TV Guidance Counselor

June 2-8, 1990 This week Ken talks with writer, comedian and musician Ariane Sherine on his recent trip to London. Ken and Ariane discuss England vs. America, writing for UK sitcoms in the US writer's room style, not being allowed to watch TV as a kid and sneaking, MacGuyver, Baywatch, The Cosby Show, writing on a sugar rush, hating the competition of jokes, Fraiser, UK vs US comedy, Connie Booth's psychotherapy, Fawlty Towers, Friends, The Good Wife, courtroom dramas, being banned on the BBC, atheism, how religious people often wish you death, god shows, death threats, being too old to be President, Ken's dislike of Bernie Sanders, Jeremy Corbin, trash TV, serial killers, outing nerdo-nazis, arguing all women are gay or bisexual, arousica, Baywatch, educational TV, how fame can make you lose your mind, USA's Saturday Nightmares, Tom Selleck, Season vs. Series, when US prime time action shows become UK kid's shows, the weirdness of Mormons, Stalin, The Wonder Years, music rights, getting expelled from school, befriending Duran Duran, asking members of the public random questions, Prime Minsters' Questions, the UK's history with race, Janet Jackson, Nasty Boys, Oprah's "In the Name of Self Esteem", Screen Wipe, allegory, and the rise and fall of MTV's Real World.

It's BONUS! episode time. Here are two chats Ken had on Day 3 of Denver Pop Culture Con 2019. First up is Michelle Gomez (Doctor Who, Sabrina). Ken and Michelle discuss The Book Group, being surprised that you're funny, working in the trenches of acting, Green Wing, pretending to work in a hospital while you are in a real hospital, how public service jobs can drive you mad, playing Scottish, conjuring an American accent, moral ambiguity, Doctor Who, being The Master, ADR, playing the roles you're cast, Satanic elements, dealing with the Supernatural, being in The Tardis, Scottish snacks, the freedom of horror, Pride Month, Big Finish books, and embracing your well earned success. Next up Ken chats to former guest of the show Jim Beaver (Deadwood, Supernatural). Ken and Jim discuss idjits, have an unending series of goodbye death scenes, Deadwood, Supernatural, ditch digging pranks, taking some time for yourself, writing, The George Reeves Book, why Life is Better When You're Alive, Dr. Pepper, the evolution of Bobby Singer, pranks vs. goofing around on the set of Supernatural, Psych, Longmire, knowing how to get shot, "Balls", re-visiting Laramine Wyoming, getting a phone call from Guillermo Del Toro, how emotional scenes can really drain you, Jim's favorite episode of Supernatural and why it's all about him.

BONUS EPISODE TIME! It's Day 1 of Denver Pop Culture Con 2019. First up Ken talks with voice acting dynamo and all around amazing human being Tara Strong. Ken and Tara discuss relating to Ponies, Teen Titans, Fairly Odd Parents, collaborative jobs, your kids watching your stuff, the voices that are the most difficult on your voice, Melody from The Little Mermaid 2, aside from your personal favorite what your personal favorite is, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Powerpuff Girls, breaking hearts over the phone, Mark Hamill, Kevin Conroy, Ben 10, Raven, Rick & Morty, the emotion of getting your wings, Drawn Together, making out with Cree Summer, Rugrats, and the sadness of when things end. Next up it is a Back to the Future panel with Christopher Lloyd and Tom Wilson. Ken, Tom and Christopher discuss Back to the Future, Taxi, being an icon on The Facts of Life, being iconic, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, dealing with the massive success of Back to the Future, Things to do in Denver When You're Dead, playing an unlikable character, improv and comedy, The Civil War, Andersonville, Jack Nicholson, not meetin gyour heroes, performing at Jimmy Stewart's 80th Birthday, being on a "very special" Facts of Life, having Doc Brown's cowboy shirt from Back to the Future Part 3, reshooting scenes, string theory, being in Batman series, what their characters would be doing today, free snacks, Angels in the Outfield vs. Anastasia, Live Aid, getting cast as a bully, getting back into Rev. Jim's head, reshooting your own death scene in Back to the Future, recasting Marty McFly, chemistry, and how Ken isn't funny.

