Best Classictv Podcasts (2025)

1
The Movers and Shakers of Variety Television 25:22

5h ago25:22

25:22

TVC 700.1: From August 2016: Ed welcomes Steve Binder, Emmy Award-winning producer and director (Diana Ross: Live in Central Park, Elvis: The 1968 Comeback Special, The T.A.M.I. Show) and the co-author, along with Mary Beth Liedman, of Fade Up 26: The Movers and Shakers of Variety Television, an oral history of variety television, as told through t…

1
Steve Binder, Dwight Hemion, and Hullabaloo 16:20

5h ago16:20

16:20

TVC 700.2: From August 2016: Steve Binder, Emmy Award-winning producer and director and the co-author, along with Mary Beth Leidman, of Fade Up 26: The Movers and Shakers of Variety Television, talks to Ed about working with Dwight Hemion on the pop music series Hullabaloo (NBC, 1965-1966). Gary Smith, Hemion’s longtime producing partner, passed aw…

1
Morgan White, Jr. and his trademark hat 10:34

6h ago10:34

10:34

TVC 700.3: Via remote from Las Vegas: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Morgan White, Jr., longtime late night radio personality for WBZ AM-FM/Boston, author of many books on a variety of subjects, and the Undisputed King of Trivia. Topics this segment include the back story of Morgan came to wear his trademark black leather cowboy…

1
Kathleen Bradley on being a pioneer 25:27

6h ago25:27

25:27

TVC 700.4: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Kathleen Bradley, the first African-American model to join ranks with Barker’s Beauties on The Price is Right, and the actress known around the world as Mrs. Parker in Friday. Topics this segment include Kathleen’s years traveling the world as a member of the female soul and disco group …

1
Laurence Luckinbill on the legacy of The Boys in the Band 19:41

6h ago19:41

19:41

TVC 700.5: Ed back welcomes actor, author, playwright, and Emmy Award-winning producer Laurence Luckinbill (The Boys in the Band, The Delphi Bureau, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Lyndon, Hemingway, Teddy Tonight!, Clarence Darrow Tonight!). Topics this segment include why both the original stage production and the original theatrical release of …

1
Laurence Luckinbill on the role of providence in his life 14:57

6h ago14:57

14:57

TVC 700.6: Actor and author Laurence Luckinbill (The Boys in the Band, The Delphi Bureau, Star Trek V, Affective Memories: How Chance and The Theater Saved My Life) talks to Ed about the many times in which providence has played a role in his life, including a pivotal night at the end of his first year as a pre-med student at the University of Arka…

1
Remembering Loni Anderson 6:21

1d ago6:21

6:21

Please enjoy this special bonus edition of the TV Confidential podcast honoring the memory of Loni Anderson, the actress known around the world as Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati. Loni Anderson passed away Sunday, Aug. 3 at age seventy-nine. While we never had the opportunity to interview her directly on TV Confidential, Loni Anderson did ap…

1
Big Knife 33:40

3d ago33:40

33:40

Original Release Date: December 1, 2007 21 girls have been knifed at a local high school. Joe Friday and Ben Romero must catch the perpetrator before he kills one of his victims. Original Air Date: May 11, 1950 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a…

1
Remembering Mick Martin 21:21

7d ago21:21

21:21

TVC 699.1: An encore presentation of a conversation from May 2015 with Mick Martin, the longtime blues artist and radio host who enjoyed a parallel successful career as film critic for The Sacramento Union and other newspapers. Mick Martin passed away on Sunday, July 13 at age seventy-six. Mick interviewed hundreds of actors and musicians, includin…

1
Mick Martin on John Mitchum and other character actors 19:45

7d ago19:45

19:45

TVC 699.2: From May 2015: Blues artist, radio host, and film historian Mick Martin and Ed discuss why John Mitchum, the younger brother of Robert Mitchum, was something of a “Hard Luck Harry” until his memorable role opposite Clint Eastwood in the original Dirty Harry. Other topics this segment include a look at such other notable character actors …

1
Morgan White, Jr.: The Undisputed King of Trivia 15:56

7d ago15:56

15:56

TVC 699.3: Via remote from Las Vegas: Ed welcomes Morgan White, Jr., longtime late night radio personality for WBZ AM-FM/Boston, author of many books on a variety of subjects, and the Undisputed King of Trivia. Besides his deep roots in radio, Morgan has hosted live improv trivia shows, both in Boston and in other parts of the country, for more tha…

