We're a couple of high school history teachers who discuss and debate each other's thoughts and ideas about U.S. history and pop culture. Each episode creates a big picture snapshot of one year in post-WWII America by using significant historical events to contextualize a handful of films, TV shows, and songs.
We discuss the films It's a Wonderful Life and The Best Years of Our Lives and music by Nat King Cole and Louis Jordan. We also examine the technological shifts that began to reshape the world of television.
We discuss the films Miracle on 34th Street and Nightmare Alley, the TV debuts Howdy Doody and Meet The Press, and the music of Mahalia Jackson, Francis Craig, Tex Williams, and Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup.
We discuss the films The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre and Rope, the TV debuts The Milton Berle Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, and the music of Pee Wee Hunt, Wynonie Harris, John Lee Hooker, and Spike Jones.
We discuss the films The Third Man and All The Kings Men, the TV debuts The Goldbergs and The Lone Ranger, and the music of Vaughn Monroe, Hank Williams, and Louis Jordan.
We discuss the films Sunset Boulevard and Gun Crazy, the TV debuts The Jack Benny Show and What's My Line, and the music of Nat King Cole, Muddy Waters, The Weavers, Left Frizzell, and Fats Domino.
We discuss the films A Streetcar Named Desire and The Day the Earth Stood Still, the TV debuts I Love Lucy and Dragnet, and the music of Woody Guthrie, Nat King Cole, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Billy Ward and the Dominoes, and Ike Turner.
We discuss the films From Here To Eternity and The Moon Is Blue, the TV debuts General Electric Theatre and The Danny Thomas Show, and the music of Percy Faith, Patti Page, Big Mama Thornton, Dean Martin, and Hank Williams.
We discuss the films Godzilla and Rear Window, the TV debuts The Tonight Show and Father Knows Best, and the music of Kitty Kallen, Bill Haley & His Comets, Big Joe Turner and Elvis Presley.
We discuss the films Rebel Without A Cause and Night of the Hunter, the TV debuts Gunsmoke, The $64,000 Question, and The Honeymooners, and the music of Little Richard, Perez Prado, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, and Pat Boone.
We discuss the films Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Forbidden Planet, the TV debuts The Price Is Right and The Nat King Cole Show, and the music of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, and James Brown.
We discuss the films 12 Angry Men and Sweet Smell of Success, the TV debuts Leave It To Beaver, American Bandstand, and Perry Mason, and the music of The Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
We discuss the films Vertigo and Touch of Evil, the TV debuts The Donna Reed Show and The Rifleman, and the music of The Everly Brothers, Eddie Cochran, Domenico Modugno, and Chuck Berry.
We discuss the films Anatomy of a Murder and Some Like It Hot, the TV debuts Bonanza and The Twilight Zone, and the music of Bobby Darin, The Isley Brothers, Ray Charles, and Jackie Wilson.
We discuss the films Psycho and The Apartment, the TV debuts The Andy Griffith Show and The Flintstones, and the music of The Shirelles, Roy Orbison, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, and Chubby Checker.
We discuss the films West Side Story and Judgment at Nuremberg, the TV debuts The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and Mister Ed, and the music of Bobby Lewis, The Marvelettes, Sam Cooke, and Ben E. King.
We discuss the films The Manchurian Candidate and To Kill A Mockingbird, the TV debuts The Beverly Hillbillies and The Jetsons, and the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Booker T. and the MGs, The Beatles, and Peter, Paul, and Mary.
We discuss the film From Russia With Love, the TV debuts Wild Kingdom, Doctor Who, and General Hospital, and the music of The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Kingsmen, Bob Dylan, and Stevie Wonder.
We discuss the films Dr. Strangelove and Fail Safe, the TV debuts Bewitched, The Addams Family, and Gilligan's Island and the music of Sam Cooke, The Temptations, The Righteous Brothers, and The Kinks.
