That Was a Show?

Not My Department WAS a show. This 1987 satire was produced by the CBC and takes on government bureaucracy in Ottawa. The show centres around the fictional Department of Regional Incentive Targets, or DRIT. Quelle idée amusante! That Was a Show? takes a drive north of the border to review a Canadian sitcom for the very first time. Brynn, Aaron & Barry fill out the appropriate access to informa...

Sibs WAS a show. This early 90s sitcom centred around the wacky misadventures of three sisters trying to navigate adulthood together, it also co-starred Homer Simpson. Brynn, Aaron and Barry part the weeds on this overgrown lawn of a mishap while learning how to pronounce actor names and singing the praises of Evan Handler’s glorious hair. Email: thatwasashow@aol.com (Because 90s AOL still exists...

The Famous Teddy Z WAS a show. Baby Jon Cryer stars as Teddy Zakalokis, the young bumbling agent of an eccentric (and evil?) movie star inspired by Marlon Brando. Brynn, Aaron & Barry discuss this sitcom’s sharp commentary and dull character development. They call their surly friend Mr. Producer for hot Hollywood insider tea, but instead just learn about snacks. This episode might make you wan...

Saved by the Bell: The College Years WAS a show. This 1993 sequel picks up right where the original series left off. Zack, Slater and Screech move into a dorm at California University. With age comes wisdom, and they’re finally ready to give up the childish schemes and antics, buckle down, and take their education seriously. Just kidding! Brynn, Aaron & Barry crack the books and study why this...

Small Wonder WAS a show. This baffling piece of pop culture refuse miraculously aired for four seasons. It centred around the wacky hijinks of a scientist, his family, and the weird robot child he created for...reasons. Join Brynn, Aaron and Barry as they perform their own experiments into this thankfully Matt-LeBlanc free, bit of sci-fi comedic nonsense. Email: thatwasashow@aol.com (Because 90s A...

Top of the Heap WAS a show. It was the first of two Married…With Children spinoffs starring Matt LeBlanc as working class “himbo” Vinnie Verducci. Brynn, Aaron & Barry couldn’t resist exploring this character further after their previous episode about Vinnie & Bobby . Ultimately though, they agree that the true star of this ill-fated sitcom was—spoiler—not human. Email: thatwasashow@aol.co...

Vinnie & Bobby WAS a show. Buried deep within the filthy bowels of Married With Children was a backdoor pilot for a show called Top Of The Heap starring Matt LeBlanc. It lasted seven episodes. But because everyone else was wrong, another attempt was made featuring the same character, Vinnie Verducci, and thus Vinnie & Bobby was born. It also lasted seven episodes. Brynn, Aaron & Barry...

Brynn, Aaron & Barry look back at a full 90s-sitcom-season worth of podcast episodes. The hosts watch another episode of a show they reviewed early on to see how it compares; they present the first annual TWASies Awards to some of the most deserving shows, characters and actors; they answer a listener question; and they reflect on the origin story of That Was a Show? and how far they’ve come!...

Jennifer Slept Here WAS a show. These are the actual lyrics to the theme song: “I just saw the most beautiful ghost in the world—she slept here. I just saw the most outrageous kind of a girl—she lived here. Jennifer, whatchu doin’ to me? In and out of my life you appear. They say the stars don’t shine as bright since you left here. Jennifer slept here; she lived here; she loved here; laughed here...

Pearl WAS a show. This story of a middle-aged loading dock manager (Perlman) who finally gets to go to university may have only lasted one season, but it certainly had an all star cast! She spars with her pompous and elitist professor Stephen Pynchon (McDowell) because he doesn’t believe a working class student like Pearl has any place in an institution of higher learning. Brynn, Aaron & Barry...

Get a Life WAS a show. Before he moved to Schitt’s Creek, Chris Elliot was a 30 year old paper boy who died constantly. You read correctly… anyway, this character is a manchild, a renegade and definitely “unique.” Hollywood heavyweight Charlie Kauffman wrote for this wacky show, and you certainly can’t tell. CROSSOVER ALERT: Kaydence and Kolin from the B-Watch Rewatch Podcast drop in to offer thei...

The Nutt House WAS a show. Back in 1989 this short-lived sitcom was co-created by Mel Brooks, modeled after the absurd farcical style of comedy popularized by his films like Young Frankenstein and Spaceballs. It’s the story of a struggling old New York hotel named after its owners—the Nutt family. With lavish set design and orchestral score, this single-camera show features an impressive cast incl...

The John Larroquette Show WAS a show. Hot on the heels of three Emmy wins for Night Court, Larroquette was the star of this very, very dark tragicomedy about a struggling down and out writer who becomes the night manager of the Crossroads Bus Terminal. The show was retooled after two seasons and then ran for two more. Brynn, Aaron & Barry watch the pilot, and a post-retool episode featuring a...

