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PODCAST

Fanacek

Fanacek explores all things film and television. We start with a theme and plunge down the IMDB rabbit hole of acting credits, far out locations, crazy posters, interesting guest stars, and obscure and often absurd taglines. Forget about six degrees of Kevin Bacon. There’s six degrees of everything! Joined by a guest each week, we’ll learn, poke fun, try to teach, and ultimately honor the people who have graced our screens over the years. So, stay tuned for another exciting episode

tv & film film history

All Episodes

58:28

S8 E7 Pilot Season "Chico and the Man"

Fanacek ·

2026/04/27

"Chico, don't get discouraged, the Man he ain't so hard to understand." Ah...Chico and the Man. I have to admit, this was a really fun rewatch. Freddie Prinze was full of charm and optimism and Jack Albertson was...well...Jack Albertson. This show isn't talked about as much as it should be as it was cut short for obvious reasons. In a TV Landscape dominated by Norman Lear, this series was "controversy light". It shined a light on urban blight, blue collar struggles, and racial clashes in a

en

41:47

S8 E6 Pilot Season "The Bob Newhart Show"

Fanacek ·

2026/04/13

This was a listener request and I was glad to deliver! Bob Newhart is a comedy legend and this pilot episode is arguably one of the best pilots I've ever watched. Watching our guy Bob weave his way through life all calm and collected while everyone around him is batshit crazy is...well...comedy gold. Newhart's comedy is seamlessly translated into a sitcom format and the supporting cast is superb. Watch it, enjoy it, and then let me know how right I am!

en

50:03

S8 E5 Pilot Season "Three's Company"

Fanacek ·

2026/03/30

"Come and knock on our door"...Oh boy, did I love this show as a kid! Suzanne Somers, sexual innuendo, misunderstandings...did I say Suzanne Somers? Let's face it, this was not meant to be a thinking man's series, nor a critical darling (although it was nominated for tons of Emmy and Golden Globe Awards). Rather, this was a fun, escapist show chock full o' horny young adults. That said, the writing was sharp, the acting was solid, and...it had Suzanne Somers! Enjoy.

en

41:49

S8 E4 Pilot Season: "Taxi"

Fanacek ·

2026/03/09

Taxi. The series that gave brought legends into our living rooms: Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman, and Christopher Lloyd. It's also the series that started Tony Danza down a path of only playing characters named Tony. Join me as I explore Taxi's shared DNA with the Mary Tyler Moore Universe and how it paved the way for it's illegitimate child, Cheers. A sweet mixture of humor and unfulfilled dreams. Enjoy.

en

48:20

S8 E3 Pilot Season: "Diff'rent Strokes"

Fanacek ·

2026/02/23

Yes, it's another Fanacek episode about a show you probably don't enjoy, but you absolutely must revisit this pilot as it is almost as batshit crazy as the rest of the series. Mr. Drummond plays white savior to two black orphans who just lost their mother. Lucky for them, they don't have a chance to grieve because Mr. D is "shaking hands like a brother", showering them with toys and a pony, and offering a soak in his jacuzzi. What could have been an interesting commentary on loss and racial

en

44:59

S8 E2 Pilot Season: "The Golden Girls"

Fanacek ·

2026/02/09

That's right. The Golden Girls. The horniest show in television history...and maybe, pound for pound the "jokiest" show in television history. Take a ride with me as I travel back in time to discuss the pilot episode of this series while also examining the television and cultural landscape in which it was birthed. Yep. I said birthed. Enjoy.

en

84:07

S8 E1 Pilot Season: "All in the Family"

Fanacek ·

2026/01/26

"Boy the way Glen Miller played. Songs that made the hit parade.. Guys like us we had it made. Those were the days". Ahh...a classic intro for a classic show. This season I will be focusing on pilot episodes of classic television shows and there is no better pilot episode to start with than 1971's "Meet the Bunkers". Three different pilots were filmed before Norman Lear finally perfected this recipe of stellar writing, perfect acting, and...controversy. Archie Bunker would soon become a

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51:25

Thom Shubilla, Author of King Kong Versus Godzilla...

Fanacek ·

2026/01/05

Welcome to 2026, folks! I'm starting the year off with a bang by bringing back author Thom Shubilla. Thom's new book, "King Kong Versus Godzilla" explores the origins of King Kong, Godzilla, and dozens of other movie monsters as Kong and Godzilla make their way toward their inevitable showdown in the 1962 classic film, King Kong vs. Godzilla. During our chat, we'll also explore Kong and Godzilla exploitation films, the rise of monsters films on television, the aborted Batman vs Godzilla movie,

en

55:43

The Season 7 Finale! Hall of Famer? Randy Quaid

Fanacek ·

2025/12/10

Sure, the character of Cousin Eddie is a definite Hall of Famer and a Christmas staple...but what abut the actor playing him? Let's dive into the resume of Mr. Quaid and take a close look at the legendary directors and fellow actors he's worked with during his 50+ year career. We'll also chitchat about his tumultuous personal life while also discussing my personal connection to Not Another Teen Movie, Chuck Bronson not being a "fun" guy, the craziness that is The World According to Garp, the girl

en

35:37

S7 E13 Child Star resumes: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Fanacek ·

2025/11/19

Ahh...Thanksgiving season...the gateway to Christmas. A time for family, food, booze, football, and the Peanuts gang! This special has become a staple of my family's Thanksgiving season, and probably yours as well, so why not take a look at the young folks who lent their voices to this 1973 classic? Along the way, we'll also chat about Jeremy Miller, taking my 11 year old to Las Vegas, Jay and Silent Bob, MetLife, and meeting Martin Kove! Happy Thanksgiving, folks.

en

47:22

S7 E12 Hall of Famer? Warren Oates (Part 2)

Fanacek ·

2025/11/03

More Fanacek and more Warren Oates! What could be better than that? This episode will pick up where we left off and look at Warren's late 60s credits before he crushes it in the 1970s. Warren also began the 80s with a bang, but sadly he died young at the age of 53 on April 3, 1982. Come with me as I dive into his resume to determine if he is a card carrying Hall of Famer!

