Would you like to be on drugs, but you’ve run out, and your dealer won’t come within six feet of you? We have the solution: THUNDERCATS. Join Chelsea, Andrew, Miles, and all fourteen citizens of Third Earth as we test the drug tolerance of cat/human hybrids (very low) and our own ability to drag a moral kicking and screaming out of a cartoon (top-notch).
Ep 081: A Johnny Dakota Joint (“Saved By the Bell” S3E21)
The hypocrisy really stacks up like a layer cake in this meta anti-drug-PSA episode of SAVED BY THE BELL. Let us break it all down for you: the unsubstantiated rumors, the real-life relationships, the bizarre writing choices, and that head-scratcher of an ending. After we delve into this, you’ll be saying, “Thanks, Guy.” And you’ll really mean it.
Ep 080: Kids, Emancipated (“Kids, Incorporated” S6E15)
It’s a world of song, dance, wonder, and a conspicuous absence of parents and child labor laws. It’s the world of KIDS, INC! But there is trouble in paradise — tiny new kid Robin is facing bullying by some local toughs. What can the other kids do to help? Why is Billy Blanks here? Who wrote this weird song we can’t find anywhere on the internet? All these questions, and many more, will be given their due.
Ep 079: a-POD-calypse (“Parks and Recreation” S3E02)
It’s the end times, and all bets are off! Welcome to Season 4 of Hugging & Learning — the gas leak season. We’re kicking off this free-for-all with a discussion of a show near and dear to our hearts, and a premise that just hits a little different these days. Join Chelsea, Andrew, Miles, Leslie Knope, Anne Perkins, and the disease-ridden citizens of Pawnee as we discuss things that now ring nostalgic (gathering in large groups) and horrifying (kissing a person with the flu).
Ep 078: Sick Sugarburn (“Designing Women” S3E22)
Julia Sugarbaker takes on her most formidable opponent yet: the U.S. Constitution! Is pornography protected under free speech? Is it obscenity, or capitalism, or both? And what does TROOP BEVERLY HILLS have to do with any of this? Join your hosts, the women of Sugarbaker and Associates, Anthony, and a very aggrieved newsman to find out!
Ep 077: Fully Buggin’ (“Saved by the Bell” S4E01)
Very Special Guest Vella Lovell joins us this week to dive deep into the most shocking travesty of the 90s: the breakup of Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski. We get into it: Is Zack a possessive creep? Who’s responsible for HR at the The Max? How does live singing in a TV show work? And what’s the thing about Jeff? Spoiler: the questions are myriad and the answers are few.
Ep 076: Step by Step Off! (“Step By Step” S4E18)
It’s a race against time, as this episodes tries to identify, diagnose, and provide study solutions to a character with a learning disorder, while making sure we get full B and C plots about uppity preschool teachers and nerds in love. Does it sound like too much for one episode? You wish! This is the 90s — nothing is impossible! Join us for perhaps our first episode of Hugging and Learning that’s actually about LEARNING!
Ep 075: All the Way Awful (“Diff’rent Strokes” S5E08)
Many of the very special episodes we’ve watched thus far have been misguided, off-putting, and tone-deaf — but never has one outright assaulted us before today! Back in 1982, child stars were just disposable puppets and consent was a foreign concept. Give this a listen if you dare, but be forewarned: you’ll become an accessory to this mess as well.
Ep 074: Boob-Hinge (“Blossom” S1E05)
Did you even know that boobs have hinges? Or that cotton “gin” is short for cotton “engine”? Or that one is supposed to wear turtlenecks to Make Out Parties, no matter how insane the final outfit result may be? For a half-hour sitcom, BLOSSOM is very heavy on the learning this week. Join us for an exceptionally educational episode, and don’t worry if you’ve never been to a Make Out Party. Andy hasn’t either.
Ep 073: Time Capsule of Bad Ideas (“Diff’rent Strokes” S5E01)
Is it possible to love video games TOO MUCH? This is question we ask ourselves daily, and now we’ll attempt to answer it with the help of a bunch of sitcom writers who seem never to have played one. Join Chelsea, Andy, Miles, Willis, Arnold, and the rest of the Space Suckers as we plumb the depths of arcade-based addiction and platitude-based parenting.