Best Classictv Podcasts (2025)

1
The Sullivan Kidnapping 35:08

4d ago35:08

35:08

Original Release Date: May 27, 2007 Joe and Ben try and catch a kidnapper known as The Wolf. Dedicated to the memory of Sgt. Lee Newbill of the Moscow (ID) Police Department who died in the line of duty: May 19, 2007. Original Air Date: September 10, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis a…

1
Myra the Redhead 34:14

7d ago34:14

34:14

Original Release Date: May 20, 2007 Joe and Ben try to get to the root of a car theft ring that’s pulled off more than 250 jobs in the past few months. Original Air Date: September 1, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Gra…

1
The Timeless Charm of March of The Wooden Soldiers 25:00

7d ago25:00

25:00

TVC 686.1: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Laurel and Hardy historian Randy Skretvedt. Chuck Harter co-hosts. Topics this segment include what first sparked Randy's interest in Laurel and Hardy; Randy’s favorite scene in March of the Wooden Soldiers; and why Wooden Soldiers remains so popular, more than ninety years after its ori…

1
Glenn Ford, Peter Ford, and Rock Around the Clock 20:38

7d ago20:38

20:38

TVC 686.2: Peter Ford, son of screen legends Glenn Ford and Eleanor Powell, helps Ed celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the release of Blackboard Jungle, the iconic film from 1955 that not only starred Glenn Ford as a young English teacher in an inner-city high school, but which prominently featured the song “Rock Around the Clock” in its soun…

1
Peter Ford, Bobby Sherman, and The Dating Game 11:33

7d ago11:33

11:33

TVC 686.3: Peter Ford, son of screen legends Glenn Ford and Eleanor Powell and the author of Glenn Ford: A Life, talks to Ed about working with his dad and Edgar Buchanan on Cade’s County (CBS, 1971-1972), including the back story for why the series did not last more than one season; how Peter became a reserve deputy for the Los Angeles County Sher…

1
Police Academy 31:54

11d ago31:54

31:54

Original Release Date: May 14, 2007 Joe and Ben search for a gang of robbers while of Joe’s Army buddies joins the police force. Original Air Date: August 25, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise,…

1
The Mysterious Death of Jeffrey Hunter 19:02

11d ago19:02

19:02

From August 2014: Authors Paul Green and Mary Ann Anderson join Ed for a look back at the life and career of Jeffrey Hunter. Paul’s book Jeffrey Hunter: The Film, Television, Radio and Stage Performances is a comprehensive look at the actor best known for his starring roles as Martin Pawley in The Searchers, Christopher Pike in the original pilot e…

1
16 Jewelry Thefts 34:43

13d ago34:43

34:43

Original Release Date: May 6, 2007 Friday and Romero search for a jewel thief’s hidden loot. Original Air Date: August 18, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715 Take the listener surve…

1
The Amazing Story of March of the Wooden Soldiers 21:37

14d ago21:37

21:37

TVC 685.1: Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter welcome author, voice artist, radio host, and Laurel and Hardy historian Randy Skretvedt. Randy's latest book, March of the Wooden Soldiers: The Amazing Story of Laurel & Hardy's Babes in Toyland, is a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at the making of March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934), the adaptation o…

1
Laurel and Hardy Behind the Scenes 20:54

14d ago20:54

20:54

TVC 685.2: Laurel and Hardy historian Randy Skretvedt, author of March of the Wooden Soldiers: The Amazing Story of Laurel & Hardy's Babes in Toyland, talks to Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter about how Stan Laurel not only acted as the de facto director on many of the comedy team's films, but closely oversaw the editing of their films, and how Ol…

1
Michelle Danner, The Italians, and Miranda's Victim 15:41

14d ago15:41

15:41

TVC 685.3: Ed welcomes renowned actress, teacher, and independent filmmaker Michelle Danner (Hello Herman, The Runner, Bad Impulse). Michelle’s latest film, The Italians, is an ensemble comedy-drama about an idiosyncratic Italian-American family that drive each other crazy, but who pull themselves together upon learning that the matriarch (Michelle…

1
Woman Murdered and Mutilated 34:12

17d ago34:12

34:12

Original Release Date: April 28, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero are on the trail of a psychotic serial killer. Original Air Date: August 11, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715 Take …

1
Benny Trounsel 35:05

20d ago35:05

35:05

Original Release Date: April 21, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero search for the murderer of an informant as they delve into the Narcotics culture of the 1940s. Guest Commentator: David Oatney. Original Air Date: August 4, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectiv…

1
Nelson Aspen, author of Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale 25:57

21d ago25:57

25:57

TVC 684.1: Ed welcomes Nelson Aspen, award-winning entertainment reporter, one of the leading authorities on the subject of the sinking of the Titanic on Apr. 15, 1912, and the author of Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale. Inspired by Nelson’s personal experiences, Kindred Spirits not only spans the time between the night when the Titanic met her trag…

