TV Guidance Counselor Podcast
Ken Reid and his guests explore the tough television watching decisions of our past.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 646: Ellie Hino
07/22/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 646: Ellie Hino
August 20 - 26, 1988 This week Ken welcomes comedian and she of the stand up album "Soft Bones", the great Ellie Hino. Ken and Elli discuss Minneapolis, not knowing Canadian geography, growing up in Madison WI, Prince, Chris Farley, MTV, Target stores, corporate lingo, 21 Jump St, Fox TV's early days, Richard Grieco, Peter DeLouise, getting stoned and buying DVDs at Walmart, Johnny Depp, John Waters, Holly Robinson, amazing outfits, MORE Cigarettes, The Pleasure Principal, Benson and Hedges, the casual discussion of r*pe, refreshing discussions of race, the 20th Anniversary of MLK Jr's assassination, awful bathroom clocks, "Subtle bone", correspondence courses, "Do you want to make more money? sure, we all do", gun repair, Facts of Life, David Spade's dramatic turn, hour long dramedies on at 8pm on a Saturday, Frank's Place, Babe: Pig in the City, what Morton Downey Jr wrot, Wally George's Hot Seat, Teen actors, Rags to Riches, Baby Jessica, the end of Family Ties, The Misfits of Science, theme songs, The A-Team, Punky Brewster, The Young and the Restless, Michael Damien as Danny Romaladi, when actors sing, The Coreys, Dream a Little Dream, Newhart, gross scams, pageant kids, Hogan Family, Howard the Duck, grandmas and duck nipples, weird takes on Alice in Wonderland, I Dream of Jeanie: 15 Years Later, Telly Savalis as the Cheshire Cat, Back to School, Boston's strange compliments, sorting your hair out, Tan N Secrets, creepy fashion tan contests in Marlboro MA, Wade Bogs, Blacke's Magic, ghosts, Jenna Von Oy, 20/20, and hours of anxious pillow talk.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 645: Chris Martin
07/15/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 645: Chris Martin
July 22-28, 1995 This week Ken welcomes comedian (his new special "Above Ground Comedian" is out now), Chris Martin to the show. Ken and Chris discuss being from the UK, Ken living in London, doing stand up, moving to LA, The New Adventures of Superman vs Lois and Clark, Cain-iacs, Dog Boys, softcore, Channel 5, Mario Lopez, snooker, Sunday UK TV, both you and your wife having their own remote control, Jack Lemon, walking on water, being good looking, Teri Hatcher, Brain Smasher: A Love Story, Lethal Weapon, Action police comedy, Baywatch, Beverly Hills Cop, the cost of living, bad residual checks, Misery, having half a lemon in warm water every morning, The George Carlin Show, Isaac Asimov, I Robot, Leonard Nimoy, The Outer Limits, how adult shows in the US are kids shows in the UK, Tim Allen, The Laugh Factory, Home Improvement, Fraiser, Niles, Party of Five, Dawson's Creek, Burke's Law, Carl Reiner, Spin City, how massive Friends was, Fresh Prince, Matt Perry's death, Boy Meets World, California Dreams, Terminator, Demolition Man, and great character names.
