Weird TV

Bill Meeks

5.0 (4)
TV REVIEWS
UPDATED WEEKLY

Weird TV shines a light into forgotten corners of television history to examine obscure media through a modern lens. Each week Bill Meeks reviews obscure television shows, made-for-tv movies, and primetime specials. He'll watch just about anything, as long as it's weird.

09/15/2025

"Everly Heights Tales" Preview - A New Audio Drama from Bill Meeks, creator of the thing you're subscribed to

A sneak peek at an upcoming episode of the new audio drama anthology from Bill Meeks. Meet the Special family, a theater-loving, stoner couple and their three very different kids. It’s 1994, and Michael and Jennifer Special are just trying to help fund in the arts in their community, but their son Ricky is on the run from a school bully, and their daughter Zara is betting everything on a plan to start the school year as a popular girl. With a mix of '90s nostalgia, sitcom homages, and a healthy dose of humor, "Welcome, Freshmen" will teach you the joys of scented oxygen, the perils of Crystal Pepsi, and why you should never trust a math teacher to do "creative accounting" for the arts. Equal parts funny, smart, and a little messed up, just like Everly Heights itself. SPONSOR CAST LIST Bill Meeks - Ricky Special/Infomercial Announcer/Mr. MathesonSean Seigler - Michael SpecialKristyna Zahrek - Abby SpecialLaurin Skarr - Zara SpecialKaushal Patel - Phillip "Sinnimon Slush" SimonsonHelena Geraci - Jennifer SpecialDallis MaxKenzie - Beatrix KnappMandy McCullough - Rebbeca/VeronicaHoward F. Hulin - Ron Linus/Mayor BrownRichard Reynolds - Jock, Oxygen Bar AttendantClaire Forbes - Brenda, Beach Babe, Carrie TartDan Pavatich - Nosloo the GreatSean Weiland - Jerome Bentley, Surfer Dude "How Can You Be Sure?" and "Zara Special's Mini-Musical Suite" performed by Classic Tragic Hero, written by Bill Meeks LINKS Everly HeightsJoin the EVERLY HEIGHTS ARTS BOARD and support the showBuy Mr. Matheson's Arithme-TIPS Comic CollectionSubscribe on YouTube

1h 1m
09/08/2021

Small Wonder

VICI's a Small Wonder! This show’s about a robot who looks like a little girl. Ted Lawson stole her from his work since his bosses were such big jerks. He’s got some nosy neighbors. Now his family has a secret. Hide and lie to protect inventions. Secrecy increases tension. A family sci-fi sitcom by the numbers. She’s not like other girls… She’s a Small Wonder. TOPICS Open 0:00- My Dog Vicky 00:28What The Hell is Small Wonder? 2:15- Dramaturgy 2:21-- "We've Got A Secret" Sitcoms 3:03-- What Happened To Tiffany & Jerry? 6:00- Inspirations 8:00-- My Living Doll 8:03- Intended Audience 9:18- How It Was Received 9:50How Well Was It Done? 11:56- Is Ted Lawson A Moral Character? 12:12- Too Hot For Syndicated TV 14:24- Trapped In The Cabinet 16:07- Too Old For His Age 17:23- The Cover Story 18:36- The Technology 19:45Was It Worth Doing? 22:26Bits and Baubles 24:55- ARBITRARY SCALE 26:37Listener Feedback 27:32 LINKS Small Wonder Pilot My Living Doll 'Small Wonder': The Strange True Story Behind the Weirdest Sitcom of the '80s Karishma Kaa Karishma | Theme Song Small Wonder on Fox 32 - 1986 Commercial Tiffany Brissette SMALL WONDER 1980s PSA Commercial VINTAGE 80'S SMALL WONDER PROMO AD WITH TIFFANY BRISSETTE Tiffany Brissette - 1991 co-hosting 700 Club Part 1 (Jerry Supiran) Blames His Fall From Grace On A Stripper Suggest A Show NEXT WEEK – Jane The Virgin (The Whole Series) E-mail: weirdtvpodcast@gmail.comVoicemail: ‪(424) 274-2352Twitter: @WeirdTVPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPodSite: billmeeks.com/weirdtv

30 min
09/02/2021

Cop Rock

Sing along with the LAPD on Cop Rock, the musical police procedural. Look, there’s this junkie mother. The cops grab her in a raid. No conviction. Baby comes back. Deep addiction isn’t a life hack. Weeks shoots a cop in broad daylight. The “thin blue line” in action. Civil rights? Who cares about those? Death helps the mayor build jails unopposed. Songs are brand new, characters are stock, in a social justice musical called Cop Rock. TOPICS Open 0:00- West Side Story 00:30What The Hell is Cop Rock? 1:49- Dramaturgy 1:43- Inspirations 2:24-- Steven Bachcho on Cop Rock 2:37-- Great TV Musicals 4:40--- Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 5:57--- Schmigadoon! 7:07- How It Was Received 8:25- Get Involved 8:54How Well Was It Done? 11:52- Ralph Ruskin, Invisible Man 12:00- The Cops Are All Bad People 15:25- Talking At The Urinal 16:39- Patty The Junkie Mom 19:32- Animatronic Target Practice 21:23Was It Worth Doing? 22:30Bits and Baubles 24:11- ARBITRARY SCALE 25:49Listener Feedback 26:48 LINKS Cop Rock Steven Bochco discusses Cop Rock Buffy – I’ve Got A Theory Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ABC Cancels Cop Rock Mr. Cellophane Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – The Buzzing From The Bathroom "Til I Come Home" — Michael Chiklis Band (MCB) with the Boston Pops Suggest A Show NEXT WEEK – Small Wonder S01E01 – Vicki’s Homecoming E-mail: weirdtvpodcast@gmail.comVoicemail: ‪(424) 274-2352Twitter: @WeirdTVPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPodSite: billmeeks.com/weirdtv

35 min
08/26/2021

Mr. T's Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!

