Oddity Archive: Episode 263 - American Forces Network (AFN) TV Ephemera 

Fwep. And, yes, it is supposed to be "American Forces Network". As if my civilian status wasn't showing enough.

Fun fact that just hit me: The opening drumbeat (and accompanying guitar) in Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life" came from AFN. You know the "beep beep beep, beep-beep, beep-beep" call signal that would sound at the top of every hour? In his early solo years, when he lived with David Bowie and a few others, he, David, and the drummer were just sitting around their rented England apartment watching TV, waiting for an episode of "Starsky and Hutch" to come on the local AFN affiliate, when that top-of-the-hour signal went off. The drummer immediately got the inspiration for the rhythm of what would become "Lust for Life". Related trivia: Two of famous Jewish comedian Soupy Sales's sons played on the song. Tony on bass guitar, and Hunt on drums.

To any veterans who may be watching this episode, or active duty servicemen and women. From this viewer here in Tennessee, I Thank you for your service to your country and I want you to know I will always be proud of the work that you do.

The weirdly perfect synergy of Steve German being stationed in Germany

As an Army brat and a broadcast geek, I thank you for releasing this, and I thank our men & women who have worn the colors of our nation in defense of our freedom.

Dude, Ben, I mean this with 100% of my heart, you are absolutely and truly an American treasure

I was an army brat and from 1991-1994, I lived in Germany. These PSAs, etc all bring me back down memory lane but there is one in particular I wished was added--one where some Egyptians were painting the wrong thing (I think it was a PSA about getting instructions right) and they ended up painting Cleopatra in the Nile R. and she inspects the paintings and says something like "I'm Queen of the Nile, not Queen in the Nile!!" They had several like that too

We moved to Okinawa for my stepfathers last two years in the Air Force, so we were watching the Armed Forces Network from 1973 to 1975 , also watching the local Japanese tv networks also sometimes. It was an experience we all will never forget!

I remember stumbling into the world of AFRTS when the blank VHS tape I bought at the Salvation Army store turned out to be recordings from FEN Okinawa.

This Air Force Veteran thanks you.

As someone who was stationed in Italy for 2 1/2 years, 97-99, this AFN stuff is great. Not only did we have the standard AFN stuff, we had local ads and news for our specific base, LaMaddalena, Italy. I wish we would have recorded the ads, as the local ones were hilarious (sometimes intentionally).

I moved to South Korea in 1991 (non-military) and found AFRTS Korea (locally called the American Forces Korea Network) on terrestrial television on Channel 2. I remember the Opsec PSA with the men in fezzes and the two PSAs involving aliens. I remember one often played PSA here that involved an American woman in Germany trying to fit in by speaking the language. She talks to a German butcher and says something like, "Mmmm. The meat here really stinks.' Again, the PSA was set in Germany, which is rather famous for not being Korea. AFKN used to show reruns of M*A*S*H on AFKN until the Korean government complained. AFKN responded by replacing M*A*S*H with St. Elsewhere.

I ‘member being in the Boy Scouts in the early 90s, and staying overnight at the Warner Robins Air Force Base, on our way from FL to GA for a summer camping trip. A big meal from the cafeteria cost something like $3, and the on-base movie theater was showing Super Mario Bros. (the real one w/ Bob Hoskins, not the cartoon), which we all went and saw. They played the pledge of allegiance before the movie started, which felt crazy to me.

Oh man, the memories this brings back- granted, these all predate my time in the Air Force but I still remember that special brand of endearing AFN ridiculousness helping get us through many long, dull nights. Seriously, awesome episode!

YES!!!! I remember what my family would call "AFARTS." We lived in Germany and they would always have the crappiest looking public affairs shows and some of the shows that played in the states. So many memories!

Yes. Do another episode about sign offs. I always watch your original sign off video on Father's Day. It's becoming a Father's Day tradition. You should do a Father's Day sign off special! Yes!

Imagine having to read "AFRTS" and you're dyslexic.

As a veteran, I'm so glad you didn't go into the "Powers of Attorney" or "Register to Vote" PSAs (of which there was *sickeningly* large numbers of!). But I do faintly remember the "Sick Computers" PSA, though.

I started my broadcasting career in the army at afn in 1980 after going to the defense information school I enjoyed every minute of it

Great episode - a subject I never would have thought about, but was intrigued as soon as I read the title. I knew of the armed forces radio network from listening to old-time radio shows - some of the surviving transcription discs were from armed forces radio network, and just have a mention at the end of the transcription disc that it was from AFRN.