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TV Guidance Counselor SPECIAL: Alex Cox
07/11/2024
TV Guidance Counselor SPECIAL: Alex Cox
In this very special extra episode of the show Ken welcomes writer, director, film scholar and personal hero of Ken's, Alex Cox (Repo Man, Sid&Nancy) to the show. Ken and Alex discuss growing up watching Westerns, moving to LA, his final film, Dead Souls by Golgos, punk, The Clash, Joe Strummer, Repo Man, the sequel to Repo Man, comic books, the unmade Dr. Strange movie starring Nick Cage, Italian cinema, Walker, Universal hatred and the TRUTH behind the Melon Farmer edition of Repo Man. Be sure to support Alex's final film via Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alexcoxfilms/my-last-movie
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 644: Andie Main
07/08/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 644: Andie Main
March 16-22, 1991 This week Ken welcomes the comedian behind the album "Rocky Mountain Bi", Andie Main. Ken and Andie discuss moving away from Denver, growing up in Portland, doing a "reverse Oregon Trail", thin air, the wonder of dogs, fancy dress, Barbara Walters overdressed with the Ninja Turtles, Salem Menthol Cigarettes, smoking, global warming, being sober, moving to NYC, The Simpsons, other networks trying to have their own Simpsons, Fish Police, Family Dog, ugly looking cartoons, Carlton Cigarettes, Paul Simon, Carrie Fisher, Benson & Hedges, She Loves Me She Loves me Not, Robert Mitchum, Pump Up the Volume, Christian Slater, The Decendents, Live Fast Diarrhea, spell check, AIDS, homophobia, conservation of oceans, unhealthy props, NKOTB vs TMNT, sugar cereals, making up birthday rules, Kid and Play, Coplay, Pigs of Pigsburg, Harding vs Kerrigan, always being let down by people you believe in, being a child of divorce, Dick Van Dyke, Willfred Brimley, Ricky Schroeder, Blood River written by John Carptenter, deadly partnerships, Highway to Heaven, Who's the Boss, stargazing, Greek Myths, Frog Girl, Gummie Bears, Ducktails, when you knew you were gay, Arsenio, Phil Donohue and Sexual Addiction, Unsolved Mysteries, Quantum Leap, Wings vs Wings, unusually small planes, ALF. Natalie Wood in The Cracker Factory, The Language of Goldfish, Easter Content, why nobody enjoys Easter Specials, Neil Armstrong's peak, taping frog organs to paper, and sending for loved ones from the Old Country.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 643: Judd Winick Returns
07/01/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 643: Judd Winick Returns
September 7-13, 1991 This week Ken welcomes Hilo creator Judd Winick BACK to the show. Ken and Judd discuss how long they speak to each other, Gary Busey living in your attic, Bad Ronald, the dark times of 1991, Stephen Dorf, Janine Turner, Walter Cronkite interviewing dinosaurs, Summer's end, season finales, Northern Exposure, SCTV, Twin Peaks, story engines, a Joel Fleischman type, The Real World, Rob Morrow, Hollis, great characters, Young Riders, Treat Williams, Dead Heat, nude Meatloaf, a stage adaptation of Phantom of the Paradise, Sing Street, Ken's gift of a John Travolta workout book from his elderly neighbors, shopping around for what to watch, ballroom dancing, Police Academy V, Cast a Deadly Spell, Dennis Hopper replacing Fred Ward, acknowledging how crazy things are, a pre-irony world, COPS, bookies, Big Top Pee Wee, Batman '89, Hardware, comic book movies, Yo! Yogi!, Pro Stars, the premiere of Herman's Head, moving The Simpsons, The Adventures of Mark and Brian, Stern, Marilyn from Northern Exposure, Rob Morrow and Johnny Depp's roomie days, Graham Green, never thinking about Paul Bunyan, Full House, San Francisco, Big Brother Jake with Jake Steinfeld, The Lightning Field, ripping off Quantum Peak for Marvel's EX-iles, Sliders, 90210, Amityville the Evil Escapes, and the era of not caring TV.
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BONUS! TV Guidance Counselor LIVE! at North East Comic Con with Gina Shock of the Go-Gos and Greg Hawkes of the Cars
06/28/2024
BONUS! TV Guidance Counselor LIVE! at North East Comic Con with Gina Shock of the Go-Gos and Greg Hawkes of the Cars
Please enjoy this BONUS! episode of TV Guidance Counselor recorded live at North East Comic Con back in March 2024 with my guests Gina Shock of the Go-Gos and Greg Hawkes of the Cars. If you were a Patron you would have gotten this months ago, if you have a buck or two to spare, sign up! It's appreciated https://www.patreon.com/tvguidancecounselor
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 642: Maggie Langrick
06/24/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 642: Maggie Langrick
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.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 641 1/2 : Abby and Ryan from Bothering the Band
06/19/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 641 1/2 : Abby and Ryan from Bothering the Band
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.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 641: Shawn Carter II
06/17/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 641: Shawn Carter II
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.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 640: Rob Haze
06/10/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 640: Rob Haze
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.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 639: Sam Brown
06/03/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 639: Sam Brown
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".
