Hugging And Learning

Like a mummy, or a vampire, or a ghost, or any number of monsters that rise from the dead at Halloween — WE’RE BACK!!! It’s Chelsea and Andy’s favorite time of year, and we couldn’t resist getting together for an impromptu surprise episode, specially for those of you who forgot to unsubscribe. Join us as we deep-dive into the cursed nonsense that is The Paul Lynde Halloween Special variety show. We’ve got witches, we’ve got truckers, we’ve got disco, we’ve got special guest appearances from everybody from Betty White to KISS. It’s bananapants and we wish it had never happened, but it did. Join us, please, so you can help us prevent this haunting event from ever happening again.

Show: THE PAUL LYNDE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (ABC)

Air Date: October 29, 1976

Special Guest Stars: Margaret Hamilton, Billie Hayes, Billy Barty, Tim Conway, Roz “Pinky Tuscaderoh” Kelly, Betty White, Florence Henderson, KISS, Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond

Find it: on Amazon Prime Video ($3.99 to rent)

Snacks:

• Brach's Harvest Corn
• Hershey's Vampire Kisses
• Anela Cookies
• Aloinka Cookies
• Skillet S'mores (recipe)

Further Reading:

We’ve come to the end of the rainbow, friends and colleagues. It’s been a fantastic 101-episode-long ride, and we’re so happy that you came along. Before we ride off into the sunset (jk, it’s a pandemic, we never leave our apartments), we’d like to wrassle one last VSE with you — part two of the accurséd BICYCLE MAN. It’s got all the icky feelings and inappropriate jokes of part one, with 200% more police detectives. Come along.

Show: DIFF’RENT STROKES \\ “The Bicycle Man,” Season 5, Episode 16

Air Date: February 5, 1983

Find it: Hulu or Amazon Prime Video with the Starz add-on

Snack: Maple Walnut Shortbread from Archer Farms

Further Reading:

• A “very special” Diff’rent Strokes that’s terrifying for all the wrong reasons | The AV Club
• Child Sexual Abuse: 6 Stages of Grooming | Oprah.com
• Preventing Sexual Abuse At Summer Camp: Five Tips for Parents

The time has finally come. In this most cursed year of this darkest timeline, we must re-watch and re-evaluate one of the most cursed VSEs of all time. The one that started it all — which is apt, because after 100 episodes, we have nearly come to the end of the Hugging & Learning rainbow. Join Chelsea, Andrew, and Miles for the penultimate episode of our podcast, as we evaluate what, if anything, we have to learn from this bone-chilling tv artifact today.

Show: DIFF’RENT STROKES \\ “The Bicycle Man,” Season 5, Episode 16

Air Date: February 5, 1983

Find it: Hulu or Amazon Prime Video with the Starz add-on

Snack: Camel Balls gum (Thanks, Josh!)

Further Reading:

• A “very special” Diff’rent Strokes that’s terrifying for all the wrong reasons | The AV Club
• Child Sexual Abuse: 6 Stages of Grooming | Oprah.com
• Preventing Sexual Abuse At Summer Camp: Five Tips for Parents

“Welcome to Hamilton High, where all the students major in drugs!” H&L is back with a real classic of the “Just Say No” genre. We’ve got an earnest protagonist, we’ve got grade-A freakouts, we’ve got future Oscar winners judo-kicking out of second-story windows. Will CARING SO MUCH triumph over indifference, drugs, and swimming? Or will yet another suburban teen succumb to his poorly-defined life pressures and terrible taste in friends? Join us to find out!

Show: DESPERATE LIVES \\ CBS TV Movie

Air Date: March 3, 1982

Special Guest Stars:

• Future Oscar Winner Helen Hunt
• Dr. Joyce Brothers
• Rick Springfield

Find it: parts of it are on YouTube

Snack:

• Brach’s Candy Corn Pumpkins
• Trader Joe’s PB&J Snack Duo

Further Reading:

• Effects and Dangers of PCP Use
• DESPERATE LIVES: Say No To Drugs, Say Yes to Overblown Message Movies | Schlockmania

Won’t someone please hug Terry? The boy moves like a ghost through his own life; in the words of his own sister, “he’s just kinda there.” When Terry goes punk, it’s not so much a rebellion as an inevitability. But, wait! What does this mean for Mom’s big anti-punker conference?! Is this actually an afterschool special FOR MOMS?? Join Chelsea, Andrew, long-suffering Terry, some of The Weirz, and the psychiatrist from Space Jam as we try to decipher what, if anything, we can learn from an afterschool special about the waning days of punk.