We discuss the films The Sound Of Music and Faster Pussycat Kill Kill, the TV debuts Hogan's Heroes and I Dream of Jeannie, and the music of The Rolling Stones, The Four Tops, Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs, Bob Dylan, and The Mamas and The Papas.
We discuss the film The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, the TV debuts Star Trek, Batman, and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and the music of Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Barry Sadler, and The Four Tops.
We discuss the films The Graduate and Bonnie and Clyde, the TV debuts The Carol Burnett Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and the music of Lulu, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Jefferson Airplane, and The Doors.
We discuss the films Planet of the Apes and 2001: A Space Odyssey, the TV debuts The Mod Squad and Laugh-In, and the music of The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, and The Beatles.
We discuss the films Midnight Cowboy and Easy Rider, the TV debuts Sesame Street and Monty Python's Flying Circus, and the music of The Archies, The 5th Dimension, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles.
We discuss the film M.A.S.H, the TV debuts The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Flip Wilson Show, and The Partridge Family, and the music of Simon & Garfunkel, Derek & The Dominos, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Edwin Starr, and The Beatles.
PART ONE: We discuss the films The French Connection and Dirty Harry and the TV debuts All in the Family and The Electric Company.
PART TWO: We discuss the music of The Who, Marvin Gaye, Sly and the Family Stone, The Rolling Stones, Carole King, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Jean McKnight, Don McClean, and Isaac Hayes.
We discuss the films The Godfather and Deliverance, the TV debuts Sanford and Son and M.A.S.H., and the music of The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Helen Reddy, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie.
We discuss the films The Exorcist, Coffy and Black Caesar, the TV debuts An American Family and Schoolhouse Rock, and the music of Tony Orlando and Dawn, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Pink Floyd.
We discuss the films Blazing Saddles and The Conversation, the TV debuts Happy Days and The Six Million Dollar Man, and the music of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elton John, Kraftwerk, and Stevie Wonder.
We discuss the films Dog Day Afternoon, Jaws, and The Stepford Wives, the TV debuts Saturday Night Live and The Jeffersons, and the music of Queen, Fleetwood Max, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, Captain and Tenille, and Bruce Springsteen.
We discuss the films All The President's Men, Network, Rocky, and Taxi Driver, the TV debuts Charlies' Angels, The Muppet Show, and Laverne and Shirley, and the music of The Eagles, Heart, Jackson Browne, Bob Seger, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, ABBA, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
PART ONE: We discuss the films Star Wars and Saturday Night Fever and the TV debuts Roots, Soap, and Threes Company.
PART TWO: We discuss albums released by Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Bob Marley, Meat Loaf, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Talking Heads, Billy Joel, and the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
We discuss the films Superman, The Deer Hunter, and Halloween, the TV debuts Dallas and Taxi, and the music of Andy Gibb, Dire Straits, Van Halen, The Police, and Bruce Springsteen.
We discuss the films Apocolypse Now and Being There, the TV debuts The Dukes Of Hazzard, ESPN, and Nickelodeon, and the music of Pink Floyd, The Knack, Donna Summer, and The Sugarhill Gang.
We discuss the films Caddyshack, Nine To Five, and Airplane, the TV debuts Magnum PI and the launch of CNN, and the music of Blondie, The Talking Heads, AC/DC, Pat Benatar, and Billy Joel.
We discuss the films The Road Warrior and Raiders of the Lost Ark, the TV debuts Hill Street Blues and the launch of MTV, and the music of Kim Wilde, Olivia Newton John, Journey, and David Bowie/Queen.
We discuss the films E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Blade Runner, and Rambo: First Blood, the TV debuts Family Ties and Cheers, and the music of Survivor, John Mellencamp, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, and Michael Jackson.
We discuss the films Trading Places, WarGames, and Scarface, the TV debuts The A-Team, Michael Jackson's Thriller, and The Day After, and the music of The Police, Cyndi Lauper, U2, and The Eurythmics.
