In addition to being the birthyear of one Mr. Raymond Michael Hebel, 1987 was arguably defined by the stories of four women who came under intense public scrutiny for choices and actions which led the press to label them as "bimbos". And despite the fact that a collection of awful men with whom these women associated either harmed, betrayed, or even assaulted them, it wasn't those men who ultimately paid the highest price - it was the women themselves.Rob teaches Ray about these four women - Jessica Hahn, Fawn Hall, Donna Rice, and Vanna White - each of whom was at the center of a new story that engrossed the public; how these women did all they could to buck the stigmas and assumptions leveled at them; why it might be more fitting to call 1987 the year of the a**hole; how Hugh Hefner fits into all of this; and how the fortitude of these women set a precedent for other modern female empowerment movements still to come.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSFrank Crumit - My Little Bimbo Down on the Bamboo Isle 1920Weekend Update: Victoria Jackson Sings “I Am Not a Bimbo” - SNLDonahue (Most), 9/29/1987Best Promos - Jessica Hahn vs Jim Baker and His croniesJessica Hahn - Documentary (Playmate vs. Televangelist & Married W/ Children Controversy Episode)Iran-Contra: "Sometimes You Have to Go Above the Written law"Fawn Hall and Orient Express PartialFawn Hall and Danny Sugerman on Beating Drug addictionAbc News 20/20- June 18, 1987 (partial)Donahue - Vanna White (May 1987)ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0•

Roll out the red carpet and grab a tub of Redenbacher's, because it's time to go to the movies. The Academy Awards are one of the most anticipated cinema celebrations in the world, so naturally, when the show seemed like it was losing its pizzazz, the producers need to find a way to spice things up again. And what better way to do that than to add in lavish production numbers, incongruous sketches, and appearances from some of the greatest stars of yesterday and tomorrow? Rob teaches Ray about the infamous 1989 Oscars, and its impact on the format the ceremony now follows; how Allen Carr's outrageous vision for a star-studded night of glitz and glamour became an overproduced nightmare; why the House of Mouse wasn't too pleased with Mr. Carr's opening number; and how the perception of this particular Oscars not only cratered Carr's career, but might have some redeeming qualities when viewed in the light of recent awards show flops and failures.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSBruce Vilanch on "The 1989 Oscars" with Rob Lowe and Snow White The 11 minutes that ruined Hollywood producer Allan Carr's career forever Billy Crystal's Opening Monologue: 1990 Oscars The Stars of Tomorrow: 1989 OscarsRob Lowe Recounts Bombing at the 1989 OscarsDustin Hoffman’s Oscar Acceptance Speech 1989ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee," "No Spam Polka," and "Teddy Bear Waltz"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

This one's got it all: true crime, big reveals, legal drama, Uta Hagen. So if any of those things spark your interest, then this one's for you, dear listener. Because even though this real-life case of a wealthy heiress’s mysterious coma initially seemed cut-and-dry, nothing was as simple as it seemed. Was Sunny von Bülow's coma the result of foul play? What was in that strange black bag her children discovered in their stepfather’s closet? And did my lady really take insulin?Rob teaches Ray about the case of Claus von Bülow, who was accused of attempting to murder his wife to obtain her fortune; how the testimony of Claus's mistress was a linchpin in the investigations; why you probably shouldn't leave incriminating notes lying around if you're being investigated for murder; how to steal the scene in any movie; and why this case may have been one of the first modern examples of publicly sensationalizing the legal process in order to rivet audiences to their television screens. If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSAmerican Justice: Claus Von Bulow - Full Episode (S6, E13) | A&E"Reversal of Fortune" TrailerADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS”Happy Bee,” “Enter the Maze,” and “Aitrack”• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

