TV Confidential with Ed Robertson
by ed robertson
TV CONFIDENTIAL: A radio talk show about television brings you lively conversations every week with the stars, writers, directors and other creative people behind the scenes of some of America's most popular shows. An engaging blend of talk and entertainment, TV Confidential often compares today's programs with those of the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s.
Episodes
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Lucille Ball FAQ
TVC 753.2: TV Confidential marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the premiere of I Love Lucy by bringing you an encore presentation of our conversation from October 2011 with James Sheridan and Barry Monush, co-authors of Lucille Ball FAQ: Everything Left to Know About America's Favorite…
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Lucille Ball and her "spider face"
TVC 753.3: From October 2011: James Sheridan and Barry Monush, co-authors of Lucille Ball FAQ, talk to Ed about the origins of the "spider face," the now iconic facial expression (accompanied by a high-pitched, nasal "eeeew" sound) that Lucille Ball would make as Lucy Ricardo whenever something...
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Christopher Robinson, author of How the West was Not
TVC 753.4: Ed welcomes Christopher Robinson, longtime senior editor and feature writer for Western Magazine Digest. Chris' new book, How the West was Not: Classic TV Westerns and Their Myths, is an offbeat look at many classic Westerns from the Golden Age of Television that particularly focuses…
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Why Gunsmoke is still the ultimate TV Western
TVC 753.4: Christopher Robinson, author of How the West was Not: Classic TV Westerns and Their Myths, talks to Ed about his Cowboy Top 20, plus he discusses a few of his favorite TV Westerns, including Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Stories of the Century, Tombstone Territory, and The Westerner. How…
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Rhonda Shear on her new 24/7 Roku network
TVC 752.4: Ed welcomes back actress, comedienne, author, and entrepreneur Rhonda Shear (Rhonda Shear Up All Night, Rhonda Shear Intimates, Up All Night: From Hollywood Bombshell to Lingerie Model, Life Lessons From An Accidental Feminist). Rhonda has just launched the Up All Night Network on…
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Rhonda Shear, George Burns, and Bob Hope
TVC 752.5: Rhonda Shear talks to Ed about the invaluable advice that George Burns once gave her, early in her career; how she nearly decapitated Bob Hope during the taping of her first major TV appearance; why word of mouth is still a viable tool today; and the secret to a good "Uppp!" when...
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David Van Deusen and Dick Van Dyke
TVC 752.3: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with David Van Deusen, longtime archivist for The Dick Van Dyke Show and the author of From Fandom to Friendships: My Adventures with "The Dick Van Dyke Show" Cast, a fun new eBook that not only recounts the many lifelong friendships David...
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David Van Deusen, author of From Fandom to Friendships
TVC 751.3: Ed welcomes back David Van Deusen, longtime archivist for The Dick Van Dyke Show and the writer and producer of The Dick Van Dyke Show: Celebrating the 60th Anniversary, a fully authorized, feature length documentary that provides an oral history of the Van Dyke show. David's new…
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David Van Deusen: The "other" DVD
TVC 751.4: David Van Deusen, longtime archivist for The Dick Van Dyke Show, shares a few stories of his visits to the homes of Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke; how the many friendships he cultivated with Van Dyke show personnel began with Rose Marie; and the power of the Walnut Times coffee mug.…
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Caroline Aaron on her new play, The Best Medicine
TVC 751.5: Ed welcomes back Caroline Aaron, the SAG Award-winning actress known around the world as Shirley Maisel, Midge's eccentric mother-in-law, on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and as Pete's wife, Carol, in the CBS series Ghosts. Caroline is currently starring in the West Coast premiere of The...
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Caroline Aaron on the power of observation
TVC 751.6: Caroline Aaron talks to Ed about the exercise in observation that she would assign her students, when she taught acting; her upcoming film Bookends, also starring F. Murray Abraham; and whether we'll see her this season on Ghosts. Caroline is currently starring in the West Coast…
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40 Years of Oprah
TVC 750.1: From September 2016: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the first national broadcast of The Oprah Winfrey Show (Syndicated, 1986-2011) in September 1986.