FALL PREVIEW ALERT! September 12-18, 1998 This week Ken welcomes Philly Comedian Jake Mattera to the show. Ken and Jake discuss the longest they've driven for a gig, growing up in Philly, Rohobeth Beach, Rhode Island, comedy festivals, weird regional foods, Coffee Milk, buying weapons in Chinatown, old Jade, swords, Ghostbusters, WWF, USA Network, being assaulted by your sister, TGIF stitches, Karate's Beast from the East, Dawson's Creek, Fantasy Island reboots, Jacinda Barrett, Wind on Water, Martial Law, Kelly Hu, Ken confusing Sammo Hung with Chow Yun Fat, Cupid, The Army Show, The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer, John Diresta in Not King of Queens, when E.R. meets Deep Space Nine, Charmed, being a big Irish Catholic year, when everything was set in Boston, Buddy Farrow, The Net: The Series, COPS, The Brady House, visiting filming locations, Blobfest, ranting about M. Night Shamalan, Neon Maniacs, Midnight Caller, A League of their Own, Le Femme Nikita, Wrestling, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Happy Days, Hogan, Guinness Book of World Records, news bloopers, awful NYC meathead comedy, racist stand up, turning Japanese, Brunch Patrol, being in punk rock bands, Ken's obsession with generic store brand Dr. Pepper rip offs, WaWa, Conan O'Brien, Drew Carey, Jackie Chan, WCW, Kate & Allie, Millennium, Gargoyles, Buger King vs. McDonald's, the best Cheesesteaks in Philly, and getting rich on the backs of the Amish.

July 24-30, 1999 This week Ken welcomes comedian, entrepreneur and Woodstock '99 redeemer Jeff MacKinnon to the show. Ken and Jeff discuss Ken's gift shop, trading card Ken Reid, Bradley Cooper's plastic surgery, eyebrows, Ken's fortress, never leaving your house, New Bedford, hippies, CBD oil, The Illuminati at Dallas International Airport, being a sugar kid, addiction, cherry pie, overeating, giving people wedgies as an adult, "shouties", TV Urban Legends, Paul Pfeiffer is not Marilyn Manson, The Newlywed Game "in the butt" incident, Catholic Guilt, naked comedy, The All That Festival, Amanda Bynes, Greg Proops, mental illness, how 1999 was a garbage year for music, Woodstock '94, Kid Rock, MTV, Sha-na-na, The Omega Man, the invention and cycles of nostalgia, The Golden Girls, George Clooney's doodles, teenagers, the invention of rock n roll, evolution, DIY Punk rock culture, The Real World Hawaii, ICP, not getting the joke, why Pulp Comics was Comedy Central's best ever stand up show, The View, how live music performance presentation has changed, the evolution of The Warped Tour, how failure leads to innovation, not pre-ordaining the outcome, being on The Price is Right, Plinko, how Hollywood executives never want to go out on a limb, starting over, finding your creative voice, the world having enough stand up comedians, Set List with Paul Provenza, interactive media, being present in live media, favorite porn stars, sucking dicks, Ally McBeal, The Hundred Greatest Women of Rock n Roll, hatred of I-talians, anti-heroes, maple syrup urine disease, Baby Boom, the new game "Sex, Marry, Adopt", The Original Kings of Comedy and revisiting Home Improvement.

In this extra special episode of TV Guidance Counselor Ken presents three chats from this year's Denver Pop Culture Con. First up is Ken's chat with the stars of Flash Gordon - Sam Jones and Melody Anderson. Ken, Sam and Melody discuss early success, how you can never be spoiled, when a job is a job, being overwhelmed, staying in shape, getting the part last minute, playing an iconic character, throwing out the script, being a giant spider, Buster Crabbe, the football scene, smacking Timothy Dalton around, bullwhips, shaved heads, wigs, generations of fans, cardboard boxes, Dino, and Life After Flash. Next up Ken talks to actor Michael Rosenbaum. Ken and Michael discuss Smallville, songs, being in a band, The Crash Test Dummies, mic jokes, Michael's podcast "Inside of You", chewing gum, horror movies, Lex Luthor, cold fathers, shaving your head, auditioning for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, not reading scripts, needing love and validation,Grease, being unpopular in school, first kisses, the Billy Madison "kill list" scene with Steve Buscemi, holding grudges, Superman, hating Rotten Tomatoes, Siskel & Ebert, and Michael's band Left on Laurel, Finally Ken talks to Claudia Christen. Ken and Claudia discuss actor vs. actress, running out of headshots, Babylon 5, Blacke's Magic, Columbo, The Hidden, New Year's eve at Charlton Heston's House, being a writer, giving back, The C3 Foundation, being a drug and alcohol counselor, the early days of CGI, blogging Babylon 5, watching yourself, how phones have ruined on set connections, being the Cute Commander, LGBT storylines, cooking for gamers, making friends with penpals, crying scenes, and Freaks and Geeks.

