FOT Forum
The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: orangewhip on March 21, 2008, 11:52:54 PM
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I've read about Andy Earles, what characters has he done? Is Spike real? I'v been listening regularly for a few months, and have listened to a handful of shows on the archives. I've also listened to all the S&W cd's repeatedly.
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pardon my typo in the thread title
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Is Spike real?
I love that people always think Spike is a fake caller. Frighteningly, he is real, and appears to spend 90% of his waking life listening and calling in to various talk shows.
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if spike was a staged character then he would have to occasionally be funny.
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I've read about Andy Earles, what characters has he done? Is Spike real? I'v been listening regularly for a few months, and have listened to a handful of shows on the archives. I've also listened to all the S&W cd's repeatedly.
It's pretty much down to just Wurster now. From what I remember, it's been a well while since Scag Winesack has called.
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Andy Earles hasn't called in a couple of years, so depending on which shows you've heard from the archives, you may or may not have heard him. Skag Winesack and Kevin were his major recurring characters. He never really "did" character voices, so his calls are pretty obvious.
I know feelings about Spike are pretty varied, but he's one of my favorite callers. As others have said, he really does bring out the best in Tom. And the best thing is that while Tom is making these hilarious speculations about Spike's life (how many pieces of cutlery he has, whether he's wearing an ankle bracelet, whether he's on a stolen phone line/internet connection, etc.), Spike just plows on with the most banal answers, as if he doesn't realize he's being made fun of. He's been calling forever and I honestly can't tell if he's in on the joke or if he's just amazingly oblivious. He's like Margaret Dumont in those Marx Brothers movies.
I'm also a fan of the creepy laugh he's been employing recently.
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Still a big fan of the call from the president of the spike fan club. Whoever that was, call again. :D
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I like Spike. I don't want to EVER meet him, but his calls almost always set-up laughs.
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Still a big fan of the call from the president of the spike fan club. Whoever that was, call again. :D
Re-listen to that show I thought it was pretty obvious who it was.
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Actually, the board is having a little fun with you; in fact, the entire show is scripted. I am like Mr Happy on Lost, just trying to be note-worthy enough to extend my run for a while, then I will have to go back to voice work on self-produced indie podcasts by angsty 10th graders.
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And I'm actually Spike.
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I'm actually Robert Pollard.
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Yeah, i knew who that Spike Fanclub guy was right away. Such a great call.
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Yeah, i knew who that Spike Fanclub guy was right away. Such a great call.
Yeah, I like Lou Reed too.
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Yeah, i knew who that Spike Fanclub guy was right away. Such a great call.
I think I missed this one - which episode, what time?
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the "best show awards" episode.
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Tom, the host, is actually played by famous French actor Jean-Pierre Leaud.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Yeah, i knew who that Spike Fanclub guy was right away. Such a great call.
I think I missed this one - which episode, what time?
2/5/08 show - the call starts around 42:30. Like orangewhip said, this was the Awards Show.
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He's changed so much!
(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb208/EdwardCopeland/foreign/400Blows.jpg)
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Starting of course in 1972, when he first played Tom in Last Tango in Paris. That's definitely his face. Still, if that's him...
(http://www.filmreference.com/images/sjff_01_img0282.jpg)
who's SHE?
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Tom must have been horrified that his onscreen incarnation smoked.
The lovely Jillian Barberie still had her baby fat back then, I see.
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I'd say there is another category of callers, other than say Wurster and Andy Earles, who are kinda regular show characters just by doing their very own schtick, maybe somewhat urged to do so by Tom, Spike being the most obvious. And there are people who aspire to that status, a kind of attention-seeking behavior. Oftentimes this strategy seems not to work very well, e.g. the Goshen Kids, James. Tom doesn't seem to take to callers who try a little too hard.
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i hope the ghoulish guy makes more calls
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I'd say there is another category of callers, other than say Wurster and Andy Earles, who are kinda regular show characters just by doing their very own schtick, maybe somewhat urged to do so by Tom, Spike being the most obvious.
MC Steinberg definitely fits into this category. Also included (but less successful) would be The Leader, Fred from Queens, Larry the Perv, and a guy whose name I won't mention.
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I'd say there is another category of callers, other than say Wurster and Andy Earles, who are kinda regular show characters just by doing their very own schtick, maybe somewhat urged to do so by Tom, Spike being the most obvious.
MC Steinberg definitely fits into this category. Also included (but less successful) would be The Leader, Fred from Queens, Larry the Perv, and a guy whose name I won't mention.
