The Tragedy of FOX After Breakfast (ft. Tom Bergeron & Laurie Gelman)

In this video, we unpack the story of the Fox After Breakfast, the ill-fated network adaptation of a brilliant cable morning show called Breakfast Time. Co-hosts Tom Bergeron and Laurie Hibberd provide their perspectives on what went wrong, in what is, to my knowledge, their first public reunion since the show's demise.
Corrections and notes will be posted at connro.com/corrections as they come to my attention.
00:00 Intro
02:12 Background
04:21 Moving to FOX
08:56 The End of Breakfast Time
12:19 Concerning Signs
16:12 The Buildup
17:25 The Premiere
23:34 Something's Not Right...
26:10 Memories of Breakfast Time
30:16 "This Isn't The Same Show"
34:42 Laurie's Departure
37:50 After Laurie
40:06 More Departures
45:33 Running Out The Clock
47:43 Vicki Lawrence
50:00 Reflection
51:10 Epilogues
56:50 Conclusion

[@TBergeron]

Another great job, Connor (even if Part Two wasn't as much fun as Part One 😉) Was thinking of contacting Kevin Feige for access to the Multiverse. I'm sure somewhere Breakfast Time is still going strong...🤔

[@IanBlau]

Tom, you’re truly a class act! It was wonderful hearing you and Laurie speak on your memories of the show. Also, wonderful video Connor - I work in live broadcasting and have always been fascinated by the story and production of Breakfast Time. You did such an amazing job telling the highs and lows of a show that I was always curious to learn more about! Glad to be subscribed to your high quality channel, can’t wait to see what you have in store. 😊

[@teddyfurstman1997]

Tom, you, and Laurie are the heart behind Breakfast Time. I do love your runs on Hollywood Squares & AFV as a kid. I even like your Sketches on Mad TV.

[@chrismcgovern1647]

I loved you guys! I was so upset when the show jumped the shark on Fox, but when it was in its prime on F/X I was in from the first viewing!

[@skiprockjr.6881]

It's truly awesome you watched Part 1, made a comment on it, and as a result were interviewed for Part 2. That's really cool. I didn't have cable in my room when I was a kid in the 90's so I was only familiar with Fox After Breakfast. I'm glad I'm not the only one who couldn't figure out what the hell was going on on that show. It seems like everyone involved didn't know either. The puppet makes sense now that I know what Breakfast Time was.

[@veronicaelectron]

Disney corporation has consistently ruined everything they have, including firing Tom from Dancing With The Stars and removing the show from free tv

[@cansprite]

Wow, Connor. Thanks for the love letter to our favorite work experience ever. Exhilarating/PAINFUL to watch! Also, can I just say it was the middle of the night in Turkey when we did that interview! xo

[@alwaysfallingshort]

Thank you!

[@dhaang126]

Breakfast Time changed my life. Really. I was a 15 year old kid in a tiny town, miserable and lost. The show was the opposite of my day-to-day - a cool, funky loft in a big city with lots of lively, clever, interesting people from all walks of life. It showed me that the whole world wasn't like the tiny sliver I was seeing. Tom, Laurie, Bob, Jim, Jillian, Spencer, Phil and Suzanne offered me a glimpse into a different kind of life - a hopeful vision of my future I desperately needed. And for that, I will always be grateful.

[@NateTatesMusic]

Wow. 🥺 This is incredibly beautiful.

[@teremele1821]

Hey Connor, great video, I was one of the floor directors from, the inception of the show. I saw myself 4-5 times in the background. This video brings up a lot of good memories. Thank you again!!

[@mattdemes3454]

Tere, your name is just as remembered as Tom and Laurie! I always wondered too what different projects had the crew that we'd seen on air from time to time move on to.

[@Telehell]

I only have Two notes for this video... 1. Bravo, Connor, the World could use more Modern day TV historians 2. Anybody else Think that Tom and Laurie could do another show together in THIS day & age? The chemistry between the two Clearly remains palpable.

