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Battle of the Network Shows

Battle of the Network Shows

By: Rick Brooks and Mike Cowgill
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Each week, hosts Rick Brooks and Mike Cowgill explore the TV of the '70s and '80s through hand-picked episodes.Copyright 2021 Michael Cowgill and Rick Brooks Art
Episodes
  • Encore: The White Shadow
    Jan 15 2026

    In our second episode ever, we talked about CBS MTM high scool basketball drama The White Shadow, and we share it again for no particular reason. In "The Death of me Yet?" (Season 2, episode 22) the Carver High basketball team tries to win the city championships while grieving the loss of one of their own and worrying whether Coach Reeves will leave Carver for a job at a fancy college. Also, What We'd Like to See!

    Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/

    Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699

    Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE

    #podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #eighties #thewhiteshadow #basketball

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    47 mins
  • Episode 13-10: The Amazing Spider-Man
    Jan 8 2026

    At a time when Superman made us believe a man could fly, the Hulk rampaged across American TVs, Wonder Woman dazzled audiences, and even Doctor Strange and Captain America starred in TV movies, one of comics' greatest heroes also swung his way onto the airwaves--Spider-Man! In a short-lived, often rescheduled TV series, Nicholas Hammond starred as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and while the translation lacks in many areas, it has a certain charm. The season one episode "Night of the Clones" comes closest to capturing elements from the comics from a grumpy J. Jonah Jameson to weird science and Spidey facing off with Spidey!

    Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/

    Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699

    Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE

    #podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #spiderman #amazingspiderman #marvel #clones

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Episode 13-9: HBO
    Jan 1 2026

    This week, we take a special look at the early days of Home Box Office, better known as HBO. Long before The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, and all those other shows, Home Box Office started as a gamble during the fledgling days of the cable TV industry with a smattering of movies, hockey, basketball, comedy specials, concerts, and polka competitions. As it expanded, the movies got better, boxing and Wimbledon became their go-to sports, the comedians and concerts grew bigger, and polka danced away. We follow the timeline to around 1985 and give special attention to HBO originals like Not Necessarily the News, HBO Magazine, and Yesteryear, as well as the documentary Some Called them Freaks.

    Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/

    Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699

    Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE

    #podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #eighties #hbo #homeboxoffice

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    1 hr and 6 mins
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