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PODCAST

Battle of the Network Shows

Rick Brooks and Mike Cowgill

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

tv & film tv reviews

All Episodes

01:02:45

5-9: The Jeffersons "A Case of Black and White" and...

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/12/13

After George airs his feelings about mixed marriages, he has to engage in full-on farce to save a business deal. Years later, a near-death experience leads him to open a museum...about himself.

en

01:14:10

5-8: Hill Street Blues "Spotlight on Rico"

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/12/06

This week, we delve into the gritty, chaotic, groundbreaking Hill Street Blues. We hit all the important topics: the large cast of character actors, the serialized storytelling, the classic theme song, and the mustaches. Guest stars include Dennis Franz, Jonathan Banks, a robot, and Sonny Crockett?!

en

01:09:30

5-7: BJ and the Bear "Cain's Cruiser"

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/11/29

Trucker B.J. McKay and his best pal Bear, a chimp, face off with Sheriff Cain and his supercar...designed and built by one Erin Gray. We dig deep into this one, speculate on its role as the possible secret origin of Knight Rider, and pitch our own trucker show Truckstop Lawyer.

en

01:08:37

5-6: The Waltons "The Thanksgiving Story"

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/11/22

After your Thanksgiving feast, gather round the radio for a BOTNS-style Thanksgiving with The Waltons. This one has everything you'd want from Thanksgiving: family, turkey hunting, romance, moonshine, a pageant, test taking, and a major head injury. Plus, we speculate on the comics in John-Boy's self-published regional newspaper.

en

57:34

5-5: Charlie's Angels "Lady Killer"

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/11/15

In a perfect BOTNS-era plot, Charlie's Angels (original class) go undercover at "men's" magazine "Feline" to stop a murderer from killing more centerfolds. Jill (Farrah Fawcett) might even have to become a centerfold! Guest stars include BATTY award winner Hugh O'Brian and the great Alan Fudge!

en

01:22:59

5-4: Hee Haw

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/11/08

Our listeners voted again, and we listened. Pick and grin with us as we discuss two episodes of country variety classic "Hee Haw," featuring Freddy Fender, Melba Montgomery, Johnny Cash, and La Costa. Crank up the laugh track, let the banjo licks fly, and don't let the fence hit you on the way out. Plus, we hear an extra-special "Hee Haw" story from one our listeners.

en

01:07:31

5-3: Dr. Strange

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/11/01

When a giant puppet head and Lucille Bluth try to break down the barriers between dimensions, only one man has the prescription and mustache to stop them--Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme.

en

46:59

5-2: Halloween is Grinch Night

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/10/25

Listen to us yammer and yack about this lost gem of the small screen. The Grinch and Halloween? Has anyone ever seen such a scene?! We give you the why, the where, the Who, the when, and maybe if you're lucky the to what extent! Let's have a good time, let's make a good rhyme, let's have a little fright but try to keep it light, for Halloween is Grinch Night!

en

01:07:27

5-1: MASH "Tuttle"

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/10/18

We start season 5 with a true classic--MASH! To give supplies to a local orphanage, Hawkeye invents Captain Tuttle, but his best laid plans turn into a madcap scramble when Burns wants to meet the mysterious Tuttle.

en

13:48

Fame Game Four: Shooting for .500

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/10/11

After a crushing defeat in the last Fame Game, Mike returns to the hot seat to see if he can guess another BOTNS-era performer, personality, or character and get his record up to 2-2, plus an astounding amount of "Caroline in the City" discussion.

en

13:56

Reboots, Remakes, and Returns: Magnum P.I.

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/10/04

Following up on a recent bonus episode, we take a little time to discuss the pilot of the Magnum P.I. remake. Mike saw it, Rick didn't, so he asks some questions, and Mike offers some answers about the most important topics: mustaches, mustaches, and mustaches.

en

01:51:35

Season 4 BATTY Awards: BATTYs in Space

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/09/20

Live on data tapes from Theta Station, it's the Season Four BATTYs...in...space! Join the stars in the stars as they vie for the most prestigious awards this side of Neptune! Ooh and even ahh at the latest high-fashion jumpsuits! Thrill at the competition of space push ball! Learn lessons about camping in space with Barry White! Most of all, root for your favorite stars in your favorite categories like best performance by a non-human, best episode, and of course best facial hair!

en

32:47

Reboots, Remakes, and Returns

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/09/06

After recent announcements of possible ALF and Facts of Life reboots, we asked members of our Facebook group what reboots, remakes, or returns of seventies or eighties shows they'd like to see. We break those down and offer a few suggestions of our own, plus a tale of Ray Liotta.

en

11:08

The Fame Game Three

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/08/30

Can you solve the identity of this week's mysterious BOTNS-era individual before Mike does? With Turtle Wax and his reputation on the line, will Mike even solve it? Find out on the Fame Game!

en

34:02

List-o-rama: Kids, Tykes, Moppets, and Urchins

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/08/23

Nothing quite says a show has grown long in the tooth quite like the addition of a new "cute" kid. Groan along, as we break down the worst of the worst from the seventies and eighties

en

23:26

TV Guide Game: Wednesday, January 14, 1987

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/08/16

The TV Guide game returns as Rick dives into his vast collection of vintage TV Guide issues and tries to guess what shows Mike would have watched. This time, we go back to January, 14, 1987, and find out what Mike and Richmond, Virginia, might have watched. Keep an ear out for past BOTNS favorites Tom Selleck and Connie Sellecca.

en

01:06:20

4-13: The A-Team "Showdown"

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/08/02

In our EXPLOSIVE season finale, the one-and-only A-TEAM SPRINGS into ACTION to help a struggling wild west show against...THE A-TEAM?! This one has it all: FIST FIGHTS, DISGUISES, MILITARY STOOGES, NONLETHAL VIOLENCE, BILL LUCKING, AND WEAPONIZED TAFFY!

en

01:00:55

4-12: Barney Miller "Werewolf"

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/07/26

The listeners voted again, and we listened again and discuss workplace sitcom Barney Miller. With half the NYPD out with swine flu, the overworked detectives of the 12th precinct have to contend with no coffee, shots, old people, and a werewolf! Plus, we work Marvel Comics superheroes and movie monsters into the conversation.

en

01:02:06

4-11: "Popeye Meets the Man Who Hated Laughter"

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/07/19

This week, we delve into the weird 1972 animated special "Popeye Meets the Man Who Hated Laughter," which takes Popeye and adds most of his King Features comic strip cohorts, including Blondie and Dagwood, Beetle Bailey, Hi and Lois, Quincy, Snuffy Smith, Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Steve Canyon, and more! Popeye does impressions, Olive flirts with Steve, a number of characters eat a lot of food, and a Dagwood sandwich saves the day! It might not get any weirder than this.

en

01:02:12

4-10: Late Night with David Letterman "Camping with...

Battle of the Network Shows ·

2018/07/12

For many of us who grew up in the eighties, one name defines late night--Dave--and this week, we focus on the "Camping with Barry White," episode, which features Jacqueline Bisset, the television debut of Bobcat Goldthwait, and of course...camping with Barry White. Awww, yeah.

en

222 results

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