Best Classictv Podcasts (2025)

1
John Madden, Pat Summerall, and the Rise of The NFL 23:36

Play Pause

15h ago23:36

23:36

TVC 710.1: Ed welcomes back Rich Podolsky, longtime journalist, onetime beat writer for the Miami Dolphins, onetime staff writer for CBS Sports and ABC Television, and the author of several books, including You Are Looking Live: How The NFL Today Revolutionized Sports Broadcasting. Rich’s latest book, Madden & Summerall: How They Revolutionized NFL…

1
John Madden, Pat Summerall, and Vin Scully 18:40

16h ago18:40

18:40

TVC 710.2: Rich Podolsky, author of Madden & Summerall: How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting, talks to Ed about the so-called “contest” between Pat Summerall and Vin Scully in the early weeks of the 1981 NFL season over who would welcome John Madden’s permanent on-air partner on CBS; how the commercials Madden did for Lite Beer from Miller help…

1
70 Years of Sergeant Bilko 16:11

16h ago16:11

16:11

TVC 710.3: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of The Phil Silvers Show (CBS, 1955-1959), aka You’ll Never Get Rich (the original title of the series), aka Sergeant Bilko and Bilko (as the show was both known once it went into reruns). The series not only made a star of Phil Silvers, but established Nat Hiken as a creative …

1
Rhonda Shear on the Return of Up All Night 21:27

16h ago21:27

21:27

TVC 710.4: Ed welcomes back actress, comedienne, author, and entrepreneur Rhonda Shear (Up All Night, Rhonda Shear Intimates, Up All Night: From Hollywood Bombshell to Lingerie Model, Life Lessons From An Accidental Feminist). Rhonda is bringing back Up All Night—by popular demand—as a series of specials, in partnership with the Kings of Horror cha…

1
Rhonda Shear on how improv makes you fearless as a performer 19:05

17h ago19:05

19:05

TVC 710.5: Rhonda Shear talks to Ed about studying improvisation from Harvey Lembeck when she first came to Los Angeles, and how Lembeck taught her to become fearless as a comedienne; why learning improv is a good skill to have, no matter what your profession; how the perception of women in comedy has changed considerably since Rhonda began her car…

1
Mariette Hartley, Quinn Martin, and Rod Serling 17:31

18h ago17:31

17:31

TVC 709.6: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and author Mariette Hartley (The Incredible Hulk, Goodnight, Beantown, Breaking the Silence, Law and Order: SVU). In this segment, Mariette talks to Ed about “Cotter’s Girl,” the classic episode of Gunsmoke from 1963 whose storyline is reminiscent of…

1
The Big Death 51:24

4d ago51:24

51:24

Original Release Date: May 4, 2008 Joe Friday goes undercover and is hired to kill the wife of a prominent busiessman. Bonus: Pat Novak for Hire “Dixie Gillan, Part One”: Novak is hired to frighten someone into leaving town. Original Air Date: September 28, 1950 Pat Novak Air Date: November 24, 1946 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectiv…

1
The Big Pair 53:57

7d ago53:57

53:57

Original Release Date: April 28, 2008 Joe Friday and Ben Romero must find two robbers who are cleaning out the homes of vacationers. Also, we feature a special preview of the Old Time Radio Superman show. Original Date: September 21, 1950 Superman Original Air Date: April 29, 1940 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the …

1
70 Years of Captain Kangaroo 21:39

8d ago21:39

21:39

TVC 709.1: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of Captain Kangaroo (CBS, 1955-1984) and its impact on other children’s television programs, including Romper Room and Bozo the Clown.By Ed Robertson

1
The Legacy of Captain Kangaroo 20:45

8d ago20:45

20:45

TVC 709.2: From October 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed continue their look at the broadcast history of Captain Kangaroo (CBS, 1955-1984), including a few word about The New Captain Kangaroo, the reboot starring John McDonough, which ran on the Fox Family Channel from 1997-2000.By Ed Robertson

1
Fran Tarkenton, Gerald Ford, and Howard Smith 16:11

8d ago16:11

16:11

TVC 709.3: Part 2 of the conversation that began last week with Howard Smith, author of My Friend Johnny, a memoir of Howard’s twenty-year friendship with Johnny Carson, which began in 1985 when Howard found himself living four doors down the street from Carson in Malibu, and which continued until the end of Carson’s life. Topics this segment inclu…

1
The Last Supper with Johnny Carson 18:10

8d ago18:10

18:10

TVC 709.4: Howard Smith shares a poignant memory of the last time he and his wife had dinner with Johnny Carson, just before a few days before Carson’s death in January 2005. Also in this segment: Howard shares a few memories of his friendship with actor Lloyd Haynes, which began a few years before Haynes became a star on Room 222 (ABC, 1969-1974),…

1
Mariette Hartley on working with her husband Jerry Sroka in Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story 19:05

8d ago19:05

19:05

TVC 709.5: Ed welcomes Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and author Mariette Hartley (The Incredible Hulk, Goodnight, Beantown, Breaking the Silence, Law and Order: SVU). Mariette stars, along with her husband Jerry Sroka (who we also hear from in this segment), in Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story, a romantic comedy about two people of a…