Show: ABC Afterschool Specials \\ “The Day My Kid Went Punk,” Season 16, Episode 3

Air Date: October 23, 1987

Find it: on YouTube

Snack: Whittaker’s Chocolate Bar (Thanks, Josh!)

Further Reading:

• “Afterschool Specials” | You’re Wrong About Podcast
• ABC Afterschool Special | Wikipedia

What’s the only thing more fun that a lighthearted came of Clue with friends? Only a high-stakes reality TV version of the game that strangers take way too seriously! Come with us on a journey back to 2013, when ABC turned a half-built mansion into CSI: Beverly Hills, at almost unfathomable cost and with mediocre results. The game… is murder! But somehow, as always, it all comes back to Melora Hardin.

Show: WHODUNNIT? \\ “High Voltage,” Season 1, Episode 1

Air Date: June 23, 2013

Find it: on ABC.com

Snack: Jampler! (jam sampler) from Trade Street Jam Co.

Further Reading:

• Whodunnit? | Wikipedia
• Rue Manor | Reddit
• Viewers feared contestants actually died on ABC’s ‘Whodunnit?’
• 8 Surprising Facts About ABC’s “Whodunnit”
• Whodunnit: all your questions answered | Reality Blurred

It’s a little wild and a little strange that this is our first HEY DUDE episode. And it’s a doozy of a debut — this is the LOST episode of the beloved Nickelodeon show. “Lost,” you say? Imagine if Sam Shepard wrote most of an episode of this light teen comedy, and you’ll soon figure out why. Join us for a deep dive into the fraught interpersonal relationships of the adult children of alcoholics, and also stinky feet jokes.

Show: HEY DUDE \\ “Melody’s Brother” Season 3, Episode 11

Air Date: June 15, 1990

Find it: Good luck finding this episode! The rest of the series is on Amazon Prime Video.

Snack: Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm Wildflower Honey with Ginger Root

Further Reading:

• Melody’s Brother | Hey Dude Reviewed
• Hey Dude: Melody’s Brother (My White Whale) | The Very Special Blog

Have you ever heard of Gospel Bill? If not, let’s close that #blessed chapter of your life. Join Andrew, Chelsea, and the rest of the Dry Gulch Gang as we attempt to keep the devil out of our thoughts from way down deep inside God’s pouch. Confused? Don’t worry. We are, too.

Show: THE GOSPEL BILL SHOW \\ “Control Your Thoughts,” Season 1, Episode 21

Air Date: sometime around 1982?

Find it: on YouTube

Snack: Oh Mazing Granola Snack

Further Reading:

• The Gospel Bill Show | Wikipedia

What could be better than an episode of THE GOLDEN GIRLS in These Troubling Times™? How about an episode TGG that’s also THE WIRE, a rom/com, and a George Clooney vehicle all at once?! This week, we explore the twists and turns of a singular episode of sitcom television, and also launch our GoFundMe campaign to raise the $3MIL we need to purchase the Golden Girls house, which has just come on the LA real estate market. We’re doing important work over here. Join us.

Show: THE GOLDEN GIRLS \\ “To Catch a Neighbor,” Season 2, Episode 24

Air Date: May 2, 1987

Special Guest Star: young George Clooney

Find it: on Hulu

Snack: Sweet Dames Artisan Confections Macaroons

Further Reading:

• Meet Sweet Dames Founder Genelle Drayton | BET
• The ‘Golden Girls’ House Is Up for Sale (and It’s in L.A.) | LA Magazine
• The “Golden Girls” House Is for Sale and Its Actual Interiors Are Not What We Expected | House Beautiful
• 18 Famous Faces Once on The Golden Girls | Bustle

The first time you do anything is complex — the first time you have sex, the first time you learn your boyfriend’s real name, the first time you’re low-key slut-shamed by the boarding school friends you are too old to still be living with in your 20s. Will Natalie navigate the choppy waters of this new life phase with grace and strength? Will Jo voice a value judgement on her friend’s decisions? Will the origins of this random Australian child ever be made known to us? Tune in to find out!