[@DragonZeron]

I could totally see them doing something like this on youtube with how zany everything is on the platform I could totally see them doing this

[@kma5699]

Would be great if they did a show or even a weekly podcast together

[@averyeml]

Seriously CANNOT thank the algorithm enough for bringing me here. The fact that you got Tom and Laurie to get into an interview for this so quickly says a LOT about their love for the show; I doubt he’s hopping on any ol’ KZbin channel to be interviewed about Dancing With the Stars or whatever. The number of views your channel has is criminal (it should be in the millions), I’m spreading the word as much as possible!

[@bradleykemper9488]

Great job! I never got to watch Breakfast Time because our cable system didn't have FX until 2000. But I did watch Fox After Breakfast during the summer and when I was home from school. This show turned into a real-life version of what they satirized on Married With Children in season 6. In the Peg-less 2-part episode "Kelly Does Hollywood", Kelly and her friends start a popular cable-access show. A network picks it up, saying they love everything about it. They change everything that made it special and cancel the show.

[@Omega_X_Factor]

It boggles the mind. Fox had groundbreaking shows like Married with Children, The Simpsons, 90210, and Ally McBeal. When they got the NFL, their pre-game show was more entertaining than others. When it came time to send Breakfast Time to the big leagues, they killed it.

[@BarrCode674]

The even sadder thing about all of this is: have you seen what morning/daytime network TV looks like now? There's just way too many news shows. Everyone's got the morning and the afternoon news. Hell, NBC has FOUR hours of Today! I think now of all times do we need a new _Breakfast Time_ more than ever.

[@theotakux5959]

Well, These days there's just no place for that kind of thing anymore. Anything like that would be started by nobodies on youtube and build up an audience there. WIth streaming taking up more and more of viewers' time, Network and Cable are basically dead, just things like news and reruns. Network evenings are about the only viable place for new entertainment anymore, and even those shows probably get more exposure when they're put on streaming services.

[@occono3543]

​​​@@theotakux5959 The problem is you can't do breakfast time on an average KZbin budget. Unless they're as big as Mr Beast or something, KZbinrs can't quite get to that level of studio size and can't do location shoots and especially can't easily get big guests...this is a whole thing to get into, but celebrities are still tied to the old Hollywood ecosystem and would appear on network TV but something like breakfast time doesn't fit on network or even cable tv anymore. There's just no space for it anymore as you say, but I'd extend that to KZbin, there's still not a lot of KZbinrs with a decent budget (enough to do breakfast time decent) and connections to get big guests. Having typed all that, I think that's a whole bigger thing to get into about modern media that I wouldn't waste time doing for a KZbin comment.

[@castlecircle7612]

You can feel Tom and Laurie's chemistry to this day.

[@mybrosteve]

I was thinking the same thing the moment they came on the video! It makes an incredible difference when the hosts of any show get along on and off the camera, and genuinely like each other.

[@kma5699]

@@mybrostevecan't believe no execs or producers wanted to handpick both Tom and Laurie to work together in all the years since Breakfast Time / After Breakfast as it's a no brainer they are such a great team together.

[@broderickschwinghammer2299]

Tom Bergeron and Laurie Hibberd just popped up, and I just screamed in my car, "Holy Shit!"

[@trevonpernell0814]

I hear ya. I saw them pop up and I was like 'HOLY SMOKES!'.

[@DelTashlin]

This popped into my recommendations and I had a *moment*. I am a GenXer, and my entire adult life I've asked all kinds of people from priests to gutter punks if they remembered a news show that had a puppet and Tom Bergeron. I honestly chalked my memories up to some sort of blended, maybe I watched a news show followed by Sesame Street, neurological malfunction. Until now. I'm going to go watch part one now. Thanks for letting me reclaim a little bit of sanity.

[@kenbrandt6100]

Watching part one, I had never heard of Breakfast Time. Now finishing part two, I find myself almost heartbroken! 😂 Well done.

[@jaxking904]

It’s amazing you managed to get Tom Bergeron & Laurie Gelman to interview and I’m here for your future.

[@mrdrofficer]

Please don't stop making these. This was wonderful.

