Glitter Boom Girls Podcast

Robbie-Ann joins the iconic Midnight Mastermind game on BBC2Radio! Host Phil Williams takes on Robbie-Ann's topic: Columbo Also...in what may be the highlight of her life, Robbie-Ann receives a transatlantic happy birthday song courtesy of Phil and BBCRadio.

The Girls (as Amy DeFazio and Robbie-Ann Feeney) do a Deep Dive into 70s sitcom classic Laverne and Shirley. The iconic shabby basement apartment, which Amy reports was also the former set of another classic sitcom. The show's frequent 'winter' settings. Landlady Mrs. Babish. Lenny Kosnowski and Andrew 'Squiggy' Squiggman - David Lander and Michael McKean...and the surprising origins of their characters. Did Shirley and Laverne date Lenny and Squiggy, or what? Robbie-Ann wonders about a Steinbeck influence on their characters. Carmine - Shirley's 'sweetheart.' Character analysis: Shirley Feeney. Were you Shirley or Laverne? Boo-Boo Kitty - Cindy Williams' ad lib. The origins of the famous nonsense hop-scotch intro "5, 6, 7 8..." Some ocean-floor level deeeep-dive trivia on the iconic theme song sung by Cyndi Greco, and its connections to the Happy Days theme song. How producers discovered Cyndi Greco singing at an amusement park. Sidebar: go find the documentary The Wrecking Crew about the famous musicians who played on pretty much EVERYTHING between 1960 and 1980. The Ron Hicklin Singers: the surprising "Making Our Dreams Come True" theme connection with The Partridge Family, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Kawasaki and McDonald's jingles, and a long list of 60s and 70s hits. Robbie-Ann reports the 'WHAAAT?!" connection with the "Making Our Dreams Come True" song and...."We Are the World?!" Character breakdown: Laverne DeFazio. The iconic 'L' monogram on her sweaters, which Penny Marshall contributed to Laverne's costume. The abomination of 'milk and Pepsi.' Amy reports on Laverne's backstory. The incredible physical comedy from the two leads. Shirley's disappearance from the last season of the show - the 'marriage' excuse. Michael McKean's exit to shoot "Spinal Tap" - and Amy reports a stunning announcement that Spinal Tap actually appeared on an episode in the last season. The final episode of Season 8 - a Carmine spin-off? The show's move to Burbank that jumped the shark. Laverne and Shirley in Burbank: gift wrappers? "Big Rosie" as their nemesis in early episodes. When Mrs. Babish married Laverne's father Frank, but leaves him in the lurch in later episodes. Robbie-Ann's issue with sitcoms that got serious: just be funny please. Sidebar: Seinfeld's wise 'no hugs' policy on the sitcom. Amy liked those episodes though, because it was unexpected. The 80s hair and wardrobe of the later seasons, even though it was supposed to be late 60s. The lost season 5 when Laverne and Shirley joined the Army Reserves. The show's great use of the street-level window as a comedy device. How Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall initially got on the show, and their connection to...Francis Ford Coppola? Penny Marshall's marriage to Rob Reiner, and Cindy Williams' marriage to Bill Hudson of the Hudson Brothers. The infamous terms 'Vo-di-oh-do-do' and 'hot to trot.' The 're-virginization' of Laverne and Shirley. Rumors of off-camera antics: partying? Diva behavior? Drugs? The effects of the show's success on egos and the work environment. The cozy first seasons and the focus on the characters' friendship. Didn't every little girl think she would grow up to live with her best friend?

The Girls recall a kid's eye view of the World of Grown-Ups. Eavesdropping on your parents' adult drama. "He smelled like a brewery"... "Well he was three sheets to the wind..." Listening to your mother's gossipy phone calls. Amy's household crime sprees while her mother was tethered to the phone. Amy's Aunts judging outfits and drunks. Robbie-Ann's parents' big summer barbecue parties. Genny Cream Ale and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Ladies with cigarettes and unfortunate perms. Tons of hairspray. Oversized eyeglasses. 60s hair helmet holdovers. Frosted "hair cap" tips. Amy's parents' bbq parties: no shirts on the guys, Farrah hair, long maroon nails, clogs and tube tops on the ladies. Kenny Rogers on the radio. Grown-up side jobs - tending bar and waiting tables. Amy watching from the pool. What the grown-ups drove to the bbq. The hot mom and the dad who drove the Corvette. Amy's nonplussed Uncle Ray and his dolphin running shorts. 80s Divorce: a generation of latchkey kids are born. Amy's mom's friend Katie: the "Fun" mom. The 70s King Tut exhibition. Sidebar: energy levels and why two hours is the max to do anything. Modern adults: marrying later, having kids later, staying together. Amy's exceptional talent for making things "fun." Robbie-Ann's "fun" uncle. The catalyst for Amy's dark turn in her teenaged years: what her mom's friend Katie wrote in a letter to Amy's mom that crushed Amy's teenaged heart. Find out if Amy and Katie ever made amends.

