Hugging And Learning

Here it is: the granddaddy of them all. If you remember only one VSE from the 90s, it's probably this one. WE'RE SO EXCITED because tonight we're gonna make it happen — with the help of our Very Special Guest, writer and culture vulture Brian Otaño. Join us for our Season 2 Finale as we talk all things Hot Sundae, Camp, Valley of the Dolls, The Max, Speed, and Zack Morris being the worst friend/band manager on the planet.

Show: SAVED BY THE BELL \\ "Jessie's Song," Season 2, Episode 9

Air Date: November 30, 1990

Very Special Guest: Brian Otaño

Find it: on Hulu

Snack: Oreo/Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip Oreos (Limited Edition)

Further Reading:

• Jessie Spano Originally Took Speed, Not Caffeine Pills, on Saved by the Bell | Vulture
• The Time Zack Morris Got Jessie Hooked On Caffeine Pills | Zack Morris is Trash
• 'The Word Is Camp': What to Know About the Inspiration for This Year's Met Gala, as Explained in 1964 | Time
• Hot Sundae SBTB music video

There's something happening here — what it is ain't exactly clear. Because the actors are reading off teleprompters, so there's no emotional journey to track. Welcome to the baffling world of DRAGNET 67, the (first) reboot of the un-self-aware police procedural that will not quit! Join Andy, Chelsea, and Blue Boy as we learn about the terrifying dangers of LSD (overstated), the Sunset Strip Curfew Riots (fascinating) and actor/writer Jack Webb's relationship with real LAPD cops (very chummy). Plus, we pitch our idea for a promising further reboot: RuPaul's Dragnet!

Show: DRAGNET 67 \\ "The LSD Story," Season 1, Episode 1

Air Date: January 12, 1967

Find it: on YouTube (series is in the public domain)

Snack: Klondike Neapolitan Ice Cream Bar

Further Reading:

• Dragnet (Franchise) | Wikipedia
• Thank God It's Friday: 7 Reasons to Love Dragnet | Mental Floss
• The Dragnet Effect: How TV Has Obscured Police Brutality | The Atlantic
• "Whisk"-a-Go-Go Photo from 1966
• Are Acid Flashbacks a Myth? | Popular Science
• What Were the 1966 Sunset Strip Riots Really Like? Eyewitnesses Look Back | LA Weekly
• (Book) How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence | by Michael Pollan

Chelsea and Andy continue our in-depth and serious exploration of the depiction of punk and rock music in popular media — with a cartoon created to sell action figures. Joined by Very Special Guests Garrett and Lane Nobriga of the LA-based metal band Altered Revelations, we tackle the tough questions: Is there really only one terrorist org in the whole world? What is the third girl's name? And how does 50 Cent factor into all this? And we're finally able to utter that immortal phrase: Yo, Jo(seph Campbell)!

Show: GI JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO \\ "Cold Slither," Season 1, Episode 51

Air Date: December 2, 1985

Very Special Guests: Garrett and Lane Nobriga of the band Altered Revelations

Find it: on Amazon Prime Video ($2.99 to buy)

Snack: Golden Oreos

Further Reading:

• G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1985 TV series)
• Altered Revelations
• Chocolate Oreos Vs. Golden Oreos – Which Flavor Is Better?
• Altered Revelations- Reaper's Hollow (Official Video)

This is a VERY SPECIAL very special episode of Hugging and Learning! Miles steps out from the control-room booth with beats-a-plenty as Andy and Chelsea take a brief and well deserved sabbatical. Enjoy 30 minutes of uninterrupted mashups and mixes followed by a little bit of hugs and learns for good measure. For more of Miles's mixes visit https://soundcloud.com/miles_polaski

Tim and Jill The Tool Parents Taylor face a conundrum when they catch one of their sons with a bag of pot: is it better to be honest with your kids and hope they learn from your mistakes, or lie to them and treat them as potential felons? That's an important question, probably worth its own episode of exploration, but we have to devote at least 50% of this episode to wondering about JTT's current whereabouts, and discussing the irony of Tim Allen's whole career. Sorry not sorry.

Show: HOME IMPROVEMENT \\ "What a Drag," Season 7, Episode 16

Air Date: February 24, 1998

Find it: on Hulu

Snack: Lotte Green Tea Flavored Choco Pie (thanks, Garrett!)

Further Reading:

• TIM ALLEN WAS A CONVICTED DRUG DEALER BEFORE BECOMING FAMOUS | Today I Found Out

Moesha is seventeen and she knows what she wants! Maybe. She thinks. Maybe not. For sure. Perhaps she should talk to a handful of people about it, all of whom have contradictory opinions. Join us as we delve into the Moesha-verse and update you on the Norwood/Vaughn split (as of 2015). Just try not to get tonal whiplash.

