Episode 252 - THE CARTOON NETWORK TOON-AMENT

March Madness returns with a collection of 90s Cartoon Network classics, featuring everything from surreal talk shows and pop culture mash-ups to Dadaist comedy and high-tech adventures. Jake Beal joins us for what may be the toughest bracket in WWWW history, as we crown the winner of the Cartoon Network Toon-ament!

Shows included in the Cartoon Network Toon-ament:

Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Dexter's Laboratory
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
Johnny Bravo
Cow & Chicken
The Powerpuff Girls
Ed, Edd n Eddy
Courage the Cowardly Dog

Episode 239 - SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Saturday Night Live has created so many historic moments in comedy and television, we couldn't limit ourselves to just one era. We're celebrating 50 years of SNL with our first-ever fantasy draft! Brian Rudloff joins us as we build the show of our dreams from across the decades. It's just three wild and crazy guys paying tribute to our favorite cast members, characters, sketches, and musical guests of all time.

Live! From the internet! It's What Were We Watching!

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Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
Created by Lorne Michaels

Check out our curated SNL playlist of favorite sketches and segments!

Episode 230 - THE SIMPSONS

Ay caramba! It's ten years to the day since we launched WWWW, and we're celebrating our milestone anniversary with a look back at the golden age of The Simpsons. We're diving into memories, music, merchandise, and all the things make us go "mmm" in our painstakingly-crafted lists of the top ten installments across the show's first ten seasons. It may just be our best...episode...ever. Woo hoo!

The Simpsons
Seasons 1-10 (1989 - 1999)
Created by Matt Groening

Episode 226 - THE DISNEY AFTERNOON TOON-AMENT

Grab a bag of Amazin' Fruit and some Gummiberry juice, because it's time for our Disney Afternoon bracket episode! Eight shows from the beloved after-school cartoon block compete to find out which one wins our hearts both then and now. And along the way, we'll talk crazy concepts, comical characters, and killer theme songs with the always-entertaining Manny Lozano. Woo-oo!

Shows included in the Disney Afternoon Toon-ament:

The Adventures of the Gummi Bears
DuckTales
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
TaleSpin
Darkwing Duck
Goof Troop
Bonkers
Quack Pack

Episode 222 - IT'S THE PEANUTS HOLIDAY BRACKET, CHARLIE BROWN!

'Tis the season for giving, and this year we're gifting listeners an entire bracket of Peanuts holiday specials! Charles Schulz's pals have celebrated a lot since their first iconic Christmas special. But has that initial outing ever been surpassed? Can elaborate paper valentines or dancing Easter beagles hold a candle to sadly slumping Christmas trees? And what the heck is a "Great Pumpkin" anyway?

And after we unpack these questions with special guest Brian Rudloff, we'll also unwrap real presents in this jam-packed, carefully-wrapped, ho ho holly, multi-holiday smorgasbord. Good grief!

Peanuts TV specials featured in this episode:

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)
It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (1976)
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (1986)
It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992)

Episode 190 - BOY MEETS WORLD

The standard-bearer of ABC's famed TGIF lineup throughout the '90s, Boy Meets World served up a weekly dose of warmth, wackiness, and wholesome teen romance. But even then, we knew that the show's real love story wasn't Cory and Topanga - it was Cory and Shawn, a bestie bromance for the ages. Toss in the gang's textbook co-dependency with mentor figure Mr. Feeny, and this is a sitcom steeped in playful psychological shenanigans.

Manny Lozano helps us pick up on the obvious-in-retrospect signals as we spend quality time with this formative family sitcom, and find that its heart and humor still resonate more than two decades later.

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)
Created by Michael Jacobs and April Kelly
Starring Ben Savage, Rider Strong, Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, Betsy Randle, William Russ, Lily Nicksay, Lindsay Ridgeway, Anthony Tyler Quinn, Trina McGee-Davis, Matthew Lawrence, Maitland Ward, and William Daniels

Episodes featured in this podcast:

"Teacher's Bet" (aired 11/19/1993)
"Chick Like Me" (aired 1/31/1997)
"Cult Fiction" (aired 4/25/1997)
"It's Not You...It's Me" (aired 10/17/1997)
"And Then There Was Shawn" (aired 2/27/1998)
"Brave New World" (aired 5/5/2000)

Episode 179 - THE RANKIN/BASS RANK-A-THON

We're making ranked lists...checking them twice...introducing our new thematic device: the Rank-A-Thon has come to our pod! We're doing a thorough breakdown of four vintage Rankin/Bass animated specials, and evaluating them in a wide array of aesthetic, narrative, and festive categories. And we couldn't do it without the help of our old Christmas confidant, Nate Tapp!

