Television

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Sam writes about shows and character from television, from the beloved and popular to the nigh-forgotten, bringing forth some of TV’s best stories in the process.  TV is one of the great shared North American experiences.  Actors and stories that have shaped generations, introduced people to new things, or just made us laugh are all featured as the Pop Culture Addict discusses Television.

Regenerations: The Madness of William Hartnell

Defending Dawn: Confessions of a Michelle Trachenberg Fan

Sam talks about his affection for one of recent TV history’s most-disliked characters, and the actress that portrayed her. Despite her career of mostly bit parts and second-rate films and his friends’ mockery, Sam’s affection continues unabated.  Join Sam as he attempts to explain what the hell he sees in Michelle Trachenberg.

Jonathon Frid: The Curse of Barnabas Collins

No one can escape the Vampire phenomenon when it hits; from the teen heart-throbs of Twilight back to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Vampire frenzy grips people and doesn’t let go.  Join Sam as he explores one of  the strangest daytime soap-opera of all time and its sexy vampire hero: Dark Shadows and Barnabas Collins.

Tonight Eric Braeden Shall Eat Your Soul: A Look At the Pre-Soap Career of TV’s Black Knight 

TV Tunes: Made for TV bands that rocked our TV sets     Part One – 1951 to 1979

From the first television show featuring a musician as part of the cast (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet) to many memorable performances (Gilligan’s Island’s ‘The Honeybees’) to the Muppet’s Electric Mayhem, Sam explores the history of the made-for-TV band.

TV Tunes: Made for TV bands that rocked our TV sets
Part Two – 1980 to 2008

In Part Two of his article on made-for-TV bands, Sam explores Scott Baio’s attempts to sing, and Myley Cyrus’ much more successful career as well as lots of your favourites along the way.

In search of the girl who wears a big friggin’ hat behind Blossom, who also wears a big friggin’ hat, or Jenna Von Huh?

When Sam wrote this article back in 2005, he had little idea what kind of attention it would get.  As it turns out, Jenna Von Oy is a bit of a cult pin-up figure, particularly because she has a great butt.  Who would think spazzy Six from Blossom would grow up to be a curvaceous bombshell? Well, in service to our readers, we’ve added a gallery of Jenna Von Oy for your viewing pleasure.

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Cemetary?

Sam lays to rest the urban legend of Grover’s death on Sesame Street, and explores the ways that the beloved children’s show has dealt with the deaths of actors over the years.

Darlene Gillespie:  Walt Disney’s Bad Seed

Are These Happy Days Yours and Mine Happy Days?: The Violent and Merciless Death of a Classic Sitcom

Are These Happy Days Yours and Mine Happy Days II: The Curse of Ted McGinley

Tales From the Riverbank: Rediscovering Hammy Hamster