1
Morgan White, Jr., Daws Butler, and David McCallum 22:46

7d ago22:46

22:46

TVC 699.4: Via remote from Las Vegas: Longtime Boston radio personality Morgan White, Jr. talks to Ed about meeting some of his animation heroes, including Daws Butler, Jay Ward, Bill Scott, and June Foray; how both Matt Damon and Ben Affeck were regular listeners of his late night show, before they became stars; and how Morgan became dear friends …

1
Kathleen Bradley, Ice Cube, and “Hi, Mrs. Parker” 19:15

7d ago19:15

19:15

TVC 699.5: Ed welcomes Kathleen Bradley, the first African-American model to join ranks with Barker’s Beauties on The Price is Right, and the actress known around the world as the voluptuous Mrs. Parker in the 1995 cult comedy Friday. Kathleen recently reunited with Ice Cube, one of her co-stars in Friday, on the set of Ice Cube’s music video for “…

1
Kathleen Bradley with more memories of Friday 14:19

7d ago14:19

14:19

TVC 699.6: Actress, supermodel, speaker, and author Kathleen Bradley talks to Ed about working with some of the other cast members of Friday, including Bernie Mac, Regina King, Tiny Lister, and John Witherspoon. Calendar year 2025 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Friday. Kathleen’s memoir, Backstage at The Price is Right: Memoirs o…

1
Big Badge 35:55

10d ago35:55

35:55

Original Release Date: November 25, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero search for a robber who pretends to be a police officer in order to commit robbery and rape. Original Air Date: May 4, 1950 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 G…

1
The Big Job 39:22

11d ago39:22

39:22

Original Release Date: November 18, 2007 A con man becomes a cop killer and it falls to Joe Friday and Ben Romero to bring him to justice. Original Air Date: April 27, 1950 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 1591…

1
The Big Trial 51:07

14d ago51:07

51:07

Original Release Date: November 11, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero spend months of police work tracking down a hit and run driver. But will it fall apart at trial? Original Air Date: April 20, 1950 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:…

1
Taylor Blackwell of It Happened: The Judy Tenuta Story 19:39

14d ago19:39

19:39

TVC 698.1: Ed welcomes Taylor Blackwell, the writer, director, and star of It Happened, the award-winning short biopic about legendary comedienne Judy Tenuta. It Happened was made with the cooperation and financial support of the Judy Tenuta Legacy, which also allowed Taylor to use Judy’s actual accordion in the film, as well as wear Judy’s jewelry…

1
Kiki Ebsen on the lifelong journey of an artist 20:15

14d ago20:15

20:15

TVC 698.5: Ed welcomes Kiki Ebsen, youngest daughter of Buddy Ebsen, and an accomplished singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist in her own right. Kiki will perform her Joni Mitchell Tribute show at the Festival of Arts/Pagent of the Masters in Laguna Beach, CA on Saturday, July 26. She’ll also be part of the Al Jarreau Band Reunion Show…

1
Kiki Ebsen on the songs of The Great American Songbook 13:11

14d ago13:11

13:11

TVC 698.6: Singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist Kiki Ebsen talks to Ed about the tapestry of stories available in The Great American Songbook; how Kiki’s lifelong passion for horses led her to start The Healing Equine Ranch, a nonprofit organization whose equine-assisted services integrates yoga philosophy, natural horsemanship princi…

1
The Big Watch 56:12

18d ago56:12

56:12

Original Release Date: November 4, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero search for a gang that is beating and robbing Army Officers. Original Air Date: April 6, 1950 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, Ida…

1
The Big Book 37:19

25d ago37:19

37:19

Original Release Date: October 27, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero search for the source of pornography distribution in Los Angeles. Original Air Date: April 6, 1950 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 Big Gangster, Part Two 40:59

28d ago40:59

40:59

Original Release Date: October 21, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero must find the killers of a big time criminal to avoid a gang war. Original Air Date: March 30, 1950 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, Bois…

1
Rich Manley, adventure illusionist and host of Culture Shock on Tubi 23:46

28d ago23:46

23:46

TVC 697.1: Ed welcomes back Rich Manley, world-renowned “adventure illusionist” and the writer, producer, director, and host of Culture Shock: Bridging Cultures Through Magic, the popular series on Tubi that communicates the energy, humility, and compassion of people coming together through the shared experience of magic. The first season of Cultur…