We conclude a banner year with this massive holiday extravaganza, and the crowning of a champion among classics. But don't you worry...we'll be back again someday.

Holiday specials included in this episode:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

Episode 169 - NICKELODEON GAMESHOW SHOWDOWN

Kiddie competitions clash in our Nickelodeon Gameshow Showdown! We're serving up a bracket of eight iconic TV contests full of elaborate sets, screaming studio audiences, and lots of slime. Only one game show can be the final champion, as we put our own competitive twist on Nick's most memorable efforts to expand the possibilities of playtime.

Our grand prize guest, Brian Rudloff, has the guts to take on this (physical) challenge, and makes a legendary mark on this wild and crazy episode!

Episodes included in this podcast:

Global GUTS - "Angel vs. Alexey vs. Ana" (1995)
Get the Picture - "Nick & Amy vs. Jason & Kelli" (1991)

Family Double Dare - "Texas Twisters vs. Virginia Dares" (1992)
Nick Arcade - "Gina & Derek vs. Quincey & Robert" (1992)

What Would You Do? - "Making Sound Effects" (1993)
Wild & Crazy Kids - "Wild Rivers Water Show" (1990)

Figure It Out - "11 Pounds of Watermelon/Sour Milk Signal" (1997)
Legends of the Hidden Temple - "The Metal Beard of the Egyptian Queen" (1995)

Episode 159 - WINTER WARS-A-THON

Happy Hoth-idays, everyone! We're spending our holiday vacation in a galaxy far, far away, and turning our traditional yuletide clip collection into a Star Wars celebration. In this very special Winter Wars-A-Thon, we tackle '80s cartoons, novelty records, fan-created art, and anything with the slightest connection to this festive season.

Marvel Star Wars Explorers co-host Brian Rudloff climbs into our toasty Tauntaun carcass with some special unboxing surprises, and joins us in a final round of Star Wars hot takes before we witness the big-screen conclusion to the Skywalker saga. Merry Christmas to all, and may the Force be with you!

Featured in this episode:

TV Episodes
Star Wars: Droids - "The Frozen Citadel" (aired 11/30/85)
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Season Scepter" (aired 11/1/86)

Music
Mark Jonathan Davis and the X-Swing Fighters - "The Phantom Medley/Star Wars Cantina" from Naboo Road (1999)
Meco - Christmas in the Stars (1980)

Fan Films
Park Wars - "O Holy Night" (1999)
"How the Sith Stole Christmas, Pt. 1" and the trailer for unfinished parts 2-3 (2002)

Episode 155 - BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES

In the midst of the Caped Crusader's first silver screen renaissance, Batman: The Animated Series reinvented the hero yet again, this time on television. Equally steeped in the worlds of a morally grounded crime-fighter and his menagerie of flamboyant adversaries, the show developed a reputation for turning standard villain-of-the-week stories into thoughtful, emotionally bracing mini-dramas. Its timelessness was enhanced by brooding Art Deco visuals and elegant character designs, and helped launch an animated superhero universe that would endure until the Dark Knight's next cinematic reimagining.

Podcaster extraordinaire Jack Stovold joins us to discuss how the show became a cultural touchstone for Bat-fans, and why it continues to inspire the admiration of cartoon connoisseurs. We are vengeance...we are the night...we are going deep on Batman: The Animated Series!

Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
Developed by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Mitch Brian

Episodes featured in this podcast:

"Heart of Ice" (aired 9/7/92)
"Beware the Gray Ghost" (aired 11/4/92)
"Joker's Favor" (aired 9/11/92)
"Perchance to Dream" (aired 10/19/92)
"Mudslide" (aired 9/15/93)
"Time Out of Joint" (aired 10/8/94)

Check out all current episodes in our Batman series:
Batman
Batman Returns
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Batman Forever
Batman & Robin

More Jack Stovold:
Reopening the Wormhole
The ApeCast
Jack's Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek Discovery Podcast

Episode 152 - ROCKO'S MODERN LIFE

Years before "adult" became a verb, Rocko's Modern Life tried to warn us what was in store outside the bubble of childhood. Younger viewers tuning in to laugh at funny talking animals were surreptitiously served a reality check in tidy 10-minute segments. The cartoon's surreal slapstick punctured the perceived glamour of the grown-up world, while also taking aim at the excesses and absurdities of...well, modern life.

Jake Beal returns in this episode of Conglom-O proportions, as we raise Heck in our raucous appreciation of a Nicktoon that was well ahead of its time. This'll be a hoot!

