TV Guidance Counselor

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TV Guidance Counselor Saturday Morning Special 4: Anthony Scibelli Mar 14, 2015

Show notes

Saturday December 18, 1993

This week Ken welcomes back to the show comedian and author Anthony Scibelli.

Ken and Anthony discuss Winter Phlegm humor, sexy adult cereals, The Hack Handbook, Jay Leno's penis, Christmas week for half jews, Eastern Religions, weekend routines, gravitating towards old time comedy, the importance of B&W, cartoon voice over legends, Comic Book: the Movie, The Animaniacs, Abbot and Costello, cheap VHS tapes, robotic Three Stooges, Sexy Joe Besser, accidentally signing up for the army, Mousercize, the White Shadow, Burgess Meredith, Bullwinkle, Hot Air Balloons, the creepiness of Jay North, Dennis the Menace, when Nick at Nite shows air during the day, Ducktales, the mutant animal phenomenon, Biker Mice from Mars, Street Sharks, why kids love Toxic Waste, Turtle Pies, Hostess, Ninja Turtles, Pooh Corner, Fraggle Rock, The strangeness of Jim Henson, The What's Up Network, Captain Planet, Eco-Cartoons, Ken's love of Doctor Blight, Mighty Max, Polly Pocket, Monster in my Pocket, favorite cartoon theme songs, sexy Cleo the Cat, the Today Show, NBC's abandonment of cartoons, age differences, why there are more bad cartoons than any other art, liking Cheers and the Odd Couple as a kid, Tony Randall, The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, Gremlins, BeBe's Kids, Arena, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter II, Clarissa Explains it All Marathons, SNICK, Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers, Bazooka Joe, Twinkle: The Dream Being, Droopy: Master Detective, Anthony's Secret Dream, Bobby's World : the only good ting Howie Mandell has ever done, Young Comedians Specials, TNN's Backyard America, Carl Reiner's Summer Rental, Eek! the Cat and the Terrible Thunderlizards, Bill Nye vs Beakman, Tiny Toons, Tales from the Cryptkeeper, Tazmania, Super Nintendo vs. Sega Genesis, California Dreams, Bugs & Tweety, The X-Men Cartoon, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, shows based on comic books, Ken's favorite Batman, Saved By the Bell: The New Class, Young Charlie Chaplin, Animals Testifying before Congress, and Ken's hatred of the Disney Muppets.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 63: Molly Hagan Mar 11, 2015

Show notes

This week Ken welcomes actress Molly Hagan (Herman's Head, The Nutt House) to the show.

Ken and Molly discuss the speed of television, Herman's Head, Election, cringing, auditioning in front of your rivals, Northwestern University, growing up in Indiana, coming from a big family, Johnny Quest, Clutch Cargo, being too young to negotiate, Bob Newhart Show, Mary Tyler Moore, The Carol Burnett, All In the Family, the conundrum of Archie Bunker, Homefront (the name of the show Ken and Molly can't remember), television as escape, private concerns, American obsession with pulling back the curtain, blue collar actors, High School Reunions the cost of living in LA, Some Kind of Wonderful, The Nutt House, getting starstruck at work, working with Harvey Korman, The A.L.F. Christmas Special, getting into personal arguments with carpet samples, Mr. Sunshine, Jeffrey Tambor, Alan Spencer, Mel Brooks, "Ringmaster", Jerry Springer, the glut of talk shows in the 90s, the forgotten exploitation past of Oprah's television show, why Phil Donahue was a good guy, EPKs, disengaged interviewers, watching yourself, Friends, Seinfeld, being on something you're a huge fan of, Matt LeBlanc, Episodes, how being a psychotic murder is easier than comedy, Bloopers Shows, swearing in front of children, Ken's awful commercial auditions, ER, stunt work, parental judgement, Ken's status as a futon, Yoga, not singing and dancing meaning you move to LA, Dallas: The Early Years, being recognized by the public, iZombie, Castle, Social Media, Spoilers, not having a TV, Alf's Sad fate, the female version of Herman's Head, Dream On, Dark Angel aka "I Come In Peace" as the greatest 90s action movie, Brian Benben, Wendy Malik, fact checking in the internet age, Ken's spite fuel, and the fluidity of memory.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 62: Matt Kona Mar 06, 2015

Show notes

September 21-27, 1985

This week Ken welcomes Boston Comedian, and fellow former punk rock teen Matt Kona to the show.