1
Nelson Aspen, Carol Lynley, and A Night to Remember 13:02

21d ago13:02

13:02

TVC 684.2: Nelson Aspen, author of Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale, tells Ed the back story of his decades-long friendship with actress Carol Lynley, plus he recommends some film adaptations of the Titanic story, including A Night to Remember, the 1958 film starring Kenneth More that is based on Walter Lord’s book of the same name. (Nelson wrote th…

1
Hank Garrett, Peter Falk, and Buddy Hackett 10:38

21d ago10:38

10:38

TVC 684.2a: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Hank Garrett, the actor known around the world as Officer Nicholson on Car 54, Where Are You? and one of the most accomplished voice artists in the entertainment industry. In this segment Hank shares a few memories of working with Peter Falk on Columbo: Undercover and with Buddy Hackett…

1
Hank Garrett, Audrey Hepburn, and Sophia Loren 17:05

21d ago17:05

17:05

TVC 684.3: Hank Garrett talks to Ed, Tony, and Donna about working with Sophia Loren in the 1979 thriller Firepower; the night Hank once escorted Audrey Hepburn for a Hollywood event; and the generosity that Tony Bennett showed Hank when he opened for Bennett at the Copa Cabana. Hank’s memoir, From Harlem Hoodlum to Hollywood Heavyweight, is availa…

1
The Big Missing 35:08

25d ago35:08

35:08

Original Release Date: April 15, 2007 A woman from Utah stops writing to her mother and disappers. Joe and Ben follow several blind alleys. Will they find her in time for a Christmas reunion? Original Air Date: July 28, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetective…

1
City Hall Bombing 33:11

27d ago33:11

33:11

Original Release Date: April 9, 2007 A man with a package threatens to blow up city hall if the police don’t release his brother. Friday and Romero have to get the bomb away before it is too late. Original Air Date: July 21, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdete…

1
Music photographer David Arnoff 20:42

28d ago20:42

20:42

TVC 683.1: Ed welcomes back David Arnoff, one of the best music photographers of his generation. David’s book Shot in the Dark is a collection of photos featuring Patti Smith, The Clash, Devo, Blondie, Lydia Lunch, The Cramps, The Ramones, David Johanson, Misfits, Nick Cave, Siouxsee and the Banshees, Joan Jett, Elvis Costello, and other music arti…

1
David Arnoff, Elvis Costello, and Lou Reed 16:20

28d ago16:20

16:20

TVC 683.2: Music photographer David Arnoff discusses some of the photographs that appear in his book Shot in the Dark, including the ones of Lou Reed, Elvis Costello, and The Kramps. Other topics this segment include what first sparked David’s interest in photography, why he is particularly drawn to “journalistic photography” (i.e., photos that cap…

1
Hank Garrett, Sid Caesar, and Al Lewis 21:05

28d ago21:05

21:05

TVC 683.5: Ed, Tony, and Donna welcome back Hank Garrett, the actor known around the world as Officer Nicholson on Car 54, Where Are You? and one of the most accomplished voice artists in the entertainment industry. Topics this segment include how Hank first developed his skill for dialects after watching Sid Caesar rehearse for Your Show of Shows.…

1
Hank Garrett, Elvis Presley, and James Earl Jones 13:50

28d ago13:50

13:50

TVC 683.6: Hank Garrett talks to Ed, Tony, and Donna about competing against Sammy Davis Jr. in a “quick draw” competition, sparring with Elvis Presley in Las Vegas, and co-starring opposite James Earl Jones on Paris (CBS, 1979-1980). Hank’s memoir, From Harlem Hoodlum to Hollywood Heavyweight, is available through Briton Publishing, Amazon.com, an…

1
The Red Light Bandit 35:05

1M ago35:05

35:05

Original Release Date: March 31, 2007 A man disguises himself as a police officer and goes on a crime spree. Friday and Romero must bring him in. Original Air Date: July 14, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Bo…

1
Steel Club Helen Cord 32:56

1M ago32:56

32:56

Original Release Date: March 24, 2007 Ben Romero and Joe Friday hunt down the killer of a well-liked woman with no enemies down a perplexing trail of false leads in search of the truth. Original Air Date: June 7, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘…

1
Elva Green, author of The Jeffersons: A Fresh Look Back 26:39

1M ago26:39

26:39

TVC 682.1: Ed welcomes Elva Green, author of The Jeffersons: A fresh look back at The Jeffersons (CBS, 1975-1985), Norman Lear’s longest-running sitcom, starring Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, an Marla Gibbs, and Eddie Green: The Rise of an Early 1900s Black American Entertainment Pioneer. Chuck Harter co-hosts. Topics this segment include how, w…