1
Mariette Hartley, James Garner, and the Polaroid One-Step 17:25

8d ago17:25

17:25

TVC 709.6: Emmy Award-winning actress Mariette Hartley talks to Ed about some of her other movie and TV roles, including the back story of the long-running, highly successful series of commercials that she did with James Garner for Polaroid cameras—and how the chemistry between her and Garner was so natural, many viewers believed that they were act…

1
The Big Make 35:32

11d ago35:32

35:32

Original Release Date: April 20, 2008 Joe Friday and Ben Romero think they’ve found an armed robber who committed a senseless shooting. They’re job: prove it. Original Air Date: September 14, 2008 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
The Big Poison 35:11

14d ago35:11

35:11

Original Release Date: April 13, 2008 An Elderly Couple disappears and Joe Friday and Ben Romero suspsect foul play. Original Air Date: September 7, 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 837…

1
65 Years of The Flintstones 15:18

15d ago15:18

15:18

By Ed Robertson

1
1st World Series Game Telecast in Color 6:47

15d ago6:47

6:47

By Ed Robertson

1
30 Years of Baywatch Nights 8:25

15d ago8:25

8:25

By Ed Robertson

1
How TV Covered The Death of Rock Hudson 5:24

15d ago5:24

5:24

By Ed Robertson

1
TV Confidential remembers Robert Redford 22:34

15d ago22:34

22:34

By Ed Robertson

1
Louise Sorel, Herb Edelman, and Robert Redford 6:44

15d ago6:44

6:44

By Ed Robertson

1
Howard Smith, author of My Friend Johnny 21:10

15d ago21:10

21:10

By Ed Robertson

1
Johnny Carson and The 5 Traits of a Beautiful Life 20:18

15d ago20:18

20:18

By Ed Robertson

1
The Big Check 38:03

18d ago38:03

38:03

Original Release Date: April 6, 2008 Joe Friday and Ben Romero track down a serial check forger. Original Air Date: August 31, 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 the listener s…

1
John Candy biographer Paul Myers on the "I like me" speech in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles 8:13

19d ago8:13

8:13

Paul Myers, author of John Candy: A Life in Comedy, talks to Ed about the famous "I like me" speech that John Candy delivered as Del Griffith in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) and how director John Hughes understood the essence of Candy as few others did. John Candy: A Life in Comedy becomes available wherever books are sold Tuesday, Oct. 7…

1
The Big Chance 37:38

21d ago37:38

37:38

Original Release Date: March 30, 2008 Joe Friday, Ben Romero and a team of officers from various police departments search for a missing Highway Patrolman. Original Air Date: August 24, 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
60 Years of The Wild, Wild West 15:30

22d ago15:30

15:30

From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed look back at the broadcast history of The Wild, Wild West (CBS, 1965-1969), which originally premiered on CBS in September 1965.By Ed Robertson

1
The Other Smothers Brothers Show 10:53

22d ago10:53

10:53

From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of The Smothers Brothers Show (CBS, 1965-1966), a short-lived sitcom starring Tom and Dick Smothers that is mostly remembered today for being part of Nick at Nite’s weekend lineup in the late 1980s. The failure of The Smothers Brothers Show spurred the Smothers (and Tom in particular) t…

1
The Big Youngster 38:04

25d ago38:04

38:04

Original Release Date: March 23, 2008 A young lawyer’s office is vandalized and Ben Romero and Joe Friday must find the culprit. Original Air Date: August 17, 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 Actor 32:13

28d ago32:13

32:13

Original Release Date: March 15, 2008 Joe Friday and Ben Romero search for $100,000 in missing narcotics. Original Air Date: August 10, 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 the l…

1
Would You Believe?!? Get Smart is 60 24:45

29d ago24:45

24:45

TVC 707.1: From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the legacy of Get Smart (NBC/CBS, 1965-1970), which premiered on NBC on Sept. 18, 1965.By Ed Robertson

1
60 Years of Hogan's Heroes 18:04

29d ago18:04

18:04

TVC 707.2: From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of Hogan’s Heroes (CBS, 1965-1971) on Sept. 17, 1965.By Ed Robertson

1
75 Years of Truth or Consequences 17:33

29d ago17:33

17:33

TVC 707.3: From April 2012: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of Truth or Consequences on television on Sept. 7, 1950, ten years after it had premiered on in 1940.By Ed Robertson

1
The Casting of Texas 18:30

29d ago18:30

18:30

TVC 707.5: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with John McCafferty, the actor known around the world as Billy Joe Wright on Texas (NBC, 1980-1982), and Tom Lisanti, sixties movie historian and 1970s daytime TV historian. John is among the many actors, writers, directors, NBC executives, and other behind-the-scenes personnel that Tom inte…

1
Why Texas Still Endures 10:55

29d ago10:55

10:55

TVC 707.6: John McCafferty, Tom Lisanti, and Ed discuss why Texas (NBC, 1980-1982) remains popular with fans more than forty years later, and how the series was particularly popular in Canada during its original network run. Tom’s latest book, Texas: An Oral History of Daytime’s Answer to Dallas, is available wherever books are sold through our fri…

