PODCAST · society
120 over 80
by Andrew Elrick
In these challenging and stressful times, we're here to keep your blood pressure in its sweet spot (120 over 80 according to the American Heart Association) by talking about the things that put us in our happy place. Starting in February of 2021 that thing will be the Muppet Show (1976-1981) as Doug and I go episode by episode through one of the seminal shows in television history. With a list of guest stars that reflect almost every popular cultural trend in post-war America, the Muppet Show is a fascinating time capsule from an important, though often ignored, period in American history.
Episodes
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S2E15 - Being Perky is a Crime? - Sandy Duncan
Back from our annual summer hiatus we dive into the life and times of the effervescent Sandy Duncan, best known for her appearance in the award winning miniseries Roots, her Broadway portrayal of Peter Pan and her lead role in the series The Hogan Family. Doug relives a traumatic audition for The...
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S2E14 - Bruce Forsyth, Come on Down - Bruce Forsyth
What we knew about British comedian, presenter and game show host Bruce Forsyth prior to this episode was next to nothing, but one of UK television's most ubiquitous characters had a long and fascinating career. Despite our ignorance Doug actually has a personal connection to Sir Bruce who hosted…
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S2E13 - Languages? Ustinov 6, Elrick 1 - Peter Ustinov
This week's guest star is the living embodiment of the Renaissance Man, the Muppets biggest "get" of season one and lived a life that was almost unimaginably interesting. Raised by a spy and a ballet dancer, Ustinov began acting at the age of 18 and never looked back, winning two Best Supporting...
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S2E12 - She's the Best Good Witch - Lena Horne
This week the guest star is Lena Horne so of course we're talking nullification! But only briefly before moving on to Horne's long, successful career as a musician and actor. Horne, not unlike previous guest star Rita Moreno, was a colossal talent who struggled to make a career for herself in...
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S2E11 - But Muppets Don't Have Sphincters - Harvey Korman
One of the great sketch comedians of all time joins the Muppets this week and doesn't quite live up to his reputation. We discuss Korman's role on the Carol Burnett Show, the history of comics not hogging the laugh lines, cracking up on live TV and what it means to be "halfway down the stairs"....
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S2E10 - He's French and He Sings - Charles Aznavour
Oh, but he's so much more than that. This week's guest star is French crooner Charles Aznavour. Known to many as "the French Sinatra", Aznavour lived a long and fascinating life. We talk about the impact of French culture in America, Aznavour's progressive politics, and deep connection to his...
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S2E9 - He's More Muppet Than Thou - Paul Williams
This week's guest star is the diminutive songwriter and actor Paul Williams who made a name for himself writing songs for the likes of David Bowie, Helen Reddy, the Carpenters and Three Dog Night. Doug discusses the change in who could be a frontman that was brought about by the rock n' roll...
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S2E8 - I Don't Get Zoom Residuals - Florence Henderson
This week's guest star is Florence Henderson, who will forever be remembered as the matriarch of the Brady family but also enjoyed a career on Broadway before hitting it big in TV. After the hit show went off the air in 1974 she followed what had become a well-worn path for celebrities of the…
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S2E7 - Well Golly...Shazam! I'm Weird - Jim Nabors
This week's guest star is Jim Nabors, better know to most people as Gomer Pyle. We discuss CBS' focus on rural comedies in the 1960's, led by their intractable programming executive James T. Aubrey. Doug also talks about how uncomfortable he is with Nabors operatic singing style, reminiscent of...
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S2E6 - Use More Toupee Tape Frank - Ruth Buzzi
Comedian Ryan Beck joins us to talk about season one, episode four of the Muppet Show with guest star, and fellow comedian, Ruth Buzzi. Ryan talks about being a comedian in a pandemic, his abiding respect for the Muppet Show (he thinks Henson should get a Nobel Prize) and why he thinks it might…
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S2E5 - What the hell is EGOT? - Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno is one of the most decorated performers of our time, so why did she go seven years with hardly any film work after winning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1961? I mean, do you really need to be told? Moreno is this week's guest star and she is truly that. Of the shows we've covered...