[@jonkasonic]

Hey ;) just watched this video and the last one and I really enjoyed them. I am in the UK and I just released a video about the big breakfast and came across your video in my suggested videos. The big breakfast was on Channel 4 which is one of the main channels here in the uk. I've trawled through all of it as much as I could and the shows spirits are such the same and some of the features were similar. We had the Friday song, which was a little like the hoedown from who's line. Ours lasted until 2002 but had a similar following - small but very loyal viewership. The clip you showed of big breakfast was from the first paring of Chris and Gaby. They would have issues keeping hold of hosts though but their successors Johnny and Denise or Johnny and Liza who were funny as heck if you ever watch any, I'd say watch them (around 1998 - 2001). It's a shame tv like this on both sides of the pond has gone. They replaces our show with a show that ended up trying to be big breakfast. Since axing the show the channel 4 has literally playing Frasier and everybody loves raymond on repeat for 20 years. Anyway thanks for this, enjoyed it very much :)

[@favioferreira8921]

I don’t know why this was recommended to me or even why I clicked it but I’m glad I did. I’ve never heard of Breakfast Time before these videos, and thanks to you I can now feel a sense of loss for a show I never watched. Just watching some of those clips makes me wish I saw it in its heyday. Great job bringing light to a work that clearly needs more light shone on it.

[@troytakesphotos]

Watching Breakfast Time was not only cathartic as I was going through a really crappy teenage phase, but inspired me to work in morning television - to take chances - and do really fun things whenever I can. I remember watching FaB loyally then realizing... this show is not the same thing. Mad props to you and Tom and Laurie for reflecting on exactly why this disaster happened.

[@goregrindisthebestgenre]

They did Laura so dirty. She shouldn’t have been let go to begin with but on top of that, she found out in such a shitty way.

[@markl2322]

I remember this very well. As soon as Laurie left, and Bob was removed, I knew the Fox executives had totally screwed the pooch. They had no idea what they were doing, had no clue as to what the original show was all about, and why it was so appealing.

[@GrowinupinSincity81]

So amazing to get Tom & Laurie for Part 2 of your fantastic retrospective. Hearing how the FOX Network "step-by-step" dismantle or change all of the elements that made the "fX" iteration so wonderful (I would dream about visiting that Apt in the 8th Grade) reminds me so much of "The TV Set" (2006). They stripped the show of all of its' dynamism and free-wheeling fun. I still rank Tom Bergeron up there with Marc Summers, in terms of hosting versatility, and Laurie was the perfect match to his personality. It was such an awesome and innovative program. "After Breakfast" deserved a great retrospective, and you delivered one. Thank you.

[@thomasgebert6119]

Tom Bergeron always seemed like a really nice dude. Having watched him in a number of interviews, he always seemed to have a nice, affable personality.

[@Kevin-xv9pm]

At 51:10 to 51:43, I love the part where you talk about FX in the post-"Breakfast Time" era (from the cancellation of "Breakfast Time" to a Fox Corpoation-owned cable channel).

[@mandelweb]

Fantastic work again, Connor! I remember watching the transition to FOX After Breakfast and had forgotten about (or blocked?) the many changes that were made. It was so great to hear Tom and Laurie tell their story, yet also frustrating to hear what they went through. A cautionary tale for those of us in the biz...thank you for all for sharing and helping to put this together!

[@jonathonalsop2120]

Wow. I'm here because I watched The Mom Show, and was doing a little KZbin search on Laurie. As a Canadian without cable/satellite growing up this was the first I'd ever heard of Breakfast Time. Nice job, you made me nostalgic for something I didn't know existed.

[@swissmediastuff]

Great video Connor! A great show, ruined by clueless executives.

[@IHJello]

Ok i read the title and i thought it was to include the fact you talk about them a lot, but to see them here?! Wow man wow. Tom Bergerons voices is that of legend to me.

[@mdcoder4479]

Once again, Connor worked his magic to give us TV history we didn't know we needed but loved to watch! Great job on the content, execution, and inviting the hosts to give details only they could provide. Kudos on a job well done!