The Girls do a deep dive off Gilligan's Island, with special guest and Gilligan Expert, Robbie-Ann's childhood bestie Karen. Karen talks about her all-things Tiki obsession, which evolved into a Gilligan's Island obsession. Robbie-Ann asks, and Karen answers, the tough questions: how did they get years out of that radio battery? Why didn't they build a boat? Where did they get all those wardrobe changes from just a three-hour tour (a threeee hour tour...)? Amy talks about her after-school joy watching Gilligan's Island, and her love for the vibrant colors on the show. Karen and Robbie-Ann reminisce about getting off the kindergarten bus at Karen's house and spending the afternoon on the Island. Amy reveals the shocking world tragedy event that occurred on the day the cast were filming the pilot episode, and how you can see a reference to it in the original opening sequence. Amy goes on to describe Sherwood Schwartz' origins of the show, as something of a political statement. Shocker: when Schwartz first conceived the series, the seven characters originally represented the Seven Deadly Sins. Can you identify who was which? The Girls discuss. Karen reveals her favorite episode, featuring the fictional Beatle-esque band the Mosquitos. The Girls dissect the Honey Bees' (Ginger, Mary Ann and Mrs. Howell) song "You Need Us." Naturally this leads to discussing the iconic tv Gilligan's Island theme song, and Karen reveals a crazy fact about the Wellingtons, who sang it. Amy reveals that the original pilot's Calypso theme song was co-written by none other than Star Wars, Jaws, Indiana Jones and E.T. composer John Williams. BUT - then Amy also reveals what Christmas classic was written by George Wyle, who co-wrote the historic "Just sit right back..." theme song that ended up in the show. Amy reports the five basic plot lines that covered almost all of the episodes. Gilligan's opera-radio reception in his teeth. The Dream Sequence episodes. Trivia: The Skipper's real name. The Professor's real name. Mrs. Howell's maiden name. Which cast member was the only one allowed by Sherwood Schwartz to improvise? The 1978 "Rescue from Gilligan's Island" tv movie. Casting Could-have-beens: could Jane Mansfield have been Ginger? Tina Louise, "method actor." The old Ginger vs. Mary Ann debate. Gilligan's first name: a controversy. Raquel Welch or Pat Priest as Mary Ann? Carol O'Connor as the Skipper? Dabney Coleman as The Professor? Dawn Wells, Natalie Schafer and their "Ice Cream Diet." Which Gilligan's Island stars ended up on Sherwood Schwartz' next sitcom, The Brady Bunch? Jim Backus' stellar acting pedigree. The show's enduring effect on its cast: typecasting. Which cast members embraced their roles after the show, and who didn't. Which cast member ended up being the only one still earning residuals decades later? The Gilligan's Island tie-in to the "Very Brady Sequel" movie. Sidebar: the 1990's Brady movies. "Gilligan's Planet?!!" "Aloha Paradise" - who remembers this show? The Gilligan's Island "warm fuzzy." Mary Ann's navel: snuck by the network standards and practices. The various island inventions: the car, the washing machine. Sidebar: Robbie-Ann and Karen talk about their kindergarten friendship, and the outfits they wore. Gilligan's Island shooting locations - where Seinfeld and Roseanne were also filmed. Who was the only Gilligan's Island star who did not guest star on The Love Boat? Sidebar: a discussion of their Gen X Childhood friendship. Robbie-Ann describes going to see Shaun Cassidy with Karen in 1978, and Amy wants to know what Karen and Robbie-Ann wore to the show. Who had better toys, Karen or Robbie-Ann? Robbie-Ann coveted Karen's Bionic Woman Dome House, her I Dream of Jeannie doll and bottle-house playset, and her Pet Ghost. Robbie-Ann describes the first day of kindergarten 40+ years ago, when she and Karen met. Karen and Robbie-Ann talk about kindergarten life in the 70s, and Robbie-Ann's bravery in the face of being told she couldn't play with the boy's better toys at recess. Final thoughts on the "warm fuzzy" of Gilligan's Island: there was no villain, no romance on the island, and Karen celebrates the real life friendship between Mary Ann, and Natalie Schafer.

David Yontef, host and creator of the iconic, dish-y "Behind the Velvet Rope" podcast, returns to chat with The Girls about 80s icons, and how David was the last person to interview the late Tawny Kitaen. David shares his impression of the 80s video vixen and actress, and how Tawny dished about Harvey Weinstein and O.J. Simpson! Next, David talks about interviewing The Real Housewives of Orange County's "ZZ Top Girl" 80s video vixen Jeana Keough: yawns? Ru Paul's Drag Race fan Amy asks about David's interview with iconic drag queen Alaska: did Real Housewife Lisa Rinna kick Alaska out of the dressing room at an event? Gia Gunn: thumbs up from David as an interviewee who did not hold back. Soap Diva Susan Lucci: one of David's most celebrated "gets." Donna Mills. Audrey Landers. Charlene Tilton" a total sweetheart. Brian Dunkleman! Carol Baskin: ...did she do it? Cassandra Peterson, a.k.a. Elvira. Robbie-Ann shouts-out Donna Mills again. [sorry for the audio echo issue, couldn't be fixed...] Will Martha Stewart step Behind the Velvet Rope?! Sidebar: David's minty Christmas candle, wrapping, mailing gifts, Amy's last minute shopping and Robbie-Ann's secret to Christmas shopping without anxiety.