Fanacek

"Chico, don't get discouraged, the Man he ain't so hard to understand." Ah...Chico and the Man. I have to admit, this was a really fun rewatch. Freddie Prinze was full of charm and optimism and Jack Albertson was...well...Jack Albertson. This show isn't talked about as much as it should be as it was cut short for obvious reasons. In a TV Landscape dominated by Norman Lear, this series was "controversy light". It shined a light on urban blight, blue collar struggles, and racial clashes in a very easy to swallow pill. So, sit back and enjoy while I give 'ol Chico the credit he deserves.

"Come and knock on our door"...Oh boy, did I love this show as a kid! Suzanne Somers, sexual innuendo, misunderstandings...did I say Suzanne Somers? Let's face it, this was not meant to be a thinking man's series, nor a critical darling (although it was nominated for tons of Emmy and Golden Globe Awards). Rather, this was a fun, escapist show chock full o' horny young adults. That said, the writing was sharp, the acting was solid, and...it had Suzanne Somers! Enjoy.

Yes, it's another Fanacek episode about a show you probably don't enjoy, but you absolutely must revisit this pilot as it is almost as batshit crazy as the rest of the series. Mr. Drummond plays white savior to two black orphans who just lost their mother. Lucky for them, they don't have a chance to grieve because Mr. D is "shaking hands like a brother", showering them with toys and a pony, and offering a soak in his jacuzzi. What could have been an interesting commentary on loss and racial divides became this cotton candy descent into lunacy. Enjoy.

"Boy the way Glen Miller played. Songs that made the hit parade.. Guys like us we had it made. Those were the days". Ahh...a classic intro for a classic show. This season I will be focusing on pilot episodes of classic television shows and there is no better pilot episode to start with than 1971's "Meet the Bunkers". Three different pilots were filmed before Norman Lear finally perfected this recipe of stellar writing, perfect acting, and...controversy. Archie Bunker would soon become a lightning rod for debates about bigotry, tradition, and change and America would love every minute of it. Join me and a returning guest as we dissect the episode and discuss how it has aged and how it is still shockingly relevant. So, stifle yourself and play the damn episode.

Sure, the character of Cousin Eddie is a definite Hall of Famer and a Christmas staple...but what abut the actor playing him? Let's dive into the resume of Mr. Quaid and take a close look at the legendary directors and fellow actors he's worked with during his 50+ year career. We'll also chitchat about his tumultuous personal life while also discussing my personal connection to Not Another Teen Movie, Chuck Bronson not being a "fun" guy, the craziness that is The World According to Garp, the girl I dumped in 7th grade, my experience with Independence Day, and my Elvis audition that never happened. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Like the shitter, my heart is full.

More Fanacek and more Warren Oates! What could be better than that? This episode will pick up where we left off and look at Warren's late 60s credits before he crushes it in the 1970s. Warren also began the 80s with a bang, but sadly he died young at the age of 53 on April 3, 1982. Come with me as I dive into his resume to determine if he is a card carrying Hall of Famer!

At only 8 years old, Justin Henry was the youngest Academy Award nominee ever...but what did he do next? Well, I'm gonna take you on a deep dive of his acting resume while also blowing your minds with tales of making short films with the chick from Saturday Night Fever, watching Charmed without the sound, hanging out with Mark Volman of The Turtles, Ashley Scott lying on the ground, meeting Pauly Shore, and ordering season 1 of Thirtysomething on Ebay. It's a gem of an episode.

With a name like that, he has to be a nice guy, right? We loved him as Rudy in Meatballs and he stole our hearts in My Bodyguard, but what the hell else has he done and where did he go? I'll answer these questions and more as I take you on a journey that includes the murder of Bob Crane, my time with Jonah Hill, Corey Feldman's bass player, fake T&A movies, and Dolph Lundgren's ex-girlfriend. Peace!

Ahh...The Bad News Bears. One of the greatest kids sports flicks of all time. We all know what became of Walter Matthau, Tatum O'Neal, and Jackie Earl Haley, but what about the rest of the squad? Ahmad Abdul Rahim? Ogilvie? Timmy? Tanner? Why don't we know what the hell ever became of these all-stars? Fear no more as I've done the research and prepared a detailed report to get you up to speed. Along the way, I also address other important topics like Weezer, drive-in movies, Gwyneth Paltrow's dad, Space Raiders, and Princess Leia.

You may not know their names, but you've definitely seen their work...and you were likely scared shitless! These two fellas became famous for starring in Poltergeist and Friday the 13th respectively. But what happened next? What kind of careers did they have? Well, I answer these questions and more as I dig into their lives and resumes while also chatting about prank calls and Bret "the Hitman" Hart. Yay.

My man Robbie Rist is THE original Cousin Oliver! And, for that, he will always be held in high regard in the annals of pop culture history. But what else did he do, you ask? A ton and I take a nice, deep dive on his screen credits while also getting chatty about Friday the 13th Parts 4-6, the Having Babies franchise of the 1970s, Tony Bill & My Bodyguard, David Gordon Green's Halloween trilogy, and watching TMNT with my daughter. It's a real hoot.

What to expect from the exciting new season of Fanacek!

You thought I was done with this topic, didn't you? Well, I did some sleuthing and found a few more 80s shows that became short lived, unbelievably bad television shows. And unbelievably bad television shows is kind of my thing! We're gonna chat about Richard Pryor's Bustin' Loose which did not turn out to be a DYN-O-MITE series. I'll also enlighten you regarding Down and Out in Beverly Hills, The Four Seasons, and Nothing in Common. Along the way we'll touch on Nick Nolte's mugshot, my time with Jonah Hill, EGOTs, and a ton of Garry Marshall chit chat. It's a somewhat decent episode, I must say.