Show: THE FACTS OF LIFE \\ “The First Time,” Season 9, Episode 16

Air Date: February 6, 1988

Find it: good luck!

Snack: Caramel Coconut Oreos

Further Reading:

• 15 Facts About the Facts of Life | Mental Floss
• Lisa Whelchel Explains the Controversial ‘Facts of Life’ Virginity Episode | Yahoo

Y’all… did you know the Netflix SHE-RA reboot is like, really really awesome?! This week, we’re back on Etheria for a way more nuanced plot and character discussion than we’ve ever had about this world. It’s almost like this show isn’t a half-hour commercial for toys! Join Chelsea, Andrew, Adora, and the other Princesses of Power (one of whom is Friend of the Pod Vella Lovell) as we do some actual learning in this time of virtual hugging.

Show: SHE-RA AND THE PRINCESSES OF POWER \\ “No Princess Left Behind,” Season 1, Episode 9

Air Date: November 13, 2018

Find it: on Netflix

Snack: Chewy Cookie Butter and Crunchy Birthday Cake Cookies from Partake

Further Reading:

• She-Ra and the Princesses of Power | Wikipedia
• Inside the Groundbreaking Queer Reboot of ‘She-Ra’ | Rolling Stone

Figuring out if most VSEs of DIFF’RENT STROKES did more harm or more good, requires a degree in advanced mathematics. This one is no exception. Did we learn something about street buskers with epilepsy? Sure. But at what societal cost? All this and more will be pondered at length.

Show: DIFF’RENT STROKES \\ “A Special Friend” Season 7, Episode 24

Air Date: May 4, 1985

Find it: good luck!

Snack:

• Butter Rum LifeSavers
• Health Discovery Super Food Nutrient Crackers

Further Reading:

• Myths About Epilepsy | Epilepsy-Ohio.org
• Epilepsy Myths | Epilepsy Society

Ah, THE OFFICE. So lovable. So quotable. So still finding its footing in this episode (but that’s a great thing!). Come along with three perennial OFFICE re-watchers as we join the ultimate fan of hugging and foe of learning — Michael Scott — and the rest of our heart’s coworkers on Diversity Training Day. Buckle up.

Show: THE OFFICE \\ “Diversity Day,” Season 1, Episode 2

Air Date: March 29, 2005

Special Guest Star: Larry Wilmore

Find it: on Netflix

Snack: Trader Joe’s Almond Croissants

Further Reading:

• Diversity Day (The Office) | Wikipedia
• The Office (Classic): Pilot/“Diversity Day” | The AV Club
• Broccoli Rabe (Andy’s way)
• Broccoli Rabe (Chelsea’s way)
• DIY Ninja Mask VS MarMar!

Welcome to Bonanza City, where a group of 40 children will be allowed to form their own society — as long as it adheres exactly to the parameters the producers have laid out for them. In the early days of reality TV, it was quite literally the Wild Welcome to Bonanza City, where a group of 40 children will be allowed to form their own society — as long as it adheres exactly to the parameters laid out by the producers. In the early days of reality TV, it was quite literally the Wild West, and no one knows that better than the parents who signed waivers that absolved CBS of responsibility should their children literally die. Strap in, because this is gonna be a MEGASODE. It’s sinister as hell here in Kid Nation, and we all have a lot to learn.

Show: KID NATION \\ “I’m Trying to Be a Leader Here” Season 1, Episode 1

Air Date: Sept 19, 2007

Find it: on YouTube

Snack:

• S’Mores Chewy Chips Ahoy from Nabisco
• Double ‘D’ Sugar Free Marshmallows

Further Reading:

• Kid Nation | Wikipedia
• 8 Reasons CBS’ ‘Kid Nation’ Was More Traumatizing For Children Than ‘The Hunger Games’
• A CBS Reality Show Draws a Claim of Possible Child Abuse | NY Times
• Sophia Wise on Kid Nation | YouTube

If you were going to spend an hour this week listening to Hugging and Learning, we’d like to encourage you to listen/subscribe to one of the following comedy/pop culture podcasts instead:

Still Processing

Minority Korner

Why Won’t You Date Me?

The Nod

So Here’s What Happened

Introverted Black Girl

FruitLoops: Serial Killers of Color

2 Dope Queens

Code Switch

The Read

Be well. Raise hell. Black Lives Matter.

It’s 1991, PSA and VSEs are all the rage, but one show dares to be different: EERIE, INDIANA — TWIN PEAKS for TWEENS. If you remember this show (which ran for a single season and was a nearly-perfect ratings bomb), you probably remember it fondly. Join Chelsea, Andrew, and Very Special Guest Allie Fireel as we plumb the depths of this smart, layered show to arrive at a unanimous conclusion: NBC was not ready.

Show: EERIE, INDIANA \\ “Just Say No Fun,” Season 1, Episode 6

Air Date: October 27, 1991

Very Special Guest: Allie Fireel (Artistic Director of Louisville Fringe Fest)

Find it: on Amazon Prime Video (free)

Snack:

• Outshine Mango Fruit Bars
• Trader Joe’s Springle Jangle

Further Reading:

• Eerie, Indiana | Wikipedia
• B.F. Skinner | Wikipedia
• Eerie, Indiana Was a Few Dimensions Ahead of Its Time | The AV Club

We hate to break it to you, but if your childhood recollections of Gordon Shumway include character traits like “loveable,” “caring,” or “friendly,” you might want to rewatch ALF. Preferably with a good snack or a stiff drink close at hand. Join your hosts, Ronald Reagan (not really), Harry Shearer (yes really) and a very callus and unfeeling extraterrestrial as we debate nuclear disarmament and the addition of a second phone line as equally-weighted issues in the life of the Tanner family.

Show: ALF \\ “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” Season 1, Episode 4

Air Date: October 13, 1986

Special Guest Star: Harry Shearer (in voice actor capacity)

Find it: on Amazon Prime Video (free with ads)

Snack: Kellogg’s Chocolate Cupcake Pop-Tarts

Further Reading:

• How Did Alf Work? | Mental Floss
• 25 Fun Facts about ALF | Mental Floss
• Nuclear Warfare | Wikipedia

Can mythical anthropomorphic bears have sensitive, consent-filled filled relationships with the visually impaired?  Don’t get your hopes up. Join Chelsea, Andrew, Miles, Tummi Gummi, Duke Igthorn, and (Ka)Trina the shepherdess on an adventure where we learn a lot about self-sufficiency and nothing at all about sensitivity.

Show: GUMMI BEARS \\ “What You See is Me,” Season 1, Episode 11a

Air Date: December 7, 1985

Find it: on Disney+

Snack: Lolli and Pop’s Gourmet Gummy Bears

Further Reading:

• Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears | Wikipedia
• 9 Furry Facts About Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears | Mental Floss
• Brain ‘rewires’ itself to enhance other senses in blind people | Science Daily
• Myths and Facts about Blindness | National Federation of the Blind

This episode has it all: accidental wife-punching, a small drug overdose, thirty-five glorious seconds of verbal gymnastics, the Mary Tyler More Physical Comedy Spetacular — and that’s BEFORE we get to the special message about prescription drug abuse! They don’t make ’em like this anymore, folks. Come on in (and look out for that ottoman)!

Show: The Dick Van Dyke Show \\ “Pink Pills and Purple Parents,” Season 4, Episode 10

Air Date: November 25, 1964

Find it: on Hulu

Snack:

• Kellogg’s Peeps Marshmallow Cereal
• Lay’s Baked Chips Cheddar & Sour Cream

Further Reading:

• 6 Little-Known Facts About The Dick Van Dyke Show | Mental Floss
• 16 reasons not to use someone else’s prescription medicine | Everyday Health