20th Century Pop! is a podcast where hosts Bob and Tim take a sociological look at the pop culture of the '80s and '90s.
Trick or treating has been (understandably) called off. But does that mean Halloween is canceled? Last time this was proposed the world plunged into despair and only Judd Hirsch in a cape could rescue it. Wait... what was that last sentence? TAXI’s Judd Hirsch? Apparently he was at the center of a late ‘70s debacle known as THE HALLOWEEN THAT ALMOST WASN’T. And while it’s not something Bob or Tim grew up watching, their inaugural viewing might be just the thing to save their spooky holiday. Or... at the very least ... get the DEAR JOHN theme out of their heads.
POP NOTES
The HALLOWEEN THAT ALMOST WASN’T was originally broadcast by the ABC network on Sunday, October 28th, 1979. It aired annually on the Disney Channel from 1983 until 1996.
The special was released on VHS in 1992 under the new title THE NIGHT DRACULA SAVED THE WORLD.
Director Bruce Bilson had previously helmed episodes of GET SMART (1965) and would go to direct such series as THE POWERS OF MATTHEW STAR (1982), SLEDGE HAMMER (1986) and DINOSAURS (1991). He is the father of screenwriter Danny Bilson (THE WRONG GUYS), film producer Julie Albert (THE FOG OF WAR) and actress Rachel Bilson (THE O.C.)
The show’s writer, Coleman Jacoby, had celebrated career writing for such comedy legends as Bob Hope (SPIES LIKE US), Jackie Gleason (NOTHING IN COMMON), and Imogene Coca (NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION).
The werewolf was named Warren as a reference to “Werewolves London” singer Warren Zevon.
The closing disco track “Keep On Thinking” was performed by singer Zenobia Conkerite who can also be heard singing backing vocals on the 1982 single “Its Raining Men” by The Weather Girls.
The special won a 1980 Primetime Emmy award for “Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children’s Programming” for the Character Makeup Design of Bob O’Bradovich (INHERIT THE WIND).
Additional Emmy nominations included Film Editor in Children’s Programming for Arthur Ginsberg (GIRLS NITE OUT), Performer In Children’s Programing for Mariette Hartley (GOODNIGHT BEANTOWN) and an overall nod for Outstanding Children’s Programming.
MANIC MEDIA
Watch the the slightly retitled presentation of THE HALLOWEEN THAT ALMOST WASN’T with the 1992 VHS VERSION OF THE NIGHT DRACULA SAVED THE WORLD.
Anticipate its annual airing with this 1989 DISNEY CHANNEL HALLOWEEN PROMO .
Spend a little of your own money to hear people talk during the movie with the downloadable RIFFTRAX COMENTARY FOR THE NIGHT DRACULA SAVED THE WORLD (AKA THE HALLOWEEN THAT ALMOST WASN’T) (RIFFTRAX is unaffiliated with both 20th Century Pop! and the Not A Holograms podcast network. Streaming fees and charges may apply).
Banter during the commercial breaks with this JAMES GARNER & MARIETTE HARTLEY 1979 POLAROID COMMERCIAL Bob remembers so well.
See the Judd Hirsch behind the fangs with the 1988 SITCOM PILOT FOR DEAR JOHN.
And, finally, indulge in a little more childhood fright with THE TROUBLE WITH MISS SWITCH, Rue McClanahan in THE WICKEDEST WITCH and a bunch of pop songs in Walt Disney’s DTV MONSTER HITS.
The use of audio and video clips linked from YOUTUBE are for educational purposes and without the expressed permission of their legal holding companies. All rights remain with with their original distributor.
CLOSING CREDITS
This episode of 20TH CENTURY POP! was recorded by CAST, an online audio platform that lets you create and record a multi-guest podcast straight from your web-browser.
It was then mastered by AUPHONIC, a web-based post-production service that makes it sound like Bob and Tim are worth listening to. Check out both sights for trial and subscription information.
MUSIC FEATURED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:
“Super Poupi ” (opening theme) and "Poupi Great Adventures: The Arcade Game" (closing theme) performed by Komiku from the 2018 album POUPI'S INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES available at Freemusicarchives.org. Cleared for public domain use through Creative Commons under a CCO 1.0 Universal License.
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Hear TIM's other podcasts MÉNAGE Á POP and INEXPLICABLE BOOK CLUB now streaming at www.nahpods.com.
20TH CENTURY POP! will return next week with a bonus episode celebrating the unprecedented return (but maybe not noticed in its absence) bane of Bob’s existence… THE POP 5.
