TV History – Inside the Box: The TV History Podcast

Join Steve and Jonathan in conversation with Dr. Craig Coenen about the 1978 NBC mini-series Holocaust: The Story of the Family Weiss. Where does the mini-series fall within the context of Americans' understanding of the Jewish Holocaust? How was the mini-series received? How does the late-1970s network context of big, prestige mini-series play into its creation? All this and a lot more in Part 01...

This week join Andrew as he leads a discussion with Steve and Jonathan about how TV was used not before, not after, but during World War II. Contrary to popular belief the then new medium was at least thought about as another technology to be harnessed during the war effort. We also discuss how the rudimentary uses of TV in the immediate post-war era is surprisingly similar to how we use it today.

Join us for the first episode of our brand new season! Jonathan and Steve sit down to discuss the prevalence of NFL high-scoring games and ask what role media has played in this current and evolving situation. They also provide historical context both for the game and the league's relationship to TV and other media.

This week join Jonathan, Andrew, and Steve for a discussion of the AFL of the 1960s and how TV allowed the AFL to come - THIS CLOSE - to toppling the NFL. Also in this lengthier episode, listen as the guys discuss the "marriage" of US football and television and what that means for how we understand the sport today.

Jonathan discusses the current Hollywood labor strike and attempts to contextualize it through a historical lens.

This week join Andrew and Jonathan as they give you the hard sell on the history of TV pitchmen. We go a little into the history of salesmanship on television, the self-imposed and government regulations, and each of us discuss our favorite local and infomercial-based pitchmen. Be sure to act now; operators are standing by and supplies ARE limited.

How the heck did a 1950s comedy legend get a shot at usurping Johnny Carson some 23 years AFTER his career peak? Join Jonathan as he discusses the three incarnations of The Jerry Lewis Show and in particular the June 1984 5-episode test-run for the third, and final, incarnation.

This week join Steve as he drags Andrew kicking and screaming into the 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee Special, while Jonathan attempts to deconstruct all the deep thoughts flying around the pianos and gorillas.

Jonathan plays catch...up with the idea of the 1970s's The Bionic Dog. Join Jonathan as he discusses the silly wonderfulness that was this spin-off idea.

This week join Andrew in conversation with historian Gary Edgerton about Ken Burns's new documentary Vietnam. They discuss Burns as a filmmaker, whether Burns is a "proper" historian, and who he considers to be the audience for his films.

It is all about the tension between the old and the new in today's mini-episode. Join Jonathan as he discusses three recent history-focused TV programs: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+, 2022-present), Call Me Kate (Netflix, 2023), and Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators (Netflix, 2023).

Join Jonathan for a new mini-episode where he discusses procrastination, "summer guilt", the Peter Jackson Beatles documentary, and teases a late 1980's TV special discovered via YouTube.

This week join Steve, Andrew, and Jonathan as they discuss children's television show host and PBS all-star, Fred Rogers as a counter-cultural figure. Can we view his choices regarding race and sexual preference as revolutionary? Pragmatic? or did he simply NOT do enough? Join us as we attempt to unwrap the relationship between Mr. Rogers, social issues, and his own personal spirituality.

In preparation of our brand new Fall season of NEW episodes, join Jonathan for a new, short (16 min.) mini-episode to find out about all the new ideas and goals we have planned for the new season.

In honor of Mr. Minow's birthday (01/17), we're re-releasing our interview with the former FCC Chair. Joining us from his office in Chicago, we discuss the role of television in presidential debates, his decisions that supported the rise of PBS, and of course, his famous “vast wasteland” speech.