If there's one thing America's great at, it's franchising literally anything. Self-help book series, TV show spinoffs, Subways - we love a good franchise. And when it comes to America's global influence, the movie industry continues to be one of the biggest cultural exports from the USA to other countries. So, given that American films and movie stars have so much cultural cachet, and that quintessential love of franchises, it would be brilliant to build a restaurant chain all around worshiping movie celebrities, right? It's a fool-proof, can't-fail concept? Right? Ray teaches Rob how two venture capitalists took the idea of a Hollywood-themed restaurant chain and ran with it, then ran it into the ground; why celebrities bought into the Planet Hollywood hype; the unexpected places people store old movie props (check your backyard gardens); a chicken dish that Rob now really wants to try; and why Planet Hollywood, and themed restaurants in general, have faded since their glory days. If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSMichael Aspel with Stallone, Schwarzenegger & Willis about Planet HollywoodPlanet Hollywood Opening 1996Planet Hollywood - Saturday Night LivePlanet Hollywood Comes Home (ABC Special 11/4/95)Planet Hollywood Karaoke TrackADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

Happy Valentine's Day, listeners! Or, if you prefer not to recognize this particular holiday, Happy Tuesday! Given that today's episode happens to fall on this uniquely American holiday all about capitalism-fueled love, we wanted to give you all something that fits the occasion. And what better way to celebrate a holiday of romance and rampant commercialism than an episode all about a book that sits squarely at the center of both of those things?Rob teaches Ray (and Emalee!) about the history of therapy and couple's counseling; John Gray’s rise to prominence the field of relationship advice books; how Dr. Gray spun his success into a franchise of epic proportions; why Lauren Gray has every daughter's dream job; and whether this kind of book would still be commercially successful or relevant to partners today.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSJohn Gray: How Men Think and FeelJohn Gray Looks Through A Woman's Purse On StageMen are from Mars, Women are from Venus - Sex TalkADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro

Ah, to be 19 again. It's a time of possibilities, insecurities, of worrying about what adulthood is really going to be like. On the other hand, if you're Shawn Fanning or Sean Parker, your worries at 19 were a little bigger. As in, "multimillion-dollar legal battles with the entire music industry" bigger. And all because of a piece of software that let you listen to and download music from all across the internet...without paying the artists. What could go wrong?Ray teaches Rob about how a crazy idea on an Internet chat forum grew into the software start-up Napster; how Ray can trace his love of Monty Python to the early days of digital music downloads; how the music industry was forced to reckon with the reality that physical media had become a relic of the past; why pissing off Lars Ulrich is a bad idea; and why Napster's brief and shining moment in the world of online music streaming was the beginning of a trend that completely changed the way the world listens to music.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESThe GuardianTimeVanity FairEPISODE CLIPSNapster Documentary 'Downloaded' | Part OneMonty Python Dead ParrotPop CornMetallica Lars Ulrich testifies to Senate Judiciary Committee July 11, 2000 - FULL OPENING STATEMENTDave Mustaine talking about Lars Ulrich & Napster (2021)Lars Ulrich Reflects On "Metallica Vs Napster"Court Orders Napster ShutdownNapster Documentary: Culture of Free | Retro Report | The New York TimesBad Boys (Theme From Cops)ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee"• Kevin...

You may remember This Was A Thing's deep dive last season into "The Super Bowl Shuffle," where the Chicago Bears showed everyone how a sports team song can become cultural phenomenon. Well, the "Shuffle" was great for sports fans, and even helped out Chicago communities that were in need. But in 1985, the same year that the "Shuffle" was recorded, another hit single was released that took the "celebrity fundraising song" concept all the way to 11. That's when Lionel Ritchie, and Michael Jackson, with production help from Quincy Jones, teamed up to write an anthem that would rally the world around the cause of raising money to provide relief for communities in Africa. And what better way for Ritchie and Jackson to make this song a true smash than to feature their iconic singer friends?Ray teaches Rob about the origins of "We Are The World," from writing the song to the logistical nightmare of trying to get everybody from Bob Dylan to Cyndi Lauper in the same room to record together together; how Lionel Ritchie really feels about boa constrictors; how Dan Akroyd ended up being a part of the song; and other celebrity-backed relief efforts that have happened since "We Are The World," including a remake of the original.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEsquireHistoryRolling StoneVultureEPISODE CLIPSU.S.A. For Africa - We Are the WorldBand Aid - Do they know it's christmas 1984 | HD - Widescreen 16:9We are the world 1985 and behind the scenes full dvd ripWe Are The World 25 For Haiti - Official VideoGal Gadot singing Imagine with other stars“We Are The World” Karaoke TrackADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy...