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 638: Ahmed Al-Kadri
06/03/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 638: Ahmed Al-Kadri
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.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 637: Tom Shubilla II
05/27/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 637: Tom Shubilla II
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.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 636: Adam Cayton-Holland
05/20/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 636: Adam Cayton-Holland
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.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 635: Chris Morgan II
05/13/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 635: Chris Morgan II
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.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 634: Joanne Rubino
05/10/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 634: Joanne Rubino
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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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 633: Kevin Weisman
04/29/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 633: Kevin Weisman
This week Ken welcomes actor (Alias), writer, producer, and co-host of the "Did You Do It?" podcast, Kevin Weisman. Ken and Kevin discuss L.A. weather, growing up in the Valley, how filthy with Boston people old L.A. was, the insanity of the man named Griffith, shooting apples off of heads and why it is never a good idea, Equity Waiver plays, the "no more on stage than in the audience" rule, stand up, performing for people who don't want to see a performance, Edinburgh Festival, Kyle Gass, The New Beverly Theater, Jacob's Ladder, comedians in serious roles, Tim Robbins, The Actors Gang, Buffalo Knights, Dead Man Walking, Mr. Madonna, the wonders of High Hair, rarely going into L.A. proper, Zuma Beach, Valley Girl, playing drums, John Candy, the wonder of John Ritter, meeting your heroes, being surprised by people's process, how when you're good at something it looks easy, how acting is hard, doing tech rehearsals on LSD, The Dead, We Are the World, loving music documentaries, variations on a theme, being in a touring band, Hello Ladies, working with Paulie Shore, playing a wheelchair user, giving people opportunities, Woody, TV stars becoming movie stars, Die Hard, King's Dance Macabre, how to play a bad person, how to deal with bombing, committing to storytelling, working consistently, Goliath, Billy Bob Thornton, multi-cam sitcoms, getting cut out of Gone in 60 Seconds, winning over J.J. Abrams, Felicity, playing against type, the time Jennifer Garner came to see Ken do stand up, Better Call Saul, Fringe, being promised your character will be brought back, Scorpion, being nice to everyone on set, all the acting Quinten Tarantino does, David Cronenberg on Alias, being hired by Spielberg for The Terminal, Christian Slater, The Forgotten, the loveliness of Victor Garber, when Ricky Gervais cannot keep it together, Clerks II, being spotted by Kevin Smith fans, Awake, Runaways, Weisman deep cuts, relying on fan sites for your own knowledge of your own work, being IN TV Guide and dealing with your mom's tech issues.
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BONUS! TV Guidance Counselor: Kevin Chapman LIVE! at North East Comic Con March 2024
04/24/2024
BONUS! TV Guidance Counselor: Kevin Chapman LIVE! at North East Comic Con March 2024
In this episode previously a Patreon Exclusive (patreon.com/tvguidancecounselor) Ken chats with actor Kevin Chapman live at last month's North East Comic Con.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 632: Rolfe Kanefsky
04/22/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 632: Rolfe Kanefsky
This week Ken welcomes writer, director, producer Rolfe Kanefsky (There's Nothing Out There, Nightmare Man, Pool Boy Nightmare) to the show. Ken and Rolfe discuss Fangoria, Gorezone, the Catch 22 of trying to get a distributer without press and press without distribution, Brett Piper, going to film school, Hampshire College, watching horror on TV, Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, making a Russian movie into an American movie, My Family Treasure, Dee Wallace, moving to LA and staring over, directing soft core films, parodies, Playboy's Inside Out, USA Network, The Hitchhiker, Playboy TV, Tomorrow by Midnight, the lost film, Clerks, Mad TV, Seizure, starting in B movies, making movies for Life Time, the shower scene joke, Friday the 13th Part 8 Jason Takes Manhattan, Rolfe's