16:52 Boston Public was so popular in its day that the Luther Vandross song "Dance With My Father", which was featured in one episode, became a popular radio request, a Top 40 hit and won a Grammy with the show's help (as well as the fact that it was one of the last songs Vandross released prior to his death)

Even though I was never in the military, these are kind of nostalgic for me, as one of my Uncles who was in the Marines was stationed in Germany, and then Belgium for a few years in the late 80's before the 1st Gulf War, and sometimes my Aunt would mail us back VHS tapes they had shot of their adventures while over there, and VHS tape was not cheap at the time, so when she would make a copy to send over she would reuse tapes she had recorded off AFN for my uncle to watch on his time off, and a couple had some AFN stuff on there usually at the end set in 6 hour EP mode so the quality was kind of garbage, but I always found it interesting nonetheless, and it did make for a good laugh with the really cheap PSAs. 😅👍

My first time I saw an AFN tape was an episode of the late '70s reboot of Jeopardy with Art Fleming. It was memorable to me as all the ads were normal American PSA's (e.g. drug & alcohol).

27:28 Anyone else half expecting to hear those aliens say "He doesn't like you. I don't like you either!" Also, if nothing else, this episode gave me my yearly reminder that Falcon Crest existed.

One of your best eps. I work for AAFES now for 25 years and wanted to know about AFN, now I know. once again Great Job!

AFN runs networks in the united states, on base, with family tied to the US Navy, the bases used to use AFN to introduce the families to the new area. I didn't know they did this till we left San Diego in the early 80s for south Texas. Most of the time it's a guide type channel or was. They also run a network for exchange stores on base, this I seen recently as of 2020.

That jumper cable PSA would fit right into _Kentucky Fried Movie __ I feel!!

'Battery Cable Theater' needs it's own video.

Thank You for serving up that ephemera from AFN. We salute you! 🇺🇸

Honestly, that "Radio being too loud" reminds me of an issue that really does need a PSA, even though IT SHOULD be common knowledge. Random idiots taking pictures or video of people without their permission and often behind their back because they're "interesting" and are looking for clout. Y'know like taking a picture of someone buying only one Banana at a store. I've wanted to set a lot of people on fire in my life, and the one that came second closest to happening was a chode who insisted they take a picture of me buying an apple at Walmart. Without my permission. A manager eventually had to step in to kick the idiot out.

Oh my god, I would spend time at the military base near Seoul when living there in the early 1990s and I think I had fully repressed all memories of WHAT that channel I sometimes watched was. Your channel is so good for resurrecting memories, A+

Having been in Germany as an army brat in the 80s, I remember vividly the offbeat ads and the "watch what you say" PSAs. I also remember watching old TV programs from the 1960s with the ad bumpers intact. Not to mention obscure cartoons like "Space Angel."

Hey Ben, You're probably not gonna read this but whatever. It's been over 10 years and you're still making OA episodes. I sponsored you for a few episodes back around 2017. You are what an high functioning autistic persons sense of humor would be, if we high functioning autistics had a sense of humor. Don't ever stop being you.

In the 1990 and 2000s, AFN actually ran the same PSAs that were available in the states, the ones that originated from the Ad Council. Additionally, live events are broadcast live, straight from the networks, and the gap has been closed in a program’s delay so it airs with as little as a few days delay, instead of a year. (Although when I was there, soaps and SNL were delayed one week and general entertainment shows were delayed three months, but AFN only operated four channels so it had to shuffle things around to accommodate scheduling). Anyway, not quite government ineptitude as alleged.

That toys for tots commercial 100% aired on regular civilian TV. I remember seeing it all the time

About 13:00, I was always told by my dad who was an MP, that because barely anything bad happens on base, that it’s the little things people watch out for lol

21:09 I still say, “Howdy, howdy! The name’s Herb!” to this day, hahaha. That man’s voice will forever be in my brain.

I was Stationed at Ramstein AB 1997-98 and I remember some of those PSA's. Great memories of a lot of them

My favorite was the General "Doc" Fuglesang PSA's on AFN Europe circa 2004. They got pulled because soldiers turned his catch phrases into a drinking game.

"I've saved the weirdest for last." That one about shareware right before it was definitely the weirdest one I've seen since the PeeWee Herman crack one.

Notice how the weather forecast has temps in Fahrenheit. Nice of them to do that.

In my day when I was stationed in South Korea; AFKN had current cherry picked TV shows. Even late night talk shows a day late due to the time difference. There was a lot of drek as well. When stationed in the UK, we just watched regular BBC, ITV and what not. The commercial breaks of course were about safety, terrorism, that sort of thing, local base actives. That is where I learned to stop watching TV. In Korea, usually the squadron bar had a VCR with porn running after about 20:00 hrs.

Great episode. It's interesting to see how the AFN tries to create a generic style of American television for service members overseas. I wonder how many military personnel with the AFN go on to civilian careers in broadcasting? Yes, the quality is not the greatest, but not really any worse than what some local civilian stations have done.