1
Why The Jeffersons Still Holds Up Today 21:52

1M ago21:52

21:52

TVC 682.2: Elva Green, author of The Jeffersons: A fresh look back, talks to Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter about such notable episodes of The Jeffersons as “George’s First Dollar” and “And The Doorknobs Shone Like Diamonds,” plus she gives a preview of her upcoming book on Good Times. The Jeffersons: A fresh look back is available through Bear …

1
Burt Kearns, author of SHEMP! 23:25

1M ago23:25

23:25

TVC 682.3: Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter welcome award-winning producer, director, writer, journalist, and author Burt Kearns. Burt’s latest book, SHEMP! The Biography of The Three Stooges’ Shemp Howard: The Face of Film Comedy, not only takes a deep dive into the life and career of Shemp Howard—one of the original members of The Three Stooges …

1
Why Shemp Howard was a "Near Great" 18:54

1M ago18:54

18:54

TVC 682.4: Burt Kearns, author of SHEMP! The Biography of The Three Stooges’ Shemp Howard: The Face of Film Comedy, talks to Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter about some of the more notable roles in Shemp Howard’s diverse career as a solo actor, including Private Buckaroo (1942), a musical comedy featuring Harry James, The Andrews Sisters, and Mary…

1
Why The Three Stooges are Still Popular Today 16:25

1M ago16:25

16:25

TVC 682.5: Burt Kearns, author of SHEMP! The Biography of The Three Stooges’ Shemp Howard: The Face of Film Comedy, talks to Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter about how the repeated blows to the head that Shemp Howard, Curly Howard, and Larry Fine all took during the many live appearances that The Three Stooges made every year during their annual h…

1
Bar Hold Up and Shooting 32:51

1M ago32:51

32:51

Original Release Date: March 20, 2007 Friday and Romero go after a cop killer, with Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand wanting the killers caught before the next Sunrise. Original Air Date: June 24, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donatio…

1
The "Who Shot J.R.?" Phenomenon of 1980 11:03

1M ago11:03

11:03

We'll be back with a brand new edition of TV Confidential later this week. In the meantime, please enjoy this clip from March 2012 in which Tony, Donna and Ed remember “A House Divided,” the famous episode of Dallas that launched the “Who Shot J.R.?” phenomenon of 1980. “A House Divided” originally aired Mar. 21, 1980.…

1
Waitresses Robbed and Beaten 35:26

1M ago35:26

35:26

Original Release Date: March 13, 2007 Joe and Ben go searching for a criminal nicknamed the “werewolf” who is terrorizing young women in LA’s Central district. Original Air Date: June 17, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam…

1
1st Nationally Televised Oscarcast 4:42

1M ago4:42

4:42

We'll be back with a brand new edition of TV Confidential later this week. In the meantime, please enjoy this clip from March 2013 in which Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the first nationally televised broadcast of the Academy Awards ceremony, which took place on Mar. 19, 1953 during This Week in TV History.…

1
The Nickel-Plated Gun 35:15

2M ago35:15

35:15

Original Release Date: March 6, 2007 Joe Friday and his partner, Ben Ramirez on the trail of a killer, but confusing weapons and descriptions of the assailant create a unique challenge. Original Air Date: June 10, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.…

1
Why Roberta Flack Was Indefinable as an Artist 23:31

2M ago23:31

23:31

TVC 681.1: Music journalist A. Scott Galloway joins Ed as TV Confidential remembers the life and legacy of Grammy Award-winning recording artist Roberta Flack. Scott interviewed Flack in 1988 for her comeback album, Oasis, plus he wrote a very eloquent essay on his Facebook page that captures why the news of her death struck a chord with music love…

1
Roberta Flack, Charles Fox, and Killing Me Softly 10:22

2M ago10:22

10:22

TVC 681.2: From October 2010: Charles Fox, the Grammy Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning composer who co-wrote “Killing Me Softly with His Song” along with Norman Gimbel, talks to Ed about the phone call he received from Roberta Flack in 1972, asking if she could perform “Killing Me Softly,” and how that call changed Charles’ life. Nearly forty y…

1
Behind the Scenes of Police Story 10:51

2M ago10:51

10:51

TVC 681.2a: From January 2012: Television writer/producer Larry Brody takes Ed and his listeners behind the scenes of Police Story (NBC, 1973-1979), the Emmy Award-winning police anthology series created by Joseph Wambaugh and executive produced by David Gerber. Larry received one of his first breaks in television working with Gerber. Topics this s…

1
Linda Purl of Crazy Mama 26:25

2M ago26:25

26:25

TVC 681.3: Ed welcomes back singer/actress Linda Purl (Happy Days, Matlock, The Office). Linda is about to star in Crazy Mama, a riveting one-woman play that not only sheds light on the issue of mental illness with Southern-style humor and directness, but will feature Linda playing sixteen different characters. Ed asks Linda what first attracted he…