Ken and Matt discuss strong coffee, cookie plates, sweeps week, micro-film, George Burns Comedy Playhouse, UHF vs VHF, WLVI Kids' Club, Ken's Teenage Punk rock band, hardcore bands named after Nintendo names, TV horror anthologies, The Christian Broadcasting Network, Stacey Keach's cocaine use documentary, George Clooney's introduction to the Facts of Life, boxing, watching The Golden Girls with a Golden Girl, York Beach Maine and beach arcades, The Prisoner, UK Sci-Fi, why "Used Cars" is one of the best comedies of all time, Dennis the Menace, the Emmys, Crazy Like a Fox, TV Bloopers and Practical Jokes, tattoos, Family Ties in the UK, Turkey Television, pubes and their relation to professional wrestling, history with Tony Danza, the debut of Growing Pains, Ken's memorized Growing Pains scripts, Boxcar Willy, TV series based on movies, Hell Town, Flip Wilson, SCTV, Billy Vera and the Beaters romantic soundtrack, Cheers, Night Court's connection to the Clash, The Glass Teat, Mr. Belvedere and his fan club, and the mystery of The Bushies.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 61: The Walsh Bros. (David and Christopher Walsh) Mar 04, 2015

Show notes

July 4-10,1987

This week Ken welcomes old friends, David and Christopher Walsh, collectively known as The Walsh Brothers.

Ken, David and Chris discuss family dynamics, alternate universe Walsh Brothers, why Ken is not a conservative Southern politician, inserting the disc, commuting to school, the subtleties of Boston public transportation, Texas Chainsaw Massaca, when your childhood home because an area of refuge, Charlestown, living in the projects, cops, your non-comedian brother getting a TV credit before you do, Max X, TV38, Boston, more Boston, LA Sex porches, Kari Wuher, Monday Night's CBS line up, Ken's status as a sophisticated Boy, Alf, George Carlin, your preferred alias, The Spectre, Valerie, calling family meetings, being drawn to stability, love of absurd comedy, the terror of a minor key theme song, Alan Thicke: Musician, the terror of the news, European Vacation, classic video store memories, Corvette Summer, LA Mall filming locations, Chopping Mall, Alyssa Milano, cartoon boobs, disabled actors in starring roles, The Wizard, Fast Times, Ed O'Neil, Popeye Doyle, Dutch, Mike Hammer vs. Sledge Hammer, Perfect Strangers, when Dan Fielding was in Charlestown, finding a way, Highway to Heaven, angelic vigilante justice, Head of the Class, fighting prostitutes, Night Court, MacGuyver, Dana Delaney, Hockey, the opiate problem in Charlestown, Star Man, Channel pliers, Somerville Lumber, theme restaurants, Indiana Jones knock-offs, Where the Boys Are, Darkman, LA Law, Gremlins, Brocktoon, Mr. Belvidere's Balls, going Commando, HBO's Made for TV Movie quality, hiding the news, 21 Jump Street, and the art of prank phone calls.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 60: Paul Provenza Feb 25, 2015

Show notes

In this episode Ken welcomes comedian, actor, producer Paul Provenza.

Ken and Paul discuss Kids Court, robbing drug dealers, growing up in New York, being chained to development deals, failing to update I Spy, growing up a comedy nerd, comedy LPs, the crossroads of comedy's past and future, Graham Norton, claims of a lack of English language skills, the power of comedians, being a teenage stand up comedian, Robert Kline, taking down the system from the inside out, Tubby Boots, Gabe Kaplan's dire warnings, Jazz Club Comedy, Jay Leno, Comedy as the road to sitcom, DIY ethos, finding your audience, the power (or lack of it) of Late Night shows in the 21st Century, I Spy, Man from U.N.C.L.E., TV Comedy as processed junk food, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, All in the Family, The Marx Brothers, the anarchy of 20s-30s comedy, the essential nature of live comedy, Johnny Carson, Steve Allen, Letterman, Ha! + The Comedy Channel = CTV - Canada = Comedy Central, Comics Only, Comedy MTV, Bill Hicks, the dark, sick, twisted sketches on Comics Only, getting away with things using the power of secret fax machines, the power of critical thinking, being a warm up comedian, Pursuit of Happiness, The Facts of Life, Cloris Leachman, North Exposure, mistakenly engaging internet critics, The magic "100 Episodes", plagiarism, The Green Room, Bugs Bunny vs. Mickey Mouse, the pains of growing, When Stand Up Stood Out, and the weirdness of Boston Comedy.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 59: Bryan Cook Feb 18, 2015

Show notes

April 4-10, 1992

This week Ken welcomes stand up comedian and mastermind behind the Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction empire Bryan Cook.

Ken and Bryan discuss bi-coastal hoarding, the standard cleaning fee for removing TV Guides from a rental car, those sexy soaps, growing up in Maine cable-free, Satellite Dish culture, old people scent, Brian Dennehy's gift, Willfred Brimley's laundry, Gulf War trading cards, Cocaine busts in Boston, the birth of reality television, Billy's Head of the Class spin off, travel shows, UK Stand Up Comedy, TV kids having fast aging disease, Alyssa Milano leading to 4th grade troubles, bottle episode love, moving to LA for a writing job, the fashion police, Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction, Roc, Mann and Machine, favorite Pun TV Show titles, In Living Color, the lonesome death of James Carey, Anton's pickle jar, the first time seeing a black person, Teacher bangin', Dollar Store TV, physical altercations over Star Trek, cold calling girls you like, future cops, Herman's Head, Tea Leoni, Basic Instinct loving Dads, hitchhiking, Get Smart, Grittas, way up in Maine, working at Electrical Supply Companies, renting mannequin parts, flea markets in New England, Rescue 911, disproving Home Improvement, Billy Crystal on Lifetime, bring comedy to the U.S.S.R., Wonder Years, the 60s portrayal of family life, being blamed for other kid's smoking habits, Davis Rules, Bonnie Hunt, Nell Carter is not the Fat Man, Duff, The Three Faces of Mike McDonald, Hocus Pocus vs. The Witches, The Simpsons vs. Cosby, Futurama, Mr. Rhodes, the toaster oven/TV Week parallel, the ladies of Cheers, Beyond 2000, Roy from Wings: Super Sleaze, Tim Daly: World's Best Superman, banned shows from CEFF, Charles Rocket, Dinosaurs, Uncle Buck TV vs. Movie, AMC's long strange journey, disdain of Tequila and Bonetti, Scorch, Nightmare Cafe, Fish Police, America's Serious Home Videos and country's own C+C Music Factory.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 58: Ken Reid Feb 15, 2015

