Groovy Tube

It’s summah in Maine! And we’re taking a short vacation. But that doesn’t mean you have to take a vacation from us. Enjoy the most recent episode of our other podcast, Crime & Stuff, in which we discuss the Maine Paddleboard Murder, but mostly discuss the movie that dominated our summer of 1975, and is still chewing the scenery 50 years later – Jaws! Also, a review of a 1973 blockbuster that was the first PG movie we ever saw. What’s not to like? See you in August! By the way, if you’re looking for a very groovy Groovy Tube T-shirt designed by Rebecca, check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here. If you’re interested in checking out Maureen’s Maine-based Bernadette “Bernie” O’Dea mystery novels click here.

In “The Sunday Drivers,” Season 1, Episode 13 of The Mod Squad, Linc, Julie and Pete take a road trip to Vegas, baby. They’re there to see a friend from Linc’s misspent youth who’s a “crash driver,” (yes just what it sounds like), but their plans are thwarted when the friend, Tommy Salido…crashes. And dies.  Linc is SURE it wasn’t just an accident. And why was Tommy making so much money, anyway? Julie and Pete, as usual, must romance the suspects to get info. Greer, as usual, wants the kids to just stay out of it. Linc even poses as a race driver, and assures the owner of Karns Auto Thrill Show that he can do a double car dive bomb crash. Ohhhh no! By the way, if you’re looking for a very groovy Groovy Tube T-shirt designed by Rebecca, check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here. If you’re interested in checking out Maureen’s Maine-based Bernadette “Bernie” O’Dea mystery novels click here.

The squad goes under cover at an underground  newspaper to find out who bombed it in “The Guru,” Season 1, Episode 12. Guest stars include Dabney Coleman and Jane Eliot, who played Tracy Quartermaine on General Hospital! Lots of hippies, impassioned speeches, hypocritical lefties, money-grubbing landlords and the age-old dilemma of what a man says to an unattractive woman who asks him if she’s pretty.

It’s Season 1, Episode 11 of the Mod Squad, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Starlet,” in which the best option to find a serial killer of young, blond women who aspire to make it in Hollywood seems to be… wait for it… to use Julie as bait! Joan Van Ark steals the show as a character we’re supposed to hate because she says no to an abusive guy, but we love her! By the way, if you’re looking for a very groovy Groovy Tube T-shirt designed by Rebecca, check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here. If you’re interested in checking out Maureen’s Maine-based Bernadette “Bernie” O’Dea mystery novels click here.  

Love is everywhere… except in the cold, hard hearts of Beverly Hills’ super wealthy parents. It’s a theme The Mod Squad can’t hammer home enough, and in Season 1, Episode 10 — “Love” — Pete’s neglected cousin has had enough on her 18th birthday. When being part of a burglary duo doesn’t get mother and dad’s attention, she kidnaps her infant brother. Will Pete, Linc and Julie be able to straighten it all out? Solid. Excellent guest star of the episode: Isabel Sanford! Hey Weezy!

“A Quiet Weekend in the Country” is anything but for Julie, Linc and Pete as they try to figure out why Greer’s tipster Eddie Sweeney fatally got his motorcycle shot out from under him. It couldn’t have something to do with folksy storekeeper Ed (Dub Taylor), could it? Or angry coercive-controlling too-old husband and campground owner Gus Williams (James Gregory – Inspector Lugar from Barney Miller)? Or that nice middle-aged couple? The squad goes deep undercover — and Julie and Pete get to pretend they’re married — as they get to the bottom of it. Oh yeah, and Linc says SOLID five times and there are three — count ’em three! — extremely violent fistfights. By the way, if you’re looking for a very groovy Groovy Tube T-shirt designed by Rebecca, check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here. If you’re interested in checking out Maureen’s Maine-based Bernadette “Bernie” O’Dea mystery novels click here.

In The Price of Terror, someone’s after Captain Greer! His garage door blows up right when he’s opening it, then someone tries to run him over. He’s been getting death threats, too. No doubt, someone he put away who’s not happy with him. He doesn’t want the squad involved but they, and Chief Barney Metcalf, have other ideas. Looking for a cool Groovy Tube T-shirt? Or another cool shirt designed by GT cohost Rebecca Milliken? Check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here. If you’re interested in checking out cohost Maureen’s mystery novels, click here. [You can also ask your local book store or library to order them, if that’s your preference].