If you've ever ordered at a chain restaurant, then you know the homey feeling of knowing you're about to eat the exact same meal as you could get at any other location. And even though the Golden Arches or a pair of red braids and freckles are some of the most recognizable franchise mascots today, if we flashback to the mid-1900s, then Simple Simon and the Pieman would've been just as recognizable as those other icons. Why? Because if you wanted a tasty clam belly, a delicious sundae, or to snag a couple of ZZZs, then there was one only one chain that fit the bill. Rob teaches Ray about how the eponymous Mr. Johnson went from owning one small Massachusetts eatery, to running a national network of restaurants and lodges; why we can thank Eugene O'Neill for HoJo's original boost in popularity; Jacques Pepin's contribution to the franchise's legacy; some unexpected controversies at HoJo's; and how, even after the HoJo's brand sank into obscurity, it still has a physical and cultural impact in today's world. If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSHoward Johnson's Commercial 1962Chef Jacques Pépin on working at Howard Johnson's and his experiences on the American food sceneHOWARD JOHNSON RESTURANT1970 Howard Johnson's Animated Commercial #2Howard Johnson Restaurants This Is Howard Johnson Today 1988 TV Commercial HDADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee" and "Happy Boy End Theme"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony the Tiger, Jake from State Farm, the GEICO Gecko – so many ads are inseparable from their spokespeople. And maybe one of the most versatile and quirky of those characters, Mr. Ernest P. Worrell, would sell you anything from buttermilk to loans with his signature enthusiasm, stylish denim vest, and unforgettable catchphrase…Ray teaches Rob about how Jim Varney, a.k.a. Ernest, and John Cherry created one of the most iconic characters in commercials; why Ernest’s success in local broadcasting actually worked against him when it came to national ads; how Cherry and Varney parlayed Ernest’s popularity into film success; why some of Ernest’s film and characters don’t age very well; and whether there's still a place for broad slapstick comedy in today's movies and TV. If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSavia WEBSITEHey Vern! It's Ernest. ARTICLESMel MagazineMental FlossEPISODE CLIPS1980s Commercials Vol. 53 (1982-1987 - Bonus All-Ernest Edition!!)Jim Varney Stand Up: Comedy Shop 2/25/801991 "Earnest" Jim Varney Cerritos Auto Square TV CommercialErnest P Worrell's Best Commercial Ever!Jim Varney - CBS Evening News Dec 06, 1985Ernest's Family Album Comedy SpecialOfficial Ernest: Ernest Goes to Camp - Jake and Eddie's Eggs ErroneousErnest in times square 1988 Happy New Year AmericaErnest Goes To Splash MountainErnest Scared Stupid (1991) At Those MoviesJim Varney Performing Shakespeare's Hamlet on NBC Nightly News March 22, 1985ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee" and “Undaunted”• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic...

