The Dan Patrick Show (C&R) – "When the FOX Lane Opened"
Date: October 10, 2025
Podcast Host: Covino & Rich (C&R)
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Episode Overview
This episode is a unique "throwback Thursday" edition of Covino & Rich on The Dan Patrick Show, focusing on how FOX Network revolutionized "edgy" pop culture and sports content when it launched in 1986. The co-hosts, joined by callers and producers, reminisce about TV, music, comedy, and cultural moments once considered daring or taboo—and how societal standards and "the envelope" have shifted over time.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Birth of Edgy TV: FOX Network's Launch
[01:41] Covino sets the theme: The anniversary of FOX network's 1986 launch, noting its initial "edgy" reputation.
- Led by shows like Married With Children, The Simpsons, and In Living Color ([02:00], Rich).
- The 4th major network, previously only the "safe" options—CBS, NBC, ABC—existed. FOX broke the mold.
"They changed the way we watch." – Covino [02:31]
2. Changing Network Television
- FOX offered more diverse and daring programming than the "vanilla" CBS or other major networks ([02:53], Rich).
- In Living Color highlighted for its blend of Black comedians and the “crossover” contribution of Jim Carrey ([03:22], Rich).
"Jim Carrey really was the crossover, you know, culturally." – Rich [03:46]
3. Throwback Edgy Content and Parental Controls
- Benny Hill, slipping cable channels, and "string on the TV" to turn it off quickly ([05:01], Caller).
- Analog cable workarounds: stacking channels to "unscramble" Playboy/Spice for a glimpse of something forbidden ([05:34], Covino & Danny G).
- Late-night cable like Lady Chatterly, Cinemax’s "skin" movies, and taping shows over VHS sports games to hide them from parents ([06:09], [06:29], Rich).
"Your imagination would run wild because you swear you see some crazy stuff." – Covino [06:02]
4. Music & "Parental Advisory" Years
- Twisted Sister, NWA, Run DMC, Cypress Hill—a sense of rebellion tied to music ([07:09 - 08:32]).
- Parental advisory stickers and the need to hide or lower the music when parents were around.
"My aunts would go to my mom: 'Are you sure you want Stephen listening to that?'" – Covino [07:34]
- Danny G describes his mom screening his rap tapes (NWA, etc.), only approving "positive rap music" ([09:08]).
"Either you listen to positive rap music or no rap music." – Danny G [09:45]
5. Comedy and Stand-Up Shock Value
- Andrew Dice Clay as controversial, edgy standup, especially for kids quoting him at school ([10:01]).
"He was doing nursery rhymes. You vibed with that as a kid, but you didn’t want your mom hearing." – Covino [10:14]
- Howard Stern’s early radio and E! TV shows as the defining edge of the '90s ([15:25], [15:53], Covino & Danny G).
- Loveline and rise of sexual openness in call-in radio and podcasts ([17:13] - [17:55], Rich & Sam).
6. Movies and TV: Scenes Once Taboo
- Goonies statue scene, Top Gun love scene, Bachelor Party—all examples of once-"awkward" moments to watch with parents ([14:03] - [15:17]).
- Callers recall sneaking late-night shows, and how content access has fundamentally changed.
"There were certain scenes in certain VHS tapes where our parents would make us hit the fast-forward button." – Danny G [14:53]
7. Sports, Tattoos, and Changing Fashion
- Dennis Rodman’s tattoos, piercings, and colorful hair once seen as wild, now mainstream; Allen Iverson and the ubiquity of tattoos in NBA ([20:25] - [20:51]).
- Beards, “dangerous” fashion, and their normalization ([22:10]).
8. Sexuality & Culture in Media
- '90s and 2000s shifts: first gay kiss in Dawson’s Creek, Madonna & Britney kiss at VMAs—taboo then, commonplace now ([18:50], [22:27] - [22:39]).
- MTV’s Beavis and Butthead, Ren & Stimpy, and Sultry late-night cable reshaping youth content standards ([18:01]).
9. Rapid-Fire: Listeners Share Their “Edgy” Memories
- Callers recall Heavy Metal (animated movie), The Man Show, Talk Sex with Sue, rental store’s “back room” for adult videos, Risky Business, and more ([21:15] through [33:21]).
- Favorite moments: hiding VHS tapes, the thrill/fear of "scrambled" channels, parental reactions to pop culture, and “edgy” lyrics or TV censorship.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "I used to have to have that talk with my friends...We don’t laugh at any dirty jokes, and we don’t curse in front of my parents, all right?" – Covino [28:01]
- "Edgy for the time, because on this day, the Fox network became a thing. They pushed the envelope..." – Covino [27:23]
- "Tattoos in the NBA made [Dennis Rodman] seem like a maniac ... now everybody has them." – Rich [20:25]
- "Call Her Daddy just teaches women how to give good yin." – Rich [18:01]
- "You almost have to just be a good parent, guide them the right way and hope they make the right decisions. Because you can't keep this stuff away..." – Rich [30:51]
- "If it wasn't for Fox, we couldn’t say any of the words..." – Danny G [21:47]
- "Playboy was as risque... If you got your hands on a VHS, this is as risque as it got." – Covino [33:15]
- "I had to give it [Girls, Girls, Girls by Motley Crue] to my cousin. I even tried to scribble out the word thinking it would be okay, but it was not." – Dan Byer [26:16]
Important Segment Timestamps
- On FOX's launch and the 'edgy' TV revolution: [01:41] - [02:53]
- In Living Color, Jim Carrey, race & diversity on TV: [03:22] - [04:01]
- Edgy late-night TV & cable box tricks: [05:01] - [06:28]
- Parental music policing & ‘Parental Advisory’ stickers: [07:09] - [09:49]
- Andrew Dice Clay, edgy comedy: [10:01] - [10:21]
- Howard Stern, radio & TV boundaries: [15:25] - [16:28]
- Pop music and sexual frankness: from Loveline to Call Her Daddy: [17:13] - [17:55]
- Tattoos, NBA, and shifting fashion edge: [20:25] - [20:51]
- Movie & TV scenes, awkwardness, normalization: [14:03] - [15:25], [18:50] - [18:50]
- Rapid-fire listener “edgy” confessions: [28:16] - [33:21]
Conclusion
Covino & Rich’s exploration of “what was edgy and what is now” makes for a playful, nostalgia-driven episode that shines a light on shifting cultural standards and media boundaries. The FOX network’s legacy is shown not just in the entertainment it created, but in how it catalyzed more diverse, irreverent, and risk-taking content across all media—TV, music, sports, and beyond.
For New Listeners
If you missed the episode, this summary captures the mix of humor, pop culture knowledge, and participatory nostalgia that defines Covino & Rich. The discussion underscores how what was once "wild" is now mainstream—and prompts listeners to reflect on what current taboos may someday seem quaint.
Catch more of C&R’s throwbacks and sports talk daily, and check out the next episode for more audience interaction, lively debates, and takes on current events in both pop culture and sports.