Author: Earl

Retrogram #8160: Blake’s 7 – A User’s Guide

Earl

1978-1981: With Britbox (and Forces TV in the UK) bringing Blake’s 7 back to everyone’s screens, Retrogram presents a unique, “focus episode” to provide the show’s historical context, its literary and pop culture inspirations, its influence on what came after it, and an even-handed look at the pros and cons of the show…all without spoiling all of the show’s big surprises (and they are legion).  Also, find out which Babylon 5 regular cast member had a role in a Terry Nation project!  (47:38)

Content warning: brief plot-relevant mention of sexual assault, assault on minors


Right-click here and “save as” to download the podcast so you can listen during the ride to Cygnus Alpha.

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Retrogram #2130: This & That Episode

Earl

The week of July 26th, 2021: Commander Koenig and Dr. Russell sound completely different.  Travis sounds the same (but which one?).  Kolchak is about to be clearer than ever.  Moonbase Alpha’s Eagles and little color TVs are getting smaller.  It’s a very different kind of Retrogram.  (35:58)


Right-click here and “save as” to download the podcast to something that hopefully has a better speaker than those tiny TV things.

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Retrogram #7913: Three Shows, Three Mile Island

Earl

The week of March 26th, 1979: Wales is finally exporting the works of one of its finest storytellers to the small screen.  Britain is exporting interconnected space operas, complete with space Vikings.  And the U.S.?  It’s exporting superheroes and a rare appearance by a genuine comics legend…but it’s keeping the nuclear fear to itself.  (50:16)


Right-click here and “save as” to download the podcast to a communications device that’s hopefully smaller than a shoebox.

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Retrogram #7725 – Actually, It’s All About Disappearances

Earl

The week of June 20th, 1977: We’ve had Watergate, we’ve the Pentagon Papers, we’ve had a whole decade of conspiratorial thinking. And here in the middle of the summer of 1977, we have a whole week full of inexplicable disappearances – at least until Mark Harris and the plucky crew from Science Report show up.  (42:04)


Right-click here and “save as” to download the podcast to the 1974 car stereo built into your Mars colony escape rocket

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Retrogram #7723/7724 – The Love Child of Darth Vader and the Kool-Aid Man

Earl

The weeks of June 6th & 13th, 1977: Star Wars is in, Elvis is on his way out, and so are the intrepid adventurers on The Fantastic Journey.  But never fear, Exo-Man is here!  This, surely, heralds the arrival of a hero for the future and for all time, a television icon whose exploits we’ll be following for years to come!  (43:32)


Right-click here and “save as” to download the podcast to the audio system built into your walking tank…suit…thing.

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Retrogram #8103: The Hawkman Cometh

Earl

The week of January 12th, 1981: Hitchhikers, Hulk, Hawk, and Who, oh my!  Buck Rogers returns with a new feathered friend, the Doctor has a new furry friend, and the stories from behind the scenes reveal what a miracle it was that any of these shows made it to our screens.  (1:02:19)


Right-click here and “save as” to download the K-9’s memory, which will only work in an alternate universe where, if you’re extremely lucky, it might be read by Peter Jones instead of me.

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Retrogram #8350: Automanimal!: When Glen A. Larson Ruled The World

Earl

The week of December 11th, 1983: Every so often, a TV producer/creator comes along, so prolific that his output spans two studios, every network, and a sizeable chunk of the prime time schedule.  But are they actually the same show?  And what’s going on with this other thing with the puppets?  (1:08:30)


Right-click here and “save as” to download the podcast to a computer that can play this podcast through your car stereo on command…oh, wait, that’s something that actually does happen now.

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