father's editing career, Times Square, 42nd St, Troma, Troma's War, Full Moon, Roger Corman, trying to beat Spielberg, student films, Emmanuelle, The Killer Eye, Dave DeCouteau, meeting Tiffany Sheepis at The American FIlm Market, The Hazing, director proof scripts, 11 day shoots, the strange structure of Life Time movies, The Blackroom, Bus Party to Hell, getting credit or not, shooting in Bulgaria, pitching, liking thrillers, Satan's Cheerleaders, Mephisto Waltz, Race with the Devil, Night Gallery, earning your R rating, following the formula, family films, making a musica, socks vs patches, rehearsing sex scenes, intimacy contracts, streaming sites, There's Nothing Out There, Goonies, One and the Gun, Art of the Dead, Nightmare Demon, and working with big name actors.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 631: A.L. Katz and Gil Adler
04/15/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 631: A.L. Katz and Gil Adler
This week Ken welcomes the incredible co-hosts of the amazing How NOT to Make a Movie podcast, writer-producers A.L. Katz and Gil Adler. Ken, Alan and Gil discuss good rooms, Bordello of Blood, when Alan and Gil first met, moving from New York to LA, 1985, Rhonda Shear, The Groundlings, Basic Training, how a good producer sacrifices to get nudity on screen, Freddy's Nightmares, Rubik's Cubes of writing problems, anthology horror TV, non-Union shows, Ken's love of Steven King's Dance Macabre, the connection of comedy and horror, it's not TV it's HBO, Tales from the Crypt, why season 3 was supposed to be the end of Tales from the Crypt, Tobe Hooper, problem solving, worms, working with Brian DePalma, Dylan Dog, cutting on 35mm film, EC Comics, making the Cryptkeeper an actual character, the nightmare of Bordello of Blood, being forced to cast people you didn't want, shooting in Canada, Demon Knight, Dennis Miller, improv, Rafe Guttman, shooting TFTC in London, Perversions of Science, tax rates, being confused for the OTHER Alan Katz who did Big Man on Campus, rekindling a friendship, how podcasts save lives, having a third act, being excited for the future, Superman Returns, overworking yourself, keeping a false eye from Valkyrie, mementos, raising money for vets, trying to make the world a better place, how timing sometimes works out, and finishing unfinished business.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 630: Evan Dorkin
04/08/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 630: Evan Dorkin
This week Ken welcomes artist, writer and comic book legend Evan Dorkin to the show. Ken and Evan discuss living the dream, low bars, being disgusted by your own personal failings, Spring Break, hating Florida, how nobody actually grows up in Staten Island, being an artist, 80s punk, never leaving your home, being Jewish in an Italian neighborhood, Ska, Bim Skala Bim, accents, being too hung over to see your name in the credits of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, kids getting their shoes stolen at punk gigs, Kevin Shields ordering food, The Cars, Suicide, Milk and Cheese, Space Ghost, music on TV, pre-MTV days, Rockworld, the legend of Steranko, meeting girls, the introduction of surrealism to America, big egos, John Romita, Jack Kirby, Superman the Animated Series, how great Paul Dini is, Batman The Animated Series, Dwayne McDuffie, Freakazoid, Supergirl, why nobody but Kal-El can be from Krypton, how TV writing is all puzzle solving, continuity, Tik Tok's second life of Eltingville, Bibo, collecting comics, the Marvelization of DC, going to comic cons in the 1970s, dark and gritty, Comic Book Fascists, Beasts of Burden, Dario Argento, Giallo, wanting subtitles over dubbing, how anyone can make a movie, loving horror films, Trick R Treat, character design, Bouncing Boy, minutia, the internet, fan fiction, Alex Toth, wearing your influences on your sleeve, lost dark episodes of Superman The Animated Series, audiences and love of Halloween, screenplays, storytelling, Metal Men, being freaked out by failure and being neurotic, self sabotage, failed pilots, letting people down, Patreon, dealing with health issues, and the struggle of being a creative person trying to make a living.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 629: Growing Pains Cast Reunion LIVE! at NorthEast Comic Con
04/03/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 629: Growing Pains Cast Reunion LIVE! at NorthEast Comic Con
Last month (March 9, 2024) Ken moderated a chat with Growing Pains cast members Tracey Gold, Jeremy Miller and Julie McCullough at the spring North East Comic Con in Boxboro Mass. Enjoy!