1
The Big Dare 37:07

1M ago37:07

37:07

Original Release Date: March 8, 2008 Joe Friday and Ben Romero search for a man who killed his girlfriend. Original Air Date: August 3, 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 the l…

1
The Big Gent, Part Two 38:15

1M ago38:15

38:15

Original Release Date: March 1, 2008 Joe Friday and Ben Romero’s search for the gentleman bandit continues. Original Air Date: July 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 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715 Take the l…

1
What Do Green Acres and Xena Have in Common? 22:19

1M ago22:19

22:19

TVC 706.1: From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed commemorate the milestone broadcast anniversaries for Green Acres (CBS, 1965-1970) and Xena: Warrior Princess (Synd., 1995-2001), both of which originally premiered during This Week in TV History.By Ed Robertson

1
60 Years of The Dean Martin Show 16:06

1M ago16:06

16:06

TVC 706.2: From September 2015: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember The Dean Martin Show (NBC, 1965-1974), which originally premiered during This Week in TV History. Topics this segment include Martin’s initial reluctance to do a weekly series, and how the format morphed in later years into The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts.…

1
Dean Martin and The Alberici Sisters 14:37

1M ago14:37

14:37

TVC 706.3: From December 2011: Ed welcomes the Alberici Sisters (Maria Lauren and Linda Eichberg), co-authors of Beyond Our Wildest Dreams, a memoir of their two decades performing with Dean Martin as members of the Dean Martin Golddiggers that particularly focuses on the years 1973 through 1978, one of the last great eras of entertainment.…

1
Ruta Lee, Clint Eastwood, and Lucille Ball 23:40

1M ago23:40

23:40

TVC 706.4: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Ruta Lee (High Rollers, Witness for the Prosecution, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Consider Your Ass Kissed), entertainment legend and the chairperson emeritus of The Thalians. Ruta recently announced that The Thalians will honor Neil Sedaka with its Mr. Wonderful award at this year’s…

1
Texas: Daytime TV's Answer to Dallas 19:51

1M ago19:51

19:51

TVC 706.5: Ed welcomes John McCafferty, the actor known around the world as Billy Joe Wright on Texas (NBC, 1980-1982), and Tom Lisanti, sixties movie historian and 1970s daytime TV historian. John is among the many actors, writers, directors, NBC executives, and other behind-the-scenes personnel that Tom interviewed for his latest book, Texas: An …

1
Paul Green on Frank Price and Roy Huggins 15:22

1M ago15:22

15:22

TVC 706.6: TV Confidential marks the recent passing of renowned film and TV executive Frank Price by playing a clip from our April 2014 conversation with author Paul Green about the life and career of Roy Huggins. Price not only collaborated with Roy Huggins several times while they were both at Universal Television, but became Huggins’ son-in-law …

1
The Big Gent, Part One 33:21

1M ago33:21

33:21

Original Release Date: February 23, 2008 Joe Friday and Ben Romero try and track down two hold up men responsible for a robbery and killing in San Diego. Original Air Date: July 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: Adam Graha…

1
The Big Bomb 36:07

1M ago36:07

36:07

Original Release Date: February 16, 2008 A man has threatened to blow up city if his brother’s not released by 9 o’clock. Joe Friday and Ben Romero must get the bomb away from him. Original Air Date: July 13, 1950 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mai…

1
Happy Birthday, June Lockhart 20:27

1M ago20:27

20:27

TVC 705.1: TV Confidential celebrates the recent centennial birthday of actress June Lockhart by bringing you an encore presentation of our conversation with June from March 2015 in which we discussed the ongoing popularity of Lost in Space (particularly, on MeTV), plus a few other stories from her showbiz career. June Lockhart turned 100 on June 2…

1
Malibu U, Happening ’68, and other pop music TV shows from the 1960s 20:27

1M ago20:27

20:27

TVC 705.2: From August 2018: Chuck Harter joins Ed for the last of our three-part look at the era of pop music TV shows from the mid to late 1960s. This segment focuses on Malibu U (ABC, 1967), a summer replacement series hosted by Rick Nelson and featuring the Bob Banas Dancers (along with such guests as Leonard Nimoy, James Darren, Dionne Warwick…

1
Lily Tomlin, David Steinberg, and The Music Scene 15:48

1M ago15:48

15:48

TVC 705.3: From August 2018: Chuck Harter and Ed remember The Music Scene (ABC, 1969), the short-lived music comedy series from the fall of 1969 that featured such top Billboard artists as The Beatles, James Brown, Neil Diamond, Three Dog Night, Tom Jones, Janis Joplin, Sly and The Family Stone—all performing live every week. Hosted by comedian Dav…

1
Ruta Lee on the back story of the “Mr. Wonderful” Award 19:52

1M ago19:52

19:52

TVC 705.4: Ed welcomes back Ruta Lee (High Rollers, Witness for the Prosecution, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Consider Your Ass Kissed), legendary singer, actress, and philanthropist, and the chairperson emeritus of The Thalians, the charitable organization to which Ruta has dedicated much of her life over the past seventy years, and which to d…