Step into the shadows with Forgotten TV as we uncover the eerie history behind ABC’s short-lived 1981 anthology series Darkroom, hosted by James Coburn.

In this feature-length episode, we trace the chilling lineage of radio and television horror—from the crackling terror of The Witch’s Tale and Lights Out to the haunting glow of TV anthologies like The Twilight Zone, Thriller, and Night Gallery. You’ll hear the story of how Darkroom was hastily developed in the wake of a Hollywood writers’ strike, explore its behind-the-scenes production struggles, and revisit its twisted tales—each one a macabre snapshot from television’s forgotten gallery of nightmares.

Along the way, we’ll shine a light on creators Peter S. Fischer, Robert F. O’Neill, and Christopher Crowe, and examine how Darkroom bridged the gap between old-time radio horror and the TV anthologies that followed—culminating in the 1980s boom of syndicated horror offerings.

🎙️ Into The Darkroom: A Forgotten TV Podcast — turn out your lights… if you dare.

Forgotten TV is reader/listener supported. These podcast notes may contain affiliate links to Amazon or other retailers. As an affiliate, Forgotten TV earns royalties from these purchases, at no extra cost to you. 

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Original audio clips included are for the purposes of historical context, review, commentary, and criticism only and are not intended to infringe. Some music used under license from Epidemic Sound. If you need music for your podcast or YouTube channel, please visit Epidemic Sound. 

Be sure to check out new partner Q106.5, the home of 80s and 90s hits at Q1065.com

Forgotten TV is not affiliated with or authorized by any production company or TV network involved in the making of any TV show or film mentioned. All TV series, films, and characters are copyright and property of their respective rights holders.

Copyright 2025 Forgotten TV Media

In this episode, Forgotten TV explores the origins of humanity’s first space stations—both real and imagined. From the secret Soviet Almaz military program and America’s Skylab, we'll look back at how these milestones were foreshadowed by decades of speculative fiction as well as futurist visions such as Gerard O’Neill’s massive orbital colonies of the 1970s.

But before we were able to gaze at these fantastical artistic depictions, a 1971 MGM-produced telefilm was broadcast on ABC which depicted life on board an international space station called...Earth II. Written by Allen Balter and William Read Woodfield. 

We also look at the life and work of prolific Argentinian pianist, composer, and conductor Lalo Schifrin - who has contributed over 100 film/TV themes to our popular culture.

Forgotten TV is reader/listener supported. These podcast notes may contain affiliate links to Amazon or other retailers. As an affiliate, Forgotten TV earns royalties from these purchases, at no extra cost to you. 

Earth II Official Trailer

Earth II now on Bluray

Researching and producing podcasts and articles is extremely time consuming. Please consider financially supporting Forgotten TV in any of the following ways:

SUPPORT FORGOTTEN TV ON PATREON

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Original audio clips included are for the purposes of historical context, review, commentary, and criticism only and are not intended to infringe. Some music used under license from Epidemic Sound. If you need music for your podcast or YouTube channel, please visit Epidemic Sound. 

Be sure to check out new partner Q106.5, the home of 80s and 90s hits at Q1065.com

Forgotten TV is not affiliated with or authorized by any production company or TV network involved in the making of any TV show or film mentioned. All TV series, films, and characters are copyright and property of their respective rights holders.

Copyright 2025 Forgotten TV Media

A look at the life and work of prolific Argentinian pianist, composer, and conductor Lalo Schifrin - who has contributed over 100 film/TV themes to our popular culture.

Forgotten TV is reader/listener supported. These podcast notes may contain affiliate links to Amazon or other retailers. As an affiliate, Forgotten TV earns royalties from these purchases, at no extra cost to you. 

Listening recommendations:

Lalo Schifrin: The Early Years

Studio And 'live' Collaborations 1960-62

Mission: Impossible And Other Thrilling Themes

Sources of quotes and background information came from the following: 

The Television Academy Foundation Interviews 

“Lalo Schifrin, from 'Mission Impossible' to Jazz” from NPR Music 

Remembering Lalo Schifrin – Telehell podcast with Justin Hart 

Researching and producing podcasts and articles is extremely time consuming. Please consider financially supporting Forgotten TV in any of the following ways:

SUPPORT FORGOTTEN TV ON PATREON

Shop the Forgotten TV Merch Store

Original audio clips included are for the purposes of historical context, review, commentary, and criticism only and are not intended to infringe. Some music used under license from Epidemic Sound. If you need music for your podcast or YouTube channel, please visit Epidemic Sound. 

Forgotten TV is not affiliated with or authorized by any production company or TV network involved in the making of any TV show or film mentioned. All TV series, films, and characters are copyright and property of their respective rights holders.

