Author Topic: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors  (Read 71189 times)

Matthew

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #135 on: July 22, 2009, 04:11:13 AM »
So far, my calls have displayed, what I think economists call, diminishing returns.

First, I was told by Tom that I made a home run with my (on topic) call saying that the show "Two and a Half Men" would work better as a cereal commercial.

Second, acquitted myself un-embarrassingly whilst ranting about the last Indiana Jones movie.

Then, a really sad call offering a just terribly awkward lyric for that Ted Leo and The Pharmacists song about the world going into the terlet. (The lesson to me from this call is this: Sometimes, you may wind up on hold for such a long time that your idea's moment will have passed by. My advice in this situation is cut your losses and hang up.)

And most recently tonight, which I don't want to think about too much (a kind of ill-conceived effort to volunteer reporting on the Mighty Boosh Bash).

The moral of the story is: If you are nervous about calling in, wait for a topic you can nail and call on topic. Don't let the fact that you've listened to the show a lot and/or have exchanged a few emails with the host lull you into lazy or overly casual chumminess. This is the Best Show, so you have to rise to the occasion a bit and/or at least be humble.

Alternately, you can just blither through and keep shamelessly calling until you get a weird familial or bar-regular type status.

Stupornaut

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #136 on: July 22, 2009, 03:01:39 PM »
I gotta say, one of the reasons I stopped calling (aside from the "rarely get the chance to listen live anymore" thing) is the fact that I'd get a decentish answer for the topic, but then I'd realize during the call that I had no real solid idea about where to take it, seeing as how my contributions were typically kind of short and self-explanatory. That, and my voice makes Mike Nelson sound like Mike Patton.
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bonnaventure

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #137 on: July 28, 2009, 08:45:16 PM »
I gotta say, one of the reasons I stopped calling (aside from the "rarely get the chance to listen live anymore" thing) is the fact that I'd get a decentish answer for the topic, but then I'd realize during the call that I had no real solid idea about where to take it, seeing as how my contributions were typically kind of short and self-explanatory. That, and my voice makes Mike Nelson sound like Mike Patton.

I much prefer a short and to the point topic answer than the "Blah Blah Blah" versions any day of the week, if your contribution is golden, it could spin-off in to a infamy, if not, at least you're in the podcast.

Spoony

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #138 on: July 29, 2009, 11:49:51 PM »
Speaking for myself, if I've got something that might run long, I write an outline. I know that sounds cheesy but I'm horrible on the phone and I get mush-mouthy and distracted easily.

Of course, the outline usually gets crumpled up and thrown in the trash half-way through because no call ever goes where you think it will.

Hoboken Brian

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #139 on: August 18, 2009, 04:33:49 PM »
(14 Apr 09)
I was way too nervous for my own good, but I don't think I humiliated myself by suggesting that Michael Chiklis should play Curly Joe DeRita and that "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" wasn't my favorite thing ever. But I didn't choke. I don't choke, darn it.

(Though I haven't called since and am back to being a chatrat)
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dukerayburn

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #140 on: August 19, 2009, 01:22:48 AM »
Just called in tonight, got to KFC nightmare foods with Patton Oswalt. Such an immense pleasure. I think I did okay, I was probably trying a bit too hard. I was worried that I'd be GOMPed when Tom didn't latch onto my suggestion that "lucky" would be in the Japanese name for the Double Down Sandwich, but Patton rolled with it.

I'm going to be selective about calling in on future shows. I don't want to spoil a decent start. I do have a good Celebrity Look-alike Insult story, so I might try and get that one in before that topic fades into true irrelevance.

hugman

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #141 on: August 19, 2009, 01:54:18 AM »

I'm going to be selective about calling in on future shows. I don't want to spoil a decent start. I do have a good Celebrity Look-alike Insult story, so I might try and get that one in before that topic fades into true irrelevance.

I think that's already happened. I don't know why that's become a topic that keeps going and going when there's really only a couple possible responses: either A)that's horrible, what does your friend look like, do they realize they have no business saying that or B) oh, poor baby you were called the poor man's Jude Law, heave ho.

jbissell

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #142 on: August 19, 2009, 11:09:02 AM »
Just called in tonight, got to KFC nightmare foods with Patton Oswalt. Such an immense pleasure. I think I did okay, I was probably trying a bit too hard. I was worried that I'd be GOMPed when Tom didn't latch onto my suggestion that "lucky" would be in the Japanese name for the Double Down Sandwich, but Patton rolled with it.

As soon as I heard "Greg from Omaha" I was wondering if it was dukerayburn.  I liked your call, except for the fact that it lead to me seeing a picture of that "sandwich", which was one of the most unappetizing sights ever.

Christina

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #143 on: August 20, 2009, 10:00:24 AM »
Just called in tonight, got to KFC nightmare foods with Patton Oswalt. Such an immense pleasure. I think I did okay, I was probably trying a bit too hard. I was worried that I'd be GOMPed when Tom didn't latch onto my suggestion that "lucky" would be in the Japanese name for the Double Down Sandwich, but Patton rolled with it.

As soon as I heard "Greg from Omaha" I was wondering if it was dukerayburn.  I liked your call, except for the fact that it lead to me seeing a picture of that "sandwich", which was one of the most unappetizing sights ever.

If this is the same call I'm thinking of, I liked the line about ... what was it, something like: "I don't think sauce should be named after a dude".

Sage words.
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dukerayburn

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #144 on: August 21, 2009, 12:40:38 AM »
That was me, yes. I was also worried at that point that Tom might GOMP me for turlet talk, but he let it slide. It's a valid concern.

Pastor Josh

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #145 on: August 21, 2009, 02:46:46 AM »
Greg, great call.  The chicken thing still haunts my dreams.
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dukerayburn

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #146 on: August 21, 2009, 04:25:31 PM »
Thank you, Pastor Josh! That means a lot coming from you. You're probably my favorite Normal who calls in regularly.

Pastor Josh

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #147 on: August 21, 2009, 05:11:10 PM »
Thank you, Pastor Josh! That means a lot coming from you. You're probably my favorite Normal who calls in regularly.

Wow, I thought I was in Spike/Fredericks territory with SCUMMForce and all that.  I thought maybe I was coming across as weirder than I am.  Thanks, man. 
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pscan

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #148 on: September 09, 2009, 10:38:36 AM »
Made my first call last night (Paul, calling in from The Iron Monkey). Although it won't make anyone's Hall of Fame (except mine), I felt ok about it. I saw Tom at the party afterwards and thanked him for being so nice for my first call. He told me I did great, not because I did, but because he is.

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nec13

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Re: First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors
« Reply #149 on: September 09, 2009, 12:16:26 PM »
That was a fine first effort, pscan.
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