We discuss the films Beverly Hills Cop and The Terminator, the TV debuts The Cosby Show and Miami Vice, and the music of Prince, Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, and Band-Aid.
We discuss the films The Breakfast Club and Back To The Future, the TV debuts The Golden Girls and McGyver, and the music of Kate Bush, Simple Minds, Huey Lewis & The News, and USA For Africa.
We discuss the films Top Gun, Platoon, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the TV debuts The Oprah Winfrey Show and the launch of FOX, and the music of Paul Simon, Bon Jovi, Madonna, and Aerosmith/Run DMC.
We discuss the films Wall Street and Robocop, and the TV debuts Full House and Married With Children, and the music of R.E.M., Whitney Houston, Prince, U2, and Guns N Roses.
PART ONE: We discuss the films Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Die Hard, and Coming To America, and the TV debuts Roseanne and The Wonder Years.
PART TWO: We discuss the music (only) of The Traveling Wilburys, Cheap Trick, Bobby McFerrin, Living Color, The Beach Boys, Metallica, Tracy Chapman, Poison, Michael Jackson, Guns & Roses, N.W.A., and REM.
We discuss the films Do The Right Thing and When Harry Met Sally, the TV debuts Seinfeld and The Simpsons, and the music of Madonna, Tom Petty, Milli Vanilli, Public Enemy, and Soul II Soul.
We discuss the films Pretty Woman and GoodFellas, the TV debuts Law & Order and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and the music of Madonna, Garth Brooks, Sinead O'Connor, and Wilson Phillips.
We discuss the films The Silence of the Lambs, Thelma & Louise, and Boyz in the Hood, the TV debuts Home Improvement and The Jerry Springer Show, and the music of Massive Attack, R.E.M., Bryan Adams, and Nirvana.
We discuss the films Singles, Wayne's World, and Glengarry Glen Ross, the TV debuts Mad About You and The Real World, and the music of Dr. Dre, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Whitney Houston, and R.E.M.
We discuss the films Jurassic Park, Groundhog Day, and Falling Down, the TV debuts The X-Files and Frasier, and the music of Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, Nirvana, and Tag Team.
We discuss the films Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump and The Shawshank Redemption, the TV debuts Friends and ER, and the music of Ace of Base, Green Day, Lisa Loeb, and Beck.
We discuss the films Tommy Boy, Clueless, and Toy Story, the TV debut Xena: Warrior Princess, and the music of Coolio, The Goo Goo Dolls, Oasis, and Alanis Morrissette.
We discuss the films Independence Day and Fargo, the TV debuts Everybody Loves Raymond, Blues Clues, and The Daily Show, and the music of The Spice Girls, LMFAO, The Dave Matthews Band and The Fugees.
We discuss the films Good Will Hunting and Contact, the TV debuts South Park and The View, and the music of Fiona Apple, The Verve, Green Day, and The Notorious B.I.G.
We discuss the films Saving Private Ryan, American History X, and The Truman Show, the TV debuts Sex in the City and That 70s Show, and the music of Next, Lauryn Hill, The Chicks, and Britney Spears.
We discuss the films Fight Club, American Beauty, and Magnolia, the TV debuts The Sopranos and The West Wing, and the music of Faith Hill, The Backstreet Boys, and Ricky Martin.
We discuss the films The Sixth Sense, Office Space, and The Matrix, the TV debuts SpongeBob Squarepants and Family Guy and the music of Eminem, Blink 182, and Rob Thomas/Santana.
We discuss the films American Psycho and Almost Famous, the TV debuts Survivor and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the music of Lifehouse, Outkast, NYNC, and Eminem
We discuss the franchise films The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Fast and The Furious, the TV debuts Scrubs and 24, and the music of Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott, Kylie Minogue, and Destiny's Child.
We discuss the films The Bourne Identity and Spider-Man, the TV debuts The Wire and American Idol, and the music of Nickelback, Avril Lavigne, Coldplay, and Brice Springsteen.
