Episode 167

If you’ve ever wondered how Beaver’s pal Gilbert turned out, he’s doing real neat. Stephen Talbot moved on from Mayfield to become a broadcast journalist for PBS, making investigative, news-making documentary films for Frontline, Bill Moyers and American Experience. Steve joins us to discuss his boomer journey from the streets of mythical 50s suburbia to counter-culture activism, to groundbreaking documentary journalism.

First, Jeffrey Sitcov heads a foundation called Doors of Change. They are positively impacting the lives of homeless kids who find themselves on the streets due to abusive home lives and/or coming out to their families as LGBTQ. Early intervention leads to inspirational success stories for these kids. The organization’s annual Concert of Hope is coming to San Diego in July with headliners, KC and The Sunshine Band. 100% of the proceeds benefit the kids!

Next, Stephen Talbot tells us about his lates project, The Movement and The Madman which chronicles the significant impact of the anti-war movement on Nixon and Kissinger’s dangerous escalation towards increased aggression and even possibly nuclear engagement in Viet Nam. If you were protesting the war, you saved lives.

Stephen was very eager to enter the family business as a kid. His parents were entertainers. His Dad, Lyle Talbot was a film and TV actor who appeared as Ozzie Nelson’s bud, Joe Randolph as Steve was portraying The Beaver’s bestie, Gilbert Bates. But, as Steve went on to college and became increasingly interested in politics and campus activism, Beaver went into reruns and it wasn’t long before Steve’s rally speeches were interrupted by signs that read, “Gee, Beav. I don’t know.”

The blown cover did not deter Steve. He went to work as a reporter at San Francisco’s KQED and then traveled the globe, writing, producing and directing over 40 illuminating documentaries, including: Justice For Sale, The Long March of Newt Gingrich, 1968: The Year that Shaped a Generation, and Soundtracks: Music Without Borders. His next film will tell the story of Clifton Cafeteria’s run-in with true crime and gangsters in the 1930s.

We cap it off with a round of Leave It To Beaver Trivia.

Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Masters of the Air on Apple + and the We Are The World Doc, The Greatest Night In Pop, on Netflix!