Hugging And Learning

Would you like to be on drugs right now, but you've run out, and your dealer won't come within six feet of you? We have the solution: THUNDERCATS. Join Chelsea, Andrew, Miles, and all fourteen citizens of Third Earth as we test the drug tolerance of cat/human hybrids (very low) and our own ability to drag a moral kicking and screaming out of a cartoon (top-notch).

Show: THUNDERCATS \\ "The Garden of Delights," Season 1, Episode 9

Air Date: September 19, 1985

Find it: on Amazon Prime Video ($1.99)

Snack: Hello Panda Chocolate Cookies

Further Reading:

• Thundercats | Wikipedia
• Mumm-Ra | Wikipedia

The hypocrisy really stacks up like a layer cake in this meta anti-anti-drug-PSA episode of SAVED BY THE BELL. Let us break it all down for you: the unsubstantiated rumors, the real-life relationships, the bizarre writing choices, and that head-scratcher of an ending. After we delve into this, you'll be saying, "Thanks, Guy." And you'll really mean it.

Show: SAVED BY THE BELL \\ "No Hope With Dope," Season 3, Episode 21

Air Date: November 30, 1991

Find it: on HULU

Snack: La Croix HI-Biscus! Sparkling Water

Further Reading:

• 7 Bits of Behind-the-Scenes Dirt That Have to Be in Lifetime's Saved by the Bell Movie | Vulture
• Just Say No | Wikipedia
• From Cringeworthy to Scary: a History of Anti-Drug PSAs | Marketplace
• The Time Zack Narcs on a Friendly Movie Star | Zack Morris is Trash

It's a world of song, dance, wonder, and a conspicuous absence of parents and child labor laws. It's the world of KIDS, INC! But there is trouble in paradise — tiny new kid Robin is facing bullying by some local toughs. What can the other kids do to help? Why is Billy Blanks here? Who wrote this weird song we can't find anywhere on the internet? All these questions, and many more, will be given their due.

Show: KIDS, INCORPORATED \\ "Karate Kids," Season 6, Episode 15

Air Date: 1989

Special Guest Star: Billy Blanks

Find it: on YouTube

Snack:

• Diet Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda
• Money on Honey Dark Chocolate with French Sea Salt Caramels

Further Reading:

• Billy Blanks | Wikipedia
• Top Strategies for Handling a Bully | Psychology Today
• Peter Gabriel – Don't Give Up (ft. Kate Bush) | YouTube

It's the end times, and all bets are off! Welcome to Season 4 of Hugging & Learning — the gas leak season. We're kicking off this free-for-all with a discussion of a show near and dear to our hearts, and a premise that just hits a little different these days. Join Chelsea, Andrew, Miles, Leslie Knope, Anne Perkins, and the disease-ridden citizens of Pawnee as we discuss things that now ring nostalgic (gathering in large groups) and horrifying (kissing a person with the flu).

Show: PARKS AND RECREATION \\ "Flu Season," Season 3, Episode 2

Air Date: January 27, 2011

Find it: on Netflix and Hulu

Snack: Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Snackable Dough

Further Reading:

• Why did the flu kill 80,000 Americans last year? | The Conversation
• COVID-19 Resources | The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention

Julia Sugarbaker takes on her most formidable opponent yet: the U.S. Constitution! Is pornography protected under free speech? Is it obscenity, or capitalism, or both? And what does TROOP BEVERLY HILLS have to do with any of this? Join your hosts, the women of Sugarbaker and Associates, Anthony, and a very aggrieved newsman in our Season 3 finale to find out!

Show: DESIGNING WOMEN \\ "Julia Drives Over the First Amendment," Season 3, Episode 22

Air Date: May 22, 1989

Find it: on Hulu

Snack: Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets

Further Reading:

• Joe Coulombe, Who Founded Trader Joe's, Dies at 89 | New York Times
• Miller v. California | Wikipedia
• Pornography has deeply troubling effects on young people, but there are ways we can minimise the harm | The Conversation
• How to be an ethical porn consumer in nine easy steps | Independent
• 7 Things the First Amendment Doesn't Protect

Very Special Guest Vella Lovell joins us this week to dive deep into the most shocking travesty of the 90s: the breakup of Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski. We get into it: Is Zack a possessive creep? Who's responsible for HR at the The Max? How does live singing in a TV show work? And what's the thing about Jeff? Spoiler: the questions are myriad and the answers are few.