[@AustinBigBoi]

god, your channel needs more love man. I've rewatches every single one of your videos in the past few days and all i can say is you are one of the best storytellers, narrators, editors and just a stand up man in general. i cannot express enough how much joy and interest your videos have brought me and the fact you have only 6k subscribers is incredibly criminal. I'm probably rambling too much and you most likely wont even see this lol, but if you do, i truly hope your channel blows up in the next month or sooner because that is how valued you should be. also you make me pulling all-nighters all the worth while lol

[@ShaqC]

Connor with another banger! That Vicki Lawrence show tidbit is absolutely amazing. I don't even remember it, and I am a talk show junkie. I remember her syndicated show vividly, but not this. I wonder how many FOX affiliates even cleared it? 🤔

[@ignatiusjackson235]

Conor Higgins, you are a treat. And I'll tell you what else. Tom Bergeron is a national treasure, not least because of his support for your little ramshackle KZbin gig here. Laurie is such a sweetheart, too. I'm really diggin' everything on this channel, buddy. You have such an uncanny knack for crafting the otherwise-mundane into something so interesting. Jon Bois level stuff here, pal. Keep it up! I'll be watching.

[@mikeyhetrick]

Really loved this! So great to have the bonus of Tom and Laurie on to speak to hear their comments as well. I recorded/watched the first Fox After Breakfast when it premiered on the network. Our FOX affiliate aired it live at 8am Central, so no conflict w/Regis & Kathie Lee in our market. Our cable system also didn't have FX at the time, so I was unfamiliar with Breakfast Time. However I do remember watching the show the first day and going "wow..this is a really fun show and so different." I continued recording and watching up until the day that Laurie was fired. I remember seeing Tom do that starting segment and how awful he must have felt having to do that. I stuck with it a few more weeks, then it just got boring as you mention Connor. I quit watching the show. I will say that knowing Tom, Laurie, Phil from this show really helped me when they went on to their more successful TV gigs later. Tom Bergeron is still, to this day, one of the best live hosts on TV to me. He can host anything. Phil Keogan has done a remarkable job with Amazing Race. It's one of the most beautiful, compelling, competitive shows around. For reality TV, it sets the bar high. Laurie is remarkably talented as a writer, contributor and mom. Thanks so much for these deep dives!

[@RetroCirq]

Great job on the vid, Connor! Overall it was amazing to watch and frankly, it was a deep dive into the world of TV and the showbiz. (BTW, Breakfast Time theme was composed by Edd Kalehoff!)

[@Snowboi1963]

Wow, great video Connor, currently watching it right now but im surprised you are able to get public and famous figures to do interviews. First, the former Family Feud producer (forgot his name) and now you managed to get the hosts of a forgotten yet loveable show to get an interview! Whats next? Barack Obama to be on this channel?

[@connro]

🤞

[@trevonpernell0814]

Bob Boden was the name of that Family Fued producer.

[@trevonpernell0814]

@@connro If anyone, I hope you can land an interview with Tom Freston one day.

[@maryhinman4229]

I watched Breakfast Time with my two sons and we all loved it! Tom, Laurie, Jim the announcer and Bob the Puppet were all so much fun. Thanks for the memories, Connor.

[@biblegirl]

I recently found your channel and binged it all. I know it's been awhile since you've posted but I'm going to subscribe and hope to see something in the future

[@teddyfurstman1997]

New Video on the Breakfast Time Saga! So happy this video exists. You are the best at exploring TV History. Edit: You got Tom Bergeron from the 2000's AFV? Awesome!

[@jeffreystreger2026]

Wow! What a great video. I’m not surprised. I watched all of your other videos and I was hoping you would record another one but I never thought you would get Tom and Laurie to participate as they did. I watched “Breakfast Time” when it was first on and was excited that they were moving to the big FOX network but I remember how the show changed. Thank you again for this wonderful trip down memory lane.

