Hugging And Learning

Is My So-Called Life the definitive voice of its generation, a mopey soap for teens, or something else entirely? Chelsea and Andrew have very different opinions. Join our two intrepid hosts, Miles, the luminous Claire Danes, and The Ghost of Female Pop Vocalists Past as they discover if there's really no place like home for the holidays. Do the Chases believe in God? Why is Brian Krackow so pissy at the holidays? Won't someone feed Rickie — he looks so cold! I don't know, I wasn't even, like, there, LEAVE ME ALONE I CAN'T TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS, MOM.

Show: MY SO-CALLED LIFE \\ "So-Called Angels" Season 1, Episode 15

Air Date: December 21, 1994

Special Guest Star: Juliana Hatfield

Find it: on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video ($0.99)

Snack: Signature Select Pumpkin Spice Nut Toffee (from Albertsons)

Further Reading:

• 19 Things You Might Not Know About My So-Called Life
• 18 Totally True Facts About "My So-Called Life" That You Like, Never Even Knew
• For Runaways, Sex Buys Survival
• Covenant House
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Now this is a story all about how Carlton ended up going from the world's most low-rent prom to the substance abuse ward in the blink of his tweaked-out eye. Intrigued? Join Chelsea and Andrew as they examine why even CONSIDERING using drugs will put your entire family in grave danger. Uncle Phil will be extremely disappointed if you don't.

Show: THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR \\ "Just Say Yo," Season 3, Episode 19

Air Date: February 15, 1993

Find it: Amazon Prime Video ($2.99)

Snack: Cupcakes from Butter Cake Shop in Los Feliz

Further Reading:

• 20 Facts About The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Mental Floss
• Will Smith tells the origin story of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'
• Here's the Origin Story of the Iconic Carlton Dance From Fresh Prince | Time
• 80's Ads: Breakin' and Poppin' Alfonso Ribeiro 1985 | YouTube

The stakes are high and the sentences are long here in Pyramid Corners, Oklahoma. Join Chelsea, Andrew, and first-ever podcast guest Noel, as they ride the roller coaster of a teenage heartbreak-induced makeover. Will Dorothy Jane find love easier to navigate as a blond? How long has Callie Kimbrough actually been in high school? And what could Ruth Ann and Steven Floyd have done in season 1 to avoid getting written off for season 2? When the sun comes up, we will discuss all.

Show: THE TORKELSONS \\ "Ice Princess," Season 1, Episode 14

Air Date: January 12, 1992

Podcast Guest: Noel Marcantel (commercial photographer and adventure photographer and Chelsea's brother)

Find it: on YouTube

Snack: Inka Corn: Chile Pícante flavor

Further Reading:

• See the Cast of 'The Torkelsons' All Grown Up
• The Torkelsons | Wikipedia

If you drop-kick your jacket when you come through the door, does no one "care," "stare," or "glare"? This is just one of the many delicious mysteries of MR. BELVEDERE, the classic show Chelsea and Andy are tackling in this episode. Is little Wesley really the manipulative sociopath the family makes him out to be? How many famous people has Mr. Belvedere actually worked for? And did Heather ever manage to pass her summer school class?? The answers to some of these questions will be answered; others are lost to time. Join us, won't you? We promise not to stare or glare.

Show: MR. BELVEDERE \\ "The Counselor," Season 4, Episode 20

Air Date: May 6, 1988

Find it: on YouTube

Snack: ensaymadas from The Ensaymada Project

Further Reading:

• Preventing Sexual Abuse At Summer Camp: Five Tips for Parents
• 11 Dignified Facts About Mr. Belvedere | Mental Floss

The Brady Bunch are in the (sanitized, Euro-American) Thanksgiving spirit! Join Chelsea and Andrew as they wade through a swamp of insensitivity, problematic nomenclature, revisionist history, and groovy slang to get to the heart of the Thanksgiving holiday itself: sight gags. Ad-libbing abounds on this trip down memory lane to an older, less-inclusive time. Happy Native American Heritage Month! *facepalm*

Show: THE BRADY BUNCH \\ "The Un-Underground Movie," Season 2, Episode 04

Air Date: October 16, 1970

Find it: on Hulu or CBS All Access

Snack: 365 Organic Dark Chocolate Quinoa Bark

Further Reading:

• Mayflower History
• Samoset Biography
• Thanksgiving for Native Americans: Four Voices on a Complicated Holiday | NY Times