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Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff, the Goddess of Slots
TVC 750.2: Ed welcomes actress, entrepreneur, licensed psychotherapist, and social media influencer Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff. In the world of gaming, Lorraine is known as The Goddess of Slots, and, as such, she frequently appears at casinos across the country to test her luck on slots, while...
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Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff of Un$uited
TVC 750.3: Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff, the actress and social media influencer known in the world of gaming as The Goddess of Slots, talks to Ed about her role in the upcoming streaming comedy Un$uited; crossing paths with Dolly Parton when she was a young girl; and how she combines the goodwill of...
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Why That Girl was the original Mary Tyler Moore Show
TVC 749.1: From September 2016: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the premiere of That Girl (ABC, 1966-1971) in September 1966. Topics this segment include how That Girl portrayed a single woman living on her own in a major metropolitan city, five years before The Mary Tyler Moore Show famously did…
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Randy Oglesby of The Burbs and Spider Noir
TVC 749.4: Ed welcomes Randy Oglesby, the film and TV character actor who plays Chief of Police McNamara on the MGM+ series Spider Noir and Bill Festersen on the Peacock series The Burbs. (Peacock recently renewed The Burbs for a second season.) Topics this segment include Randy's early career as…
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Randy Oglesby, David E. Kelley, and Clint Eastwood
TVC 749.5: Actor Randy Oglesby (The Burbs, Spider Noir) talks to Ed about some of the many odd jobs in various industries that he worked early in his career, to support his efforts as an actor; how he got on the radar screen of Junie Lowry Johnson, the casting director for many David E. Kelley...
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An Insider's Guide to Autograph Collecting
TVC 749.6: From September 2016: Ed welcomes Kevin Martin, owner and CEO of Piece of the Past, and author of An Insider's Guide to Autograph Collecting, an A to Z look at the world of autograph collecting that features useful tips to ensure that the autographed celebrity item that you're thinking…
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60 Years of Star Trek
TVC 748.1: From September 2016: An expanded edition of This Week in TV History in which Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the premiere of the original Star Trek on NBC in September 1966, and how the Star Trek franchise continues to influence our culture.
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40 Years of Star Trek IV
TVC 748.2: From September 2016: An expanded edition of This Week in TV History that discusses the sixtieth anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek (NBC, 1966-1969). Topics this segment include Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, which opened in theaters in 1986.
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Favorite Star Trek Characters
TVC 748.3: From September 2016: An expanded edition of This Week in TV History that discusses the sixtieth anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek (NBC, 1966-1969) and the legacy of the Star Trek franchise. Topics this segment include a look at our favorite Star Trek movie and favorite Star Trek...
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The legacy of Star Trek
TVC 748.4: From September 2016: Part 4 of an expanded edition of This Week in TV History in which Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the sixtieth anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek (NBC, 1966-1969) and the legacy of the Star Trek franchise.
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Linda Kaplan Thaler, author of My Life in 30 Seconds
TVC 748.4: Ed welcomes Linda Kaplan Thaler, Advertising Hall of Fame executive and the creative genius behind the Aflac Duck, the Toys R Us Kids jingle, Clairol's "Yes! Yes! Yes!" campaign, and many other popular ads that have become permanently engrained in American culture. Linda's memoir, My...
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How goose bumps play an important role in the creative process
TVC 748.5: Advertising legend Linda Kaplan Thaler talks to Ed about the important role that goose bumps play in the creative genius; working with then-Governor Bill Clinton on his 1992 presidential campaign and with comedian Gilbert Gottfried on the "Aflac Duck" campaign; and why "What keeps you…
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The Chicago roots of Tom Dreesen
TVC 747.1: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the life and career of Tom Dreesen, the pioneering comedian, actor, and motivational speaker who was also the opening act for Frank Sinatra for many years. Tom Dreesen passed away on June 17, 2026 at the age of eighty-six. Topics this segment include the...
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Catherine O'Hara: She Could Do Anything
TVC 746.2: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the career of actress and comedienne Catherine O'Hara, from her early work at Second City Toronto to SCTV, Home Alone, Schitt's Creek, The Studio, her appearances in the mockumentaries of Christopher Guest, and more. Catherine O'Hara passed away on Jan. 30,...