The Mod Squad has 48 hours to find Tara Chapman, who not only is infected with a deadly form of meningitis, but also is being stalked by a hit man and any toady he can convince to help him him. The squad gets no sleep as they scour a very hot Los Angeles to find her. The only cool oasis is a cameo by Della Reese as a blues club owner who provides a nice musical interlude. It’s Episode 7 of The Mod Squad’s first season: Find Tara Chapman!

In “A Time to Love – A Time To Cry,” Dave, Adam’s probation officer buddy, is sure his … client? What do you call someone who’s overseen by a probation officer? Anyway, Robbie, didn’t kill “evil, despicable” Luanne, who was found dead in Robbie’s photo studio after both of them spent an evening tripping on acid. That squad is on it! Including Pete and Linc hanging out at millionaire Jason’s groovy artist retreat and Julie getting a little too close to Dave. WHO’S OLD ENOUGH TO BE HER FATHER. Maybe it was Jason who killed her? Or how about scary drug dealer Hal Kincaid? Don’t stop loving, Julie. Don’t stop caring. Uh huh.

Something suddenly came up, but now we’re back! In Can’t Tell the Players Without a Programmer, a school friend of Pete’s (beautiful young woman in distress, of course) is being blackmailed over her mother’s fling with a younger man. I know! What a scandal! Of course, they can’t complete the assignment without Julie being used as bait to catch the bad guys… Guest appearance by our dad’s old college schoolmate Mark Goddard (Don West from Lost in Space!).

Like the Little Drummer Boy, we bring to you what we can — a holiday gift that includes a sad RIP to Michael Cole, a JonBenet mea culpa, some very special holiday Am I the Asshole discussions, some recommendations, some gripes, and lots of fun! Happy Holidays and here’s to a great 2025, when we’ll be back with new episodes in January! If you’re interested in checking out Maureen’s Maine-based Bernadette “Bernie” O’Dea mystery novels, including the just-released Dying for News, click here. Looking for a cool Crime & Stuff T-Shirt, or another cool shirt designed by Rebecca? Check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here.

When Smitty Comes Marching Home… from Vietnam, his nemesis ends up dead and old buddy Linc ends up being conflicted between trying to help his childhood best friend and being fuzz, man. Great appearance by the awesome Lou Gossett Jr., we get a rare glimpse of Linc’s classy pad, Pete speaks Spanish and Greer laments, once again and not for the last time, “When oh when are kids gonna learn to trust cops?”

In Season 1, Episode 3 of The Mod Squad, Julie, Linc and Pete get pulled into a mysterious caper — yes, we said caper — by an affable but dangerous criminal Pete met while going undercover in prison. A couple groovy buses, some really bad trips, some far-out hippies, and a lot of costumes for Captain Greer, the Squad prevails. That’s not a spoiler, you knew they would. Julie is now three for three with bad, dangerous criminals showing up at her groovy pad. Time to get a security system. Or at least a peephole. Looking for a cool Groovy Tube T-shirt? Or another cool shirt designed by GT cohost Rebecca Milliken? Check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here. If you’re interested in checking out cohost Maureen’s mystery novels, click here. [You can also ask your local book store or library to order them, if that’s your preference].

In “Bad Man on Campus,” Linc, Julie and Pete go undercover at a high school to find out why a popular teacher ended up dead under a pier. No, they’re not going to fink on kids! Come on! They want to find out who the adults who are using the kids for their own criminal purposes are. One groovy highlight: Linc, undercover as a history teacher, gets some very racist blowback from the kids in class, particularly the trouble-making ringleader. He finally blows his cool, saying to the kid with steely anger: “Hey, now that’s a big mouth, friend. How would you like me to come down and put my foot in it?” Solid, Linc! Looking for a cool Groovy Tube T-shirt? Or another cool shirt designed by GT cohost Rebecca Milliken? Check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here. If you’re interested in checking out cohost Maureen’s mystery novels, click here. [You can also ask your local book store or library to order them, if that’s your preference].

