Hugging And Learning

Thank you for being a friend to LGBTQ+ folx since the 1980s, "The Golden Girls"! Andy and Chelsea jump feels-first into the world of smutty cowboy movies, crappy clown sundaes, and romantic widow bonding. Join us for a deep-dive into all these topics — plus a discussion a few ways FRIENDS could have dealt with shit better (it's related, we promise).

Show: THE GOLDEN GIRLS \\ "Isn't It Romantic," Season 2, Episode 5

Air Date: November 8, 1986

Find it: on Hulu

Snack: Nabisco Chewy Chips Ahoy! Made With Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Further Reading:

• 10 'Golden Girls' Moments That Had Us Like 'Whoa, They Went There' | PureWow
• Friends of Dorothy: Was 'The Golden Girls' Really As Queer-Friendly As Its Reputation Suggests? | IndieWire
• What 'The Golden Girls' Got Right About Gay Issues In The '80s
• 32 LGBTQ Television Moments That Broke Barriers | Hornet
• National Youth Advocacy Coalition
• The Trevor Project
• Gay and Trans "Panic" Defense | LGBTbar.org

What's better than one Jaleel White in an episode of TV? How about THREE? It's season 9 of FAMILY MATTERS, and this is basically a sci-fi show now — but date auctions still bring out the worst in everyone. Join Andy and Chelsea as we navigate the turbulent, confusing, and sometimes infuriating waters of this sitcom, desperate to find a safe port from the shitstorm.

Show: FAMILY MATTERS \\ "Out With The Old," Season 9, Episode 1

Air Date: September 19, 1997

Find it: on Hulu

Snack: Goldfish Epic Crunch Ranch and Honey BBQ flavors

Further Reading:

• Stephan Urquelle | Family Matters Wiki
• Myrtle Urkel | Family Matters Wiki
• When Wives Earn More Than Their Husbands, Marriages Struggle | Fatherly

The Beave is at it again: repeating things verbatim to the wrong people, messing around in the yard with Larry, and befriending creepy drunks he meets on the sidewalk. But he's not the only one with "troubles" — Wally's imaginary girlfriend is mad at him, and The Parents Cleaver are locked in a silent, vague battle of wills. There's a lot going on under the surface of "Leave It To Beaver." Luckily Andrew and Chelsea are here to dig it all up and scrutinize it mercilessly.

Show: LEAVE IT TO BEAVER \\ "Beaver and Andy," Season 3, Episode 20

Air Date: February 13, 1960

Find it: on Daily Motion

Snack: Chase's Cherry Mash (since 1918!)

Further Reading:

• 6 Things You Didn't Know about "Leave It To Beaver" | Mental Floss
• The History of Alcoholism on TV: From Comedy to Empathy | The Atlantic
• Medal of Honor | Netflix
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• History of PTSD — US Dept of Veterans Affairs | Newsweek
• Timeline: The History of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and How We Treat It | Newsweek

It's time for DJ and Kimmy to attend their first frat party — at the only frat in the world that kicks you out for drinking beer. Whose remembrance of the evening is correct? Which of the girls was actually beset with hunks, and which ended up on reject row? Alcohol clouds the memory, so we're here to break it all down for you. How will these BFFs (best friends forever) survive becoming BFFs (bitter fucking foes)? And how on earth could Kimmy have forgotten the entire inciting incident of this show? You'll have to listen to find out.

Show: FULL HOUSE \\ "Under the Influence," Season 8, Episode 10

Air Date: December 6, 1994

Find it: on Hulu

Snack: Hazelnut Spread M&Ms

Further Reading:

• 'Full House' Fans Have Been Wrong About Kimmy Gibbler For 30 Years | Bustle
• Kimmy Gibbler Is Not Dead…but She Does Deserve a Second Look | Pure Wow

It's All Dudes On Deck when baby sister Joanie Cunningham starts *gasp* smoking cigarettes on HAPPY DAYS. Now that she's a member of The Magnets, nothing is too grown up for this sixteen-year-old. Join Andrew, Chelsea, and literally every man in Joanie's life as they try to tempt her back to the side of health in the 1950s, using 1970s logic. It's a *cough* smoooooth ride.

Show: HAPPY DAYS \\ "Smokin' Ain't Cool," Season 6, Episode 17

Air Date: January 16, 1979

Find it: At the Paley Center

Snack: Haribo Fizzy Cola Gummi Candy

Further Reading:

• Why Smoking in Films Harms Children | NY Times
• TV Stubs Out Smoking | The Parents Television Council
• While You Were Streaming | Truth Initiative

It's Christmas in May at Hugging and Learning! We dive deep into the charmingly ambiguous world of Arnold et all as they discover the true spirit of the holidays through a gut-wrenching story of war and family separation. Cartoons are fun! Our Very Special Guest Jonathan House joins us for the maximum twists and and turns and emotional payoff that Nickelodeon ever packed into a 24-minute show about nine-year-olds. Join us, won't you?

