Ménage Á Pop is a three times a week intimate discussion between two people and a piece of pop culture.
Who got you in High school? Nobody, right? Well, nobody except that one song, particular novel and primetime television series. Whoever wrote those didn't go to your school but somehow tapped into exactly how it felt. For podcaster Giulie Speziani (ILLITERATE AGENTS) that common angst came in the form of a voice over by Claire Danes. The character was Angela Chase and what she was relating was all 19 episodes of MY SO-CALLED LIFE.
Giulie Speziani is co-host of ILLITERATE AGENTS , a podcast of musical trifectas that can be heard on APPLE PODCASTS, GOOGLE PODCASTS and the homepage of www.illiterateagents.com. She is also a comic book author who CASH AND CARRY series, among other works, can be discovered and purchased at GINGER RABBIT STUDIO.
POP NOTES
MY SO-CALLED LIFE debuted on the ABC network on Thursday, August 25th 1994.
The show was created by screenwriter and dramatist Winnie Holzman, who had previously written for THIRTYSOMETHING (1987) and THE WONDER YEARS (1988)and may be best known for co-authoring the stage musical WICKED (2003).
The central character of Angela Chase was performed my CLAIRE DANES in her first lead role. Prior to this she had appeared in the pilot for the short lived CBS sitcom DUDLEY (1993) as well as an episode of LAW AND ORDER (1993).
Claire Danes was only 15 at the time of filming and, due to Hollywood labor laws, could only work a reduced number of hours per day. As a result, the writers expanded on plot-lines for Angela’s parents Patty, portrayed by Bess Armstrong (THE SKATEBOARD KID) and Grahm, portrayed by Tom Irwin (MIDNIGHT RUN) to fully utilize the filming schedule.
Alicia Silverstone (CLUELESS) was almost cast in the role of Angela Chase, before the producers decided on Claire Danes
Actor Wilson Cruz, who portrayed the character of Rickie Vasquez, was the first openly gay actor to portray an openly gay character on television. He has since appeared on such TV series as PARTY OF FIVE (1994), 13 REASONS WHY (2017) as well as playing the role of Angel in the 1998 touring production of RENT.
The show’s instrumental theme song was composed by W.G. SNUFFY WALDEN who has scored such notable tv shows as ELLEN (1994), THE WEST WING (1999) and GEORGE LOPEZ (2002).
A soundtrack for the series was released to coincide with its debut episode. Its track listing featured such artists of the day as BUFFALO TOM (“Soda Jerk”), ARCHERS OF LOAF (“South Carolina”) and JULIANA HATFIELD (“Make It Home.”)
While a full season of 22 episodes were written, the show was cancelled before the final three could be produced. This made the 19th episode, "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities," the show’s finale, airing on January 26, 1995.
Four years following its cancellation, the show was revived as a single novel entitled MY SO-CALLED LIFE GOES ON by young adult author Catherine Clark (BANANA SPLITSVILLE).
Tune back on Monday when BONTA GUITERREZ (author of THE WEREWOLF WHISPERER) tests positive for the cult 1978 Martial Arts film FIVE DEADLY VENOMS.
This episode of MÉNAGE Á 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. Check out both sights for trial and subscription information.
MUSIC FEATURED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:
“Three Ways To Do That” (opening theme) composed and performed by The Madeline Prior. All rights reserved with Not A Holograms podcasts.
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Try to understand the present while living in the past with Tim’s weekly podcast 20TH CENTURY POP! at www.nahpods.com/20popcast
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