor Michigan, tape trading, the golden age of MTV, when music became visual, Roxy Music, how the arts make room for everything, Miami Vice, the value of having to work for media, not having cable growing up, anti-television parental styles, the horrors of the adult world, cigarette ads, ambition, Star Trek, Little House on the Prairie, Happy Days, 60 Minutes, The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, The Facts of Life's "Over Our Heads Years", Pee Wee's Playhouse, the 80s retro aesthetic, Gary Panter, Memphis Designs, Golden Girls, Murder She Wrote, TV Theme Songs, Learning life lessons from Andy Rooney, why Don Knotts as Mr. Furley was terrifying, physical humor, Three's Company, Animaniacs, Sesame Street, loving Maria, why nobody likes Telly, and having to explain bongs to Grandma because of The Facts of Life.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 118: Jamie Loftus Dec 09, 2015

Show notes

September 11-17, 2005

Today Ken welcomes writer, comedian Jamie Loftus to the show.

Ken and Jamie discuss high school football, being "with" the band, the oboe, Brockton, boxing statues, the best rappers in the school, Cape Verdeans, Musical Theater, Michael Crawford, Kenny Everett, 9-11, the changing TV Guide week, Carnie Wilson's live streamed surgery, Degrassi, school shootings, The N, Radio Free Roscoe, Instant Star, STDs, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Jessica Lynch, The Food Network, Good Eats, growing up in a world that always had the internet, how being into frogs can lead to getting into jam bands, Ken's Hot Topic confession, My Super Sweet 16, wearing a backbrace, sax serenade, Basketball Songs, Mambo Number, Antiques Roadshow, college choices of regret, The Daily Show, being a second generation journalist, sports writing, Gilmore Girls, Ben or Noel?, Bones, Supernatural, O'Grady, the magic three hours, Are You the Girl? with TLC, My Fair Brady, Battle of the Network Reality Stars, the premier of Joey, I Love the 90s, Scrubs, ER, What I Like About You, loving Amanda Bynes, Atomic Kitten, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Supernanny, marathoning the Robocop Series, Gilemore Women, terrorizing your younger brother, Eurotrip, The Butterfly Effect, loving Ashton, Tracy Morgan replacing Shannon Doherty, click it or pick it, and learning the secrets of the World's Strongest Boy.

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