[@amfanmagician]

Thank you this for great insight. Great to see Tom and Laurie together again. I remember seeing a promo for "Breakfast Time" before it started that Laurie did and thinking wow, I am so there. She was stunning. When I started watching the show, however, everything about it was so fresh and interesting, not boring like other morning shows. Laurie, Tom, Bob, and the Road Warriors were so natural, spontaneous and fun. When Laurie left, I stopped watching. Obviously the powers that be never realized how many viewers really liked her, and what an important part of the show she was. It was like trying to watch a show with half of it missing. Your points illustrating the differences between the two versions here are very valuable, maybe not that obvious to us at the time. We were just happy to have Tom, Laurie and Bob back for awhile for "After Breakfast."

[@stupid8911]

This was a delight, thank you for your hard work and putting this together. Good to see you, Tom and Laurie!

[@DekeRadio]

What a wonderful exploration, documentary and tribute to a groundbreaking show that meant so much to so many. Thank you so much for your time and effort constructing these two videos reflecting on 'Breakfast Time'. BT was a part of my daily routine until they moved to Fox. When they returned, I had looked forward to the show being part of my routine again, but corporate absolutely destroyed what made the show so unique and special. To somewhat echo Tom Bergeron's comment in this video, it was like the long-anticipated return of a loved one, only to find out that they are not who you remembered at all. Major bonus points for landing interviews with Tom and Laurie so that they could offer their perspectives on the show and the paths that it took. Tom, Laurie, and anybody else that might read this that was involved in the making of 'Breakfast Time' -- THANK YOU. There was not a show like you before it, and certainly none since. BT's run might have been brief, but the show's impact has been long-lasting to those of us who loved it so much when it was on. The title of Connor's previous video on BT was titled "The Forgotten Morning Show", but trust me when I tell you that 'Breakfast Time' is anything but forgotten.

[@Planet_R.M.]

Babe wake up, new Connor Higgins video just dropped!

[@justinricci8633]

Great job Connor ... This is AWESOME 😎... I love your videos and coverage of these shows, and it's also amazing you landed these fantastic interviews! A job well done ✅

[@brentburgess5218]

Just found your channel and watched everything. It's all great! I hope you do more in the future.

[@PinataTime]

Never heard of this show until your last video, but that dosent matter. Because you could talk about ANYTHING and I will watch. you're so good at these kinds of retrospective videos.

[@michaelsummers154]

I totally agree with what Tom and Laurie have said about Breakfast Time! I have already watched several episodes here on KZbin and I was extremely impressed with how it was done. It was just sad that FOX f'd it all up. It would be so great to revive Breakfast Time. We need to find every episode of BT. This whole team and format was nothing ever seen before and would fit me perfectly. Connor, you did an excellent job. And for Tom and Laurie to take time out of their busy schedules to do a Zoom interview was just the classiest thing I have ever seen. Congratulations on sharing this great show with us!

[@mdannyg]

Very enlightening video. I was a big fan of Fox After Breakfast when both Tom and Laurie were on and never even knew about Breakfast Time and didn't notice anything awkward about FAB, so I guess they were able to hide it well. The one thing I remember about the Vicki Lawrence show was her reading tabloids about Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed (which was probably the first I'd heard of him) right before they died, probably the week before.

[@HostileTakeover555]

This was great! I enjoyed both episodes. I hope you decide to do videos again.

[@GrimyGrafhic]

Bro, I’ve never heard of this show but just how you talk about it makes me feel like I did watch it back in the day. Wow! I love how deep you go with these videos. You’re creating the definitely story of the things you cover. Thank you.

[@teddyfurstman1997]

Connor, please do a Big Deep Dive on Mad TV and the rise and fall of the best Sketch Comedy show that once rivaled SNL and was loosely based on a Popular Humor Magazine named MAD.

[@bredrew1990]

Connor, this is your best video yet. I loved seeing commentary from Tom and Laurie regarding the latter edition of Breakfast Time. Can't wait for future videos. Would love to see videos on Hollywood Squares, Fox Family etc.,

[@johnlad2198]

Again absolutely superb content from Connor and Tom and Laurie were fantastic and informative. The situation that emerges is that broadcast networks prefer buttoned up at breakfast where its 95% serious and 5% frivolous. When the percentage is the other way the broadcast networks get worried...really worried

[@EpicCoolGuy923]

Just was thinking it might be time for another upload… Can’t wait to watch it!