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 628: Erin and Jason Brant
04/01/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 628: Erin and Jason Brant
May 25-31, 1991 This week Ken welcomes author Jason Brant and his wife and co-host of the EXCELLENT YouTube show, "So Bad It's Good", Erin Brant to the show. Ken, Jason and Erin discuss the risk of Erin and Jason wrecking the show forever, loving bad movies, how horrible a person Steven Segal is, vanity project, Neil Breen, how 1991 was the hangover of the 1980s, being barred from watching South Park, growing up in rural Western PA, Hershey, Pittsburgh, cigarettes, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Kevin Costner, Waterworld, T2, Transformers, childhood movie trauma, Space Camp, National Geographic, Boston mobsters, vomit bags, how amazing Steven Webber is, Wings, the wonder of Roy Biggins, America's Funniest People, Kidney Magazine, Prog Rock, Goblin, surgery on TV, Blossom, Joey Lawrence's music career, MacGyver, Murphy Brown, how great Hunter is, Collector's Plates, renting movies, Unsolved Mysteries, Sightings, Skullets, Hooker's Girls, The Hulkster, field trips, Cheers, bad investments, American Ninja, Totem Poles, traveling to Boston, Silence of the Lambs, The Mothman Prophecies, George Romero, understanding a minute, Wes Craven's Made for TV Movies, Babes, TGIF, The Naked Gun, Alexander Graham Bell, Babygirl Scott, the horrors of Testament, the cancelation of Hunter, and complaining about Manhunter.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 627: Michael Pressman
03/25/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 627: Michael Pressman
This week Ken welcomes director Michael Pressman (The Great Texas Dynamite Chase, Some Kind of Hero, Doctor Detroit, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II The Secret of the Ooze) to the show. Ken and Michael discus COVID binging, The Bear, Slow Horses, The Crown, Call My Agent, having a comedy background but gravitating towards drama, having difficulty knowing when TV Comedy is working, Bad News Bears, working for Roger Corman, Picket Fences, how executives don't understand funny, indie cinema, directing Vanilla Ice, special FX, non-Union shoots, Golden Harvest, Michael's father being blacklisted, David Pressman's directing career, The Actor's Studio, visiting Hollywood sets after the blacklist was lifted in the 60s, the early days of live TV, Cosmopolitan Theater, New York vs L.A., westerns, Car 54, Where Are You?, Phil Silvers, Bonanza, directing theater, how much ratings have changed, the strange nature of streaming, soap operas, Law and Order SVU, Grey's Anatomy, Chicago Hope, Dick Wolf, Richard Boone, loving Hitchcock, being a 70s film snob, art house cinema, French New Wave, cults to flops, studio interference, made for TV movies, Ingmar Berman, the studio system, how in person viewing returns, when tech companies want to be the movie business, shared experiences, midnight movies, Netflix, the gimmick of going live, the origins of TV Guide, Ken's collection, ten years of the podcast, the lost age of shows and hunting down Michael's father's work.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 626: Irene Bremis
03/20/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 626: Irene Bremis
February 12-18, 1977 This week Ken welcomes comedian, co-host of the Woo Woo Podcast, and woman behind the new stand up comedy special, "Sweetie", Irene Bremis. Ken and Irene discuss growing up in Boston, racism, being Greek, living in New York, having a braided perm, getting picked on at school, trying to pass a Puerto Rican, Kojak, strong family ties, not smoking, good parking spaces, lollipops, how handsome Ken is, when everyone smoked, Kraft Singles, kissing grits, ventriloquism, meeting Carol Burnett, Ken big upping Irene, being a Trekkie, Leather Tuscadero, Happy Days, strong women leads in television shows in the 1970s, Valerie Harper, being fired from your own show, cruel producers, loving horror movies, Don't Go to Sleep, Carrie, The Exorcist, growing up religious (culturally or otherwise), Wonder Woman, Golden Girls, loving Bea Arthur, pros and cons of boob jobs, Bruce Campbell, Burt Offerings, One Day at a Time, Van Halen, Wrestling, girl crushes, celebrity murderers, Bionic People, Barney Miller, Fish, how the 70s could be more progressive than today, Soap, gay characters on television, Tony Randall, when Johnny Carson screwed over Joan Rivers, Red Fox, Cher, and the ballad of the Guidette.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 625: Jordan Morris II
03/18/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 625: Jordan Morris II