Rocko's Modern Life (1993-1996)
Created by Joe Murray

Episodes featured in this podcast:

"To Heck and Back" (aired 10/10/93)
"Rocko's Happy Sack" (aired 11/21/93)
"Kiss Me, I'm Foreign" (aired 12/4/94)
"Wacky Delly" (aired 1/26/96)
"Zanzibar" (aired 4/21/96)
"Closet Clown" (aired 7/16/96)

Episode 144 - POKÉMON

While the Pokémon phenomenon has been going strong for more than two decades, there's something especially magical about that first batch of 150-plus pocket monsters. A super effective cocktail of animal cuteness, competitive spirit, and pre-social media FOMO, the franchise conquered America--and the world--like few Japanese imports before or since, and left an evolutionary blueprint for others to follow.

Cartoons, video games, toys, trading cards, novelty raps: we catch 'em all in this episode focused on the Big Bang of a synergistic media universe. While we were recording, a wild Josh Lee appeared to make his WWWW debut, so boot up your Pokédex and join us in our quest to be the very best, like no pod ever was!

Pokémon (1998-present)
Based on the video game created by Satoshi Taijiri

Episodes included in this podcast:

"Pokémon, I Choose You!" (aired 9/8/98)
"Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village" (9/21/98)
"Pikachu's Goodbye" (11/20/98)
"Cyber Soldier Porygon" (unaired in the United States)

Episode 133 - WINTER WONDER-THON 2018

Before we enter holiday hibernation, we're gifting our listeners another stockpile of seasonal delights in our third annual Winter Wonder-Thon, including six scratch-off cards, five lumps of clay, four ninja teens, three father figures, two chocolate morsels, and a singing turd on your TV.  And this time, we're snowed in with that manifestation of merriment himself, Nate Tapp.  (You all must have been extra good this year!)

Come celebrate the season with this collection of clips, commercials, sitcoms, and specials all liberally sprinkled with holiday cheer.  We'll be back again in 2019!

Featured in this episode:

Clips and Shorts
Gumby Adventures - "Humbug" (aired 2/20/1988)
Pennsylvania Lottery commercial - "Snowfall" (1992, 2012)
M&M's commercial - "Faint" (1996, 2017)

TV Episodes and Specials
Full House - "A Very Tanner Christmas" (aired 12/15/1992)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: We Wish You A Turtle Christmas (1994)
South Park - "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" (aired 12/1/1999)

Episode 127 - 'WEEN-A-THON 2018 feat. SHAQ

Shaq-tober concludes with an alley-oop to our annual Halloween tradition, as Shaq himself appears among the macabre morsels we've scared up for Ween-A-Thon!  Enjoy this witches' brew of Hallow-themed entertainment, from gross commercials to silly sitcoms to traumatizing educational aids.  Don't listen to it alone!

Featured in this episode:

Clips and Shorts
Shaquille O'Neal feat. Method Man and RZA - "No Hook" (1994)
Harold Dexter Hoopes' filmstrip of Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns (early 1960s)
Doctor Dreadful commercials - Food Lab, Drink Lab, and Squeem Lab (1994)

TV Episodes
Animaniacs - "Scare Happy Slappy/Witch One/Macbeth" (aired May 3, 1994)
Big Bad Beetleborgs - "Beetle Rock, Part II" (aired September 7, 1996)
Family Matters - "Stevil" (aired October 25, 1996)
Celebrity Deathmatch - "Haunted Halloween of Horror" (aired October 28, 1999)

Episode 122 - SAVED BY THE BELL

Saved by the Bell was a high school sitcom that was never really intended for high schoolers. Each episode was a candy-coated PSA asking tweens to imagine that their teenage years would be full of wholesome hijinks, mild predicaments, and overly attentive principals. Today, it's a rich document for cultural archaeologists curious about the style, slang, and sexism of the American teenager circa 1990.

Kristal Bailey and Kevin Taylor join our clique for a reunion at Bayside High, as we examine some of the show's most indelible--and infamous--moments. Go Tigers!

Saved by the Bell (1989-1993)
Created by Sam Bobrick
Produced by Peter Engel
Starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Dustin Diamond, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkeley, Lark Voorhies, Leanna Creel, Ed Alonzo, and Dennis Haskins

Episodes featured in this podcast:
"The Mamas and the Papas" (aired 11/11/1989)
"Save the Max" (aired 9/22/1990)
"Jessie's Song" (aired 11/3/1990)
"Pipe Dreams" (aired 11/26/1991)
"Day of Detention" (aired 10/3/1992)

Episode 120 - MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE

From its stylized audiovisual design to its embrace of digital espionage, Mission: Impossible is more than Tom Cruise's overwhelmingly successful play for summer blockbuster job security. It's also an edgy departure from the TV series on which it was based, and a moody outlier in the bombastic, adrenaline-junkie franchise it spawned.