[@ruairi_d]

We had something similar to that in the UK, it was called The Big Breakfast which was broadcast on Channel 4 and was different to what we had on the other morning shows, like BBC Breakfast and GMTV. As for your channel, you make exceptional quality videos. Love these types of videos. How you don't have more views and subscribers is beyond me. Came across the channel purely by accident while watching an old episode of Family Fortunes. Hope to see more content!

[@JG-uu1oj]

that what this show was based from the UK version

[@Mchannnel]

Yeah. It feels more like The Big Breakfast and TV-am/GMTV than the ones in the states😮

[@occono3543]

Nickelodeon also kind of did this in the afternoons with kids. I still remember a female host being named Yolanda.

[@DumbIdeaPresentedStupidly]

33:19 ok the host spinning a wheel checking his watch and walking away actually sounds funny

[@ScottyBman]

I loved this story. I don't remember that show, but I watched both episodes and loved them. Also loved that you were able to get the hosts to talk about it. I subscribed and look forward to watching more of your pop culture stories!

[@deborah3856]

I stumbled upon this vide because I loved the beginning of Fox After Breakfast but never got to see the fun and wacky brilliance of Breakfast Time. Fox After Breakfast meant a lot to me during a really rough time in my life. That apartment was like my home away from home for a little while. And now I'm sad that I didn't get to enjoy Breakfast Time. Still, it was so good to see Tom and Laurie together again. Thank you, Connor, for putting this together.

[@occono3543]

It's all mostly on KZbin, bit disorganised though

[@quayzar1]

I just found out Al Rosenberg who was the voice of Bob passed away back in June. Seemed like a genuine dude even when he was a puppet. RIP

[@JimmySand9]

Seeing David Frost interviewing Bob, right as FAB was cratering, seems downright eerie considering Frost's own experiences with another morning program (that also had a puppet, after Frost left) that had a whirlpool of drama around it. Drama that made the Fox stuff seem tranquil in comparison. IIRC my Fox affiliate, the recently defected-from-CBS WTVT, aired Fox After Breakfast on a one-hour delay. Why? So it could air Regis at 9.

[@calebwashingtonproductions]

Admittedly, I haven't seen "Breakfast Time" at the time it aired, because I wasn't born at that time, but I watched the first part of this retrospective and this show definitely had a lot of potential. Had FOX not meddled with it, it would have lasted longer, maybe even into the 2000s.

[@devares2006]

You're right about that one. This is what happens when a network tries to make a show something that it wasn't.

[@troyturner173]

What apparently didn't help matters was the one guy at Big FOX that "understood" BT and originally fought for its inclusion-leaving. After watching the two videos-FaB wasn't a "bad" show-but FOX was just too afraid to let BT "be" BT

[@michaelugwueke6312]

I loved it. Can’t wait to see what you do next. When will you do the WB next

[@serpentinegallery]

Never watched a minute of Breakfast Time-- I was 6 when it aired-- and these two videos have me missing it greatly. You've done so much good here with this. I hope more people learn about this great show and the potential that was taken away from us. I found it very interesting that one of the behind the scenes crew had also worked on Late Night with Conan. Conan absolutely was doing for late night TV what Breakfast Time did for daytime TV.

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

I just found this channel. Love this kind of output.

[@BlackPopeye44]

I was just thinking about this show and couldn't think of the name of it. THANK YOU

[@QuizzicalOne]

Glad I stumbled upon this channel. Such amazing pieces of historic context. Hope you have more down the pipeline in the not so distant future. As a magazine collector, for those who know, the color ad that appears at 16:53…does anyone have any kernel of an idea which magazine that was from? Completely understood if no one knows. Connor, keep up the excellent work. Good stuff here.