Stevie Blue?
I was into the payola guy from a year or two ago - I thought that was pretty funny.
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I'd say there is another category of callers, other than say Wurster and Andy Earles, who are kinda regular show characters just by doing their very own schtick, maybe somewhat urged to do so by Tom, Spike being the most obvious.
MC Steinberg definitely fits into this category. Also included (but less successful) would be The Leader, Fred from Queens, Larry the Perv, and a guy whose name I won't mention.
Stevie Blue?
I was into the payola guy from a year or two ago - I thought that was pretty funny.
The reason I didn't mention Stevie Blue is because, unlike the folks I mentioned, he doesn't seem to be playing a character.
I forgot about the payola guy. He was pretty good.
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I wish Clark from Venison Stew would call back. In fact, I'd like to hear a Clark v. Spike joke-off.
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staged?
my world is shattered.
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Payola guy was pretty hilarious. The best part was he seemed to be genuinely pissing Tom off while at the same time Tom recognized it was pretty funny. It was like the two sides of Tom's brain were duking it out on-air.
I think people hear Philly Boy Roy and think that everyone is supposed to call up with funny voices and "characters" and then Tom let's some people do it just to watch the sad spectacle play out, he lets other people do it because it's kinda funny, and other people he always tries to thwart and they keep coming back. I feel like there are a couple of categories:
People Who Tom Decides to "Give a Chance" and they make good/okay:
Petey (the ultimate troll-turned-hero Horatio Alger story in Best Show history)
Steinberg
the Leader
Larry the Perv
Spike (also, see below...)
People Who Tom is Convinced Will Kill Him
Stevie Blue
You-Know-Who
Spike
People Who Tom Has No Time For
Kids from Goshen
Hesh
James
Fred From Queens(?)
Clark from Venison Stew
Pranksters Remembered Fondly By The FOT
Kid Kansas
Payola Guy
Official "Rogue's Gallery"
Smirnoff Ice District Manager
Yankees vs. Mets guys
Kevin
Scag Winesack
...and so on...
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I wish Clark from Venison Stew would call back. In fact, I'd like to hear a Clark v. Steve delusion-off.
Fixed!
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Nicely done, JJ. Where does the Mr T guy fit in in all of this?
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I really do miss Kid Kansas sometimes.
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I'd say Mr. T guy falls into "Pranksters remembered fondly." The shtick definitely got tired, but I've gotta give the guy respect for his ability to call at Tom's low point. I can remember at least once where Tom, at the end of a bad show, decided to take one more call to try and turn things around...only to be greeted by "Shut up, fool!"
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Smirnoff ice manager was probably my favorite call ever. I can listen to it over and over.
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A special Easter blessing, especially for you, OrangeWhip.
(http://kickthebobo.com//BishopFontana_02.jpg)
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what about the angry mr. bungle fan, it seemed like a shtick.
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What I want to know is, who did the characters of Woodsy and the Utica-based conservative talk show host. Guy was amazing.
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Nobody seemed to like the call at the time, but I was a big fan of Ethan, the high school newspaper reporter who interviewed Tom on the 2/7/06 show (http://www.recidivism.org/2006/02/proud_moments.html).
And let's not forget Akiva Smirnoff! (Yes, I know most people want to forget him.)
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Akiva Smirnoff = Andy Samberg.
Also, when did the Mr. T guy start calling in? I feel like he's been around forever.
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I love Akiva
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This is fucked up but I've never listened to the Woodsy episode. I gotta hit the books!
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The Party Doctor 4 LYFE. :-* :-* :-*
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I was into the payola guy from a year or two ago - I thought that was pretty funny.
I remember Wurster followed a payola guy call as "Nigel from Matador", wondering why Tom wasn't playing New Pornos. After all, "The check cleared!" I suspected that it might have been an unscripted Wurster call. It was the closest I've heard Tom come to busting out laughing.
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i'm a big fan of the unscripted wurster calls. i remember during one of toms meltdowns after another L, jon calls in from newbridge and and adds insult to injury by simply stating "you're done".
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What show and when in the show was the Nigel from Matador call?
i'm a big fan of the unscripted wurster calls. i remember during one of toms meltdowns after another L, jon calls in from newbridge and and adds insult to injury by simply stating "you're done".
• July 24, 2007: Thor in Eastbridge [Show Stinks] (2:50)
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What I want to know is, who did the characters of Woodsy and the Utica-based conservative talk show host. Guy was amazing.
In an interview somewhere online, Jon says that that guy was a friend of his. I think he really is from upstate New York.