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S2E4 - Dirty Dancing? What about Cabaret? - Joel Grey
This week Doug and I discuss episode three from season one of The Muppet Show, with Academy and Tony Award-winning guest star Joel Grey. In recent years Grey has made headlines for coming out of the closet at the age of 82. We talk about the odd and discordant way that the sexuality of actors and...
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S2E3 - Princess Leia? She's my Stepdaughter - Connie Stevens
It's Doug's birthday, and on his special day I (inadvertently) remind him of one of the most horrific experiences of his life. This week's guest star is Connie Stevens with whom there are many parallels to last week's star Juliet Prowse. We talk about how a nostalgia for the 50's characterized…
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S2E2 - Boy, Khrushchev Not a Fan - Juliet Prowse
Our journey begins with South African dancer and actress Juliet Prowse. Doug and I discuss why she looked slightly out of place on TV in 1976, as well as her big break that led to a run in with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and a (brief) engagement to Frank Sinatra. Meanwhile, how did the...
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S2E1 - Why Do We Always Come Here?
In this lo-fi first episode of our second season Doug and I embark on an ambitious project to watch all 118 episodes of the original Muppet Show - which ran from 1976 to 1981 and has recently become available on Disney+ - and provide as much cultural context as possible for this incredibly...
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S1E19 - Bryson talks...Birthdays!
It's Bryson birthday so he opens a couple of presents on air, we include everyone in FRIENDS of the Week and I get a hug before we close with a rimshot and sad trombone.
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S1E18 - 1952 World Series Game 7 & Fever Pitch (1997)
This week we talk about Doug's vaccine appointment adventures before getting into the meat of the show and discussing Game 7 of the 1952 World Series (available in its entirety on YouTube) and the 1987 film Fever Pitch, an adaptation of Nick Hornby's book of the same name, starring Colin Firth as...
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S1E17 - 2014 Championship Playoff Final & The Americanization of Emily (1964)
In this episode we discuss the epic 2014 Championship Playoff Final between my beloved Queens Park Rangers and Derby Country with promotion to the Premier League on the line. We are also joined by QPR NYC's Dunstan Bentley who was at the game and shares his impressions of the great day. Then Doug...
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S1E16 - Bryson Talks...Superheroes!
Bryson discusses Iron Man, the Hulk and Spiderman all while eating a juicy apple. Plus this weeks Friend of the Week is Jason. Enjoy!
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S1E15 - Seven Days in May (1964) & Lincoln (2012)
Sorry, no Bryson this time but in the wake of the chaos in Washington on Wednesday Doug and I discuss two films about Presidents, 1964's Seven Days in May (which is actually about a coup) and 2012's Lincoln. Plus we get the lowdown on a COVID Christmas in New York. Music Bad Brains - Banned in…
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S1E14 A Very Star Wars Breakfast (**HOLIDAY SPECIAL** )
Talking about Star Wars is one of our favorite pastimes and this morning over shredded wheat and apples Bryson and I drilled down deep on America’s favorite science fiction franchise. Does C-3PO have a belly button? Are Ewoks as dangerous as actual bears? What’s the difference between a smuggler...
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S1E13 Bryson Talks…Lions and Tigers and Giraffs who knows
Bryson keeps me on my toes as we switch up up the rundown last second. We do eventually get back to Lions with an in-depth discussion of The Lion King and why bad guys always have British accents. We also breakdown the film Sing and have a possible on-air toot which was denied by the perpetrator...
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S1E12 - Bryson talks...Dinosaurs
This week Bryson explores one of his favorite subjects...dinosaurs! We talk about all his favs from Ankylosaurus to Triceratops. Also we premier our newest feature FRIEND OF THE WEEK. This week the spotlight is on Bryson's bestie Natalie. We dig down on the revelation that Natalie likes to "take...
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S1E11 - Hamilton and 1776
On the eve of the Election, and after a long hiatus, 120 over 80 is back with our promised discussion of two classic Broadway musicals both of which tell complicated and incomplete stories of our nation’s founding - the wildly popular (and recently released on Disney+) “Hamilton” and the more...
