AVSEPod Episode 7: The Star Wars Holiday Special

Merry Christmas Happy Life Day everyone! With the holidays in full swing and a new classic era Star Wars movie in theaters, what better time to take a look at the most infamous bit of Star Wars storytelling, the Holiday Special, in which Chewbacca's family awaits his arrival home on a vaguely-defined Wookiee holiday while under Imperial occupation. In between appearances from an embarrassed Harrison Ford, a dead-eyed Carrie Fisher, and a frighteningly-glam Mark Hamill, the Wookiees are joined by the the brightest (or most-available) stars of 1978 for sequences involving a black-face cooking demonstration, a phallic rock 'n' roll performance, holographic space porn, and more!

Is the whole thing painful to watch? Does it have any redeeming value? Is the world better off with this in it, or does it deserve to be obliterated from existence as George Lucas would like? Download and listen here to find out, then rate & review us on iTunes or listen via Podbean, Stitcher and Google Play.

Also, follow the show on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and email us via avsepodcast@gmail.com. Drop us a line and let us know what you think of the show!

http://media.averyspecialepisodepodcast.com/AVerySpecialEpisode007.mp3

AVSEPod Episode 6: The Corey Feldman Extravaganza!

We continue to shake things up, format-wise, in this week's episode featuring Carol, Ryan and a very special guest, comedian Amy Miller. Rather than discussing a specific episode of a show, it's the podcast episode itself that's very special this week as the three hosts take part in a retrospective looking at 80s pop culture icon(?) Corey Feldman! 

In light of his recent appearances on the Today Show, it seems as though Corey's life has entered a very special phase, and we took it upon ourselves to investigate just when and how things went wrong. Starting with an all-time great child actor filmography and working our way towards the recent morning show debacles, we delve through decades of Feldmania, all the while asking ourselves if all this is his fault for needing our attention, or ours for continuing to give it to him. You don't have to be one of Corey's angels to make your way through this, but it helps.

So cue up Lost Boys and pour one out for Corey Haim, then download and listen here, rate & review us on iTunes or listen via Podbean, Stitcher and Google Play. Also, follow the show on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and email us via avsepodcast@gmail.com. Drop us a line via any of those methods and let us know what you think of the show! 

Also, be sure to check out Amy's website, where you can order her brand new comedy album, and follow her on Twitter @AmyMiller!

http://media.averyspecialepisodepodcast.com/AVerySpecialEpisode006.mp3

AVSEPod Episode 5: Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue!

In this week's episode, the Aluminum Four stretch our mandate a little, as we discuss not a "very special" episode of an ongoing TV series, but rather a one-shot show specifically designed to be "special". So travel back with us to those halcyon days of the War on Drugs, when President Bush the Elder told children to read his lips and watch this animated special, in which the brightest cartoon stars of 1990 (including Alf, Slimer and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle) team-up with classic characters like Daffy Duck & Bugs Bunny to teach kids about the dangers of befriending floating ephemeral smoke beings wearing a suit, ie doing drugs. The end result is...kind of a mixed, muddled message, but hey, Winnie the Pooh talks about hardcore drug use, so there's that. 

So set your Kemit alarm clock and turn off your Garfield lamp, then download and listen here, rate & review us on iTunes or listen via Podbean, Stitcher and Google Play. Also, follow the show on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and email us via avsepodcast@gmail.com. Drop us a line via any of those methods and let us know what you think of the show! 

http://media.averyspecialepisodepodcast.com/AVerySpecialEpisode005.mp3

AVSEPod Episode 4: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's "There's the Rub"

Gobble gobble, everyone! We are back with a brand new Thanksgiving-themed Very Special episode, just in time for the holiday! This week, we review The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's two-part "There's the Rub", in which Will (Will Smith) and Uncle Phil get locked up for visiting an illicit massage parlor (no, seriously), Carlton & Hilary learn the true meaning of Thanksgiving (ie it's a lot easier to help people if you're rich), and Will's aunts spend an interminable amount of time arguing over stuffing and their relative attractiveness (because this show isn't *that* progressive). We also discuss Will Smith's dangle, Ryan's massage parlor, and everyone's favorite Thanksgiving foods. 

