It's been 25 years since Bob Ross's The Joy of Painting went off the air (and 24 years since Ross died). But there are 52 episodes of the show available to stream on Netflix. Bob Ross and Chill is a thing. The 403 full episodes available on YouTube have accumulated something approaching 250 million views. And this summer, The New York Times did a big Bob Ross investigation.
This hour: a look at the undying force for permed hair and puffy little clouds and happy little trees that is Bob Ross.
Plus: Could we do a show about Bob Ross without also talking Thomas Kinkade? No we could not. And so no we do not.
GUESTS:
- Nathan Badley - Cohost of the Nothing But a Bob Thang podcast
- Alexis Boylan - Associate professor of art history at UConn and the editor of Thomas Kinkade, The Artist in the Mall
- Justin Croft - Cohost of the Nothing But a Bob Thang podcast
- Emily Rhyne - Cinematographer at The New York Times
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Colin McEnroe and Chion Wolf contributed to this show.