July 16-22, 1994 He was one of the very last in person guests pre-COVID, and this time he's back via satellite, please welcome writer of his second graphic novel, Youth Group (out 7/16/24 from First Second Books! Available for pre-order NOW!) , comic, and podcaster Jordan Morris back to the show. Ken and Jordan discuss NASA, Dave Thomas (Wendy's), Popeyes, KFC, In and Out Burger, when all cartoons became babies, Yo Yogi!, Jellystone, the most obscure Hanna Barbara characters, Ken's love of Frankenstein Jr., the impossible Impossibles, Sex with Cindy Crawford, the moon landing, Summer Shows, Sex in the 90s, House of Style, Steven Banks Show, paddy whacks, what Alec Baldwin watches, PBS Sitcoms, Yank Yucks, the "YouTube Thumbnail face", Pat Riley, TV Nation, the glory of the early teen years Summers, learning pop culture references, Hot Shots, The Mad Magazine phenom, Ren & Stimpy, the sweet Nicktoons, Rocko's Modern Life, Dream On, boobs on cable, Weekend at Bernie's II, MTV, Dead at 21, Good Morning Mr. Hitler, Vanessa Angel on Time Trax, unethical Anti-Gravity Belts, Chained Heat II, erotic Thrillers, Pam Anderson in Snapdragon, massive Tom Beringer fans, Blossom, Joey Lawrence's music career, music video drops, Michael Jackson Black or White, Ashton Drake's weird dolls, mold breaking, heist movies, Game Gear, Three Ninjas, Running Man, Tales from the Crypt, Arnold Schwarzenegger's directorial debut, William Hickey, Body Double, The Critic, Grace Under Fire, Seinfeld, In Living Color, Fraiser, Christmas in July, Pieces : It's Exactly What You Think It Is, AIDS calendars, Flashdance, Boogaloo Shrimp on Family Matters, Cliff Hanger, Terry O'Quinn, Samurais, and loving Hangin' with Mr. Cooper.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 624: Katya Apekina
03/11/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 624: Katya Apekina
February 1-7, 1997 This week Ken welcomes author of the excellent new novel Mother Doll (signed copies can be purchased here: https://www.skylightbooks.com/pre-order-signed-copies-mother-doll-katya-apekina), Katya Apekina. Ken and Katya discuss living in LA, raining in LA, snow in New England, the nature of our stories, how technology can make us more isolated, displacement, Russia, speaking your native tongue, raising your kids bi-lingual, translating literature, having a strong Moscow accent, only knowing 70s slang, Cheburashka, accordion playing crocodiles, not being allowed to watch TV, Party of Five, reading War and Peace as a kid, WBCN, cool music, being cool by middle school, only watching one show a week, dating shows, Elimidate, Viy, going to Russian video stores in Allston, not wanting things up your nose, Singled Out, Jenny McCarthy, the death of the Maytag Repairman, Star Trek Voyager, Basketball Wizard Dennis Rodman, The Magic Castle, The Amazing Randi, Groundhog Day, North by Northwest, photography, making your own 8mm films, The Coolidge Corner Cinema, Early Edition, 3rd Rock from the Sun, being a comedy snob, The Simpsons, Mad About You, reboots, hate watching Melrose Place and 7th Heaven, Mystery, Into the Arms of Danger, Roseanne, watching the Presidential Debates for School, Burning Zone, burying your wife alive, the greatness of Ally Sheedy, The Nanny, Covid driven Nanny, office work, Drew Carrey, comforting murder, Murder She Wrote, Sister Sister, always wanting to be a twin, fooling people, TGIF, magical shows, psychics, Unsolved Mysteries, the death of Kurt Cobain, how strange it is to the young that over the air TV exists, the horrors of Disney kids sitcoms, offending religions to sell Snickers, cleavage cams, risqué tones, and learning the truth about Santa Claus from Jamie Lee Curtis.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 623: Allan Arkush
03/04/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 623: Allan Arkush
December 7-13, 1985 This week Ken welcomes writer, producer, professor, director and all around good guy Allan Arkush to the show. Ken and Allan discuss Allan's cool office, Allan's record collection, Roger Corman, Emmy Nominations, directing or directing and producing over 400 episodes of TV, the path from 70s exploitation to 80s mainstream TV, having a high batting average of sold TV pilots. Fame, Summer pilot, Rock N Roll High School, telling stories through music, how popular Fame was in Israel, residuals, 80s NYC, directing videos for Elvis Costello, Bette Midler and Fleetwood Mac, the ones you turn down, why 1985 was a huge TV year for Allan, St. Elsewhere, Moonlighting, being able to be a style chameleon, being a cinema fan, having Scorsese