Here at This Was A Thing, we love a good political scandal. And even though they pop up like weeds nowadays, back in 1972, right before a story broke about a certain hotel and a certain series of tapes by a certain president who shall not be Nixoned, uh, named, the hot goss around Washington was all about one figure in particular. Especially because he could have been next in line to be the leader of the free world. Rob teaches Ray about George McGovern's presidential campaign, and his choice of Thomas Eagleton as his V.P. nominee; how Eagleton’s medical history became such a hot topic; why crying in politics is a strategic misstep; and the discussions the Thomas Eagleton story inspired about the level of privacy a politician deserves.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSABC Evening News 1972 VP DramaSYND 29-7-72 SUPPORT FOR THOMAS EAGLETONEagleton speaks after stepping down as VP candidateVP candidate Eagleton drops out of 1972 raceNovak on sources-"I keep your secrets only til you die."Pt2SYND 6-8-72 MCGOVERN NOMINATES SHRIVERADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee," "Waunobe March," and "Rainbows"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world before Zoom conferences, virtual meet-ups, and social media, getting together and connecting with other people took a lot of time, and traveling to other countries was pretty much a non-starter for any normal person. And when countries wanted to show off their shiny new inventions and of course make other countries jealous, how were they supposed to do that? Well, what if there was one, single, blowout event that brought together people from across the globe? That could be a good start - and 130 years ago, a certain windy city was the perfect place to do just that.Ray teaches Rob about the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, which was one of the biggest demonstrations of global ingenuity and culture in history; why frequent flyers can thank the exposition for saving them walking time; what "medicinal peanut paste" and "unfermented grape juice" are called today; how to out-Eiffel Eiffel; and how the idea of a World's Exposition is carried on in modern equivalents.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaWEBSITES1893 World's Columbian ExpoBOOKSThe Devil in the White CityARTICLESBritannicaChicago Architecture CenterChicago TribuneChicagologyEverything, EverywhereHistory Hit James Beard FoundationTimeTravel Smart Woman1893 World's Columbian Expo Info ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee" and "DarxieLand"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"Auld Lang Syne" by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com• Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com• Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from

In honor of the New Year, This Was A Thing is making some serious resolutions:1. We're going to find even more ways to work Bea Arthur into future episodes. 2. Ray and Rob are going to start a new Patreon perk - "Fight Club with Fred Silverman."3. We will not program any computers in any way that could even possibly cause an infrastructure catastrophe.If that last resolution sounds oddly specific and familiar, then you're probably remembering 1999 - when the entire country (and world) was asking itself: will we make it to the year 2000?Rob teaches Ray about how the world nearly experienced a computer crisis at the turn of the millennium; why two extra digits make a world of difference; how the Backstreet Boys prep for the digital apocalypse; and how the fear of a global shutdown 23 years ago compares to the recent real-world pandemic experience.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSNew Year's Eve, 1999 Into 2000 - YouTubeY2K - www.NBCUniversalArchives.com - YouTubeY2K Bug: Much Ado About Nothing? | Retro Report | The New York Times - YouTubeThe Y2K Scare | National Geographic - YouTubeY2K Survival Kit Ad - YouTubeY2K: Are You Ready? A Drill for Y2K Preparedness (1999) - YouTubeY2K: Tensions in the Last Days of the 1900's - YouTubeWarrior News ~ Predictions For Y2K Millenium Bug - YouTubeFrom Freaked to Fine: Celebs React to Y2K (1999) | MTV News - YouTubeKGBT 4 Archives - Valley Residents Prepare For Y2K (December 28, 1999) - YouTubeWPXB TV-60 (PAX) May 26th 1999 Commercial Breaks - YouTubeLooking back 20 years at the fears of Y2K: From the Vault - YouTube1999 - Millennium Y2K