May 20-26, 1978 Today Ken welcomes writer and fellow pop culture enthusiast/victim Mathew Klickstein to the show. Ken and Mat discuss why you should never let get do the ordering when going out to eat, growing up in Orange County, Sk8TV, pop punk, Blink 182, Nickelodeon, Pinwheel, Teenie Little Super Guy, how TV killed Vaudeville, stand up on TV, Jackass, getting introduced to new worlds via mix tapes, Fugazi, Riot Grrl, Spaced, Red Dwarf, UK TV, College, being invested in media, trying to get viewers/readers hooked right away, why you need rules to make good stuff sometimes, David Lynch, Terry Gilliam, Three's Company, Mary Tyler Moore, Gong Show,Theater of Blood, Vincent Price, Witchfinder General, The Wicker Man, All in the Family, orange juice ad campaigns, religion on TV, Mott the Hoople, PBS Documentaries, Louise Lasser as writer/director/star, Charles Grodin playing Charles Grodin, The Bastard, Don Knotts, the endless supply of John Ritter movies, Monty Python, Steve McQueen week, sexual stereotypes, deaf musicals, burning off pilots, The Incredible Hulk, Prince's Revolution, outsider art, and the wonders of The Kids of Widney High.

This week Ken welcomes Philly based comedian Chip Chantry to the show. Ken and Chip discuss Ken's studio, how Paul Chantry III became "Chip", fancy names, Garbage Pail Kids, Candy Castle, homes for the ugly, rejected Saturday Morning Cartoons, deleted scenes from The Goonies, Philly punk rock, classic kids' lies, playing Sonny Crockett's son, Herbie vs. Hermie, Hollywood Teen Hunks, People's Court, Rusty, Spencer Gifts, animals on COPS, scumbag lore, The Cosby Show's Flubberoos, Golden Girls, being on the red carpet for the Batman '89 movie premier, winning a Nickelodeon Contest, attending the 1989 Kids Choice Awards, Will Wheaton, Nicole Eggert, Bobby The Brain Heenan, 80s Coke fueled stand up, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Alphy's Soda Shop, You Can't Do That on Television, Chris Gethard Show, Married...with Children, Hersey's Hollywood, Brian Austin Green is THE BAG, Ken's absolute love of Body Building Champs and Twin Brothers - The Barbarian Brothers, Roseanne, dwarf mongooses, Head of the Class, San Francisco, Get a Life, Zoo Animals on Wheels, The Midnight Hour, loving "Moving Violations", Jesse Jackson's guest spot on A Different World, Cheers, Mr. Belvedere, Just the Ten of Us, pink leopard skin, and getting cranberries to kiss your grits.

Today Ken welcomes legendary actress Joanna Cassidy (Blade Runner, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead) to the show. Ken and Joanna discuss airplanes, growing up in Haddonfield, being from a family of artists, Eleanor Parker, working with everybody, Joan Crawford, made for TV plays, coming to California, San Francisco, being a young Mother, modeling and acting, fashions by Mary Mako, falling into a career, having a scientific mind, Dick Shawn, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, pet monkeys, Love Boat, the glamour of old Hollywood, Burt Lancaster, Buffalo Bill, MGM, Roller Derby Girls, the state of the world, insects, Eagle Eyes, comedy, Call Me Fitz, managing your energy levels on a set, the art of communication, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, being uncomfortable on set, watching dailies, the issues that arise when a director lacks confidence, Phil Silvers, Live from Death Row, acting without blinking, actors who bring a life lived to their work, auditioning to play the part of yourself, beautiful people, being lost in visuals, willing things into existence, child actors, the strangeness of a life in the spotlight, the golden age of television, having a commitment to watching a show, After Life, Carry On films, Vanessa Redgrave, Terry Thomas, Italian films, Steven Weber, staying on an actor's face, Nicolas Refn, ballet, Cher, The Intruder, William Shatner, Will Farrell, Jackie Gleason, silly comedy, Melissa McCarthy, making something you know isn't great, editing TVGC, remaking Joan of Arc and how movies are youth.

This week Ken welcomes Tracy Tofte (formerly Wells) of Mr. Belvedere to the show. Ken and Tracy discuss real estate, loving the San Fernando Valley, traffic, acting with your sister, The Bad Seed, stage moms, being in a Pepsi Commercial with Michael Jackson, Pennies from Heaven, being a dancer, ABC, Growing Pains, guest starring, After School Specials, No Means No, if things are better or worse now, Very Special episodes, difficult discussions, ton shifts, being in Gremlins, getting cut out of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the tough lessons learned while acting as a kid, keeping mementos, being famous and not knowing it, the fizzle out cancellation of Belvedere, being cast as the best friend, navigating the loss of a parent, strangers being at your birthday for publicity, losing a role to Hilary Swank, guesting on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, how there's enough business for everybody, saying goodbye, having Belvedere reunions, missing out on the social aspect of actually going to High School, shooting in front of live audiences, building a show around Bob Uecker, warm up comics, movie actors vs. TV actors, movie stars, having trouble watching yourself, cooking shows, Good Eats, Julia Child, being a chef, shared experiences, James at 15, acting horror stories, going back to civilian life, Hollywood History, murder houses, Ben and Matt and Ken's strange relationship with the Wahlbergs.