TV
Television goofs, forgotten shows, and small-screen oddities
Three networks, one TV in the living room, and somehow the strangest television ever aired. Saturday morning cartoons built to sell toys, very special episodes, shows canceled mid-cliffhanger — 80s TV was chaos on a broadcast schedule, and we were all watching the same chaos at the same time.
Deep Dives
The Mork Costume Boom: Robin Williams Trapped in Vinyl
The Mork costume craze was America trying to bottle Robin Williams’ improv in the cheapest plastic available. It squeaked, stuck, and terrified parents anyway.
Reading Rainbow Was a Brain Hijack, and Thank God
Reading Rainbow did not politely encourage reading. It mugged your attention with a glitter-synth theme, then used LeVar Burton and kid reviews to make books feel like brag-worthy contraband.
Latest in TV
The Mork Costume Boom: Robin Williams Trapped in Vinyl
The Mork costume craze was America trying to bottle Robin Williams’ improv in the cheapest plastic available. It squeaked, stuck, and terrified parents anyway.
Reading Rainbow Was a Brain Hijack, and Thank God
Reading Rainbow did not politely encourage reading. It mugged your attention with a glitter-synth theme, then used LeVar Burton and kid reviews to make books feel like brag-worthy contraband.