Best Caller: Fredericks of New Port Richey [Nobody is even close. This was the Year of Fredericks. Give the man his due!]
Rookie(s) of the Year: Lisa Jane Persky and Jen Kirkman
Best Guest: Martin Short
Best Threat on Tom's Life:
"Taupin is prepared to make a final push by engaging Plan C, an exciting new form of music he's working on with a NJ-based composer named Sean. He gives Tom a sample of an all-too-familiar sound: a series of air horn blasts. Tom begs him to stop. Taupin argues that everything about an air horn is cool, but Tom does not accept it as a viable musical instrument. Taupin says he was playing "your song," which Tom assumes is "Your Song" from Elton's self-titled second album. Taupin clarifies that it was Tom's murder song. He returns to the air horn for a three-toot salute to Tom's impending death. Tom predicts that he won't sell enough of his catalog in time to win the bet. He recommends that Taupin just try to hold on to what he's got. Taupin says Tom needs to hold onto his life. Tom doesn't understand why his anger about the sales shortfall is manifesting itself in air-horn-feuled death threats. Taupin responds with a parting shot: "Pull me closer, Tiny Dancer, because I'm gonna murder you." Horn. Drum. Click. Tom always wanted to chat with Taupin, but he never imagined it would play out like that." [1/27/09]