Army Brat here too and I agree they ran those in the electronics department but without the sound, because I have NEVER heard it pronounced as "affis" I've always heard even the employees call it AFEES.

Abandoned vehicles were a real problem. There were a lot of ads telling people not to abandon their cars when they transfer back to the states.

Just realized that the music playing during the, er, "Promo" with the little girl in the feather boa was the same they used to advertise Married With Children in the late 80s.

Some poor kid definitely got spooked out by the “Think Opsec!” PSA growing up

I remember some of this channel being on air in Germany when I lived there long ago. Was really funny as a young Dutch/German lad to find a American channel on terrestrial television.

This was a banger of an episode, thank you!

You're wrong for that Sam Kinison joke. I still laughed.

Brings back memories to when i was living in Germany. Nice to see Bremerhaven make the cut. Thanks for this

“I don’t think I’m qualified”. - don’t think I’ve ever heard that on RU-vid 😂 👍🏻

It's neat to see the psa and low budget Commercials

Memories of the. "Anthrax Ninja" information PSAs from AFN Korea spring to mind....

Watching this before The Military comes and Blacklists it. 😂😂😂

From one military brat to another, thank you. It feels good to be reminded there are others out there, and ones that share my hobby no less! OPSEC! IT'S EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY! Subscribed. 18:45 God bless our troops who gaurd the Gamecubes of the PX Power Zone, we salute you 🫡.

Could you do an Oddity Archive on Cable In The Classroom and / or Instructional Television?

During the time when the American forces stationed in the Clark Air Base in the Philippines, FEN (Far East Network) Philippines on Channel 8 and 17 provided sports/entertainment/news programs and live events since its first broadcast in 1954, and it didn't take too long for the Filipinos to tune in but it required a strong antenna to catch its signal especially in Metro Manila. Alas, it came to an end due to the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and the non-renewal of the Military Bases act both took place in 1991 and its last program to air was "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" animated tv series. SBN World TV 21 was launched several months later in 1992 to fill in the gap that FEN Philippines had left after its demise.

I thought you said your old man was in the air force! I guess I wasn't hallucinating!

I helped produce a sports radio show that would be on Armed Forces Network radio. It felt like a huge honor. Also thanks to all that served.

8:10 I recognize that music. Wasn't that the song Fox used in their Married...with Children ads?

In Berlin on the U-Bahn it is mandatory that you play some hip music from your boombox. It ain’t being inconsiderate, it’s about being respectful of other cultures

Fellow military brat here. I lucked out and found a tape while thrifting from AFN Aviano (Italy). What made the tape better was it was from when my family was stationed there. (I remember seeing a movie that was advertised with my churches youth group) I cut out the ads and uploaded them to my channel. I also made some "videos" of some AFN radio ads from some tapes I made recording oldies music shows.

Oddity Archive episode about TV? I AM THERE. These are always my favorite episodes of yours. Been a fan for many years and you still deliver the best videos about this stuff without being boring.

15:00 I think Tailhook might be to blame here.

This is the report for Frankfurt Germany, I'm Sgt. (quietly) German.... *eyeroll* Also the jumper cable ad music was used in so many more places on TV, notably during technical difficulties on several New York TV stations including WNYW 5!

The other computer voice is the voice of Roy Campbell in MGS and Ben's Uncle in Ben 10 I forgot his name

0:02 - Good grief! There's something I haven't heard in years! Anyone recognise that funk-themed library music? I'm getting 1986 vibes here!

Ah, good ol' AAFES. Or as it's sometimes know, "Asian American Female Employment Services."

22:38 WARNING: INCOMING GAME! WARNING: INCOMING GAME!

That “Suddenly Clown” driving PSA was more horrifying that Protect and Survive.

oh my god the weather segment feels like it came out of an alternate reality because that sort of dramatic presentation for a weather segment just - would - not - happen - on European civilian television.

The tape from Jeremy were the exact commercials i used to watch. Thanks. They used to sprinkle fox kids psa in there as well. We eventually got Sky One and BBC in Germany so Simpsons!

My life is now complete now that I’ve seen the jumper cable puppet theater.

I used to listen to Shortwave radio in the mid 80s, and AFRS used to broadcast news clips in a wild feed, I think to the submarines, they would have the countdowns and cue singals for the cart machines. Now it's all digital so public access is no longer possible.

Goooooood mooooooorning Vieeeetnaaaam!

Hey, 19:42, LaMaddalena gets a mention! 😁

thank you for service, Maj. C.A. Cordial

Thanks Ben

Good man Benny, Thanks

The way you drew out "Oddity Archive" in your opening sounded creepy.