Welcome to Season 2 of Groovy Tube! In our first episode we take you through, almost line-by-line, the September 1968 pilot of The Mod Squad, “In the Teeth of the Barracuda.” Don’t ask us what it means, we don’t know either. Over this season we’ll take you episode-by-episode through the ground-breaking show, which had a major impact on our lives. We’ll discuss the actors, plots and stories behind the series, which ran from 1968 to 1973. It’s definitely very solid, man. Looking for a cool Groovy Tube T-shirt? Or another cool shirt designed by GT cohost Rebecca Milliken? Check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here. If you’re interested in checking out cohost Maureen’s mystery novels, click here. [You can also ask your local book store or library to order them, if that’s your preference].

In our last Season 1 episode, we discuss two of our favorite Brady Bunch episodes and some other stuff as we wrap up the series. It’s not good bye, though, just see you later. Season two begins July 15! And it’ll be solid, man.  

We can’t leave The Brady Bunch behind without talking about its main character — the house! And what better way to do that than to discuss the HGTV miniseries “A Very Brady Renovation.” Everyone knows, famously, how the exterior shots of the Brady home didn’t match the interior — either of the set or the real house used for the exterior shots. HGTV bought the mid-century modern Studio City house in 2018 and, with the help of the Brady kid actors and a stable of HGTV stars, managed to recreated the interior down to… well, almost everything. How does it stack up? We discuss.

And it all comes to a close for the Man Named Brady and his bunch. In the final episode of the original series, The Hair-Brained Scheme, Bobby’s get-rich-quick-scheme hair tonic turns Greg’s hair orange the day before his high school graduation. On top of it, Cindy tries to jump on the get rich bandwagon with a really disturbing subplot about breeding rabbits. And where’s Mike to dispense fatherly wisdom? Nowhere to be found, as his creative battle with the Schwartz family comes to an ugly little end. Season 5, Episode 22 of The Brady Bunch. We go deep into the issues between the Schwartz guys and Robert Reed in our next-to-the-last episode of our own Season 1.  Because, after all, there’s a little Bob Reed in all of us, isn’t there? Or at least in the two of us. After our final episode on the Brady Bunch in two weeks, stay tuned for Season 2, covering The Mod Squad, dropping June 3.  The original TV show, NOT any silly movie or anything that came after. Looking for a cool Groovy Tube T-shirt? Or another cool shirt designed by GT cohost Rebecca Milliken? Check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here. If you’re interested in checking out Maureen’s mystery novels, click here. [You can also ask your local book store or library to order them if that’s your preference – they’re available through Ingram as well].  

Mike’s boss Mr. Matthews (Yes! we know it used to be Mr. Phillips! Don’t worry, we cover that) sends him a pool table for doing such a great job on the Whitley project. Bobby becomes a pool shark. What could possibly go wrong? We discuss The Hustler, Season 5, Episode 21, of The Brady Bunch. Jim Backus – Thurston Howell III — makes a special guest appearance. Also, looking for a cool Groovy Tube T-shirt, or another cool shirt designed by GT cohost Rebecca Milliken? Check out her Bonfire shirt site, by clicking here. If you’re interested in checking out Maureen’s mystery novels, click here. [You can also ask your local book store or library to order them if that’s your preference – they’re available through Ingram as well].

Good old-fashioned Brady trickery is back with a vengeance in Season 5, Episode 20, “Snooperstar.” Marcia decides to teach Cindy a lesson for snooping, in what’s probably the most humiliating episode of misused and underused Susan Olsen’s career. The only upside? A guess visit from Natalie Schaefer, aka Lovey, Mrs. Thurston Howell III, as yet another one of Mike’s rich, entitled and crazy female clients. As you can imagine, we have a lot to say.

Top Secret! Bobby and Oliver are somehow under the impression Mike is working for the FBI and Sam the butcher is a double agent! Oh no! Season 5, Episode 19 of The Brady Bunch.

Peter discovers a new kid at school looks exactly like him — we mean EXACTLY, down to the bad haircut — and hijinks ensue when they decide to fob Faux Peter off as real Peter to the Bradys. What could possibly go wrong? As we discuss Season 5, Episode 18 of The Brady Bunch, Two Petes in a Pod, we also note some signs that the show is beginning to give up the ghost as it limps into its final four episodes.