Copyright 2025 Forgotten TV Media

My tribute to legendary film/TV composer Alf Clausen, who provided 27 years of underscore music and original songs for The Simpsons, many of which will forever reside in my heart. Clausen died May 28, 2025.

Forgotten TV is reader/listener supported. This article or podcast may contain affiliate links to Amazon or other retailers. As an affiliate, Forgotten TV earns royalties from these purchases, at no extra cost to you. 

Songs In The Key Of Springfield CD

Go Simpsonic With The Simpsons CD

The Simpsons Testify CD

Researching and producing podcasts and writing articles is extremely time consuming. Please consider financially supporting Forgotten TV in any of the following ways:

SUPPORT FORGOTTEN TV ON PATREON

Shop the Forgotten TV Merch Store

Original audio clips included are for the purposes of historical context, review, commentary, and criticism only and are not intended to infringe. Some music used under license from Epidemic Sound. If you need music for your podcast or YouTube channel, please visit Epidemic Sound. 

Forgotten TV is not affiliated with or authorized by any production company or TV network involved in the making of any TV show or film mentioned. All TV series, films, and characters are copyright and property of their respective rights holders.

Copyright 2025 Forgotten TV Media

Popi debuted May 2, 1975 on CBS at 8/7pm Central. This sitcom pilot was based on the 1969 film Popi with Alan Arkin and Rita Moreno. 

"Popi had a dream...and the only way he could make it come true was to put his two boys in a rowboat and set them adrift in the ocean."

This podcast contains a short review of the Popi film, as well as a bit of behind-the-scenes information on its production. Then, just about everything known about the now-obscure Popi series is covered, including a recording of the theme song not heard in nearly 50 years, courtesy TV historian Billy Ingram.

Forgotten TV is reader/listener supported. The following may contain affiliate links to Amazon or other retailers/services. As an affiliate, Forgotten TV earns royalties from these purchases, at no extra cost to you. 

Links:

Researching and producing podcasts and other content is extremely time consuming. Please consider financially supporting Forgotten TV in any of the following ways:

SUPPORT FORGOTTEN TV ON PATREON

Original audio clips included are for the purposes of historical context, review, commentary, and criticism only and are not intended to infringe. Some music used under license from Epidemic Sound. If you need music for your podcast or YouTube channel, please visit Epidemic Sound. 

Forgotten TV is not affiliated with or authorized by any production company or TV network involved in the making of any TV show or film mentioned. All TV series, films, and characters are copyright and property of their respective rights holders.

Copyright 2025 Forgotten TV Media

The Forgotten TV website is relaunching with a completely new, modern look! 

Daily content posted on Facebook, X/Twitter, or Bluesky

Here's Boomer aired on NBC-TV first as a mid-season replacement late in the 1979-80 season. Hear about the show concept, the origins of its shaggy star, its ties to the Benji film series, the show concept they abandoned, Boomer's first appearance in The Red Hand Gang, as well as that fever dream Saturday morning series McDuff, the Talking Dog.

Bad Saturday Morning watches McDuff

Forgotten TV is reader/listener supported. The following may contain affiliate links to Amazon or other retailers/services. As an affiliate, Forgotten TV earns royalties from these purchases, at no extra cost to you. 

Here’s Boomer, Season 1 DVD 

Researching and producing podcasts and other content is extremely time consuming. Please consider financially supporting Forgotten TV in any of the following ways:

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Some background information sourced from the books Encyclopedia of T V Pets: A Complete History of Television’s Greatest Animal Stars, God Only Knows: Can You Trust Him With The Secret? by Joe Camp, and the Here’s Boomer website.

Original audio clips included are for the purposes of historical context, review, commentary, and criticism only and are not intended to infringe. Some music used under license from Epidemic Sound. If you need music for your podcast or YouTube channel, please visit Epidemic Sound. 

Forgotten TV is not affiliated with or authorized by any production company or TV network involved in the making of any TV show or film mentioned. All TV series, films, and characters are copyright and property of their respective rights holders.

Copyright 2025 Forgotten TV Media

The introduction of the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew characters in 1927/1930 is considered, as well as the Nancy Drew 1938/39 Warner Brothers films; the Hardy Boys Mickey Mouse Club serials; 1957 Nancy Drew CBS pilot; 1967 Hardy Boys NBC pilot; 1969 Hardy Boys animated ABC series; and especially The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries 1977-79 ABC series.

The behind-the-scenes segment covers the origin, production, scheduling, merchandising, recasting of the Nancy Drew role, infamous Playboy appearance, show cancellation, and issues with music clearances.