[@misterspiffy2008]

People wonder why mainstream media is losing viewership, it’s because we can find gems like these videos and your exceptional work on platforms like this. Really enjoying your channel. Keep it up!

[@TomBeiter]

I really enjoyed this video, particularly the interview. I remember Breakfast Time, but having an 8 to 5 job at the time, wasn't able to watch. I wish I'd had the chance to watch it regularly, it looks like it was a lot of fun. I did record Personal FX everyday and it was my favorite show at the time. I remember Laurie Hibberd did a short-lived "sequel" to Personal FX on another channel co-hosting with John Burke. I'd love to see a similar treatment of Personal FX on your channel and maybe get a similar interview with cast members.

[@DiscoLeafs]

As a Canadian, we never had the chance to see Breakfast Time because fX didn't air in Canada. Never knew Breakfast Time even existed until stumbling across this video today. Fox After Breakfast did seem different than anything else when it started on Fox. I remember being disappointed that it disappeared almost as fast as it arrived. Nevertheless, over 25 years later Fox After Breakfast still crosses my mind from time to time. Only now do I realize that what made Fox After Breakfast so memorable was the small essence of Breakfast Time that survived and made it on air on Fox as Fox After Breakfast.

[@KeitaroE37]

I turned 13 right when Breakfast Time started, that was an formative time in my life. The chemistry and belief they had that sometimes mundane can be interesting, really kind of shaped my sensibilities. I also would like to shout out Pet Fx and Music Fx (could be wrong about the name), the network had a personality when you felt invited in.

[@johnr.7906]

I can imagine that this show's format puts ALOT of pressure on the cast & crew. It wasn't designed for a long run, but watching it it looks really ground-breaking. So unique!

[@Itsgonnabeok1325]

These documentaries were terrific! I had always remembered the show, particularly when we see what Fox (news) has become. But it was never the same, you are right. This was a great homage to what it was, and a tale as old as time as to how executives ruin everything.

[@tallactordude]

Once again, I appreciate this video and wish I had seen it when it originally came out. The saga of Breakfast Time to Fox After Breakfast to Vicki Lawrence I is truly a tale of executive ignorance, and shows what happens when decisions about programming are left to business people who know nothing about what actually appeals to audiences. And I particularly appreciated the in memoriam at the end, particularly mentioning Spencer Garbett, who after the show ended, struggled with depression and eventually took his own life when he was only 27.

[@trevonpernell0814]

1:06 Correct. HOLY SMOKES!!! YOU LANDED AN INTERVIEW WITH TOM BERGERON???!!! 55:00 My childhood defined.

[@Snowboi1963]

Yep, he sure did

[@trevonpernell0814]

@@Snowboi1963 Do you have ANY IDEA how mind-blowing this is? It's TOM BERGERON!!!

[@mmcost]

Excellent analysis review of the show.wish you had Vicki Lawrence's take as well.cant wait for your next project.thanks

[@waynetables6414]

"yeah funny story, we actually got married live on FX back in 96'. Rudy Gulianni presided over the ceremony."

[@cashomnitrix]

In other words…when he was still *sane*

[@frommatorav1]

I first clicked on Part 1 of the story because I'm a fan of Tom Bergeron. I can remember him on a entertainment show in the 80's in Boston or Providence called Evening Magazine with Joyce Kulhawik, I believe. I was under 10 at the time but I think his personality made me like it. I really, really would have liked the Breakfast Time show if it wasn't on a network I didn't have at the time, fx. That, and airing so early, I probably would have missed it anyways. Had I known about it, I probably would have taped it and watched it later, though. Tom and Laurie had awesome chemistry and it's too bad I missed it. You're documentary on this show was excellent and you getting to interview the main stars, Tom Bergeron and Laurie Gelman, all these years later was kind of amazing. The only morning show I ever watched more than a couple of times was the Regis and Kathy Lee/ Kelly show. Seeing as how I was working during those hours and Fox after Breakfast aired for such a short time and at the same time as that show, I never saw it.

[@RetroCommercialss]

Absolutely fantastic! Some of the best stuff on all of KZbin.