Sports Night WAS a show. From 1998-2000, this was the first series created by legendary Hollywood screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. The show starred Peter Krause, Felicity Huffman, Josh Charles, Joshua Molina, Sabrina Lloyd and Robert Guillaume as the on and off air talent of a nightly live cable sports show. The show, while well received by critics (and continues to have a following to this day), failed...

It’s Your Move WAS a show. This short-lived predecessor by the creators of Married...with Children co-stars David Garrison and an adolescent Jason Bateman! In what is Bateman’s first lead role, he plays young con-artist Matthew Burton, who runs non-stop grifts. Garrison plays struggling writer Norman Lamb, who moves into the apartment across the hall. Matthew applies his skills of manipulation in...

*Content Warning* Scandalous descriptions of Santa. Do not listen in the vicinity of children... We couldn’t manage to squeeze all this holiday cheer into one episode, so here’s a special bonus gift! Brynn, Aaron & Barry each have one more pick for a Christmas-themed episode of an 80s or 90s sitcom that you just might remember. Happy New Year! Email: thatwasashow@aol.com (Because 90s AOL still...

*Content Warning* Scandalous descriptions of Santa. Do not listen in the vicinity of children... 2020 WAS a year. Brynn, Aaron & Barry celebrate this holiday season with a deep dive into some memorable Christmas episodes from popular 80s and 90s sitcoms—and one surprise Christmas episode from a failed show that they revisit from earlier in the year. They talk about their favourite holiday epis...

Out of This World WAS a show. It ran for 4 seasons and became a hugely nostalgic cult sitcom for Gen-Xers and older Millennials. The show is remembered for its quirky sight gags, the plucky teen star, and the magical cube that spoke with Burt Reynolds’ voice. Brynn, Barry and Aaron unpack what was largely forgotten about this show, and it’s… a lot. Email: thatwasashow@aol.com (Because 90s AOL stil...

Stark Raving Mad WAS a show. Starring comedic powerhouses Neil Patrick Harris and Tony Shaloub, this odd-couple type sitcom was about a fast-rising Junior Editor (Harris) paired with an eccentric bestselling horror novelist (Shaloub) to finish his latest hit. This oddball series made its way to NBC’s famous Must See Thursday lineup nestled between Fraiser and ER, but didn’t make it past the first...

Big Wave Dave’s WAS a show. During a particularly bad winter blizzard, three yuppie dudes from Chicago decide to pull up their stakes and move to Hawaii to open up a surf shop on the beach. Oh, and they drag one of their wives along for the ride. Turns out none of them know anything whatsoever about surfing...we put on our Aloha shirts, grab our boards, and see if this show makes waves! Email: tha...

Hi Honey, I’m Home! WAS a show. It’s about what happens when a 50s sitcom family moves in next door to a 90s sitcom family. Set in present day (90s) New Jersey, the 50s characters are living in hiding—part of the “sitcom relocation program” because their show was pulled off the air. Brynn, Aaron and Barry deconstruct why they believe this surrealist satire is a true hidden gem. Email: thatwasashow...

The Charmings WAS a show. Once Upon a Time, three podcast hosts were perplexed by a strange sitcom about fairytale characters living in 1980s Burbank, California. It’s a tale of questionable tropes, random political references, and a re-cast princess. Join Aaron, Brynn and Barry as they delve into the sitcom that Jonathan Wolff said “deserved to die.” Follow That Was a Show? on Instagram @thatwasa...

Jonathan Wolff is a prolific composer, best known for his iconic themes and musical scores for hit shows like Will & Grace , Married...with Children , Who’s the Boss? and oh yeah... Seinfeld! Those are his mouth pops and slap bass riffs! But Jonathan isn’t joining us to talk about those legendary shows. For our first ever Very Special Episode , we speak with Jonathan about his career in televi...

AfterMASH WAS a show. It was a spinoff of M*A*S*H...obviously! The show follows three characters from the original series after they return home from the Korean War. Colonel Sherman T. Potter, Maxwell Klinger and Father John Mulcahy reunite to work together at General Pershing Veteran's Hospital a.k.a. "General General,” located in the fictional town of River Bend, Missouri. Much like the legendar...

The Golden Palace WAS a show. It was a spinoff of The Golden Girls—but subtract Bea Arthur, and add Don Cheadle and Cheech Marin. They sell their house and buy a hotel in Miami. Why do they come out of retirement to take on this much risk and hard work? Why does Sophia want to run a commercial kitchen and bus tables at 87? We decided to put on some pastel leisurewear and investigate. Featuring gue...