Saturday nights in northern Michigan used to belong to a vampire who hosted horror movies, kept a terrier in a tiny cape as his sidekick, and propped a skull named Chauncy on the set for company. His name was Count Zappula, and for nearly twenty years he was one of the most beloved fixtures of local television that nobody outside a few counties ever knew existed.

This episode is one person's firsthand account of growing up in that audience and what it means to go looking for someone who shaped your childhood before the last traces of him disappear entirely.

——

SONGS IN THIS EPISODE:

• Green Lung – Lady Lucifer / Free the Witch (EP)

• Deep Purple – Hush / When We Rock, We Rock and When We Roll, We Roll

• Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs – Ground Speed / Foggy Mountain Banjo

• David Bowie – Fame / Young Americans

• Jay Livingston and Ray Evans – Bonanza

• Earle Hagen – Mayberry R.F.D. Theme

• Leonard Rosenman – Marcus Welby, M.D. Theme

• Marius Constant – The Twilight Zone Theme

• John Barry – Somewhere in Time

• Spirit – I Got a Line On You / The Family That Plays Together

• Siouxsie & The Banshees – Night Shift / Ju Ju

• MF DOOM – Coffin Nails / Metal Fingers Presents: Special Herbs Vol. 5 & 6

• Taylor Swift – Lover / Lover

• Sweet – The Ballroom Blitz / Desolation Boulevard

• The Edgar Winter Group – Frankenstein / They Only Come Out at Night

• Mystery Science Theater 3000 – Godzilla Genealogy Bop / Clowns In the Sky I & II

• Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me / Somebody’s Watching Me

• Ramones – Pet Cemetary / Brain Drain

The opening theme song, “Corona” was written and performed by Chuck Borowicz.

SOURCES CONSULTED:

Online Databases & Reference

• IMDb — Count Zappula's Horror House (both station runs, 1976-1980 and 1981-1992), Don Melvoin credits, cast and trivia pages

Horror Host Archives

• E-gor's Chamber of TV Horror Hosts — primary source for the police officer anecdote, Igor/Lover details, and production background via director Eric Pearson
• The Professor's Horror Host Tome — catalog entry for the show
• Horror Host Graveyard — overview entry including the Chauncy skull companion detail
• Captain Flashback (efanzines.com) — detailed profile including Dr. Maniac appearances and production notes

Fan & Regional Sources

• Clea's Cave blog and comment thread — fan memories including the fan letter story, Sunday afternoon movie show detail, and family tributes
• Vintage Detroit TV & Movie Board — viewer memories and discussion
• 99 WFMK "Michigan Horror Show Hosts" feature — biographical overview

Hall of Fame

• Official Horror Host Hall of Fame — 2022 nomination listing

Firsthand

• My own memories: Deputy Don park broadcast, Count Zappula viewing, Frank Bonner recognition, the coffin blooper on Life's Most Embarrassing Moments with Steve Allen and Elvira, Chauncy the skull.

A Michigan homecoming sparks a story about Chuck's first job out of college – a small-town newspaper gig that became an accidental design system, a crash course in invisible work, and an early lesson in the politics of people who need you more than they respect you. If you've ever built something nobody noticed until it broke, this one's for you.

——

SONGS IN THIS EPISODE:

• Bob Seger – Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man / The Bob Seger System
• The Frost – A Long Way From Home / Through The Eyes of Love
• Pretenders – Middle Of The Road / Learning To Crawl
• Patsy Cline – Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray / Patsy Cline
• Daft Punk – The Grid / Tron Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Daft Punk – Derezzed / Tron Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• The Black Keys – Everlasting Light / Brothers
• Deep Purple – Lazy / Machine Head
• SLIFT – The Village / Fantasia
• Clutch – We Strive For Excellence / Sunrise On Slaughter Beach

The opening theme song, “Corona” was written and performed by Chuck Borowicz.

In this episode we descend into the portfolio theft circle of UX Design Hell, a horrid place reserved for designer wannabes who steal work to reframe it as their own. Chuck gives you his firsthand account of discovering his work hosted on someone else’s case study, and why the empathy that designers try to cultivate talks them right out of their righteous anger. The only way out is through, with documentation, attribution, and courage. Come join the rapport!

