The podcast host, television historian and archivist Stu Shostak discusses the new C.J. Wallis documentary Stu’s Show, in which his life and loves are chronicled, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

There’s a new documentary out from the Vancouver-born filmmaker C.J. Wallis called Stu’s Show. And Stu himself joins me now. Stu Shostak’s life and times are chronicled in this film that looks at his work as a television historian and archivist. He grew up a fan of television, then breaks into show business as a wrangler of audiences for television sitcoms taping in Hollywood. He hands out tickets for shows, overbooking to ensure capacity, and it’s a foot in the door. He soon does audience warm-ups prior to tapings. He then gets into the orbit of Lucille Ball. He’s warned that she’s tough, and perhaps unfriendly, that whatever illusions he has as a fan might turn to disillusion once they meet. The Lucy that Stu encounters is motherly, supportive, and soon he’s entrusted by her and her husband Gary Morton with cataloguing her vast film archive. I’ll ask Stu about what Ball was like, and Gary Morton. Mr. Shostak ends up working as Morton’s assistant on Ball’s last sitcom, Life with Lucy in 1986. The second half of the documentary is about Stu’s meeting of Jeanine Kasun, a Lucille Ball super fan. They connect over a shared love of old television and nostalgia. Their relationship develops amidst the backdrop of Stu’s successful internet radio show, what would become podcasting which began in 2006. Stu attracts all sorts of guests on his programs and over the years develops close friendships, and it’s a who’s who as we see in the film: Wink Martindale, Tony Dow, Michael Cole, Ed Asner, Margaret O’Brien, and so many more. Jeanine suffers a brain aneurysm, and we see chronicled in the film the struggle with the medical system that Stu has to encounter to ensure Jeanine’s care. It’s a personal story, often harrowing, but one not to miss. You can visit Stu’s website at www.stusshow.com. This film is now available via streaming. C.J. Wallis’s Twitter handle is @fortyfps. We taped this interview last week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Stu Shostak; Mr. Shostak, good morning.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (28.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS