That thing with Rich Appel

"that thing with Rich Appel" is a syndicated weekly three-hour radio program covering oldies and classic hits music, hosted by Billboard writer and disc jockey Rich Appel. As of April, 2017, it is carried on 77 stations across North America, Europe and Australia, both terrestrial and internet broadcast.
"that thing" is intended to be a re-creation of the sound of the top 40 radio format during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, including the format's quick pace, spoken introductions to most songs over the "intro" up to the vocals, jingles produced to sound as if they were from those years, and commercials which aired on radio or television during that era.
While "that thing" focuses on top 40 hits of the 1960s and 1970s, songs from the 1950s and 1980s also pop up occasionally. Most songs heard on "that thing" are chosen to match birthdays of celebrities and historical figures, or historical events on - or having taken place on - each weekend's air dates. The show's stated purpose is "to recreate the fun" of the period of time when Top-40 radio was at the peak of its existence.
Other regular features of "that thing" include "The slow dance make-out song of the week" and "The World's Shortest Countdown." The show's second hour is usually theme-driven, such as: "A Year In An Hour," featuring songs from one particular year; "Spanning The Globe," a countdown of songs in the top ten on that date across various years in all of the countries airing the show; or "The K-Tel Hour," featuring songs from a K-Tel hit compilation. Hour 2 of "that thing" on 2017's Super Bowl weekend featured the results of the show's first "Tele-lection," counting down listeners' favorite television show themes.
Special show-long programs have included: three annual "Class Reunion" specials, featuring the hits of each graduating class' freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years; and "The Countdown of the States" on the 4th of July weekend show in 2016, where songs for each of the 50 U.S. states were 'counted down' based on the date each was admitted into the union.
"that thing's" annual listener-driven event, the countdown of the "I.R.S. ('It Really Shoulda' been a bigger hit!) 10-99," airs over three shows each April. Listeners are invited to "file an I.R.S. form" declaring as many as 100 songs they feel 'really shoulda' been bigger hits. The songs are then tabulated and the top 109 ("10-99') are counted down on the weekends leading up to April 15 (I.R.S. tax filing day in the U.S.).
The show is said to take place in 'The Chestnut Cabaret.' Fans of the show are fondly known as "Appleheads." Regular characters on "that thing" include: Inga, the bartender, waitperson and chef at the Chestnut Cabaret, whose voice is never heard but who is often referred to during the show; Rich's Aunt Selma, who drops in occasionally to give Rich advice and talk about her ex-husband; and Elaine, who pops in at random times with criticism of Rich or the show (at the end of every show, Elaine tells Rich to "Get Out!").

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