In the military in the UK and US from 1990 to 1996, I literally don't recall anyone pronouncing at as anything other than "ay-feez". I don't recall if we had AFN in the UK, since it wasn't as crucial in an English-speaking country.

Ha, I was a military brat too. Yeah this was pretty much it for home entertainment aside from bootleg VHS tapes. I lived in Bad Tölz throughout most of my elementary school years in the 80s and AFN was TV to me. What blew me away was finally coming to America and seeing Saturday morning cartoons. The commercials were cooler than the shows. Actually the shows were commercials too lol. We called it ā-feez too. After my dad retired we'd drive 150 miles to hit up the commissary in Biloxi. Can't be paying that sales tax, and cheap ass cigarettes lol.

Watched countless sporting events overseas on AFN, nothing like watching a Super Bowl on it with these weird skits and PSAs during the commercials in place of the humorous Budweiser and Doritos commercials every one back home was getting. I was in the military more recently than the clips from this video, but I don't think the delay in network programs is quite as long as a year these days, think it's only weeks. I didn't watch a lot of the network shows AFN would show, but some stuff like South Park would come on and it would be fairly recently after it aired in the US.

I'm a former Army Reservist myself, Ben. I'm very familiar with AAFES. Had their DPP plan (later the "Military Star" card) which I wound up turning over in bankruptcy. Funny enough, I got my PS2 from the PX at Selfridge ANGB, MI. @14:00; that's every other drunk Uber/Lyft passenger I get. @14:58-15:27; today, they call it "woke".

Also he has a boat load of VHS tapes of random junk and he mentioned AFN so I might comb through and see if I can. Find anything for a possible part two

I'm not military, nor was I a military brat so with that in mind you may be more "quasi-qualified" to present this knowledge than myself. That being said, both of my grandfathers were in the military (WWII and Korea) and I was familiar with a lot of the alphabet soup of military acronyms and jargon. Back during the Cold War, veterans could go on the bases and shop at the exchanges. My maternal grandfather from Pensacola, Florida was in the Army Air Force during WWII and could shop at the NEX (Navy Exchange) on NAS Pensacola after discharge.

24:26 The customs hotline phone puppets sound strangely like Crow and Tom Servo.

"Now over to Ted Iraqi with the weather.."

5:45 More shocking than a "face reveal"! Benny Boy pronounces Aurora correctly! 😲🤣

"...Wanna PET the PUPPY?..." 😳

I talk a little bit about the history of AFN in the episode of "As Sold on TV" I did for Memorial Day about 7 years ago. (Sorry for the ugly watermark) By the way, not a veteran myself. But I am a former Air Force kid. I think I have seen some of the ads for AAFES while waiting to get my military ID renewed but that was 20 years ago now and that military ID (long since expired) serves as a relic of my time at Little Rock AFB. I still have the darn thing too! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NXngJ7uPfC4.htmlsi=akNA97GnxwrEoI9S

My father was in the air force too, this is very relatable

"Acting like a clown in the passengers seat is irresponsible." Disrespectful maybe, but not irresponsible.

Why does the guy from the thumbnail look like the current Chief of Space Operations?

Happy Oddity Thursday!

18:20 He has the perfect name

Ah yes i know AAFES VERY well my grandfather lived right near a base post service and we always went there for liqour because of the prices lol. Also had many family in the military im not an MB though. We would hit the commisary when he had a doc appt on base. I miss him. Anyways a GREAT video on a very interesting topic.

Out of curiosity, did AFN Europe broadcast in PAL or NTSC? Europe used the PAL format however considering that this was for US armed forces personel it could have used either, and many European TV sets (unlike American ones) were/are capable of displaying both PAL and NTSC pictures. I suspect it was broadcast via satellite to US military sites in Europe and then distributed through the sites via a local cable network. The colour in these clips looks more like most of the old NTSC footage I've seen - PAL gave more accurate colour reproduction (pretty much what HDMI gives) and didn't have the slight orange or green tinge common with NTSC. Some of these clips look older than others - I'd say that they date from between the 1980s and early 2000s. The production of the early 2000s clips does however look pretty dated and they remind me more of the clips of local American civilian TV I've seen from maybe the early 1990s. I'm from the UK but used to have an American geography teacher who I know served in the US military during the 1990s, and I suspect that he would have been quite a good person to ask about the Armed Forces Network. I've seen some similar clips on RU-vid made by the British military during the 1980s. I'm not aware of there being as many British armed forces PSAs, but there is quite an interesting British forces video on RU-vid from the 1980s about the instructions for crossing the Inner German Border for access to West Berlin. It probably gives one of the best looks as what one of the main East German transit routes was like at the time.

21:56 holy wow and flutter, Batman!