Ménage Á Pop is a three times a week intimate discussion between two people and a piece of pop culture.
Halloween is a pumpkin patch of memorable tv programming. But each special can't carve out the same level of childhood affection. Therefore, Giulie Speziani (ILLITERATE AGENTS) is knocking cautiously, knowing all the tricks of nostalgia but hoping this one is still a treat to recall. Anything can happen on Halloween AND during her discussion of the 1986 live-action kid's film, THE WORST WITCH.
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. YShe 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
THE WORST WITCH originally aired November 1st, 1986 on CIT (Central Independent Television) in England and HBO (Home Box Office Network) in the United States. It was first released on VHS by PRISM ENTERTAINMENT on October 19th, 1994.
The film was directed by British filmmaker Robert Young (SPLITTING HEIRS) from a teleplay by Mary Pleshette Willis who also penned a Halloween themed episode for the 1990 BABY-SITTERS CLUB tv series.
The film is based on a series of children’s novels by author Jill Murphy. There are currently eight books in the series with the first volume, THE WORST WITCH being published in 1974 and he most recent, FIRST PRIZE FOR TH WORST WITCH, in 2018.
Author Jill Murphy began conceiving the stories as a teenager attending a private school in Wimbledon England. Many of the characters who would eventually appear in her books were inspired by classmates of hers from the time.
The film’s songs’ ‘Growing Up Isn’t Easy” and “Anything Can Happen On Halloween” were written by composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Don Black. Charles Strouse had previously co-worte the tv theme song for ALL IN THE FAMILY, “Those Were The Days” while Don Black has written lyrics for such pop hits as “Diamonds Are Forever,” “To Sir With Love” and the Oscar winning “Born Free.”
In addition to Fairuza Balk (RETURN TO OZ) as main character Mildred Hubble , the cast also featured Lisa Mae Brice (TORCHWOOD) as classmate Zoe Chant, Charlotte Rae (THE FACTS OF LIF) as Miss Cackle, Tim Curry (FISH POLICE) as the Grand Wizard and Diana Rigg (THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER) as Miss Hardbroom.
Tune back on Friday for an retread of everything that made High School the worst when GIULIE SPEZIANI discuses the 1993 tv series, MY SO-CALLED LIFE.
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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