In the 1990s the most violent thing on television wasn’t wrestling, or NHL hockey it was The Jerry Springer Show. The daytime talk show regularly devolved into wild physical fights between guests that were excitedly cheered on by riled up audience members During the 90s more than two dozen similar daytime talk shows, that ranged from provocative to downright trashy, ruled the airwaves. Big names you probably remember like Jenny Jones, Geraldo Rivera and Maury Povich and others you may have forgotten about like Ricki Lake & Montel Williams were adored by millions of fans until a shocking tragedy turned the industry on its head. On this episode of History of the 90s host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the era of trashy daytime talk shows. Contact: Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca Blog: www.historyofthe90sblog.ca Guests: James Nadler; Graduate Program Director, Masters of Arts in Media Production at Ryerson University Laura Grindstaff; Professor of Sociology at UC Davis & author of The Money Shot: Trash, Class and the Making of TV Talk Shows See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History of the 90s

The Rise of Trashy Daytime TV | 4

After the home video game industry crashed spectacularly in 1983 one company rose from the ashes and helped breathe new life with a new 8 bit video console. The Nintendo Entertainment System with games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda ruled the console market until another Japanese company started going after older and more serious gamers. For the first time the Sega Genesis console and the company’s blue mascot Sonic The Hedgehog took a bite out of Nintendo’s supremacy in the North American market. And that was just the beginning of the Nintendo vs Sega Console War that dominated the 90s. On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora takes you through the twists and turns of the epic battle that defined a generation of gamers. Guest: Blake Harris, author and director of The Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo and the Battle That Defined a Generation. www.blakejharris.com Twitter: @blakejharrisNYC Contact: Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca Blog: www.historyofthe90sblog.ca See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Console Wars | 3

In the late 1990s two unexpected musical genres that centered around big bands with horns and retro clothing burst back onto the scene in North America. Third wave ska and retro swing with breakthrough mainstream hits infiltered pop culture from movies and video games to the Gap’s famous khaki swing commercial. Life was good in the 90s and the music reflected it. The fun upbeat sounds of Ska and Swing were the perfect fit for the time. On this episode of History of the 90s host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the rise of 90s ska and swing. Guest: Kenneth Partridge, author Hell of a Hat: The Rise of 90s Ska and Swing   www.kennethpartridge.com   Twitter:  @kenpartridge  Show contacts:    Twitter: @1990shistory  Facebook: @1990shistory  Instagram: @that90spodcast  Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca  Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ska and Swing | 2

There was change and excitement in the air when the lights came up on Gianni Versace’s 1991 fall fashion show in Milan. For the show’s finale, a group of four beautiful young women linked arm-in-arm and made their way down the catwalk lip-synching the words of a pop song that blasted from the speakers. It was the launch of a 90s phenomenon that is as symbolic to the decade as tabloid television and the creation of the internet. On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the reign of the 90s supermodel who transcended the fashion runway and became full service celebrities.  Guests:  Rachel Burchfield; writer, editor & host of Podcast Royal.   www.rachelburchfield.com  Randi Bergman; writer, editor & host of Capsule 98.  Instagram: @Capsule98  www.capsule98.com  Contact:    Twitter: @1990shistory  Facebook: @1990shistory  Instagram: @that90spodcast  Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca  Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supermodels | 1

New season of History of the 90's coming Sept. 08. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 2 Trailer

The case of Paul Bernardo captured media and public attention in the mid-1990s at a time when the United States was focused on the O.J. Simpson case in a similar way.  But Bernardo’s trial, for the murders of teenagers Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French, wasn’t televised, so hundreds of people lined up to get inside the downtown Toronto courtroom to witness Canada’s version of the O.J. trial.  Others poured over the media coverage that blanketed newspapers or paid close attention to TV and radio stations which provided hourly updates of the proceedings. I was in the courtroom everyday for four months in the summer of 1995 as the horrific crimes against Bernardo were revealed including graphic videotaped evidence.  On part two of our look back at the infamous case and trial of Paul Bernardo we dive into Canada’s trial of the century.  Contact:  Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Bernardo - Part 2 | 52