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Charlotte Stewart and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young
TVC 747.3: Ed welcomes back Charlotte Stewart, the actress known around the world as Miss Beadle on Little House on the Prairie and as Betty Briggs on Twin Peaks. Charlotte will join Alison Arngrim, Dean Butler, and many other members of the Little House cast at the huge Little House on the…
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Charlotte Stewart on why composition was important to David Lynch
TVC 747.4: Actress and author Charlotte Stewart (Little House on the Prairie, Twin Peaks, Little House in the Hollywood Hills) talks to Ed about why the composition of a film was always important to director David Lynch, and how her long association with Lynch began when he was a student…
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Richard Lefkowitz, author of Welcome to Fabulous Angeles
TVC 746.1: Ed welcomes Richard Lefkowitz, author of Welcome to Fabulous Angeles: The Rock 'n' Roll Adventures of a Wayward Westside Teen, a coming of age memoir about Richard's years growing up as a teenager in 1970s Los Angeles along with his best friend—a character known in the book as...
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Richard Lefkowitz on the music of Van Halen and Jackson Browne
TVC 746.2: Richard Lefkowitz, author of Welcome to Fabulous Angeles, talks to Ed about why Van Halen, the 1978 debut album by Van Halen, is the quintessential L.A. album; why "The Fuse" and many other songs by Jackson Browne capture the vibe and imagery of L.A.; and why the murder of actor Sal...
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Remembering Demond Wilson
TVC 746.2a: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember the career of actor Demond Wilson before, during, and after Sanford and Son, including why he was an underrated straight man to Redd Foxx; co-starring with Ron Glass on The New Odd Couple, and with Denise Nicholas and Helen Wilson on Baby, I'm Back…
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The Variety Shows of Sid & Marty Krofft
TVC 746.3: Tony, Donna, and Ed commemorate the recent passing of iconic children's television producer Sid Krofft by discussing some of the many Sid & Marty Krofft shows that catered to adult viewers, including D.C. Follies, Barbara Mandrell and The Mandrell Sisters, Donny & Marie, The Brady…
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Charlotte Stewart of Little House on the Prairie
Please enjoy this special preview of our upcoming conversation with Charlotte Stewart, the actress known around the world as Miss Beadle on Little House on the Prairie and as Betty Briggs on Twin Peaks. Charlotte will join Alison Arngrim, Dean Butler, and many other members of the Little House…
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Michael Tove, writer and producer of Yale Saleing
TVC 745.1: Ed welcomes Michael Tove, writer and producer of Yale Saleing, a thirty-minute short with elements of Alfred Hitchcock and The Twilight Zone about a young couple that find themselves embroiled in a twenty-year-old mystery after purchasing a strange box at a yard sale. Directed by Tom...
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Michael Tove, The Handmaid's Tale, and Yale Saleing
TVC 745.2: Actor, writer, and producer Michael Tove shares a few stories about his early experiences working as an extra on The Handmaid's Tale (1990), including his encounters with Aidan Quinn, Natasha Richardson, Elizabeth McGovern, Amy Aquino, and Gregory Peck. Yale Saleing, the new short film...
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Ted Turner's imprint on television
TVC 743.3: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the life and career of Ted Turner, the legendary businessman, producer, media mogul, sports team owner, and philanthropist who founded CNN, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, superstation WTBS, and many other platforms. Ted Turner passed away on May 6, 2026 at age...
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Martha Reeves on her new album, Searching, and why purple is her favorite color
TVC 745.4: Ed welcomes Martha Reeves, the legendary Motown powerhouse who is also one of the most influential voices in American music. Searching, Martha's first new album in twenty-two years, is a blend of jazz, gospel, blues, R & B, and lived experience that was recorded in New Orleans…
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James Burrows: "He Knew How to Do Funny"
TVC 744.1: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the life and career of Emmy Award-winning director and producer James Burrows (Cheers, Frasier, Taxi, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Will and Grace) in the first in a series of segments that commemorate notable TV actors and behind-the-scenes personnel who…
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Why the legacy of James Burrows is laughter
TVC 744.2: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss James Burrows' impact on Taxi and Cheers (including the famous "What does a yellow light mean?" scene in the Taxi episode in which Reverend Jim takes his driving test), and why laughter is his legacy as a producer and director. James Burrows died Friday…
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Why Gene Shalit was a "30 Rock utility player"
TVC 744.2a: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the TV work of noted film critics Gene Shalit and Rex Reed. Shalit passed away on June 12, 2026, a few weeks after turning 100, while Reed died on May 12, 2026 at age eighty-seven. Photo of Gene Shalit courtesy IMDb.com
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Remembering Ronnie Schell
TVC 744.3: Tony, Donna, and Ed discuss the life and career of actor, comedian, and voice artist Ronnie Schell (Gomer Pyle, USMC, Good Morning, World, That Girl, The Cat from Outer Space, Gus), including his many appearances on the popular morning show hosted by L.A. radio personality Rick Dees....
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Christopher Martini, director of Everybody's Angel
TVC 744.4: Ed welcomes Christopher Martini, stepson of actor Stuart Margolin (the Emmy Award-winning actor known around the world as Angel Martin on The Rockford Files) and an award-winning filmmaker in his own right. Chris is the director of Everybody's Angel, a forthcoming feature length...
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James Garner, Stuart Margolin, and The Rockford Files
TVC 744.5: Christopher Martini, director of the forthcoming documentary Everybody's Angel: The Stuart Margolin Story, talks to Ed about why James Garner was the important person in Stuart's life; how their long association began after Jim discovered Stuart performing in one of the blackout…
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How James Garner mentored Stuart Margolin
Please enjoy this preview of our upcoming conversation with Christopher Martini, stepson of Stuart Margolin and the director of Everybody's Angel, a forthcoming feature length documentary that will celebrate the remarkable life and career of the actor known around the world as Angel Martin on The...
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Mary Hampton on the life and career of Jim Hampton
TVC 743.1: Ed welcomes Mary Hampton, widow of beloved character actor Jim Hampton (F Troop, The Longest Yard, Sling Blade, Teen Wolf), and an accomplished actress in her own right. Mary is also the driving force behind What? And Give Up Show Business?, the story of Jim's life and career as a...
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Jim Hampton, James Garner, and Casa Manana
TVC 743.2: Actress Mary Hampton, widow of Jim Hampton, talks to Ed about how Jim enjoyed playing golf and backgammon with James Garner; the pivotal role that Casa Manana, the venerable theatre in Fort Worth, Texas, played early in Jim's career; and how Jim landed the role of Michael J. Fox's dad…
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Jim Hampton, Burt Reynolds, and F Troop
TVC 743.3: Actress Mary Hampton, widow of Jim Hampton, talks to Ed about how Burt Reynolds provided a vital assist behind the scenes during the episode of Gunsmoke that also marked Jim's very first television appearance, and how Jim helped Burt many times in return, including the night when Burt...
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Jane Seymour of Harry Wild
TVC 743.4: Ed welcomes Jane Seymour, the Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe Award-winning actress known around the world as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and, more recently, as the star and executive producer of Acorn TV's hit Irish mystery series Harry Wild. Season Five of Harry Wild recently...
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How Robert and John Mitchum became Them Ornery Mitchum Boys
TVC 743.5: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Cindy Mitchum, youngest daughter of legendary character actor John Mitchum and the niece of screen legend Robert Mitchum. Cindy has just rereleased Them Ornery Mitchum Boys: The Adventures of Robert and John Mitchum, her dad's raw,...
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The heart of John Mitchum
TVC 743.6: Cindy Mitchum, youngest daughter of John Mitchum and the niece of Robert Mitchum, talks to Ed about the time when her dad helped his friend Father Latimer Garrett, an Episcopal priest, raise the money needed to build Father Garrett's Boys Ranch, a foster care facility in Acton,...
About this show
TV CONFIDENTIAL: A radio talk show about television brings you lively conversations every week with the stars, writers, directors and other creative people behind the scenes of some of America's most popular shows. An engaging blend of talk and entertainment, TV Confidential often compares today's programs with those of the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s.
Hosted by
ed robertson