Yes, folks, it’s the episode everyone’s been waiting for! The introduction of Cousin Oliver. He gets on a motorcycle and jumps over a shark tank. Actually, the cute little tyke doesn’t, but you get what we’re saying. Season 5, Episode 17 of The Brady Bunch: Welcome Aboard.

Peter and Bobby see a UFO hovering over the back yard. They even take some photos of it. But do they? Really? Season 5, Episode 16, “Out of This World.” Expect some classic Brady trickery.

In The Driver’s Test, Season 5, Episode 15 of The Brady Bunch, Greg and Marcia squabble over who is the better driver.  Buckle up for  another classic battle of the sexes episode, where no one puts the brakes on gratuitous female-bashing or male-smugness. And there’s also that guy in his underwear.

In the 14th episode of The Brady Bunch fifth season, neighbors Ken and Kathy Kelly decide to not only adopt one kid, but two more and they’re – gasp! – Black and Asian. Neighborhood hysteria ensues. The episode, Kelly’s Kids, stars our childhood crush Ken Berry, and Brooke Bundy, who you may remember from General Hospital. Written by Sherwood Schwartz and meant to be a pilot, it never became it’s own show. We discuss.

Wow! Jan’s been nominated to run for Most Popular Girl in her class. What could possibly go wrong? Season five, episode 13 of The Brady Bunch, “Miss Popularity.”

Are Alice and Sam eloping?!!! Or did Marcia and Jan just overhear one end of part of a teleophone conversation and leap to a wild assumption? What do you think? We continue discussing Season 5 of the The Brady Bunch with The Elopement. [Sorry this is late! Massive storm in Groovy Headquarters land resulted in four-day power outage, but we’re back and ready to rock].

The Bradys go on a road trip! To Kings Island amusement park in Cincinnati! What could possibly go wrong?

Try, Try Again, Season 5, Episode 10 of the Brady Bunch.  Jan just can’t get it right. As usual. The kids try to help. As usual. What could go wrong?

Hey! We’re back after four years off! In this episode we talk about Quarterback Sneak, Season 5, Episode 9 of The Brady Bunch. The kids learn all about honesty, that football is better than love and that anything is better with two cakes.

NOTE: This is new audio, replacing the original unlistenable episode. Enjoy! We’ll be back Nov. 6 with all new episodes, continuing season 5 of The Brady Bunch. The suit fits, Joe Willie Namath pays a visit, the kids put on a show and Bobby sees skyrockets.

It’s been a while. Something suddenlty came up. But now, Groovy Tube is coming back. We will drop Season 1, Episode 20 on Monday, Nov. 6,  continuing with The Brady Bunch. Listen for more details! Thanks for waiting! We missed you, too.

The mustache doesn’t fit, Greg gets a little too friendly with a goat, Marcia makes the mistake of pitching Peter for a job and Peter becomes Bobby’s slave for life. Kind of.

NOTE: This is new audio, replacing the original unlistenable episode. Enjoy! The suit fits, Joe Willie Namath pays a visit, the kids put on a show and Bobby sees skyrockets.

In which really old Carol and really old Mike get it on, Cindy is going to be on a TV quiz show and… wait for it… gets a big head about it and, the final episode of Season 4, Greg and Marcia fight over the (mysteriously expanded) attic.

Oh. My. Nose.

Dr, Stanley Vogel! A rule is a rule! EXACT WORDS!!! The Silver Platters! Need I say more?

F-sake you freak, get that f&@#ing nose away from me! We know we’ve been away for a while. Don’t get uptight, let’s all stay groovy. Tis the season, and in that spirit, in our annual holiday tradition, we’re merging our podcasts Groovy Tube and Crime & Stuff, this year in an interactive Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-watching extravaganza. Ok, it’s not an extravaganza, but break out the DVD and watch with us anyway.

Don’t touch that dial. We’ll be right back. No wait, don’t be uptight, man! Everything’s going to be cool. We’re splitting for a while, but we’ll be looking for you on the flip side. Things’ll be outta sight.