If you Google most notorious killer in Canadian history, Paul Bernardo’s name will appear at the top of nearly every list.  There have been other killers who have taken more lives and eluded police over a longer period of time but the case of Paul Bernardo, at first as the Scarborough rapist and then later as the killer of Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French, has left a deep and painful scar on Canadian society. His case captured media and public attention in the mid-1990s at a time when the United States was focused on the O.J. Simpson case in a similar way.  But Bernardo’s trial wasn’t televised, so hundreds of people lined up to get inside the downtown Toronto courtroom to witness Canada’s version of the O.J. trial.  Others poured over the media coverage that blanketed newspapers or paid close attention to TV and radio stations which provided hourly updates of the proceedings. Over the next two episodes of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora will recount the case, drawing from her experience covering the trial as a reporter for a Toronto radio station.  A warning that this episode may not be suitable for young or sensitive listeners. Contact:  Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Bernardo - Part 1| 51

From the moment grunge music went mainstream in the fall of 1991 the clock was ticking down toward its tragic end just a few years later. But in the meantime, the huge success of Seattle bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and SoundGarden led to a frenzy by record labels to sign other grunge type bands.  And as the Seattle area was picked dry of talent the search for half-way decent bands wearing flannel and playing detuned guitars expanded beyond the Pacific Northwest. At the same time, the bands that pioneered the movement were struggling with mainstream fame and were trying desperately to distance themselves from commercial success.    On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora takes a look back at the final days of grunge with the help of Alan Cross, host of the Curiouscast podcast, The Ongoing History of New Music. Contact:  Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca Guest: Alan Cross, host of The Ongoing History of New Music www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com Twitter:  @alancross For more about the life and death of Kurt Cobain listen to the Ongoing History of New Music’s episode on the 25th anniversary of his passing.   Available anywhere you stream audio and here: https://omny.fm/shows/ongoing-history-of-new-music/kurt-cobain-25-years-later  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grunge Part 2 | 50

For the uninitiated, grunge begins and ends with Kurt Cobain and Nirvana.  Maybe sprinkle in a little Pearl Jam or Sound Garden and a few flannels and that’s grunge. A moment in time that has long passed, but frozen in our memories because of Cobain’s early death. But grunge is so much more than one band, and one singer who may have had an outsized impact on the movement but was just one of piece of a genre of music and an attitude that captivated the world at the beginning of the 90s. On this episode of History of the 90s host Kathy Kenzora takes a look back at the birth of grunge with the help of Alan Cross, host of the Curiouscast podcast, The Ongoing History of the New Music. Contact:  Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca Guest: Alan Cross, host of The Ongoing History of New Music www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com Twitter:  @alancross A note on sources: For more information about the birth of grunge and some of the pioneers of the movement check out Northwest Passage, a project dedicated to the music scene of the Pacific Northwest region of the 80s and 90s.  This website was a great source for information and facts contained in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grunge: Part 1 | 49

If you grew up in the 1980s or 90s chances are you watched a lot of Nickelodeon or at least some of the fun kids shows made by the cable network.  During its golden years, Nickelodeon not only had over 50 per cent of the kid audience share, but it was also one of the most profitable cable networks out there.   Plus it revolutionized kids programming with new and innovative game shows, variety shows, cartoons and sitcoms. On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the rise of the cable channel dedicated to kids and the period between 1983 and 1995 known as Nickelodeon’s Golden Age. Proud Sponsor of SickKids VS: https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/podcast This episode of History of the 90s is supported by Command Line Heroes. Command Line Heroes: Season 7: The Internet Class of ‘95 (redhat.com) Contact:  Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca Guests: Mathew Klickstein, author of Slimed! An Oral History of Nickelodeon’s Golden Age www.mathewklickstein.com Chris Morgan, author of The Nickelodeon ‘90s: Cartoons, Game Shows and a Whole Bunch of Slime See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nickelodeon | 48

Looking at the internet in 1995 is like looking back at awkward grade school yearbooks—all the weirdness and flaws stand out in stark contrast to what it’s grown into since. And web design took awhile to become a career—but it got a big boost in 1995. When the Batman Forever website launched to promote the movie, it showed people what was possible on the web. And it forever changed what we’d expect from a website. Jay Hoffmann describes the quirky designs of the early web. Richard Vijgen explains how we went from a lack of conventions to a homogenized web. Jeffrey Zeldman recounts building the Batman Forever movie’s website—and sowing the seeds of professional web design. Jessica Helfand outlines the process and joys of designing a web page. And Kyle Drake shares how he founded Neocities in an attempt to recreate some of that magic of the early web. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing... Command Line Hereoes (Web UX Begins)