Show: SAVED BY THE BELL \\ "The Last Dance" Season 4, Episode 1

Air Date: September 14, 1991

Special Guest Star: Baby Scott Wolf

Find it: on Hulu

Snack:

• Goldfish Veggie: Sweet Carrot
• Mexican Jalepeño M&Ms

Further Reading:

• Vella Singing "The Moment is Me" on CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND
• Every Episode of Saved by the Bell, Ranked From Worst to Best | Vulture
• In an Ideal Crazy Ex Follow-up, Rachel Bloom Is Working on a Nanny Musical With Fran Drescher
• Kids Learn to Rhyme with Mystery Monster in MarMar Land! Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! | YouTube

It's a race against time, as this episodes tries to identify, diagnose, and provide study solutions to a character with a learning disorder, while making sure we get full B and C plots about uppity preschool teachers and nerds in love. Does it sound like too much for one episode? You wish! This is the 90s — nothing is impossible! Join us for perhaps our first episode of Hugging and Learning that's actually about LEARNING!

Show: STEP BY STEP \\ "Back to School," Season 4, Episode 18

Air Date: March 3, 1995

Find it: on Hulu

Snack:

• Muji Strawberry Marshmallows
• Jazz Apples

Further Reading:

• Step by Step (TV series) | Wikipedia
• Dyslexia | The Mayo Clinic
• How Dyslexia Works | Stuff You Should Know Podcast
• Dyslexia FAQ | University of Michigan

Many of the very special episodes we've watched thus far have been misguided, off-putting, and tone-deaf — but never has one outright assaulted us before today! Back in 1982, child stars were just disposable puppets and consent was a foreign concept. Give this a listen if you dare, but be forewarned: you'll become an accessory to this mess as well.

Show: DIFF'RENT STROKES \\ "A Case of Overexposure," Season 5, Episode 8

Air Date: November 20, 1982

Find it: on Hulu +Starz or Amazon Prime +Starz

Snack: Brami Italian Snacking Beans

Further Reading:

• Citizen's Guide to US Federal Law on Child Pornography
• Child Pornography | Justice.gov
• Diff'Rent Strokes | Wikipedia

Did you even know that boobs have hinges? Or that cotton "gin" is short for cotton "engine"? Or that one is supposed to wear turtlenecks to Make Out Parties, no matter how insane the final outfit result may be? For a half-hour sitcom, BLOSSOM is very heavy on the learning this week. Join us for an exceptionally educational episode, and don't worry if you've never been to a Make Out Party. Andy hasn't either.

Show: BLOSSOM \\ "Sex, Lies, and Teenagers," Season 1, Episode 5

Air Date: Feb 4, 1991

Special Guest Stars: Phil Donahue, Tobey Maguire, Johnny Galecki

Find it: on Amazon Prime Video ($1.99)

Snack: Russell Stover Sugar Free Strawberry Flavored Crème

Further Reading:

• 'Big Bang Theory' Stars Mayim Bialik and Johnny Galecki Recreate Their 'Blossom' Kiss | YouTube
• Why Sex Is Like Pizza And 4 Other Ways To Have 'The Talk' With Your Daughter | Fatherly

Is it possible to love video games TOO MUCH? This is question we ask ourselves daily, and now we'll attempt to answer it with the help of a bunch of sitcom writers who seem never to have played one. Join Chelsea, Andy, Miles, Willis, Arnold, and the rest of the Space Suckers as we plumb the depths of arcade-based addiction and platitude-based parenting.

Show: DIFF'RENT STROKES \\ "Shootout at the OK Arcade," Season 5, Episode 1

Air Date: October 2, 1982

Find it: Hulu +Starz or Amazon Prime +Starz

Snack:

• Russell Stover Sugar Free Dark Chocolate Medallions
• Pop-Tarts Pretzel Cinnamon Sugar (so sad they dragged JVN into this)

Further Reading:

• Video Game Addiction | WebMD
• The Greatest Gaming Tournaments in the World
• Ep. 47: Rachel Weil on Femicom and the Value of Preserving Classic 'Girl' Video Games | Adam Ruins Everything Podcast