We learn to be high achievers from Mr. T's Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool! Mr. T pities the kids. He’ll teach them to be better. His sketches, music, song, and dance help the children of the world advance. He’s building a kid army for reasons he’s not saying. They’ll be bold, hip, creative and respectful, running in the sand. The kids in this grew up to be cool. You're gonna Be Somebody, Or Be Somebody’s Fool! TOPICS Open 0:00- Get Involved 3:14What The Hell is Be Somebody? 4:37- Dramaturgy 4:47- Inspirations 6:35- How It Was Received 8:41How Well Was It Done? 9:46- Can Everybody Be A Leader? 10:08- Try by Valerie Landsburg 12:01- Visualization Exercises 14:42- The Fashion Show 18:19- The Typical Fat Kid 20:38- Everybody's Got A Rap! 23:09Was It Worth Doing? 25:17Bits and Baubles 27:03- ARBITRARY SCALE 28:48Listener Feedback 29:45 LINKS Mr. T’s Be Somebody or Be Somebody’s Fool Key and Peele Parody Mr. T Theme Song Agony Booth Summary Topper Carew Jeff Margolis Mr. T on Bloomberg Coffee Achievers Commerical (1984) NEXT WEEK - Cop Rock E-mail: weirdtvpodcast@gmail.comVoicemail: ‪(424) 274-2352 Twitter: @WeirdTVPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPod Site: billmeeks.com/weirdtv

32 min
08/18/2021

ABC's Cavemen with Anne Marie DeSimone

We get prehistoric with the ABC sitcom CAVEMEN. Cavemen as minorities, with all their modern problems. It’s played for laughs, which feels weird, right? Also weird, the actors are white. Joel thinks his date’s embarrassed by his caveman genetics. Sneak and stalk, confront his girlfriend. Stereotypes are bound to offend. GEICO buried this deep in their basement. Let's dive deep on long-form Cavemen, with special guest Anne Marie DeSimone TOPICS Open 0:00What The Hell is Cavemen? 1:23-Inspirations 2:12-Mascots That Went Legit 4:23-- Ernest 4:54-- California Raisins 7:03-- Ted Lasso 8:23- How It Was Received 10:23How Well Was It Done? 11:51- Guest Intro 12:01- Where Are Cavemen From? 12:21- Crystal Clear Characters 14:21- 2007-ish 17:39- Nick, The Xenophobe 19:17- Kate and Joel 21:50Was It Worth Doing? 24:37Bits and Baubles 27:11- ARBITRARY SCALE 29:43Listener Feedback 31:41 LINKS Cavemen Episode 1 Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer - SNL 99% Invisible Interview Esquire – The Evolution of the Postmodern Caveman GEICO Cavemen ad compilation Nick Kroll & John Mulaney Look Back On 'Cavemen' & 'Mulaney' | PeopleTV Cavemen Unaired Pilot TV Guide Network's "25 Biggest TV Blunders" Special Ernest P. Worrell Ernest Greatest Clips Volume 1 Jim Varney Does Shakespeare The California Raisins An American Coach In London (Ted Lasso) Ted Lasso series trailer Anne Marie DeSimone (Twitter | Instagram | Etsy)NEXT WEEK - Mr. T's Be Somebody or Be Somebody's Fool E-mail: weirdtvpodcast@gmail.comVoicemail: ‪(424) 274-2352 Twitter: @WeirdTVPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPodSite: billmeeks.com/weirdtv

38 min
08/11/2021

Heat Vision and Jack

We get weird with the failed pilot HEAT VISION AND JACK. Jack Austin was a spaceman who flew up way too high. Now he's smart when the sun's about, much dumber when the sun's blacked out. His roommate's a machine now who got hit by a laser. On the road, seeking adventure, fighting, fun, action, and lectures. It's an 80s show starring Jack Black. Let's dive deep on Heat Vision and Jack. TOPICS Open 0:00What The Hell is Heat Vision and Jack? 1:22- Dramaturgy 1:26- Inspirations 3:00- Intended Audience 4:03- How It Was Received 4:35How Well Was It Done? 5:31- Paragon The Incel 5:45- I Can't See Clearly Now 7:39- Low-Hi-Tech 9:24- The Incredible Jack 11:06- Exposition Dumps 12:47- "SMART" 15:55- Ron Silver 16:56Was It Worth Doing? 18:50Bits and Baubles 21:57- ARBITRARY SCALE 23:29Listener Feedback 24:35 LINKS Heat Vision and Jack Pilot Behind The Scenes Northstar Pilot Channel 101 Wiki Rumored Animated Series Fan Site Script TV Tropes – The Drifter Vincent SchiavelliNEXT WEEK - Cavemen E-mail: weirdtvpodcast@gmail.com Voicemail: ‪(424) 274-2352 Twitter: @WeirdTVPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeirdTVPodSite: billmeeks.com/weirdtv

26 min

6 Episodes

5

out of 5

4 Ratings

Weird TV shines a light into forgotten corners of television history to examine obscure media through a modern lens. Each week Bill Meeks reviews obscure television shows, made-for-tv movies, and primetime specials. He'll watch just about anything, as long as it's weird.

Creator

Bill Meeks
Years Active

2021 - 2025
Episodes

6
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2021 Bill Meeks
Show Website

Weird TV