Show: MOESHA \\ "Birth Control," Season 4, Episode 8

Air Date: November 24, 1998

Find it: at the Paley Center

Snack: Green Tea flavored Pumpkin Seeds, Lemon Pink Salt flavored Pea Crackers, and HOM Corn Cheese Flavored Banana Chips (thanks Lane, Courtney, and Jackson!)

Further Reading:

• The Cast of "Moesha": Where Are They Now? | The Root
• Contraceptive Use in the United States Fact Sheet | The Guttmacher Institute
• UPN's 'Moesha,' The Nonwhite Hit Nobody Knows | The New York Times
• Moesha Stars Countess Vaughn and Brandy Publicly Squash 18-Year Feud

In this episode, we revisit one of our favorite topics — TV shows using "punkers" as escape goats! Join Andrew, Chelsea, Very Special Guest Kylie Michel, and Erik Estrada's extremely tight pants as we cruise around LA (in seconds!) pursuing stolen guitars, sparkly shirts, flat tires, and anti-feminist blond jugglers. Just watch out for stick fights!

Show: CHiPs \\ "Battle of the Bands," Season 5, Episode 16

Air Date: January 31, 1982

Very Special Guest: Kylie Michel

Guest Star: William Forsythe

Find it: on Amazon Prime Video ($2.99 to buy)

Snack: Ralph's Banana Nut/Chocolate Chip Soft Top Cookies

Further Reading:

• Left of the Dial: The Evolution of Punk, New Wave and Indie on American Radio
• 5 Things You Never Knew About 'CHiPs' and Erik Estrada
• The Filth and the Fury (2000) | IMDB
• The Day My Kid Went Punk | IMDB
• Punk Style: Articles of Interest # 6 | 99 Percent Invisible

Here it is -- THAT episode of FRESH PRINCE. The one that makes you tear up, even now, in adulthood. The one that taught you that parents aren't perfect, that it's healthy to express anger, and that Geoffrey walks a real fine line between comic relief and unemployment. Join us for a walk down memory lane. Never have we hugged harder or learned more.

Show: THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR \\ "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse," Season 4, Episode 24

Air Date: May 9, 1994

Guest Star: Broadway Legend Ben Vereen

Find it: on Amazon Prime Video ($2.99 to buy)

Snack: Ruffles Double Crunch Hot Wings Chips

Further Reading:

• The True Story Behind The Saddest Scene In 'The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air' History | Uproxx
• It's the 25th anniversary of the saddest Fresh Prince episode ever | The AV Club
• Uncle Phil Was a Fresh Take on Black Fatherhood | The Root

Balki doesn't understand lots of things about America, but he has to admit that being forcibly kissed by one's boss doesn't seem like a normal workday occurrence — even in 1987! Do the Dance of Formal HR Complaint with Chelsea, Andrew, their memories of years lived in Chicago, and a Blanche Archetype drunk on power. What could be more American?

Show: PERFECT STRANGERS \\ "Sexual Harassment in Chicago," Season 3, Episode 3

Air Date: October 7, 1987

Find it: on Hulu

Snack: Rocky Road Trip Oreos!!!

Further Reading:

• Men account for nearly 1 in 5 complaints of workplace sexual harassment with the EEOC | The Washington Post
• Many men are sexually harassed in the workplace – so why aren't they speaking out? | The Conversation
• Living Well : No Straight Lines
• Who Is at Highest Risk of Sexual Harassment? | ACLU
• Perfect Strangers Filming Locations

Have you ever wondered what would happen if some animators threw Dr. Seuss, Edgar Allan Poe, and Sweeny Todd into a blender, and then figured out exactly how much they could scar children in 15 minutes? Well, wonder no longer. We'd like to (re)introduce you to this insane episode. Join Chelsea, Andrew, Miles, Freaky Fred, and Courage the Cowardly dog, as we wade through what would happen if a nightmare left a bad taste in your mouth and called it cartoons.

Show: COURAGE THE COWARDLY DOG \\ "Freaky Fred," Season 1, Episode 3, Segment 2

Air Date: December 3, 1999

Find it: on Amazon Prime Video ($1.99 to buy both segments)

Snack: Kellogg's Eggo Thick & Fluffy Double Chocolatey Waffles

Further Reading:

• 14 Times "Courage The Cowardly Dog" Left You Deeply Disturbed | Buzzfeed
• 5 Horrifying Ways Cartoons Tried to Cover Important Issues | Cracked
• Freaky Fred | Courage the Cowardly Dog Wiki3