[@Winter420]

what a great documentary, after both parts ive subscribed and enabled notifications

[@ABCEasyas--]

I love how he covered Bob’s hand at the wedding ceremony.

[@dustinprewitt]

I remember watching this every morning during the summer of 96. it was the right show at the right time, and I loved it.

[@guardiane]

I vaguely remember this show now (the Fox version, I mean)...I would have been in school by 9am so the only time I ever caught wind of it was on a holiday (long weekend) or I was sick and took the day off. Otherwise, I never heard of FX at all, let alone this show. It looked like fun though...too bad I missed out. This "kind of" reminds me of the Breakfast Television days back in the early 2000's (on the Canadian station City TV)...not quite the same format though. But it was live and they had an energy about them which caught my attention. But as time went on and certain people started leaving, I left with them. R.I.P. shows of our youth...we'll miss you.

[@dadetim]

Excellent job on the documentaries of my favorite morning show of all time and thank you Tom and Laurie for the insider scoop of the travesty, known as fox after breakfast

[@politicalmemes1296]

Bro I love these videos and the way you present them

[@dannyschwenn6339]

Connor you are amazing and have earned a subscribe from me! In the last couple of days, I have watched a handful of your videos and am loving what you do!

[@errontgordon]

Brilliant watch. Thank you Connor

[@tawnyh8878]

GREAT JOB CONNER!! I just subscribed great great job I remember this showing like yesterday as I said, in your first video, there was a lot of missed opportunities. After breakfast could have been a ratings juggernaut had they followed the first format, but producers and executives SOMETIMES really don’t know what they’re doing. When they take over someone else’s vision.

[@swapsplat]

Dude. You need more content! You do great work.

[@fizzyfuzz5878]

Your channel is very good. I love your long form content and usually I'm not too into that. What a get this interview with them.

[@Scottj2011]

I don't remember breakfast time at all. Just Fox after breakfast and the Vicki Lawrence show. It's great how you got Tom and Laurie to participate in this well put together documentary. Well done ✅

[@petewillson205]

It was on the original version of fx!, wasn't carried by all cable systems, then was replaced by ateam/jumpstreet Era of the channel

[@whydoihavetoaddachan]

I was watching the channel debut when Breakfast Time came on and as a teenager, it was so wonderful to think that growing older was not the death of fun and creativity. I had a new outlook on the future after seeing that not everyone had to don a suit or uniform and 'act like an adult'. I have the fondest memories of this show, the channel, and its crew. As an adult now, with each passing year it does seem like the death of fun is right around the corner and I really wish there was something fresh and lively out there to brighten things again. I guess its true that you can never go home.

[@pensacolian211]

I honestly never saw either one of these shows, and now I feel like I missed something great. Breakfast Time sounds like it would have been a really cool show.

[@JESmith]

All I remember of Fox After Breakfast was Bob. There was one episode where Bob was reading contest rules and the on screen text started scrolling too fast for him to reading it lol.

[@TheMagnumks]

I remember watching Breakfast Time every morning when I was a teenager. I was homeschooled for a few months. I would have it on during classes. Tom read a fax and dedicated one of the struts to my mother and sister-in-law who were celebrating their birthdays that weekend.

[@ItalianDino202]

This guy can make a show that got cancelled be like a human who died mad respect

[@jdenoe69]

Wow! This video is a star-studded affair. Well done!

[@TheOddMindofSamBo]

I think you should tackle the Chris Gethard Show next. It had a very similar meddling cycle between its move from public access to two different cable stations that proved that most executives feel like they need to sand off shows with a special identity.

[@Hartful13]

if this story was a Movie, I would so watch. Great 2 parts on talking about this morning show!

[@user-vr8ul3fd7d]

Love your videos. Are you still making content? This video came out a year ago. I really hope your still making videos

[@nishthedish]

It's honestly rotten how firmly the executives believed Laurie was disposable as a co-host and as a personality.

[@hysangearring]

I thought I’d imagined this show! Great deep dive.