It’s the story of a lovely lady and a man named Brady, who balk at taking the stage with their kids, shame their daughter because she wants privacy, shame their son because he’d be a crappy architect, shame their housekeeper because they can, revel in their son’s issues with women and let Pete founder when he’s forced to be Benedict Arnold. Join us for Brady Bunch season 4, episodes The Show Must Go On?, Jan the Only Child, Career Fever, Goodbye Alice Hello, Greg’s Triangle and Not Everybody Can be George Washington.

What’s the true meaning of Christmas? No, really, what is it? In this very special Groovy Tube/Crime & Stuff episode, we find out through That Girl, Mary Tyler Moore, Adam 12 and Starsky & Hutch. It’s warmer than eggnog by the fire.

    It’s the story of a lovely lady and a man named Brady, who whisk their kids (and Alice, of course) off to Hawaii for a week of fun and horror, as Vincent Price tries to kill the boys. And all over a cheap little tiki. And when they get back, things just go to hell. Join us as we discuss the first six episodes of Season 4 of the Brady Bunch: Hawaii Bound, Pass the Tabu, The Tiki Caves, Today I am a Freshman, Cyrano de Brady and Fright Night.

It’s the story of a lovely lady and a man named Brady, who get their first taste of fake news, harass and humiliate Alice’s cousin, make sure Cindy stays three forever, stress that it’s NOT what’s inside that counts, and get a big court win. Join us as we discuss the final five episodes of Season 3 of the Brady Bunch: The Power of the Press, Sergeant Emma, Cindy Brady Lady, My Fair Opponent and The Fender Benders.

It’s the story of a lovely lady and a man named Brady who… love to screw with poor Jan, sing their way to non-stardom, learn what happens when you make a bet. You get the picture. Join us for Brady Bunch Season 3 episodes The Not So Rose-Colored Glasses,  The Teeter-Totter Caper, Big Little Man, Dough Re Mi, Jan’s Aunt Jenny and The Big Bet.

It’s the story… you know what? Let’s just get to the point. Marcia Marcia Marcia. Yup it’s that episode! We talk about Season 3, episodes 7 through 12, including Juliet is the Sun, Now a Word from Our Sponsor, The Private Ear, Her Sister’s Shadow, Click and Getting Davy Jones.

It’s the story of a lovely lady and a man name Brady, who go on their first road trip and learn all about Indians and how not to piss off an old gold prospector and his mule on a trip to the Grand Canyon, are stunned when their 16-year-old son buys a really crappy car for $109, find plenty of chances to lecture when Marcia and Greg use their dates to get back at each other, and, can I say it? I’m gonna say it. Pork chops and apple sauce. Join us for discussion of the first six episodes of Season 3 of the Brady Bunch: Ghost Town USA, Grand Canyon or Bust, the Brady Braves, The Wheeler-Dealer, My Sister Benedict Arnold and The Personality Kid.

It’s the story, of a lovely lady and a man named Brady… and a housekeeper who can’t catch a break, kooky women’s libbers, Cindy is thcared, Bobby just can’t win, Mr. Phillips doesn’t like losing at darts and Carol’s writing career ends just as it begins. Join us for the final six episodes of Season 2: The Liberation of Marcia Brady, Lights Out, The Winner, Double Parked, Alice’s September Song and Tell It Like It Is.

It’s the story of a lovely lady and a man named Brady who drive their already shaky daughter to the brink of insanity, encourage their oldest son to make it with chicks and who AGAIN tell the kids it’s what inside that counts. Except, of course, when it isn’t. Join us for shows from Season 2 of the Brady Bunch, a treasure trove of classic episodes, including The Impractical Joker, Where There’s Smoke, Will the Real Jan Brady Please Stand Up?, The Drummer Boy, Coming Out Party and Our Son the Man.

It’s the story of a lovely lady and a man named Brady who don’t like fighting. Until they’re put in their place by a bully’s parents. Who don’t like tattling. Except when they do. Who tell the kids it’s what’s inside that counts. Except when it isn’t. Join us for episodes from the show’s Season 2, this week: The Treasure of Sierra Avenue, A Fistful of Reasons (Buddy Hinton!), The Not-So-Ugly Duckling (George Glass!), The Tattle-Tale (Susan Olsen’s least favorite episode!), What Goes Up (Mom always says, “Don’t play ball in the house!”, and Confessions, Confessions.