In the 1990s the FBI’s most wanted criminal was an elusive mystery bomber who had been mailing dangerous and deadly packages to executives and university professors since 1978.  The UNABOMBER had left a trail of destruction around the United States, but the FBI had very little hard evidence that could help solve the case. Then in 1993 after a six year hiatus the UNABOMBER was back on the scene and the devices he sent were more powerful and sophisticated.  Officials worried it was only a matter of time before something terrible happened.  On this episode of History of the 90s host Kathy Kenzora looks back at one of the largest and most expensive manhunts in FBI history. You’ll hear from two of the FBI agents who were instrumental in the investigation that finally led to the capture of the Unabomber. Proud Sponsor of SickKids VS: https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/podcast This episode of History of the 90s is supported by Command Line Heroes. Command Line Heroes: Season 7: The Internet Class of ‘95 (redhat.com) Contact:  Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca Guests: Max Noel, served as an F.B.I. special Agent for thirty-one (31) years.  He retired in 1999.  Terry Turchie, retired from the FBI in April 2001, having served as the first Deputy Assistant Director of the newly created Counterterrorism Division of the FBI from March, 2000 to April, 2001. Along with their colleague Jim Freeman they co-wrote; Unabomber: How the FBI Broke Its Own Rules to Capture the Terrorist Ted Kaczynski. They have written a sequel to the book which includes some of Kaczinski’s own writings. Capturing the Unabomber: The FBI’s Insider Story is scheduled to be released in May 2021.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Unabomber | 47

In the summer of 1987 four young DJs from London took a trip to the Mediterranean Island of Ibiza for a birthday celebration. On their first night they attended an ecstasy-fueled party at club Amnesia, dancing under the stars to a mix of techno and house music played by legendary DJ Alfredo.  The experience was life changing and when the four DJs returned home to London they organized some of the city’s first all night raves and were instrumental in pioneering a massive youth culture movement that spread from the UK, through Europe and around North America. On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the rise and fall of 90s rave culture and how the movement continues to be felt today.  Proud Sponsor of SickKids VS: https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/podcast Contact:  Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca   Guests: Scott Fraser: Club Owner, Manager, Entrepreneur in the entertainment scene in Toronto in the 80’s & 90’s including legendary clubs THE FACTORY & OZ. Twitter: @Hogtownsmoke Scot Turner: Radio broadcaster who worked at alternative 102.1 CFNY in the 80’s and was Program Director for dance music station Energy 108 in the 90’s. Twitter: @Scotturner See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

90's Rave Culture | 46

On November 30, 1999, thousands of protestors locked arms and marched into downtown Seattle.  They surrounded a convention center where a conference organized by the World Trade Organization was set to take place over the next four days. Most of the demonstrators were peaceful but among their ranks was a small core of protestors dressed in black clothes and ski masks waiting for the right moment to unleash violence and mayhem. It was one of the largest acts of mass civil disobedience in US history and marked the unofficial start of the anti-globalization movement.  On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the rise of anti-globalization and the Battle in Seattle. Guests: John Sellers:  Executive Director & Co-Founder of The Other 98 www.other98.com Twitter: @other98 Norm Stamper:  Former Seattle Police Chief & Author www.normstamper.com Twitter: @normstamper Lesley Wood:  Associate Professor of Sociology at York University & Author Twitter:  @lesleybikes Show Contact:  Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Battle in Seattle | 45

In an era before podcasts and satellite radio, the 1990s was the peak of the shock jock genre on terrestrial radio.  Big names like Howard Stern, Don Imus and Rush Limbaugh attracted legions of devoted fans with their controversial shows that often ran afoul of the FCC and special interest groups.   On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora looks back at three of the most famous radio shock jocks from the 90s and the impact they had on radio and society at large and considers whether shock jocks still exist today.  Guest: Mario A. Murillo, Professor of Radio, Television, Film & Journalism and Vice Dean of the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University. Twitter:  @marioradio99 Contact:  Twitter: @1990shistory Facebook: @1990shistory Instagram: @that90spodcast Email:  90s@curiouscast.ca Blog:  www.historyofthe90sblog.ca See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shock Jocks | 44

On History of the 90’s we’ll travel back in time through the stories that defined a decade. The last 10 years of the 20th century was a time like no other, from Columbine to Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Seinfeld, Air Jordan, and the Spice Girls …if it happened in the 90’s you’ll hear about it on this podcast. Join Kathy Kenzora as we journey through the History of the 90's every other Wednesday. 

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History of the 90s

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