Happy Holidays to our favorite listeners! As a gift for your incredible support, we’re giving you TWO Patreon exclusive “Old Lucy” Level episodes that have a Christmas theme to them! Maybe this can replace the Christmas Songs that you have paired with the Yule Log you found on YouTube!First up, Ray decided to take on the role of Mark Schroeder and become game coordinator for this VERY special episode. Rob gets quizzed on the origins of some of the world’s favorite Christmas songs. Go grab some eggnog, because this tree is about to get LIT!Second, Rob and Ray decide what they consider the best Christmas movie of all time. This bracket is a cut throat, win or go home, no holds barred tournament. March Madness ain’t got nothing on this!If you enjoy these episodes, then head on over to Patreon for so much more! TEAM:Ray HebelRobert W SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESReader's Digest ArticleSONG LINKS (Spoiler Free)Question 1Question 2Question 3Question 4Question 5Question 6Question 7Question 8Question 9Question 10Dominick The DonkeyChristmas in L.A. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you need a sunny day to sweep those winter clouds away? Join us for a little stroll down the memory lane of merchandising, because there's nothing more sure to lift you out of your blues than a certain Muppet with a nose like an orange, a song in his heart, and a vibrating motor installed inside his belly.Ray teaches Rob about the origins for this best-selling behemoth, including how a chimpanzee news anchor served as part of the original inspiration for its creation; the spinoffs that this red original spawned; why toy stores in the mid 90s should've been offering much better health insurance; and why we could all use a little more laughter, and Elmo, in our lives.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESMental FlossNew York Times - 1New York Times - 2New York Times - 3PeopleTimeTimes UnionEPISODE CLIPSCommercial - Tickle Me Elmo"Sesame Street Theme" 1998-2001Sesame Street - We're All Monsters (updated version)Rosie O'Donnell & Elmo - Do You Hear What I HearFROM THE ARCHIVE: Tickle Me Elmo, hottest holiday toy in 1996The Tickle Me Elmo craze that caused a Walmart employee to get trampled, 1996Christmas Through the Decades: The Terror of Tickle Me Elmo | HistoryTickle Me Elmo Story 1996Taz Sounds Ruff Ryders KaraokeADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee" and "Oh Xmas"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro...

After The French Connection and The Exorcist, William Friedkin needed something big. Something bold. Something daring. And when someone brought him the novel Cruising he found a property that more than fit the bill. Unfortuantely, it also ended up being a quagmire of political controversy and ambiguous plot lines that modern audiences are still trying to figure out.Rob teachers Ray about the origins of the movie Cruising, including the original novel; what made William Friedkin decide to set his adaptaion within the world of 1980s BDSM gay clubs; how Friedkin's commitment to authenticity resulted in such graphic scenes that he was forced to leave chunk of the movie on the cutting room floor; the severe backlash this movie faced from gay rights advocates across the country who; James Franco's take on the whole thing; and how this movie, despite all its issues, continues to fascinate audiences as they ask themselves: is Cruising deliberately provocative and intricate, or just terrible?If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSHomosexuality in Film - 1931Harry Rose - Frankfurter SandwichesMike Wallace The Homosexuals 1967Victim (1961) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic TrailersClip: ALL IN THE FAMILY - 2/9/1971 - "Judging Books by Covers"Cruising (1980) Official Trailer #1 - Al Pacino Movie HD - YouTube'Cruising' Movie Demonstrations in SF 1980Cruising (1980) movie review - Sneak Previews with Roger Ebert and Gene SiskelThe Making Of Cruising (1980) - William Friedkin DocumentaryADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee" and "Eighties Action"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was love at first sight: you watched them enter the room, heard their adorable laugh, chatted with them all night, and thought to yourself: "Someday, I'm going to leave this person and want to split their assets 50-50…" Rob teaches Ray about "palimony" and talks through two landmark cases that catapulted the term into the zeitgeist; the history of common law marriage; why Ray has now named himself Marvin M. McMarvin Jr.; palimony's influence in and importance to the gay community; and how this niche legal concept developed into a lasting judicial philosophy for unmarried partners. If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSLee Marvin InterviewA&E Divorce Wars: Lee MarvinSNL Weekend Update: Jane, You Ignorant SlutLiberace on Gay RumorsLiberace Interview with OprahLiberace Plays "I'll Be Seeing You"ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee" and "Sing Along with Jim"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you looking for a story that is 100% guaranteed to blow your mind? A true crime tale that'll leave you wondering how crooks got away with it for so long in the first place? Well, hold on to your girdle, because this one's a doozy. It's got everything: insurance scams, fake passports, an undercover sting operation, Israeli really bank accounts, and huge sales on some of the best TVs and VCRs around (sales tax not included). Best of all, you can listen to this story for the low, low price of FREE! Now that price is insane! Ray teaches Rob about how a mom-and-pop consumer electronics store went from being a tri-state curiosity to a national sensation; who the real man is behind all those infamous ads; why having a CPA in the family comes in handy when you're committing tax fraud; and why building an empire on a foundation of shady financials and skimming off the top probably isn't the best business model.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaWEBSITEWhite Collar Fraud ARTICLESMental FlossNew York Times - 1985New York Times - 2016 (1)New York Times - 2016 (2)New YorkerNJ.comWashington PostEPISODE CLIPS1987 Crazy Eddie CommercialCrazy Eddie 'Insane!' Commercial (NY, 1978)Classic Crazy Eddie Commercial 'Bathroom DooWop' (1977-1979)Crazy Eddie Commercials and Bloopers 1980's1972 Crazy Eddie Radio Commercial for Brooklyn storeThe Biggest Retail Fraud In American History - Masterminds - Crazy Eddie - Eddie Antar DocumentaryCrazy Eddie Fever commercial 1978Crazy Eddie Antar and His CFO/CPA Cousin Sam Antar Meet for first time in 30 YearsADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons:...