1
The Humanity of Rod Serling 18:24

2M ago18:24

18:24

TVC 681.4: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Anne Serling and Jodi Serling, the daughters of Rod Serling, and Marc Scott Zicree, longtime television writer/producer and the author of The Twilight Zone Companion. Dec. 25, 2024 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Rod Serling, while the 2024-2025 television season marks the 6…

1
The Legacy of Rod Serling 12:38

2M ago12:38

12:38

TVC 681.5: Anne Serling and Jodi Serling, the daughters of Rod Serling, and Marc Scott Zicree, author of The Twilight Zone Companion, share some final thoughts with Ed about the legacy of Rod Serling, including how Serling never “saw the signpost up ahead” with regard to the tremendous impact that his writing continues to have. Both The Twilight Zo…

1
Harrison Page, Russ Meyer, and The Difference Between Listening and Hearing 15:24

2M ago15:24

15:24

TVC 680.3: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Harrison Page, the actor known around the world as Joshua in Lionheart, Captain Trunk on Sledge Hammer!, CPO Robinson on CPO Sharkey, and Niles in Russ Meyer’s Vixen! Topics this segment include how Harrison approached playing Niles when he first read the script for Vixen; why it’s impor…

1
Harrison Page, Michael Landon, and Peter Falk 22:21

2M ago22:21

22:21

TVC 680.4: Harrison Page talks to Ed about how the success of Vixen led Michael Landon to cast him in “The Wish,” an episode of Bonanza written and directed by Landon that not only aired in 1969, but also marked Harrison’s first network appearance; how, upon completing production of “The Wish,” Landon made a phone call that resulted in Harrison bei…

1
Growing Up with Rod Serling 19:20

2M ago19:20

19:20

TVC 680.5: Ed welcomes Anne Serling and Jodi Serling, the daughters of Rod Serling, and Marc Scott Zicree, longtime television writer/producer and the author of The Twilight Zone Companion, for a celebration of both the 100th anniversary of the birth of Rod Serling and the 65th anniversary of the premiere of The Twilight Zone on CBS television. Ann…

1
Rod Serling: The Leonardo da Vinci of Television 16:41

2M ago16:41

16:41

TVC 680.6: Anne Serling and Jodi Serling, the daughters of Rod Serling, and Marc Scott Zicree, author of The Twilight Zone Companion, talk to Ed about how Rod Serling was not only the first modern-day show runner, in that he was a writer who also served as his own producer, but also the “Leonardo da Vinci of television,” in that he represented the …

1
The Legend of Pink Lady and Jeff 8:24

2M ago8:24

8:24

We'll be back with a brand new edition of TV Confidential later this week. In the meantime, please enjoy this clip from February 2020 in which Tony and Ed remember Pink Lady and Jeff (NBC, 1980), the short-lived and, in many respects, infamous variety series produced by Sid & Marty Krofft, which premiered on Mar. 1, 1980 during This Week in TV Hist…

1
Howard Hesseman, Bob Newhart, and The Committee 10:53

2M ago10:53

10:53

We'll be back with a brand new edition of TV Confidential later this week. In the meantime, please enjoy this clip from February 2015 in which Tony, Donna, and Ed remember some of the early TV roles of Howard Hessman, before he became known as Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati, as part of This Week in TV History. Howard Hesseman was born on th…

1
Remembering James McEachin 23:15

2M ago23:15

23:15

TVC 679.1: TV Confidential remembers actor, author, playwright, and decorated U.S. Army veteran James McEachin (Tenafly, Matlock, The Perry Mason Mysteries, Play Misty for Me, The Heroin Factor, Farewell to the Mockingbirds, The Alpha Caper, Above the Call: Beyond the Duty, Reveille, Swing Low, My Sweet Chariot: The Ballad of Jimmy Mack) by bringin…

1
James McEachin on Above The Call: Beyond the Duty 18:54

2M ago18:54

18:54

TVC 679.5: From February 2013: Actor, author, playwright, and decorated Korean War veteran James McEachin talks to Ed about why he re-enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve in Korea after previously serving in Japan (and why it was important to James that he serve on the frontlines in Korea); serving with the 9th Infantry Regiment, an all-black unit; l…

1
James McEachin on some of his early film and TV roles 9:03

2M ago9:03

9:03

TVC 679.6: From February 2013: James McEachin talks to Ed about the important role that Jack Webb played early in his acting career, particularly when James was under contract at Universal. He also shares a few memories of working with Clint Eastwood, Charles Floyd Johnson, David Janssen, and James Garner. James McEachin passed away on Jan. 11, 202…

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