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33:16

S7 E11 Hall of Famer? Warren Oates (Part 1)

Fanacek ·

2025/10/20

Warren Oates. You either LOVE him or have no effing clue who he is. Either way, you need to join me as we journey through his credits to determine his Hall of Fame eligibility. Part 1 focuses on his early TV years as he guests on dozens of western TV shows like The Rifleman, The Westerner, Johnny Ringo, and Trackdown. In only his fist few years of screen acting, Warren shares the screen with legends like James Coburn, Charlton Heston, and Robert Culp. More importantly, he forges a friendship

en

42:43

S7 E10 Child Star resumes: Justin Henry

Fanacek ·

2025/10/06

At only 8 years old, Justin Henry was the youngest Academy Award nominee ever...but what did he do next? Well, I'm gonna take you on a deep dive of his acting resume while also blowing your minds with tales of making short films with the chick from Saturday Night Fever, watching Charmed without the sound, hanging out with Mark Volman of The Turtles, Ashley Scott lying on the ground, meeting Pauly Shore, and ordering season 1 of Thirtysomething on Ebay. It's a gem of an episode.

en

45:16

S7 E9 Hall of Famer? Matt Dillon

Fanacek ·

2025/09/22

Matt Dillon has had an odd career. Not quite A-List, not quite B-List; he's consistent but not always a star. Has he done enough in his nearly 50 year career to be called a Hall of Famer? I'm gonna do my damndest to dig into his resume and find out. I'm also gonna do my damndest to entertain you with tails of a Chubby George Clooney's back tattoo, my time with the fellas from Workaholics, my love for Shavar Ross, and my distaste for Andrew McCarthy.

en

35:42

S7 E8 Child Star resumes: Chris Makepeace

Fanacek ·

2025/09/08

With a name like that, he has to be a nice guy, right? We loved him as Rudy in Meatballs and he stole our hearts in My Bodyguard, but what the hell else has he done and where did he go? I'll answer these questions and more as I take you on a journey that includes the murder of Bob Crane, my time with Jonah Hill, Corey Feldman's bass player, fake T&A movies, and Dolph Lundgren's ex-girlfriend. Peace!

en

51:29

S7 E7 Hall of Famer? Margot Kidder

Fanacek ·

2025/08/25

I get it. She's Lois Lane. But Lois Lane does not a legend make! I am compelled to dive into her acting resume to determine of she a Hall of Famer. As I go through her credits, I'll also wow you with my commentary on Rob Zombie, Jayne Mansfield, Peter Fonda, abrupt 70s film endings, and Binions Casino in Las Vegas.

en

46:42

S7 E6 Child Star resumes: The Bad News Bears (1976)

Fanacek ·

2025/08/11

Ahh...The Bad News Bears. One of the greatest kids sports flicks of all time. We all know what became of Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal, and Jackie Earl Haley, but what about the rest of the squad? Ahmad Abdul Rahim? Ogilvie? Timmy? Tanner? Why don't we know what the hell ever became of these all-stars? Fear no more as I've done the research and prepared a detailed report to get you up to speed. Along the way, I also address other important topics like Weezer, drive-in movies, Gwyneth

en

50:05

S7 E5 Hall of Famer? Talia Shire

Fanacek ·

2025/07/28

She's Connie from The Godfather franchise (nepotism much?) and Adrian from the Rocky films. But what else has Talia done to earn a spot in Fanacek's Hall of Fame? Follow me as I go through her screen credits and uncover some projects you've likely never heard of. I will also brighten your day with tales of Roger Corman, folks I knew at The Second City, Troma films, the Big Bopper, and naked Blossom. I'll even sing some Bobby Darin. Go ahead and have a listen.

en

26:51

S7 E4 Child Star resumes: Oliver Robins & Ari Lehman

Fanacek ·

2025/07/14

You may not know their names, but you've definitely seen their work...and you were likely scared shitless! These two fellas became famous for starring in Poltergeist and Friday the 13th respectively. But what happened next? What kind of careers did they have? Well, I answer these questions and more as I dig into their lives and resumes while also chatting about prank calls and Bret "the Hitman" Hart. Yay.

en

34:39

S7 E3 Hall of Famer? Morgan Fairchild

Fanacek ·

2025/06/30

I've heard her describes as "The Incomparable Morgan Fairchild". But is she really incomparable? We're gonna take a deep dive into her screen resume and figure that shit out. We'll also chat about my abandoned Prisoner screenplay, missing Paul Reubens, and chatting with Eddie Deezen. Enjoy.

en

131 results

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