Timecodes:

2:30 The Stratemeyer Syndicate: Origins of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew

Buy The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries on DVD

Check out the Andy Sidaris Collection

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More at Forgotten TV

Daily content posted on Facebook, X/Twitter, or Bluesky

Amazon links are affiliate, and Forgotten TV earns royalties from qualifying purchases made at no additional cost to you. Please support Forgotten TV while doing your regular Amazon shopping.

Original audio clips included are for the purposes of historical context, review, commentary, and criticism only and are not intended to infringe.

Amazing Plan by Kevin MacLeod used under a Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Forgotten TV is not affiliated with or authorized by any production company, TV network, or rights holder involved in the making of any TV show or film mentioned. The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew are the property of Simon & Schuster.

Copyright 2024 Forgotten TV Media

An episode by episode consideration of NBC's 1982 series Voyagers! starring Jon-Erik Hexum and Meeno Peluce. Series created by James D. Parriott. Followed by a full behind the scenes documentary exploring the origin and production of the series, public and critical reactions, casting, locations, and the legacy of Voyagers.

0-1:15:32 intro/episode rundown

1:16:45 Behind the Scenes: show creation, critical reception, casting, the Omni

2:15:36 Jerrold Immel composer, Universal backlot

2:33:00 After Voyagers/Meeno Peluce's later roles/Jon-Erik Hexum's fate

2:51:25 Voyagers reruns, VHS movie, DVD. Additional series by James Parriott

3:00:40 Next time/credits

Buy Voyagers! on DVD

Voyagers! links:

Home | Voyagers Guidebook

Voyagers Guidebook : They traveled through time to help history along …

Jeff Pearlman Meeno Peluce Interview

Jeff Pearlman Books

Dark Tube - TV’s Wicked History | Hotmush Media, Inc. (podbean.com)

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Support Forgotten TV with Paypal

Buy Me a Coffee!

More at Forgotten TV

Amazon links are affiliate, and Forgotten TV earns royalties from qualifying purchases made at no additional cost to you. Please support Forgotten TV while doing your regular Amazon shopping.

Original audio clips included are for the purposes of historical context, review, commentary, and criticism only and are not intended to infringe.

Forgotten TV is not affiliated with or authorized by any production company or TV network involved in the making of any TV show or film mentioned.

Copyright 2024 Forgotten TV Media

An overview of the post-Voyagers roles of Jon-Erik Hexum and an extended look at his tragic death on the set of Cover Up. Part of an upcoming full podcast on NBC's Voyagers, coming to this podcast feed.

Sources of quotes and background information:

The Show Must Go on: How the Deaths of Lead Actors Have Affected Television Series by Douglas Snauffer 

Bob Shayne's Cover-Up Memories at the Jon-Erik Hexum Rememberance Page.

The 4-part series on Jon-Erik Hexum by Brian Hartigan on his podcast Dark Tube: TV’s Wicked History.

Brian's copious references for Dark Tube: Dark Tube

Buy Voyagers! on DVD

SUPPORT FORGOTTEN TV ON PATREON!

Support Forgotten TV with Paypal

Buy Me a Coffee!

More at Forgotten TV

Amazon links are affiliate, and Forgotten TV earns royalties from qualifying purchases made at no additional cost to you. Please support Forgotten TV while doing your regular Amazon shopping.

Original audio clips included are for the purposes of historical context, review, commentary, and criticism only and are not intended to infringe.

Forgotten TV is not affiliated with or authorized by any production company or TV network involved in the making of any TV show or film mentioned.

Copyright 2024 Forgotten TV Media

This is the first of a new podcast format that will focus on a segment broken out of the regular show. It is my hope these will expose Forgotten TV to a wider audience in a much more digestible format.

This focus on the life and work of composer Jerrold Immel is part of a consideration of the 1982 NBC TV series Voyagers! coming soon to this podcast feed.

Sources of quotes and background information came from the books:

Tuning In by Ronald Wayne Rodman

The Cue Sheet, the Quarterly Journal of the Film Music Society Vol 21 Nos ¾ 

Buy Voyagers! on DVD

SUPPORT FORGOTTEN TV ON PATREON!

Support Forgotten TV with Paypal

Buy Me a Coffee!

More at Forgotten TV

Amazon links are affiliate, and Forgotten TV earns royalties from qualifying purchases made at no additional cost to you. Please support Forgotten TV while doing your regular Amazon shopping.

Original audio clips included are for the purposes of historical context, review, commentary, and criticism only and are not intended to infringe.

Forgotten TV is not affiliated with or authorized by any production company or TV network involved in the making of any TV show or film mentioned.

Copyright 2024 Forgotten TV Media