1
Tribute to Bobby Sherman 15:01

1M ago15:01

15:01

From June 2023: Ed and Greg Ehrbar look back at the music and television career of Bobby Sherman as part of a conversation about the home entertainment release of Here Come the Brides (ABC, 1968-1970). Though Sherman first came into prominence as the house singer on Shindig (ABC, 1964-1966), the success of Here Come the Brides made him a teen idol,…

1
The Big Gangster, Part One 32:39

1M ago32:39

32:39

Original Release Date: October 14, 2007 Someone’s out to kill a local crime kingpin. Joe Friday and Ben Romero must find the would-be killers and stop the murder attempts from breaking out into an all-out gang war. Original Air Date: March 23, 1950 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http:…

1
The Birth of the CBS Bicentennial Minutes 6:43

1M ago6:43

6:43

We'll be back with a brand new edition of TV Confidential later in July. In the meantime, please enjoy this clip from June 2011 in which Tony, Donna, and Ed remember The Bicentennial Minutes (CBS, 1974-1976), a series of one-minute educational television segments, produced by CBS News, that every night aired in prime time (usually at the end of the…

1
The Big Boys 40:15

1M ago40:15

40:15

Original Release Date: October 7, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero search for four young men wanted for robbery. Original Air Date: March 9, 1950 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 th…

1
The Heart of John Candy 22:57

1M ago22:57

22:57

TVC 696.4: Via remote from Davenport’s Restaurant in Encino, California: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Robert Crane, co-author, along with Christopher Fryer, of Three-Cornered Circle, is a screen play released in book form that is also an adaptation of one of the most poignant stories of Bob and Chris’ book Crane: Sex, Celebrit…

1
John Candy and "The Chongos" 21:08

1M ago21:08

21:08

TVC 696.5: Via remote from the back patio of Davenport’s Restaurant in Encino, California: Robert Crane, John Cerney, and Meagan Bejar talk to Ed about Bob’s experience with dealing with tragedy and loss; why “closure” is a media term; how John Candy came from a humble background, after losing his father when he was five; and how Candy once lobbied…

1
Why John Candy was beloved by all 17:28

1M ago17:28

17:28

TVC 696.6: Christopher Fryer, co-author, along with Robert Crane, of Three-Cornered Circle, shares a few of his favorite stories about his encounters with John Candy, including the time when he, Bob, Candy, and then-NBC broadcaster Bob Costas were all stuck in the same car together along the Garden State Parkway while heading for a concert in New J…

1
The Big Thank You 34:03

1M ago34:03

34:03

Original Release Date: September 29, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero try to put a double murderer away for good in this week’s episode of Dragnet. Original Air Date: March 2, 1950 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
The Big Kill 34:33

1M ago34:33

34:33

Original Release Date: September 22, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero try to put a double murderer away for good in this week’s episode of Dragnet. Original Air Date: March 2, 1950 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
Bill Kroyer, Chuck Jones, and Glen Larson 22:02

1M ago22:02

22:02

TVC 695.1: Ed welcomes Academy Award-nominated director and animator Bill Kroyer (FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Tron, Technological Threat). The title of Bill’s memoir, Mr. In-Between: My Life in the Middle of the Animation Revolution, is a play on words: He began his career in animation drawing something known as “in-betweens,” while the story a…

1
Bill Kroyer, June Foray, and Mick Jagger 21:38

1M ago21:38

21:38

TVC 695.2: Academy Award-nominated director and animator Bill Kroyer talks to Ed about what an “in-between” is in animation; why it took more than the success of Tron, the first feature motion picture to integrate computer-generated imagery, for CGI to take off; what led Bill into directing; and how he came to work with Mick Jagger on the music vid…

1
Robert Crane, John Cerney, Meagan Bejar, and Three-Cornered Circle 24:04

1M ago24:04

24:04

TVC 695.4: Via remote from the back patio of Davenport’s Restaurant in Encino, California: Ed welcomes back Robert Crane, eldest son of Hogan’s Heroes star Bob Crane, and the author or co-author of several books on movies and television, including My UnHollywood Family, Hollywood Plateau, Jack Nicholson: The Early Years, Bruce Dern: Things I’ve Sai…

1
Christopher Fryer, co-author of Three-Cornered Circle 18:07

1M ago18:07

18:07

TVC 695.5: Ed welcomes back Christopher Fryer, co-author, along with Robert Crane, of Three-Cornered Circle and other books on movies and television. Topics this segment include how Chris and Bob worked together on Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father’s Unsolved Murder (and, to some degree, on Three-Cornered Circle); the importance of using dialogu…

