A vintage television in the foreground displays a man's face, while the background advertises an afternoon with Walter Podrazik and Harry Castleman, hosted by Bill Leff.

Museum of Broadcast Communications

Adult

Senior

Military/Veteran

Student

JOIN AUTHORS Walter Podrazik and Harry Castleman for an engaging look at how television has shaped culture, community, and everyday life. Hear stories behind their landmark book Watching TV and explore how classic and contemporary programs reflect who we are. Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik have been chronicling American television for more than four decades, including the books Watching TV and Harry and Wally&rsquo;s Favorite TV Shows.Renowned for their colorful commentary, Harry and Wally provide an astute take on the sweep of TV in all of its forms, capturing the industry&rsquo;s colorful past, its fast-evolving present, and its possible futures. The two understand and appreciate the power of TV as a business, as a social and political influence, and as an often inescapable entertainment force. At the MBC, they will discuss how classic TV still matters today, highlighting programs and moments you may have forgotten, or never even knew about. From almost a century of American television, Harry and Wally will share the sublime, the serious, and the ridiculous. All a part of watching TV. ABOUT OUR HOST, Bill LeffBill Leff is a Chicago-born actor, writer, comedian, and former fifth-grade hall monitor. A Columbia College film graduate, Bill studied improv at Second City before moving into stand-up, performing nationwide for ten years. His television and film credits include A&amp;E&rsquo;s Evening at the Improv, Fox&rsquo;s Comedy Break, MTV&rsquo;s Half Hour Comedy Hour, WLS-TV&rsquo;s 190 North, WBBM-TV&rsquo;s The Magic Door, and featured roles in Major League and Major League 2. His voice has also been heard in numerous commercials. Bill has had a long radio partnership with Wendy Snyder. The two first teamed up as evening hosts at WLUP 97.9-FM in 1994, moved to mornings at WKQX 101.1-FM in 1996, and reunited at WGN Radio from 2013 to 2019. Today, Bill is the Cartoon Curator on MeTV&rsquo;s Toon In with Me and a member of the Svengoolie Sven Squad as Nostalgiaferatu. A lifelong lover of pop culture, Bill is an avid toy collector, sports enthusiast, and unapologetic fan of cartoons and cereal, without the milk. *event includes admission to the museum.*&nbsp;

JOIN AUTHORS Walter Podrazik and Harry Castleman for an engaging look at how television has shaped culture, community, and everyday life. Hear stories behind their landmark book Watching TV and explore how classic and contemporary programs reflect who we are. Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik have been chronicling American television for more than four decades, including the books Watching TV and Harry and Wally’s Favorite TV Shows.Renowned for their colorful commentary, Harry and Wally provide an astute take on the sweep of TV in all of its forms, capturing the industry’s colorful past, its fast-evolving present, and its possible futures. The two understand and appreciate the power of TV as a business, as a social and political influence, and as an often inescapable entertainment force. At the MBC, they will discuss how classic TV still matters today, highlighting programs and moments you may have forgotten, or never even knew about. From almost a century of American television, Harry and Wally will share the sublime, the serious, and the ridiculous. All a part of watching TV. ABOUT OUR HOST, Bill LeffBill Leff is a Chicago-born actor, writer, comedian, and former fifth-grade hall monitor. A Columbia College film graduate, Bill studied improv at Second City before moving into stand-up, performing nationwide for ten years. His television and film credits include A&amp;E’s Evening at the Improv, Fox’s Comedy Break, MTV’s Half Hour Comedy Hour, WLS-TV’s 190 North, WBBM-TV’s The Magic Door, and featured roles in Major League and Major League 2. His voice has also been heard in numerous commercials. Bill has had a long radio partnership with Wendy Snyder. The two first teamed up as evening hosts at WLUP 97.9-FM in 1994, moved to mornings at WKQX 101.1-FM in 1996, and reunited at WGN Radio from 2013 to 2019. Today, Bill is the Cartoon Curator on MeTV’s Toon In with Me and a member of the Svengoolie Sven Squad as Nostalgiaferatu. A lifelong lover of pop culture, Bill is an avid toy collector, sports enthusiast, and unapologetic fan of cartoons and cereal, without the milk. *event includes admission to the museum.*

Museum of Broadcast Communications

Watching TV: An Afternoon with Walter Podrazik & Harry Castleman

440 W Randolph St

Adult

$24

Senior

$21

Military/Veteran

$21

Student

$19

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