Battle of the Network Shows

Rick Brooks and Mike Cowgill
  • 5.0 (21)
  • TV REVIEWS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Each week, hosts Rick Brooks and Mike Cowgill explore the TV of the '70s and '80s through hand-picked episodes.

  1. 4D AGO

    Retro Retro: Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    For this season's Retro Retro episode, we asked listeners to vote on one of three suspense anthologies, and they overwhelmingly selected Alfred Hitchcock Presents. The original half-hour version aired for seven seasons around the time Hitchock was also making classic films like North By Northwest, Vertigo, and Psycho. Besides lending his name and likeness to the show, he starred in intro and outro segments and even directed some episodes, including the one we discuss here "Breakdown" in which a cold businessman played by the great Joseph Cotten takes a fateful drive. Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/ Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699 Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE   #podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #eighties #sixties #fifties #alfredhitchcock #alfredhitchcockpresents

    52 min

  2. FEB 12 · BONUS

    Encore: Game Shows

    With the Big Game and the Big International Sporting Competition in the air, we thought it would be a good time to revisit the truest form of competition known to humankind--the game show! In this season two episode, we dive into the world of game shows with a look at the syndicated "Face the Music" and NBC's fast-paced "$ale of the Century." Plus, an all-new TV Guide Game! Will one of us go home with a radar range?! Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/ Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699 Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE   #podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #eighties #gameshows

    1h 15m

  3. FEB 5 · BONUS

    Encore: The Muppet Show with Steve Martin

    Far be it from us to hop on a hype train, but with a new Muppet Show special arriving soon, we figured it might be a good time to revisit our season one episode about the TV classic. Featuring guest and human Muppet Steve Martin (at the height of Steve Martin mania), the episode breaks the Muppet Show's usual format but still provides plenty of variety-style comedy and music and Muppet-style absurdity. Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/ Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699 Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE   #podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #eighties #themuppetshow #muppetshow #muppets #stevemartin

    47 min

  4. JAN 29

    Too Close For Comfort

    In Too Close For Comfort, the great Ted Knight played cartoonist Henry Rush. He and his wife Muriel (and eventually baby Andrew) lived upstairs, and their two adult daughters Jackie and Sara lived in an apartment downstairs. After a few seasons, Sara's friend and Henry's nemesis Monroe moved into the attic. They all lived on ABC for three seasons, then moved into first-run syndication. All along, fans watched for a deep but humorous study of family dynamics in eighties America. Nahhh! They watched to see Ted Knight lose his cool at Monroe's bumbling and some attractive women...but mostly the former. In season 4 episode "Goodbye, Mr. Chip," Monroe borrows a computer. Henry wants nothing to do with it...until he finds out he could win some money on horse racing. Guess what happens next! Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/ Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699 Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE   #podcast #tv #retrotv #eighties #sitcoms #toocloseforcomfort #tedknight

    1h 5m

  5. JAN 22

    The Harlem Globetrotters

    Just in time for their centennial, this week, we talk about the Harlem Globetrottres. Like Doug Henning from earlier this season, the Globetrotters seemed to be all over TV in the seventies and early eighties. From ABC's Wide World of Sports to guest appearances, two cartoons and a Saturday-morning variety show, the Globetrotters brought their special brand of basketball and entertainment to audiences across the country--all while literally trotting the globe as ambassadors for the game. We take in an overview of this period and dip back into their history to celebrate the team and some of its personalities. Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/ Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699 Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE   #podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #eighties #harlemglobetrotters #baskettball

    51 min

  6. JAN 15 · BONUS

    Encore: The White Shadow

    In our second episode ever, we talked about CBS MTM high scool basketball drama The White Shadow, and we share it again for no particular reason. In "The Death of me Yet?" (Season 2, episode 22) the Carver High basketball team tries to win the city championships while grieving the loss of one of their own and worrying whether Coach Reeves will leave Carver for a job at a fancy college. Also, What We'd Like to See! Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/ Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699 Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE   #podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #eighties #thewhiteshadow #basketball

    47 min

  7. JAN 8

    The Amazing Spider-Man

    At a time when Superman made us believe a man could fly, the Hulk rampaged across American TVs, Wonder Woman dazzled audiences, and even Doctor Strange and Captain America starred in TV movies, one of comics' greatest heroes also swung his way onto the airwaves--Spider-Man! In a short-lived, often rescheduled TV series, Nicholas Hammond starred as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and while the translation lacks in many areas, it has a certain charm. The season one episode "Night of the Clones" comes closest to capturing elements from the comics from a grumpy J. Jonah Jameson to weird science and Spidey facing off with Spidey! Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/ Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699 Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE   #podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #spiderman #amazingspiderman #marvel #clones

    1h 12m

  8. JAN 1

    HBO

    This week, we take a special look at the early days of Home Box Office, better known as HBO. Long before The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, and all those other shows, Home Box Office started as a gamble during the fledgling days of the cable TV industry with a smattering of movies, hockey, basketball, comedy specials, concerts, and polka competitions. As it expanded, the movies got better, boxing and Wimbledon became their go-to sports, the comedians and concerts grew bigger, and polka danced away. We follow the timeline to around 1985 and give special attention to HBO originals like Not Necessarily the News, HBO Magazine, and Yesteryear, as well as the documentary Some Called them Freaks. Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/ Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699 Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE   #podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #eighties #hbo #homeboxoffice

    1h 6m
See All (237)

Trailer

5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Each week, hosts Rick Brooks and Mike Cowgill explore the TV of the '70s and '80s through hand-picked episodes.

Information

  • Creator
    Rick Brooks and Mike Cowgill
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    237
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 Michael Cowgill and Rick Brooks
  • Show Website
    Battle of the Network Shows

You Might Also Like