Richard from Chi loves Woodsy the best.
I am most fond of Zachary Brimstead and Zeph Marshack from the JW calls, and the early Skag Winesack and Depressed Office Worker from the AE calls.
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What show and when in the show was the Nigel from Matador call?
Answering my own question:
• January 31, 2006: Ricky from Marky R. Productions (0:21), Bryce 12 (0:44), Marky Ramone [Historical Romance] (1:35), The One's Brother (2:38 and 2:43), Nils from Matador (2:49)
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What show and when in the show was the Nigel from Matador call?
Answering my own question:
• January 31, 2006: Ricky from Marky R. Productions (0:21), Bryce 12 (0:44), Marky Ramone [Historical Romance] (1:35), The One's Brother (2:38 and 2:43), Nils from Matador (2:49)
That show's one for the books - "Lady Wainsworth's Desires" is a high point in American Culture AND American Cultural Commentary!
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For me, the best unscripted Wurster call remains Jimmy Crespo from Aerosmith calling in response to Mac's "schooling" Tom on Aerosmith. Tom's laughing pretty uncontrollably for most of the call.
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What is a Wurster?
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I returned to the beginning of the Best Show canon recently and came across some of my favorite characters. I really enjoyed Myrlyn Hogan, Augie Richards and Jon's call to Nostradamus scholar John Hogue about Orson Welles and "The Man Who Saw Tomorrow." These characters don't seem to destroy Tom's will to live as much in the early going.
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I still think the very first (archived) episode, with the Yankees-Mets fan showdown, is one of the funniest things ever done on the Best Show, even if it's pretty characteristically different. Going through the 2000/2001 shows on the archive, I kind of expected the show to still be getting its legs, but it was high-quality right from the outset.
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Stupornaut,
I agree, the first episodes in the archive are pretty solid.
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I still think the very first (archived) episode, with the Yankees-Mets fan showdown, is one of the funniest things ever done on the Best Show, even if it's pretty characteristically different. Going through the 2000/2001 shows on the archive, I kind of expected the show to still be getting its legs, but it was high-quality right from the outset.
I let the dogs out all over your FACE!
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Oh this is an AWESOME thread, thanks everyone for the compiling.
Not to derail the list of mostly characters as opposed to "characters," I think besides the die-hard commitment to fascinating strangeness that is wadded into the shape of honorary* super-caller Spike, my all-time favorite "Is-He-Real" weirdo is Clark of Venison Stew.
I tried to listen to his podcast but without the counterweight of Tom giving it the context of reason and justice, it's just auditory holocaust footage.
*No, come on, admit it.
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Smirnoff ice manager was probably my favorite call ever. I can listen to it over and over.
What show was that?
I think my favorite call by far was Rick from Albany, aka "The Soaker."
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Smirnoff ice manager was probably my favorite call ever. I can listen to it over and over.
What show was that?
November 20, 2001
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Smirnoff ice manager was probably my favorite call ever. I can listen to it over and over.
What show was that?
I think my favorite call by far was Rick from Albany, aka "The Soaker."
I'm pretty sure Rick the Soaker was an unscripted call, which only makes it more hilarious.
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I can't wait to see your response when it's revealed that Dave from Knoxville really IS a Wurster creation.
Sincerely,
Wurster
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I'm pretty sure Rick the Soaker was an unscripted call, which only makes it more hilarious.
A shiny thanks to whomever can point me to this one!
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Like a lot of people I have met in my life, Spike is real ... and yet he is totally unreal.
I am totally clueless as to the "obvious" identity of the president of the Spike fan club ... but whoever it is, I loved it. That call was comic gold.
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Believe that could possibly have been Mr Rattalouie, maybe.
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I'm pretty sure Rick the Soaker was an unscripted call, which only makes it more hilarious.
A shiny thanks to whomever can point me to this one!
I don't remember the exact date, but it was one of the final Poster Children feud shows.
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I'm pretty sure Rick the Soaker was an unscripted call, which only makes it more hilarious.
A shiny thanks to whomever can point me to this one!
I don't remember the exact date, but it was one of the final Poster Children feud shows.
2/7/06 - the call starts around the 51-minute mark on the archive.
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I'm pretty sure Rick the Soaker was an unscripted call, which only makes it more hilarious.
A shiny thanks to whomever can point me to this one!
I don't remember the exact date, but it was one of the final Poster Children feud shows.
2/7/06 - the call starts around the 51-minute mark on the archive.