——

SONGS IN THIS EPISODE:

• Henry Rollins and Mother Superior – Hotter and Hotter / Get Some Go Again
• Christopher Young – Hellraiser / Hellraiser (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Carl Orff – O Fortuna / Carmina Burana
• Motörhead – Brotherhood of Man / The Wörld Is Yours
• Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky / Out of the Blue
• Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra / Abracadabra
• Heaven & Hell – Follow The Tears / The Devil You Know
• Mountain Caller – Feast At Half Light City / Chronicle I – The Truthseeker
• Motörhead – Hellraiser / March or Die
• Soundgarden – Rusty Cage / Badmotorfinger

The opening theme song, “Corona” was written and performed by Chuck Borowicz.

LEGO. Need I say more? OK, fine. STAR WARS. Grab a beverage, get comfy and open a box of LEGOS for this one. C’mon and click and brick with me on this LEGO Star Wars themed episode of The Borowicz Rapport®.

——

SONGS IN THIS EPISODE:

• Beck (feat. Robyn & The Lonely Island) – Super Cool / The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• R.E.M. – Stand / Green
• The Bangles – In a Different Light / Different Light
• Galactic Empire – The Asteroid Field / Galactic Empire
• War – Why Can’t We Be Friends / Why Can’t We Be Friends?
• Beastie Boys – Intergalactic / Hello Nasty
• John Williams & The London Symphony Orchestra – The Asteroid Field / Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• The White Stripes – Fell In Love With The Girl / White Blood Cells
• Yes - Starship Trooper (part c. Wurm) / The Yes Album
• M83 – Midnight City / Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
• Supernova – Chewbacca / Pop As a Weapon
• Tool – Schism / Lateralus

The opening theme song, “Corona” was written and performed by Chuck Borowicz.

Welcome to the The Borowicz Rapport®. Another Record Store Day has come and gone. I hope you’re still enjoying the afterglow, or better yet, the glow of the lights on your turntable as you play your RSD titles. On this episode I’m talking about the business side of the day and chatting with you about my RSD adventure.

——

SONGS IN THIS EPISODE:

• Todd Snider – Vinyl Records / New Connection
• My Sweet Potato – Booker T. & The M.G.’s / And Now!
• Pink Floyd – Money / The Dark Side of the Moon
• Mongo Santamaria – Watermelon Man / Watermelon Man
• Megadeth – Angry Again / Hidden Treasures
• Motörhead – On Parole / On Parole
• Rainbow – Kill The King / Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow In Concert 1976 Live in Köln
• Judas Priest – Riding On The Wind / Live in Los Angeles ’90
• Pearl Jam – Spin The Black Circle / Vitalogy

The opening theme song, “Corona” was written and performed by Chuck Borowicz.

Welcome to the The Borowicz Rapport®. This one’s all about Nicky Hopkins, the best kept secret behind a metric ton of analog tape that turned into some of the biggest rock hits of all time. Heard of him? I think you’re in for a treat.

SONGS IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Rolling Stones – Angie / Goat’s Head Soup

• The Jeff Beck Group – All Shook Up / Beck-Ola

• The Kinks – The Village Green Preservation Society / The Village Green Preservation Society

• The Who – The Ox / My Generation

• The Beatles – Revolution / Hey Jude (single)

• Carly Simon – Waited So Long / No Secrets

• John Lennon – Oh Yoko! / Imagine

• Joe Cocker – You Are So Beautiful / I Could Stand A Little Rain

• Graham Parker & The Rumour – Stupefaction / The Up Escalator

The opening theme song, “Corona” was written and performed by Chuck Borowicz.

"The Session Man" was produced by Mike Treen, John Wood and Mike Sherman. It was written and directed by Mike Treen www.thesessionmanfilm.com

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Borowicz Rapport®. For my first trick, we’ll check out Angine de Poitrine, the viral, experimental rock sensation from outer space and Quebec, Canada. From there, it’s a get-to-know-me session so that we all know what we’re getting into here.

SONGS IN THIS EPISODE:

• Angine de Poitrine – Fabienk / Vol.II
• Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – Learning to Fly / Into The Great Wide Open
• Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise (feat. L.V.) / Gangsta’s Paradise

The opening theme song, “Corona” was written and performed by Chuck Borowicz.