1
The Big Grifter 36:43

2M ago36:43

36:43

Original Release Date: September 15, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero match wits with a con man who has a 35 year criminal record. Original Air Date: February 9, 1950 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 Big Girl 35:31

2M ago35:31

35:31

Original Release Date: September 8, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero hunt for a suspect identified as a beautiful woman who hitches rides with men, then robs and beats them. Original Air Date: February 9, 1950 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a do…

1
Carol Lynley, Carroll Baker, and the dueling Jean Harlow biopics of 1965 23:13

2M ago23:13

23:13

TVC 694.1: Ed welcomes back Tom Lisanti, renowned historian of sixties cinema, and the author of such books as Carol Lynley: Her Film & TV Career in Thrillers, Fantasy and Suspense and Ryan’s Hope: An Oral History of Daytime’s Groundbreaking Soap. Tom’s recent books include Dueling Harlows: The Race to Bring the Actress’s Life to the Silver Screen,…

1
Dueling Harlows by Tom Lisanti 8:34

2M ago8:34

8:34

TVC 694.2: Tom Lisanti, author of Dueling Harlows: The Race to Bring the Actress’s Life to the Silver Screen, talks to Ed about his forthcoming oral history of the brief period in which the daytime soap Another World (NBC, 1964-1999) expanded from sixty minutes in length to ninety minutes.By Ed Robertson

1
Harry O in San Diego 22:13

2M ago22:13

22:13

TVC 694.5: Part 2 of a conversation that began two programs ago with Steve Aldous and Gary Gillies, co-authors of The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series, a deep dive into the making of Harry O (ABC, 1974-1976), the short-lived but fondly remembered private eye series starring David Janssen, Henry Darrow,…

1
The Allure of Harry O 14:02

2M ago14:02

14:02

TVC 694.6: Steve Aldous and Gary Gillies, co-authors of The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series, talk to Ed about the various reasons why Harry O was canceled in the spring of 1976, despite holding its own in the ratings; the contributions of producer Jerry Thorpe and director Richard Lang; and why part o…

1
Jack Webb on the Bob Hope Show 35:13

2M ago35:13

35:13

Original Release Date: September 1, 2007 Joe Friday and his partner Detective Hope are on the trail of a killer in this Jello-filled episode. Original Air Date: February 4, 1953 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…

1
The Child Killers 31:32

2M ago31:32

31:32

Original Release Date: August 25, 2007 Friday and Romero search for the murderer of two young girls. Disclaimer: “Ladies and Gentlemen, this program is for you, not your children. The subject is of vital importance to you as parents. This is the story of a vicious man” Original Air Date: February 2, 1950 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdet…

1
The Watercolour Artistry of Loretta Swit 25:05

2M ago25:05

25:05

TVC 693.1: From January 2017: Emmy Award-winning actress Loretta Swit joins Ed for a conversation about her lifelong interest in watercolor painting, her “proprietary relationship” with wildlife, her vast stage career (including her then-recent portrayal of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt), and, of course, a few questions about M*A*S*H. Loretta…

1
Loretta Swit's "Proprietary Relationship" with Wildlife 22:22

2M ago22:22

22:22

TVC 693.2: Part 2 of our January 2017 conversation with Loretta Swit about her lifelong interest in watercolor painting, her “proprietary relationship” with wildlife, her vast stage career (including her then-recent portrayal of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt), and a few questions about M*A*S*H, including Loretta's deep respect for real-life n…

1
Loretta Swit, Margaret Houlihan, and Eleanor Roosevelt 16:28

2M ago16:28

16:28

TVC 693.3: Part 3 of our January 2017 conversation with Loretta Swit, including questions about her vast stage career (including her then-recent portrayal of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt) and the close-knit, almost theatre-like camaraderie between Loretta and her fellow cast members on M*A*S*H. Also in this segment: A quote from actor Jamie …

1
A Walk in the Park with Loretta Swit 24:05

2M ago24:05

24:05

TVC 693.4: From February 2019: Ed, Tony, and Donna accompany Emmy Award-winning actress, artist and animal rights activist Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H, SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit) on a walk through Central Park as she discusses her efforts on behalf of all animals; her support of our veterans; how she keeps hers…

1
A Walk in the Park with Loretta Swit, Part 2 24:15

2M ago24:15

24:15

TVC 693.5: Part 2 of a conversation that originally aired in February 2019 in which Ed, Tony, and Donna accompany Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H, SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit) on a walk through Central Park. Also in this segment: A quote from JoAnne Worley, president of Actors and Others for Animals, that lauds Loret…

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