As the latest installment of the M:I series hits theaters, we gather intel on the film that started it all, realizing the most impossible thing about these missions is that no two of them are exactly alike.

Mission: Impossible (1996)
Directed by Brian De Palma
Produced by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner
Written by David Koepp and Robert Towne
Based on the TV series Mission: Impossible created by Bruce Geller
Starring Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart, Vanessa Redgrave, Ving Rhames, Jean Reno, Henry Czerny, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Emilio Estevez

Episode 114 - LOST IN SPACE

Not Quite Star Wars Month rolls on with Lost In Space, a confused jumble of galactic adventure, toxic masculinity, familial angst, and iffy CGI. Following the blueprint of so many kitschy TV-to-film adaptations, it inflates a very basic premise with an abundance of attitude, and we have trouble agreeing whether it's escapist fun or just a fresh coat of paint on a clunker.

Lieography podcast co-host John Parton joins our crew to chat about everything from Matt LeBlanc action figures to Looney Tunes-inspired distress signals. Danger, Will Robinson: it's another smashing WWWW debut!

Lost In Space (1998)
Directed by Stephen Hopkins
Produced by Carla Fry, Akiva Goldsman, Stephen Hopkins, and Mark Koch
Written by Akiva Goldsman
Based on Lost In Space created by Irwin Allen
Starring John Hurt, Mimi Rogers, Matt LeBlanc, Heather Graham, Lacey Chabert, Jack Johnson, Dick Tufeld, Jared Harris, and Gary Oldman

Episode 102 - WINTER WONDER-THON 2017

Much like a delicious holiday fruitcake, our second-annual Winter Wonder-Thon showcases a hodgepodge of festive treats that also benefit from an infusion of adult libations. This year, our selections focus on a wide range of traditions both cultural and commercial, and feature two separate attempts to besmirch the reputation of jolly old Saint Nick.

Pull on your favorite sweater and pour yourself some eggnog as we come a-wassailing into your ears with a very special holiday podcast!

Featured in this episode:

Clips and Shorts
Animaniacs - "Noel" (aired September 7, 1996)
Hess Toy Truck commercials (1993, 1997, 1999)

TV Episodes and Specials
Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas (aired December 4, 1992)
The Tick - "The Tick Loves Santa!" (aired November 25, 1995)
Power Rangers Zeo - "A Season to Remember" (aired November 27, 1996)
Seinfeld - "The Strike" (aired December 18, 1997)

Episode 101 - STAR WARS: CLONE WARS

Star Wars: Clone Wars is an adrenaline shot to the arm of the prequel saga. Genndy Tartakovsky's micro-series is a lesson in atmospheric storytelling, not to mention creative redemption. Each taut installment amps up the cool factor on many a prequel staple, while trimming the fat of plot and dialogue down to a prime cut of kinetic Star Wars action.

Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold, co-hosts of the brand new Marvel Star Wars Explorers podcast, return to follow up on our Shadows of the Empire discussion with another between-episodes diversion from the Star Wars franchise. (Fingers crossed that the narrative between Episodes VIII and IX provides us with more fodder for debate!) In this massive podcast, they help us take account of all the ass-kicking in a galaxy far, far away and weigh in on the thirstiest droid in the universe.

Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005)
Created and directed by Genndy Tartakovsky
Based on Star Wars by George Lucas
Starring Mat Lucas, James Arnold Taylor, Tom Kane, Grey DeLisle, Richard McGonagle, T.C. Carson, André Sogliuzzo, Corey Burton, and Anthony Daniels

Check out the rest of our series on the Star Wars saga:
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Episode IV: A New Hope
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

Solo: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Star Wars: Clone Wars
Star Wars Holiday Special
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure

Episode 97 - 'WEEN-A-THON 2017

Our Halloween "visual playlist" spooktacular returns! This year, our trick-or-treat bag is packed with a variety of ghoulish goodies: commercials, cartoons, and comedies that capture the spirit of the season. Muster up your courage for a not-so-grisly grotesquerie of our Halloween faves in our second annual 'Ween-A-Thon...if you dare!

Featured in this episode:

Clips and Shorts
Coca-Cola "Monsters of the Gridiron" commercials (1993-1994) - Spot 1, Spot 2, Spot 3
Walt Disney World Inside Out - "Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" (1994)

TV Episodes
South Park - "Pinkeye" (aired October 29, 1997)
Rugrats - "Candy Bar Creep Show/Monster in the Garage" (aired January 5, 1992)
The Adventures of Pete & Pete - "Halloweenie" (aired October 9, 1994)
Home Improvement - "I Was A Teenage Taylor" (aired October 29, 1996)