Inside the Box: The TV History Podcast
Inside the Box: The TV History podcast breaks down a particular era, innovation, trend, or program by spending an entire episode (or two) discussing it. Hosted by Jonathan Bullinger, Andrew Salvati, and Steve Voorhees, they apply their scholarly work in media studies to provide the history of TV, critique it at times, and just try to have some fun as they explore inside the box. Be sure to also check our supplementary content that accompany each episode on our home page www.tvhistorypod.com.
Episodes
December 28, 2023 • 10 mins
Join Jonathan for a short episode that explains the end of this podcast season and what to look forward to in the future and when.
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December 21, 2023 • 40 mins
This week join Steve and Jonathan as they continue their discussion of the groundbreaking US sitcom, All In The Family. We discuss it's transition from All In the Family to Archie Bunker's Place, what other shows tried to fill the void, what shows today attempt to take on its themes, and whether the show could be re-done today to address our newest president…
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December 14, 2023 • 71 mins
This week join Steve and Jonathan as we usher in the holidays by discussing Christmas TV shows with author and expert, Joanna Wilson. Be sure to check out Joanna's website: http://www.christmastvhistory.com/p/about-joanna-wilson.html for all the information you need about her multiple media appearances, articles, and books on the topic of Christmas on TV!
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December 11, 2023 • 69 mins
This week Jonathan, Steve, and Andrew attend the All-Star Party for Ronald "Dutch" Reagan. Do you like barely warmed over jokes? Do you love generic sound stages in Burbank? Want to see Sinatra struggle through a song that should be an easy home run? Want to see a group of aged genuine Hollywood stars pretend Reagan was a star? Well, rent your tux, call your driver, let us know whether you'd prefer the fish or the steak and join us...
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December 7, 2023 • 35 mins
As a way to pay tribute to recently passed television producer Norman Lear (1922-2023), this week join Steve and Jonathan as they discuss the groundbreaking US sitcom, All In The Family. Why it worked, in what ways is it a product of the 1970s and in what ways is it timeless? We'll even tip-toe toward whether the show could be re-done today to address our newest president…
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November 30, 2023 • 58 mins
This week join Steve in conversation with welcomed returned guest, Dr. Craig Coenen as they discuss the current state of Regional Sports Networks in the U.S.
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November 27, 2023 • 54 mins
This week join Steve, Jonathan, and Andrew as they discuss the pros and cons of increased regionalization of sports TV networks, and their histories.
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In this episode Andrew, Steve, and Jonathan discuss David Sarnoff’s introduction of television for RCA at the 1939 World’s Fair at Flushing Meadows NY. Tune in to listen to this story about hope, the future, and looking for the “World of Tomorrow” during a time between economic depression and the cusp of world war. You might just learn something and have a few laughs along the way. Be sure to check out some of the historical photog...
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November 16, 2023 • 52 mins
Inspired by a real Jeopardy episode's jokey category title, this week Jonathan and Steve discuss a hypothetical: what if The DuMont Network had survived past 1956? What would the channel have presented? Would we associate the NFL and DuMont like peanut and jelly? If it did survive for decades, what would its streaming service be showing us today?
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November 13, 2023 • 37 mins
In this episode Steve, Andrew, and Jonathan discuss the often forgotten DuMont television network. Innovative, with stations in key east coast major markets, the DuMont network was ultimately done in by a combination of forces -- the least of which being its uncooperative partner, Paramount Studios. Join us as we discuss DuMont and its legacy upon others' later attempts at establishing a fourth network.
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November 9, 2023 • 27 mins
This week join Jonathan as he discusses a famous example of politicians using television for marathon "sales" pitches (for themselves) - Thomas E. Dewey's 1950 usage of the then-new medium of television.
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November 2, 2023 • 53 mins
This week join Steve as he leads Jonathan through a discussion of representations of The Myth of the Lost Cause on 1960s U.S. television. Shows discussed include: Dennis the Menace, Rawhide, The Twilight Zone, The Americans, and The Rebel.
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October 30, 2023 • 34 mins
his week Steve, Andrew and Jonathan discuss the thinking behind CBS's 1960s Rural Purge. Why did it happen? What types of content followed it? What does "the great man of history" have to do with it all? Was that the last time rural depictions ever graced the Tiffany network? So, give up your city livin', grab a pitchfork, and don't mind Uncle Joe (he's just movin' kinda slow) and join us down at the junction of 1960s ratings, demo...
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October 26, 2023 • 22 mins
This week join Jonathan for a short topic on television female protagonists and when they've led or co-starred in a show that also featured a prominent vehicle. More importantly, why aren't there more examples?
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October 19, 2023 • 56 mins
Two years later, Dr. Emil Steiner (Rowan University) returns to the program to discuss binge-watching with Jonathan and Steve. Whereas last time we primarily discussed sports documentaries, this time it is today's popular mode of viewership, binge-watching - which is also the subject of Dr. Steiner's new book Binge TV: The Rise and Impact of the Viewing Revolution (McFarland).
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October 16, 2023 • 38 mins
This week join Steve, Andrew, and Jonathan as they delve into one of Steve's favorite subjects - the flow of TV. We discuss Raymond Williams, the traditional TV programming grid, the effect of DVRs, and the resurgence of in-program product placement. Plus, what the heck does Andy Griffith have to do with it all? [clue - Steve knows].
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October 12, 2023 • 30 mins
On this week's mini-episode Jonathan discusses the current state of podcasts and how it connects to the pre-history of radio over one-hundred years ago.
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October 5, 2023 • 51 mins
Join us as Steve and Jonathan continue their conversation with Dr. Craig Coenen about the 1978 NBC mini-series Holocaust: The Story of the Family Weiss. Where does the mini-series fall within the context of Americans' understanding of the Jewish Holocaust? How was the mini-series received? How does the late-1970s network context of big, prestige mini-series play into its creation? All this and a lot more in Part 01 of this two-part...
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October 2, 2023 • 54 mins
This week join Andrew, Jonathan, and Steve as Andrew leads a deep dive discussion into the history of The History Channel. The guys discuss how programming on the channel has changed, who owns the channel, and what strategies they've employed to stay relevant to capture advertiser dollars. If you like History, history, or the history of History, you'll dig this episode.
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September 28, 2023 • 21 mins
Join Jonathan as he weighs in on the recent argument that gained social media attention regarding how Martin Short is perceived by audiences.
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