The Retro Room Joe Strupp

It's been more than 30 years since Sports Illustrated pulled off the greatest April Fool's prank ever - The Curious Case of Sidd Finch, which told the story of a New York Mets rookie pitcher who was raised by Tibetan monks, played the French Horn and threw a 168 mile-per-hour fastball. It was a joke, of course. But it has became legend. We decided to honor this year's April Fool's Day by speaking with former SI Managing Editor Mark Mulvoy about how it came about, how they kept it secret and why it wouldn't happen today. Listen in.

 

Little House on the Prairie's Alison Arngrim was the most hated child on TV in the 1970s as bad girl Nellie Oleson on the popular family drama. She reveals much of the ups and downs in her book, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, which is now in a new audio version. During our lengthy discussion she goes beyond the book into her life today, how it was on the set, and which plotlines were rejected back in the day.  And could a gay character have existed in Walnut Grove? Also, which fellow actors were nice, aloof and drinking on the set? Listen in. 

Rolling Stone Chief TV Critic Alan Sepinwall spent years covering the mob show for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger. Now he has co-written a great book on the show with episode guides and inside info. He spoke with us about the book, the show's background and what creator David Chase meant to say. Listen here.

Veteran entertainment reporter and author Jennifer Armstrong joins me for a deep discussion on which past shows and films would not be allowed today, either due to sexism, questionable jokes or outright sexual assault disguised as humor. See if you agree. 

You know her face if not her name. Pamelyn Ferdin was in numerous 60s and 70s TV shows - from The Odd Couple to CHiPs to Barnaby Jones and more. But what was it like? She discusses the shows that she enjoyed and others that were difficult. Also how her parents treated, or mistreated, her career, and her current animal rights work. Listen here.

Holiday specials on television are as traditional as Santa Claus and re-gifting. But why do they return year after year and how did many of the favorites come about? And was the most famous Christmas movie really a box office dud when it first hit theaters? We tackled all of these questions, and more, with TV Christmas historian Joanna Wilson, author of several books, including The Christmas TV Companion. Check it out and Ho-Ho-ho!