Collector’s Call returns with another deep cut from American pop culture’s golden age, spotlighting a private stash of childhood memorabilia that spans nearly a century. The new episode airs Sunday, June 29, 2025, at 6:30 PM ET on Me-TV.
This week’s guest, David Schafer, opens the doors to a collection built on nostalgia, rarity, and near-perfect preservation. The inventory includes a 1966 Batman and Justice League playset, a mail-order-only Mad Magazine straitjacket, and a first-edition 1941 comic that introduced Wonder Woman. Every shelf and drawer in Schafer’s home seems to tell a story rooted in Saturday mornings and newsstand finds.
Host Lisa Whelchel leads the walkthrough. The Facts of Life star balances personal curiosity with clear-eyed observation, especially when Schafer surprises her with a 1982 Mad Magazine spoof of her own show. It’s one of the more unexpected moments of the season and underlines the show’s ability to blend trivia with sentimentality.
Appraiser Joel Magee, branded as “America’s Toy Scout,” returns to assess the monetary value behind the memories. His evaluations add a strategic layer to the episode, especially when he singles out one of Schafer’s Disney artifacts and puts an offer on the table. The negotiation is polite but firm, and the decision to sell—or not—sits with Schafer.
Collector’s Call keeps its format tight: introduce, explore, appraise, and reflect. But the simplicity works. The show thrives not just on the items themselves but on what those items reveal about the collectors who preserve them. In Schafer’s case, it’s clear that his collection isn’t just about value. It’s about timeline, texture, and a lifelong chase to hold onto the moments that shaped him.