teach you film, growing up in NJ, making whatever movie you want as long as it's the movie Roger wants, how hard it is to make good TV, coverage and lighting, how execs are not funny or creative, how bad studio notes are, King Kong, Micky Mouse Club, serialized stories, loving the theme songs from Westerns, Rocky and Bullwinkle, The Loan Ranger, Circus Boy, Abby Singer, The Twilight Zone, Soupy Sales, using rock music in movies, Get Crazy, Zacherly introducing the Grateful Dead at the Filmore East, I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners bump, being a nerd, how some things don't hold up, The Dick Van Dyke Show, working with Ron Howard, Doris Day movies, Family Affair, Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, the importance of empathy, the transitional time of the 70s and 80s, East Side West Side, The Bronx Zoo, Hill St. Blues, the importance of casting, working for Bruce Paltrow, Crossing Jordan, ER, police procedurals, the time Ken ruined a shot in the pilot of Crossing Jordan, having to rush home and watch Saturday Night Live, SCTV, Catherine O'Hara's total character commitment, film noir, the zeitgeist of relationships between men and women, the dancing baby on Ally McBeal, Heroes, Duck Soup, The Shining, Lemony Snicket, showing The TAMI Show to young people, and how the future is female.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 622: Mike Watt
02/26/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 622: Mike Watt
June 13-19, 1970 This week Ken welcomes legendary bass-man, and all around punk rock royalty, Mr. Mike Watt to the show. Ken and Mike discuss San Pedro, first meeting D. Boon, moving to San Pedro in 1967 from Navy Housing, living in the projects, saying no to Alameda, George being from Brocton, strong accents, how all the Minutemen were transplants to San Pedro, D. Boon's mom, how trippy the Summer of 1970 was, Blue Oyster Cult, UHF stations, Wild Wild West, Star Trek, Mission Impossible, not having a color TV, how The Prisoner is Mike's favorite show, M*A*S*H, All in the Family, D. Boon's love of Johnny Carson because his dad was from Nebraska, WWII movies, T. Rex, local horror hosts, the origin of "D." in D. Boom, Steve McQueen, The Sand Pebbles, B-Movies, Svenghouli, Elvira, The Stooges, Vampira, local kid shows, LA's Seymour, Fright Night, opening for The Butthole Surfers, how Gibby Haynes' father was a children's TV Show host called Mr. Peppermint, the JFK assassination, Gumby, Alan Watts, Alex Cox's book about The Prisoner, Ice Station Zebra, Patrick McGoohan, The Honeymooners, Green Acres, stupid characters, My Favorite Martian, Non coms, The Phil Silvers Show, F Troop, punk rock, Ed Sullivan, Robert Mitchem, The Space Race, Mad Magazine, Star Trek The Motion Picture, subscriptions to Scientific America, the importance of learning, serious topics, drunks, Johnny Cash, variety shows, Kirk Douglas, Edward G. Robinson, Two Weeks in Another Town, Carol Kaye's Wild Wild West bass line, Mission Impossible, Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer, Director's control, Kubrick, watching YouTube, The Outer Limits, Soldier, Demon with a Glass Hand, and loving Offbeat Cinema.
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TV Guidance Counselor Episode 621: Esther Ku
02/19/2024
TV Guidance Counselor Episode 621: Esther Ku
March 17-23, 1990 This week Ken welcomes old friend, comedian Esther Ku. Ken and Ku discuss how long it has been since they've talked to each other, starting comedy in Boston, moving to NYC, how we all have a different path, working in marketing, growing up in Chicago, Last Comic Standing, how dues are different, hosting the AVN Porn Awards, working blue, dirty jokes, not taking advice, how what you talk about on stage is way racier than how you live your life, playing piano, growing up in an evangelical home, Sharpie, The Simpsons, Simpsons stuffed animals, St. Patrick's Day, The Franklin Mint, bootleg Jesus, manipulation, Foxy Boxing, Readers Digest and Time magazine, Loveline, The Real World, The Jamie Foxx Show, Once Bitten, being an extra, not talking to Jim Carrey, improv lessons, Micah Sherman, interviewing writers from the Simpsons, loving Lisa Simpson's feminism, pitching an animated show, writing dirty songs on your ukulele, Religious outrage of big budget movies, Titanic, Love & Lies, Ken's tape trading year, Rock Em Sock Em Robots, Hungry Hungry Hippos, The Rock a Fire Explosion, Roller Blades vs Quads, Ken's time on Sex Life, Real Sex, America's Funniest Home Videos, 90 Day Fiancé', and way too much about K-Y Jelly.
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