The unscripted ones are usually short and sweet.
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I-Ron?
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FYI Andy Earles and his partner Jeff Jensen just released a CD of prank calls they did in Memphis and NYC on Matador that is pretty funny. I just got it so I haven't made it through all of them yet, but fans of the Party Doctor will not be dissapointed.
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FYI Andy Earles and his partner Jeff Jensen just released a CD of prank calls they did in Memphis and NYC on Matador that is pretty funny. I just got it so I haven't made it through all of them yet, but fans of the Party Doctor will not be dissapointed.
i have the original release of volume 1.
it has its moments but doesn't make me want to re-buy it just to get a second volume.
also, i just noticed this thread. the guy who started it has a Time Stereo avatar!!! fuck yeah!!!!
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Wow, someone recognized my Time Stereo thing. Are you a Michigan person?
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FYI Andy Earles and his partner Jeff Jensen just released a CD of prank calls they did in Memphis and NYC on Matador that is pretty funny. I just got it so I haven't made it through all of them yet, but fans of the Party Doctor will not be dissapointed.
agreed...party doctor has always been a favorite. i pre-ordered mine and got a really obnoxious poster which is only 50% work approriate.
i love it. did you go to the release party at goner?
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I like it when its clear that its John calling with something and Tom just hangs up on him right away anyway.
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i love it. did you go to the release party at goner?
[/quote]
I did indeed. Andy gave a power point presentation explaining the origin of some of the calls and gave away free Big Buefords from Rally's.
Lots of fun. Not sure the poster is life appropriate.
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i love it. did you go to the release party at goner?
I did indeed. Andy gave a power point presentation explaining the origin of some of the calls and gave away free Big Buefords from Rally's.
Lots of fun. Not sure the poster is life appropriate.
[/quote]
touche
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Wow, someone recognized my Time Stereo thing. Are you a Michigan person?
no, but i am friends with warn (and davin, and hitoko) and HNIA is my favoritest band forever, by far.
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Yeah, i've been into anything Time Stereo related since it all started (i got into HNIA with Home is in Your Head). Warren and Davin are both really nice guys too. One of the things I am proud of Detroit for. Their approach to noise music is so original. None of the nihilism and shock that so many noise artist resort to. It's all about fun.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5llOwiqsRI
this is a youtube video of Davin on a local UHF station Godzila Marathon
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oh yeah i saw that. pretty amazing
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BTW, the host of that show is the guy who used to play Count Scary.
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Akiva Smirnoff = Andy Samberg.
Is this true? I was just listening to the archive of the January 24, 2006 show and I tried to look up the identity of this caller. I tell ya, it doesn't sound like Andy Samberg, but I guess it could be. Maybe it's Andy's comedy partner Akiva Schaffer?
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Not Andy Samberg.
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I missed this one - I just listened through the Akiva Smirnoff-era broadcasts and didn't realize whom it was, even thought I thought it might be him. Then I went back and couldn't believe I'd missed it.
Akiva's 2014-2015 Facebook page will let you know.
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Akiva Smirnoff = Andy Samberg.
Is this true? I was just listening to the archive of the January 24, 2006 show and I tried to look up the identity of this caller. I tell ya, it doesn't sound like Andy Samberg, but I guess it could be. Maybe it's Andy's comedy partner Akiva Schaffer?
It's Brett Davis, aka MC Steinberg. Just look at the Youtube videos uploader: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRBqD_WSnew (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRBqD_WSnew)
Even if he wasn't the uploader, it's easy to connect the dots. The voice and tone. We already know Davis = Steinberg, and with the inventive things Brett Davis does on his public access show, it's easy to pin a thing like Akiva on him.
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Akiva Smirnoff = Andy Samberg.
Is this true? I was just listening to the archive of the January 24, 2006 show and I tried to look up the identity of this caller. I tell ya, it doesn't sound like Andy Samberg, but I guess it could be. Maybe it's Andy's comedy partner Akiva Schaffer?
It's Brett Davis, aka MC Steinberg. Just look at the Youtube videos uploader: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRBqD_WSnew (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRBqD_WSnew)
Even if he wasn't the uploader, it's easy to connect the dots. The voice and tone. We already know Davis = Steinberg, and with the inventive things Brett Davis does on his public access show, it's easy to pin a thing like Akiva on him.
This theory is BANANAZZZ.
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This has nothing to do with Akiva Smirnoff but did you guys know Kelsey Grammer was on Pat Byrne's show????!?!?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDQS-A4uj1U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDQS-A4uj1U)