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S1E10 Bryson talks...Animals
New full episode hopefully coming later this week, but until then enjoy Bryson (who is under the weather and taking one for the team) discussing his lifelong love of Hippos, singing Christmas songs and belching.
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S1E9 - Bryson talks...Cars
The podcast has been on hiatus the last few months while I upgrade my studio. Doug and I (and a special guest) will be back soon to talk about one of the most important cultural artifacts of the last two decades, Hamilton and how it compares to another, lesser known, musical about the Founding...
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S1E7 - "The Trip" film franchise & Paul McCartney's 2009 appearance on Letterman
This week discuss Steve Coogan and Rod Brydon's popular film franchise in which they travel through lush European scenery, eat amazing food and trade impressions of Michael Caine amongst many others. Then we have a special guest, as old friend Dan Moffitt joins us to talk about he and Doug's...
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S1E6 - The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of Frank Sinatra (1978) & Simon and Garfunkel's Concert in the Park (1981)
We ask the important questions: Which dead world historical figure do you wish were alive for the pandemic? What was it like living next to Jonas Salk's mother? Why does CVS have the freshest milk? Plus the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of Frank Sinatra from 1978 and Simon and Garfunkel's 1981...
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S1E5 - Game 7 of the 1960 World Series & the Cinque Terra Episode of Rick Steves' Europe
We get our usual Garden of Eden update, excitement grows for the anticipated arrival of Doug's new oximeter and we discuss his appearances in the Time to Make the Donuts commercials as I consider transferring to Dunkin' Brands University (fight on ol' DBU!). 9:23 - Making your own bread, more on...
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S1E4 - The Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W.P. Kinsella & Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz
1:34 - Garden of Eden Update (Things have taken a turn) 10:31 - Doug remembers his star turn as the leading man in a commercial for "Fed Ex Zap Mail" in 1985. 21:53 - Doug reminisces about the night he spent in a cheap motel with the fast talking 1980's pitchman and Micro Machines guy John...
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S1E3 - Magnum P.I. & the 1980 Wimbledon Final
Opening Chatter: · What are we going to do about haircuts? · Update on Doug’s 95-year-old family friend and neighbor Natalie who has been forced to cancel her daily happy hours. · Garden of Eden Thunderdome Level - Green · Michael Gross, nice guy or prima donna? Doug discusses his star turn on an...
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S1E2 - Singin' in the Rain & UConn vs. Duke (1999 NCAA Tournament)
00:00-12:12 NYC Lockdown, Hollywood Diner, Garden of Eden and blood pressure update 12:13-33:29 Singin' in the Rain (1952) 33:30-55:10 UConn vs. Duke 1999 NCAA Tournament Championship Game Next Episode: Magnum P.I. Don't Eat the Snow in Hawaii (1980) and the 1980 Wimbledon Final between Bjorn…
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S1E1 - Big Night with Stanley Tucci & Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals
In our premier episode we watch and discuss the 1996 film Big Night starring Stanley Tucci and Tony Shaloub, and Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals between the Vancouver Canucks and Doug's New York Rangers. Email us at [email protected]. Big Night is available to rent on most major...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
In these challenging and stressful times, we're here to keep your blood pressure in its sweet spot (120 over 80 according to the American Heart Association) by talking about the things that put us in our happy place. Starting in February of 2021 that thing will be the Muppet Show (1976-1981) as Doug and I go episode by episode through one of the seminal shows in television history. With a list of guest stars that reflect almost every popular cultural trend in post-war America, the Muppet Show is a fascinating time capsule from an important, though often ignored, period in American history.
HOSTED BY
Andrew Elrick
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does 120 over 80 have?
120 over 80 currently has 33 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is 120 over 80 about?
In these challenging and stressful times, we're here to keep your blood pressure in its sweet spot (120 over 80 according to the American Heart Association) by talking about the things that put us in our happy place. Starting in February of 2021 that thing will be the Muppet Show (1976-1981) as...
How often does 120 over 80 release new episodes?
120 over 80 has 33 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to 120 over 80?
You can listen to 120 over 80 on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts 120 over 80?
120 over 80 is created and hosted by Andrew Elrick.
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