So grab a bowl of little onions swimming in cream sauce, then download and listen here, rate & review us on iTunes or listen via Podbean, Stitcher and Google Play. Also, follow the show on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and email us via avsepodcast@gmail.com. Drop us a line via any of those methods and let us know what you think of the show! 

http://media.averyspecialepisodepodcast.com/AVerySpecialEpisode004.mp3

AVSEPod Episode 3: Punky Brewster's "Cherie Lifesaver"

This was supposed to be an episode about the dangers of refrigerators (or the importance of learning CPR, whatever), but instead, we pretty much just rag on Ryan for pulling an Alan and dicking around on his phone during a CPR class. But we also discuss Carol's unique pronunciation of "George Gaynes", what kids' faces David finds punchable, and Austin's enduring fear of fridges.  

So look, listen, and feel, then download and listen here, rate & review us on iTunes or listen via Podbean, Stitcher and Google Play. Also, follow the show on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and email us via avsepodcast@gmail.com. Drop us a line via any of those methods and let us know what you think of the show! 

http://media.averyspecialepisodepodcast.com/AVerySpecialEpisode003.mp3

AVSEPod Episode 2: Maude's "Maude's Dilemma"

First there was Saved by the Bell, including Miss Bliss/And then a creepy pervo on Diff'rent Strokes/And then there's Maude/And then there's Maude/And then there's Maude!

It's dead rabbits for some, and vasectomies for others, as Maude (the always-awesome Bea Arthur) is faced with a difficult decision in the seminal "Maude's Dilemma", with the series (and the Aluminum Four) tackling head-on a tricky hot button issue that is still burning today in a groundbreaking and frank (for its time) two-part episode. 

So pour yourself a double and mash together some balls, then download and listen here, rate & review us on iTunes, follow the show on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and email us via avsepodcast@gmail.com. Drop us a line via any of those methods and let us know what you think of the show! 

http://media.averyspecialepisodepodcast.com/AVerySpecialEpisode002.mp3

AVSEPod Episode 1: Diff'rent Strokes' "The Bicycle Man"

Welcome to the very first episode of "A Very Special Episode", the podcast which reviews "very special" episodes of pop culture! 

For our first episode, regular hosts Ryan, Carol, Austin & David (aka the Aluminum Four) tackle the always-hilarious subjects of child molestation and growth-stunting kidney disease via the two part Diff'rent Strokes episode "The Bicycle Man", in which Arnold (Gary Coleman) and his friend Dudley run afoul of the overly- and creepily-friendly owner of the local bike shop, in one of the more well-known "very special episodes" of the 80s. How well does the episode impart its message? How awkward is the required-for-its-time studio laughter when applied to a subject this serious? How do we manage to make an entertaining podcast out of such sensitive subject matter? You'll have to listen to find out! 

And you can do so by downloading the episode here and, shortly, via iTunes and various other podcast providers. You can also follow the show on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and email us via avsepodcast@gmail.com. Drop us a line via any of those methods and let us know what you think of the show! 

http://media.averyspecialepisodepodcast.com/AVerySpecialEpisode001.mp3

A Very Special Introduction

TV of the 1980s is famous for its "very special" episodes, those well-intentioned, hyper-earnest, and tonally-dissonant stories which often broke the mold of the show, however briefly, to impart a lesson on an important real-world issue to the viewers. Substance abuse, sexual assault, teen pregnancy and suicide are just a few of the issues tackled in these 30-60 minutes chunks (with commercials, of course), all couched in the implicit, soothing promise that by episode's end, everything would be back to normal for the characters. Think of the time Maude had an abortion, or Alex Keaton got high on speed, or, yes, when Jessie Spano got high on...caffeine.

In this podcast, the hosts of Saved by the Bell Reviewed and friends will review those kinds of episodes, from the famous to the infamous to the lesser known. But we won't be limited to just television; rather, we will cover "very special episodes" from across pop culture, be they movies, music, comic books or more. Any time pop culture interrupts itself to teach, sermonize, or (attempt to) inspire, however earnestly or effectively (or not), we'll be there, to dissect, discuss, celebrate and/or mock it.

There will probably also be some poop jokes.

As always, we want to hear from you, the listeners. Let us know how we're doing, which of the hosts is your favorite, and make suggestions on very special episodes to cover in the future. You can email us at avsepodcast@gmail.com, follow the show on Twitter @AVSEPod, and drop us a line on our Facebook page.

We hope you enjoy the show!