We discuss the films Bruce Almighty, Elf, and Lost In Translation, the TV debuts NCIS and Chappelle's Show, and the music of The White Stripes, OutKast, and Beyonce/Jay Z.
We discuss the films Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Crash, the TV debuts Lost and Deadwood, and the music of Usher, The Killers, Green Day, Kelly Clarkson, and Snoop Dog.
We discuss the films Brokeback Mountain and V For Vendetta, the TV debuts The Office and How I Met Your Mother, and the music of Gorillaz, Kayne Wayne, and Mariah Carey.
We discuss the films Little Miss Sunshine, Borat, and Children of Men, the TV debut 30 Rock, and the music of Beyonce, Daniel Powter, Gnarls Barkley, and Amy Winehouse.
We discuss the films No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood, the TV debuts Mad Men and The Big Bang Theory, and the music of The Foo Fighters, The Plain White T's, Radiohead, and Beyonce.
We discuss the films The Hurt Locker and The Dark Knight, the TV debut Breaking Bad, and the music of Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Kings of Leon, Jason Mraz, and Coldplay.
We discuss the films Avatar and District 9, the TV debuts Modern Family and Parks & Recreation, and the music of Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas, Muse, and a collaboration between Alicia Keys and Jay-Z.
We discuss the films Inception and The Social Network, the TV debut The Walking Dead and the music of Adele, Bruno Mars, The Black Keys, and Cee Lo Green.
We discuss the films Moneyball and The Help, the TV debuts Game of Thrones and Homeland, and the music of LMFAO, Lady Gaga, Foster the People, and Adele.
We discuss the films Lincoln and Django Unchained, the TV debuts Newsroom and Key and Peele, and the music of Goyte, Carly Rae Jepsen, Mumford & Sons, and The Shins.
We discuss the films The Wolf of Wall Street and Her, the TV debuts House of Cards and The Americans, and the music of Robin Thicke, Pharell Williams, Daft Punk, and Lorde.
We discuss the films American Sniper and Nightcrawler, the TV debuts Silicon Valley and BoJack Horseman, and the music of Taylor Swift, Walk The Moon, Ed Sheeran, and Bruno Mars/Mark Ronson.
We discuss the films Mad Max: Fury Road and Ex Machina, the TV debuts Schitt's Creek and Mr. Robot, and the music of Tame Impala, Kendrick Lamar, Chris Stapleton, and Mark Ronson.
We discuss the films Moonlight and Hell or High Water, the TV debuts debuts Atlanta and Stranger Things, and the music of Drake, Bruno Mars, Frank Ocean, and Childish Gambino.
We discuss the films Get Out and The Florida Project, the TV debuts The Handmaid's Tale and Ozark and the music of Sam Hunt, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran, and Luis Fonzi and Daddy Yankee.
We discuss the films Avengers: Infinity War and Black Panther, the TV debuts Cobra Kai and Succession and the music of Childish Gambino, Maren Morris & Zedd, and Drake.
We discuss the films Joker, Parasite, and Hustlers, the TV debuts Euphoria and Chernnobyl, and the music of Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, and Ariana Grande.
We discuss the films Promising Young Woman and Nomadland, the TV debuts Tiger King and Ted Lasso, and the music of Lil Uzi Vert, Dua Lipa, BTS, and The Weekend.
We discuss the films Don't Look Up and Coda, the TV debuts White Lotus and Squid Game, and the music of Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Brandi Carlile, and Lil Nas X.
We discuss the films Everything, Everywhere, All At Once and Top Gun: Maverick, the TV debuts Abbot Elementary and The Bear, and the music of Lizzo, Harry Styles, Steve Lacy, and Taylor Swift.
We discuss the films Barbie and Dumb Money, the TV debuts The Curse and Beef, and the music of Taylor Swift, Jungkook, Morgan Wallen, and Miley Cyrus.