Late-night TV celebrity interviews are fun diversions, but when Hollywood needs real, gritty, hard-hitting journalism, there's only one man for the job. And if it takes mispronouncing every single name in the business, then honey, he's way ahead of you.Rob teaches Ray about Sammy LaBella, a.k.a. Skip E. Lowe, whose dreams of stardom led him to befriend, interview, and/or bed more Hollywood personalities than most people probably know exist; how public access TV is the gift that keeps on giving; call-in show mishaps; early hot takes on the Donald; and why no star has shone brighter (mostly because he sweeps it himself) than Skip.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPSGloria Loring 1993 Interview and Song i JuvenileSkip E. Lowe interviews Eric Douglas, son of Kirk DouglasRuth Webb, psychic Kenny Kingston--Rare 1987 TV InterviewSkip E. Lowe Looks At Hollywood with Guests: Volz & Laurence TierneySkip E. Lowe, Robert Morse 2Charles Pierce--1992 TV Interview, Joan Crawford, Tallulah Bankhead, Joan CollinsSkip E. HighMcCain Gets It From Skip E. LoweSkip E. Lowe Laugh Factory Comics and Paul Moooney Pt.2 of 2Skip E. Lowe Birthday Party 1998Skip E. Lowe, Grace Robbins, Mark Harris, Terry Moore, Dr. Divine, Jacqueline Stallone,Helen Martin--Rare TV Interview, Good Times, 227Tyrone Power Memorial--Linda Christian, Coleen Gray, Terry Moore, 1995Skip SweepingHWOFSkip PSA

Hankering to travel somewhere warm? Somewhere with exciting sightseeing? Somewhere you can be cursed by the spirit of a vengeful Egyptian monarch? Then have we got a place for you!Ray teaches Rob about the archeologists responsible for the discovery of the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen, the Egyptian ruler who is now best known as King Tut; the misfortunes and maladies that befell many of those who uncovered the tomb; how Tut got so funky; and how all this mummy curse business got started in the first place, along with the many efforts to debunk those mystically morbid theories.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESGoogle Arts & CultureLive ScienceMental FlossNational Geographic - 1National Geographic - 2The New York Times - 1923SnopesThe TelegraphEPISODE CLIPSBilly Jones & Ernest Hare - "Old King Tut"King Tut - SNL - YouTubeADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you turn back the clocks to the early 90s, it would be impossible to avoid all the late night jokes about Vice President Dan Quayle. Likewise, if you followed the 90s TV scene, you couldn't miss the fact that Candice Bergen was raking in the Emmys for her role as the titular Murphy Brown on CBS. So when two media behemoths like that unexpectedly went head-to-head, it was bound to be a battle for the ages...Rob teaches Ray about Dan Quayle's life and career, and his sudden rise to prominence as the running mate of George H. Dubya Bush; how the Republican decision to focus more heavily on "traditional family values" emerged partly as an attack against Bill and Hillary Clinton; when spelling really does matter; why the V.P.'s condemnation of single mother families in general, and Murphy Brown in particular, brought him such a backlash; and how the outrage stirred up by this clash of cultural titans continues to this day.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSavia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices