Scandal Water

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ue84z-1143311

What says Christmas more than murder and blood? Yes, you read that correctly!

In our first episode of the December series, “Hooray for Holidays,” Candy and Ashley explore the custom of telling ghost stories at Christmastime– a practice that originated long, long ago, but was popularized again during the Victorian era, primarily thanks to Charles Dickens.

As Jerome K. Jerome wrote in 1891, “Whenever five or six English-speaking people meet round a fire on Christmas Eve, they start telling each other ghost stories…It is a genial, festive season, and we love to muse upon graves, and dead bodies, and murders, and blood.”

So grab a cup of hot chocolate and snuggle in while Candy and Ashley dig into the grave tradition of telling scary Christmas stories. And as an added bonus, you’ll get to hear Ashley read a short excerpt from a spooky Victorian tale!

Show Notes for Episode 11!

*A Christmas Carol* Ebenezer Scrooge (right) and the Ghost of Christmas Present, illustration from an edition of Charles Dickens’s *A Christmas Carol*.
© Photos.com/Thinkstock

Illustration of “The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton”
Americanliterature.com

Hear the song (performed by Andy Williams) that inspired the episode!

Sources

“Why Do People Tell Ghost Stories on Christmas?” Smithsonian Magazine, by Kat Eschner, December 23, 2016

“A Plea to Resurrect the Christmas Tradition of Telling Ghost Stories,” Smithsonian Magazine, by Colin Dickey, December 15, 2017

“How Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ Changed the Way the Holiday is Celebrated,” Time, by Kate Samuelson, November 21, 2017

“The Fascinating History of Halloween and How the Holiday Originated,” Good Housekeeping, by Caroline Picard and Lizz Schumer, June 21, 2021

“On the Lost Christmastime Tradition of Telling Ghost Stories,” crimereads.com, by Olivia Rutligliano, December 21, 2020

“The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton” by Charles Dickens

December Promo: Hooray for Holidays!

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-89y3v-1144aae

‘Tis the season for some Holiday cheer! Join Candy and Ashley as they delve into the best and most peculiar stories the holidays have to offer, including victorian tales of murder, blood, and specters; the origin story of the most famous reindeer of all; and how “the greatest song ever written” (according to its composer Irving Berlin) became a beloved Holiday classic.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

It Doesn‘t Take WandaVision to Spot a Classic

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-sww9i-1113e4a

Top 3 signs you’ve achieved classic sitcom status:

The language and storylines still resonate 60 years after the premiere

2. The famous and talented lead actors are still best-known for the roles they played in this sitcom

Marvel decides to mirror one of the most well-known sitcom episodes in WandaVision!

You don’t want to miss this episode where Candy and Ashley discuss the classic The Dick Van Dyke Show, featuring one of Ashley’s all-time favorite actors in the starring role.

Show Notes for Episode 10!

Scene from ‘Dick Van Dyke’ episode “It May Look Like a Walnut”
*Screenrant.com*

Wanda and Vision compared to the Petries from ‘Dick Van Dyke’
*Reel360.com*

The beloved autograph Ashley mentions during the podcast

Sources:

DIck Van Dyke singing the theme song on the Rachael Ray Show

“How ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ Broke New Ground,” CBS News, January 27, 2017

“‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ Changed Television As We Know It,” Wide Open Country, by Courtney Fox

“Carl Reiner Almost Left ‘Dick Van Dyke’ Over This Controversial Episode,” Vanity Fair, by Donald Liebenson, December 9, 2016

“Carl Reiner is Grateful CBS Has Colorized ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show,’” Entertainment Weekly, by Lynette Rice, December 14, 2018

“6 Little-Known Facts About ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show,’” Mental Floss,

by Kara Kovalchik, May 7, 2008

“‘WandaVision’: The Significance of ‘The Dick Van Dyke’ Episode, GameRant, by Jillian Unrau, February 26, 2021

“‘WandaVision’ Director Matt Shakman Consulted Dick Van Dyke, Who is Adorably Clueless About the MCU,” SlashFilm, by Ethan Anderton, January 18, 2021

IMBD– “It May Look Like a Walnut” episode of ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’

Bonus clip not referenced in the episode: youtube clip of the actor who played Ritchie, Larry Matthews, sharing a memory

Link for Rose Maire documentary, “Wait for Your Laugh” (misidentified as “Wait for THE Laugh” by Ashley) https://www.amazon.com/Wait-Your-Laugh-Rose-Marie/dp/B07CSJ9TVF

Turkey‘s Away!

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-nnqqg-1127545

What says Thanksgiving more than chucking live turkeys out of a helicopter?

Well, that’s exactly what happened in the classic television episode of WKRP in Cincinnati called “Turkeys Away.” If you know the show, you know the famous punch-line. But did you ALSO know that the plot was loosely based on a REAL event? Listen in as Candy and Ashley discuss why “Turkeys Away” is still considered one of television’s all-time best Thanksgiving episodes, even after 40+ years.

Show Notes for Episode 9!

*CBS.com*
Richard Sanders as Les Nessman, reporting the Thanksgiving publicity event

Sources:

WKRP theme song

“The 20 Best Thanksgiving TV Episodes, Ranked,” Wired, by Jennifer M. Wood, November 27, 2019

Youtube clip showing highlights of the episode

“Remembering WKRP’s ‘Turkeys Away,’” Mental Floss, by Jake Rossen, November 6, 2018

“WKRP in Cincinnati’s ‘Turkeys Away’ is Still the Best Thanksgiving Episode Ever,” Vulture, by Jen Chaney, November 27, 2019

“Oh, the Humanity! WKRP’s ‘Turkeys Away’ is Still the Best Thanksgiving Episode Ever,” Newsner, by Kevin McCarthy, November 27, 2019

“The True Story Behind the Famous WKRP ‘Turkey Drop,’” Spark News (blog), by Ken Mills, November 23, 2016

“Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson: The Bitter Divorce that Just Wouldn’t End, Los Angeles Times, by Christie D’Zurilla, September 6, 2018

I‘ll Take Quiz Shows for $25,000

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-3nhd8-1113e1a

The term ‘scandal water’ earns its name this week as the two ladies delve into the great quiz show scandals of the 1950s. Listeners will hear about the rise of the quiz show phenomenon, the chain of events that led whistle-blower Herb Stempel to expose the corruption on TwentyOne, and the impact this had on the TV quiz show genre.

Show Notes for Episode 8!

Charles Van Doren and Herb Stempel on *Twenty-One*
*Latimes.com*

Herb Stempel on the quiz show and decades later
*lifeinlegacy.com*

Sources:

“Herb Stempel, Whistle-Blower in the 1950s Quiz Show Scandals, Dies at 93,” Hollywood Reporter, by Mike Barnes, May 21, 2020

“The Quiz Show Scandal,” American Experience, pbs.org, January 6, 1992

“The 64,000 Question, American Scandal, pbs.org

Wikipedia– Dotto

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/herb-stempel-dead-whistleblower-1950s-quiz-show-scandals-was-93-1099370/

In the Pit with Cobra Kai

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-m5hnh-10f50c0

In episode 7 Candy introduces Ashley to the cultural phenomenon Cobra Kai. Calling on interviews with actors and producers of the hit show, Candy pulls back the curtain to share callbacks, Easter Eggs, and intentional choices made by the Cobra Kai show creators to satisfy both die-hard Karate Kid fans and also newer viewers.

Warning: This episode contains spoilers.

Show Notes for Episode 7!

William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, and Martin Kove in a scene from *Cobra Kai*
*variety.com*

Sources:

“75 Cobra Kai Season 3 Easter Eggs and Hidden Details You Probably Missed,” Men’s Health, by Philip Ellis, January 5, 2021

Today Show Interview with Ralph Macchio, August 27, 2020

“Oral History of ‘Cobra Kai’ with Ralph Macchio and William Zabka,” Rotten Tomatoes, April 30, 2019

“Cobra Kai producers answer your big season 3 spoiler questions,” Entertainment Weekly, by Kristen Baldwin, January 02, 2021

“Cobra Kai Season 3 Honors Original Karate Kid Cast Member Rob Garrison, Who Died in 2019,” People.com, by Breanne L. Heldman, January 01, 2021

“The Crane Kick Is Bogus: A Karate Kid Oral History,” Sports Illustrated, by Alex Prewitt, May 1, 2018

“Some Never Before Seen Footage From Original Karate Kid,” screenrant.com, by Dan Zinski, May 01, 2018

“Ralph Macchio on The Karate Kid’s 1947 Ford and Cobra Kai Season Two,” Automobile, by Mac Morrison, Apr 24, 2019

An Episode You Can Sink Your Teeth Into

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-eubk6-10f50bd

*PLEASE NOTE: This episode and “Staging a Murder” (Episode 1) were the first two episodes recorded on January 2, 2021. They were recorded back to back and we didn’t realize the issue with the quality of the audio until after the recording was complete! We decided not to re-record in order to keep the spontaneity of the conversation true. However, we cleaned it up to the best of our ability and hope you enjoy it!!

In episode 6 Candy and Ashley give you something to sink your teeth into when they explore the popular expression “Jumping the Shark.” The two not only discuss the origin and evolution of this well-known phrase, first coined by a group of college buddies but also take a deep dive into the episode of the popular TV series Happy Days that inspired this toothsome term. The episode ends with a discussion of other shows the two believe to have jumped the shark.

Special thank you to John S. Badger from the Mercury Theatre Podcast for being our very first “Listener Testimonial!” Find out more at: mercurytheatrepodcast.com

Show Notes for Episode 6!

Fonzie preparing to jump the shark in season 5 of *Happy Days*
*Mentalfloss.com*

Sources:

Youtube video of Fonzie jumping the shark

Archive of American Television Interview with Henry Winkler, “Henry Winkler discusses ‘Happy Days’ Jump the Shark’ episode”

Archive of American Television Interview with Ron Howard, “Ron Howard discusses ‘jumping the shark”

University of Michigan newsletter’s Michigan Today article “He’s a Maniac: Deep Frying the Shark”

Thankful for Television – November Promo

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-2fnng-111388e

Join us Tuesday, November 2nd for our first of FIVE episodes celebrating the world of television in our series, “Thankful for Television!” Candy and Ashley dive into a classic show that gave rise to a pop culture saying, a film that has become an instant modern television classic, a scandal that paved the way for westerns, a doomed turkey, and a beloved sitcom that has withstood the test of time.

War of the Worlds: The Original Fake News

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-3ksfc-10f5059

Long before podcasts, and even before TV, there was the golden age of radio. Episode 5 of Scandal Water focuses on what is arguably the most well-known radio event of all time, the broadcast of “War of the Worlds” on October 30, 1938, that sparked widespread panic. But was it as horrific and extensive as reports indicated? And why were those Americans so quick to believe their world was being invaded? Candy and Ashley explore these questions in their Armchair Psychologist segment.

Show Notes for Episode 5!

Orson Welles and an actual newspaper headline
Metroweekly.com
Welles (center) during a rehearsal at the Mercury Theatre for “War of the Worlds”
kpbs.org

Sources:

“War of the Worlds” 1938 Radio Broadcast (the recording)

“The History of Television,” cornell.edu

“How Orson Welles’ 1930s War of the Worlds Radio Adaptation Went Viral,” Television, by Vanja Mutabdzija, September 15, 2020

“The Infamous ‘War of the Worlds’ Radio Broadcast Was a Magnificent Fluke,” Smithsonian Magazine, by A. Brad Schwartz, May 6, 2015

“75 Years Ago, ‘War of the Worlds’ Started a Panic. Or Did It?” NPR, by Mark Memmott, October 30, 2013
“Opinion: Orson Welles and the Birth of Fake News,” New York Times, by A, Brad Schwartz, October 30, 2018

You‘re Not Crazy, You‘re Being Gaslighted

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-dyh2y-10f504f

‘Gaslighting’ is a term widely used–and unfortunately, also highly visible– in our society today. It is a form of psychological abuse wherein the abuser causes the victim to question his/her sanity, memories, or perception of reality. But where did the term originate? Listen in as Candy and Ashley not only share how the 1938 play “Gas Light” (also known as “Angel Street”) by Patrick Hamilton gave rise to the popular term, but also warning signs to look for if you suspect you’re being gaslighted, and possible steps you might take to gather proof.