In their first foray into the world of action drama and mullets, Chelsea and Andrew follow Angus MacGyver as he tries to single-handedly save his young friend, stop black rhino poaching in its abominable tracks, AND enjoy his trip to stock footage of Africa. Jeepin' ain't easy, but MacGyver's mullet makes it look good. Adopt a rhino! Name it MacGyver! Learn science and then use it to come up with waterslide-based plans of action! The exhortations are seemingly endless. ***AND we draw the winner of the Click-or-Treat Very Special Prize Package!!***

Show: MACGYVER \\ "ep name," Season #, Episode #

Air Date: November 13, 1989

Special Guest Star: Cuba Gooding, Jr. (kind of...)

Find it: on Amazon Prime Video (included)

Snack: Sweet Heat Spicy Skittles

Further Reading:

• Learn About the Black Rhino | WWF
• Adopt an African Rhino | WWF
• Richard Dean Anderson interview | YouTube

It's hard out there for a pimp, especially when his name is "Mike" and he's working out of a coffee shop in Times Square. Join Chelsea, Andrew, Miles, and the "The Facts of Life" gals as they leave the ordinary world of boarding school behind and head into the seedy, unpredicable special world of 80s New York City. Will Tootie be recruited into underage sex work: braces, bowl-cut, and all? Or will Mrs. Garrett's impeccable phone acting skills somehow save the day? There's only one way to find out.

Show: THE FACTS OF LIFE \\ "Runaway," Season 3, Episode 18

Air Date: February 24, 1982

Find it: On Amazon Prime Video ($1.99 to buy)

Snack: Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies: Toasted Marshmallow flavor

Further Reading:

• For Runaways, Sex Buys Survival
• Girls Education and Mentoring Service
• Polaris Project
• Covenant House

Any 90s kid knows from TV that the best way to end bullying is with... more bullying? Join Chelsea and Andrew as they plumb the depths of the child-to-child "cruel to be kind" de-escalation method, front-line toddler reportage, and fat-shaming a capella songs. There may be some learning, and there's a 100% chance that a "hug therapist" will show up.

Show: FULL HOUSE \\ "Nerd for a Day," Season 3, Episode 4

Air Date: October 13, 1989

Find it: on Hulu

Snack: Hershey's Chocolate Donut Bites

Further Reading:

• Why Every 80s Sitcom Decided to Kill Off the Mom
• Social Bullying Common in TV Shows Kids Watch

Stevil is back, and he's more off-putting than the last time! And this time, as the title clearly states, he is not alone! Join Chelsea, Andrew, Miles, Steve, Stevil, Carl and Carlsbad (everyone else is out trick-or-treating) as we journey to the center of the uncanny valley to see… if there's any good reason they made another Stevil episode. Is it spooky? Sure. Funny? You betcha. Over-snacked? 100%. #ClickorTreat, y'all!

Show: Family Matters \\ "Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone," Season 9, Episode 7

Air Date: October 31, 1997

Find it: on Hulu

Snack:

• Sweet: Hostess Sno Balls (orange)
• Spooky: Circus Peanuts
• Homemade: Trader Joe's Pumpkin Rolls

Further Reading:

• This 'Family Matters' Halloween Episode Is The Most F'ed Up Thing Ever Aired On TGIF
• Demonic Dummy | TV Tropes
• Altered Revelations (Musical Friends of the Pod)

It's the sp-sp-spoooookiest time of year, and to celebrate, we're bringing you CLICK OR TREAT! Two episodes of Hugging and Learning that feature suprise sounds, excellent giveaways, triple the snacks, and a Very Special Prize Package for one lucky listener! Check out HuggingAndLearning.com/COT for all the details. So strap on your costume, hold on to your seasonal treats, and join us as we journey into a "Family Matters" world that's pleasantly familiar… until a rage-filled puppet named Stevil shows up! Muahahahahaha!

Show: FAMILY MATTERS \\ "Stevil," Season 8, Episode 7

Air Date: October 25, 1996

Find it: On Hulu

Snacks:

• Sweet: Count Chocula Cereal
• Spooky: Stonewall Kitchen Ghostpepper Queso
• Homemade: Stevil Cookies (made by Andrew)

Further Reading:

• This 'Family Matters' Halloween Episode Is The Most F'ed Up Thing Ever Aired On TGIF
• Demonic Dummy | TV Tropes
• Altered Revelations (Musical Friends of the Pod)