Show notes

In this one year anniversary special of the show, guest TV Guidance Counselor Sean Sullivan welcomes Ken Reid to the show.

Ken and Sean review this week's edition of TV Guide and go through Ken's picks of two weeks of modern television from Monday February 16 to Sunday March 1, 2015.

TV Guidance Counselor Valentine's Day Special Feb 13, 2015

Show notes

In this special Holiday Mini-Episode (the first of 2015 and the last until the Fall) Ken discusses his thoughts on Valentine's Day, his Valentine traditions, and his recommendations for Valentine's viewing.

Ken recommends staying in doors, drinking rose flavored soda and watching My Bloody Valentine, The Prowler, The Boogens, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, Mad About You, the Love Boat, Moonlighting, Brimstone, Chuck, Cheers, Cybill, The Facts of Life, Forever Knight, Gimme a Break, Growing Pains, Hey! Arnold, magic episode 18s, Mr. Belvedere, Newhart, Night Court, Punky Brewster, Roseanne, Spin City, That 70s Show, Supernatural, Wings, and The Wonder Years.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 57: Christine Elise Feb 11, 2015

Show notes

This week Ken travels to Los Angeles and welcomes writer/actress Christine Elise(Child's Play2, Beverly Hills 90210) to the show.

Note: Christine's website is http://www.itschristine.com/

Ken and Christine discuss their mutual Boston punk rock pasts, Roslindale, the disappointment of Boston University's rules, The Ball Busting nature of Boston, never wanting to live in Boston again, finding your business, the mechanics of film, Pulp fiction, Film Noir, being robbed of computer programming, being burnt out on punk rock, turning 50, working for a living, the value of a job well done, looking younger than your age, Head of the Class, Lea Remini, China Beach, ER, natural seduction instincts, TV Movies, almost giving up, Brad Pitt, Facts of Life, Bad Comedy, Child's Play 2, being snubbed for premiers, Christine's novel, The Cramps, writing Beverly Hills 90210, Jason Priestly's business acumen, using the access you have, Gilligan's Island, the ease of guest writing an established show, how Hip Hop makes you dumb, the fluid familial relations of television, Matlock, not meeting your heroes, being an asshole, Black Mirror, working with Carol O'Connor, swear words, the depowering of the old Networks, The Young Ones, instant cultural saturation, the individual soul of a performer, Elvis, Summer Seasons, Aaron Spelling's genius, In and Out Burger's awful fries, The revival of Fantasy Island, wanting to be Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Roxette, self-hate, being mobbed by 90210 fans, Baywatch, signing conventions, Billy Wirth's skill with the pugil stick, and the disappointment of American Horror Story.

TV Guidance Counselor Episode 56: Will Noonan Feb 04, 2015

Show notes

July 31 - August 6, 1993

In this episode Ken welcomes fellow Boston Comedian and social media exploitation king Will Noonan.

Ken and Will discuss Patrick Stewart, The Real World, Tammy's "Wasn't Not Funny", Bloopers and Practical Jokes, SNICK, COPS, being a hypochondriac, what it means when you are peeing all the time, Alfonso Robero's Globe of Death, MTV Sports, House of Style, comedian nick names, The Comish, Doing the rubber, America's Funniest Home Videos, FOX, Idalis, Herman's Head, lusting after Reba McIntire's Doritos, Blossom, George Bush, Laugh-In, Cynthia Rothrock, parents intervening during inappropriate viewing material, Problem Child, Christmas in August, Rescue 911, Nova, getting that tingle, DIC, Roseanne, Third Rusty, Coach, Wonder Years, Unsolved Mysteries making you shit out your own ghost, the original Comedy Central, Home Improvement, Hal Hartley, Thursday Nights are unstoppable, David Crosby, Summer School, TV38's Movie Loft, which Brother from Wings you are, Don "the Dragon" Wilson, TV Guide's hatred of Martial Arts movies, Down the Shore, Urkel, Night Court, Step by Step, Brooklyn Bridge, Stacey Keenan's dangerous prank phone calls, Perfect Strangers money, Cherry 2000, Pay-per-view study guides, and when Micky Mouse met Charlie Brown.

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