Show: HEY, ARNOLD! \\ "Arnold's Christmas," Season 1, Episode 11

Air Date: December 11, 1996

Very Special Guest: Jonathan House

Find it: on Hulu

Snack: Cinnamon Toast Crunch: Churros!

Further Reading:

• Hungnam Evacuation – A Christmas Miracle | Ned Forney
• Asian in Media: Mr. Hyunh – demeaning stereotype or source of comfort?
• 1975 CBS News footage shows dramatic evacuation of Saigon

Are the teens of the 80s legitmately concerned about the state of the world they're inheriting, or are they being brainwashed into angry zombies by this "silly fad" of punk music? You think you know, but you have no idea, man. Join Chelsea and Andrew as they follow the adventures of a rogue medical examiner and his reactionary girlfriend into a world of outrage, slamdancing, murder, and good old 'ludes. When they're around, every room is an emergency room.

Show: QUINCY, ME \\ "Next Stop, Nowhere," Season 8, Episode 8

Air Date: December 1, 1982

Special Guest Star: 14-year-old Melora Hardin

Find it: at the Paley Center

Snack: Sour Patch Kids Ice Cream

Further Reading:

• Sex Pistols – Bill Grundy Interview
• A cult-favorite Quincy episode warned of the dangers of punk rock | The AV Club
• "Columbine: Whose Fault Is It?" by Marilyn Manson | Rolling Stone
• Authorities: Black metal possible influence in Louisiana church fires
• Can Listening to Aggressive Music Make You an Aggressive Person?

We're back again!

Call us, beep us, if you wanna discuss Kim Possible with us (some more)! Join Chelsea, Andrew, and our Very Special Guest Mary Chieffo to discuss the Kim Possible TV movie that taught us many valuable lessons: don't trust good-looking men, dating is harder than saving the world, and all robots will eventually turn on us. Whether you ship Kim/Ron, desperately want to know Dad Possible's first name, or don't actually know what any of this means — you'll love this episode and our chat with Mary.

Show: KIM POSSIBLE \\ "So The Drama," TV Movie

Air Date: April 8, 2005

Very Special Guest: Mary Chieffo

Find it: on Disney Now streaming (free)

Snack: Trader Joe's Sea Salt Brownie Petites

Further Reading:

• Mary Chieffo
• Mary Chieffo Says Playing L'Rell in Star Trek: Discovery is 'Extreme' and 'Empowering' | Syfy
• The Complicated Origins of 'Having It All'
• Why Is Modern Dating So Hard—Especially For Ambitious Women?
• 12 Life Lessons 'Kim Possible' Taught Us That Are Still Pretty Relevant | Bustle
• Animated "New Kids on the Block Christmas Special"

Call us, beep us, if you wanna discuss Kim Possible with us! Join Chelsea, Andrew, and our Very Special Guest Mary Chieffo to discuss the Kim Possible TV movie that taught us many valuable lessons: don't trust good-looking men, dating is harder than saving the world, and all robots will eventually turn on us. Whether you ship Kim/Ron, desperately want to know Dad Possible's first name, or don't actually know what any of this means — you'll love this episode and our chat with Mary.

Show: KIM POSSIBLE \\ "So The Drama," TV Movie

Air Date: April 8, 2005

Very Special Guest: Mary Chieffo

Find it: on Disney Now streaming (free)

Snack: Trader Joe's Sea Salt Brownie Petites

Further Reading:

• Mary Chieffo
• Mary Chieffo Says Playing L'Rell in Star Trek: Discovery is 'Extreme' and 'Empowering' | Syfy
• The Complicated Origins of 'Having It All'
• Why Is Modern Dating So Hard—Especially For Ambitious Women?
• 12 Life Lessons 'Kim Possible' Taught Us That Are Still Pretty Relevant | Bustle
• Animated "New Kids on the Block Christmas Special"

Growing up is hard on everyone, especially a young girl whose dad hasn't figured out a reasonable set of boundaries with his boss. Join us for our first WTB? episode, as we play catch, bra shop, throw yet another sad TV birthday party, discuss Alyssa Milano's graceful transition from child actor/activist to adult actor/activist, and finally discover the perfect application of Andrew's "vaguely Italian guy" impression.

Show: WHO'S THE BOSS \\ "Samantha's Growing Up," Season 1, Episode 11

Air Date: January 8, 1985

Find it: at the Paley Center

Snack: Palmer Double Crisp Chocolate Bunnyettes

Further Reading:

• 16 Unquestionable Facts About Who's the Boss?
• 12 Authoritative Facts About Who's the Boss
• Everything You Need to Know About Buying Your Daughter Her First Bra
• Dads with Developing Daughters
• Heidi Zak's open letter to Victoria's Secret
• As Girls Mature, Dads and Daughters Grow Apart
• Alyssa Milano