ALL HAIL THE MAD QUEEN!
Really: if you are upset at a banning/ ban time, I think it might be time to reassess where this fun radio show fits into your life. If anyone feels that they are entitled to any certain amount of call time AT ALL, then that is just plain selfish in my book. I bet there are countless wonderful weirdos out there who probably just don't call in b/c the the lines are jammed with regulars.
If you listen back through the archives, there really are some magical moments that occur with some one-shot callers.
I 100000000000% endorse this statement. It's a comedy show! It's been great to have been a part but it will be great to not call in. The show was my favorite thing in comedy before I called for the first time, it's still my favorite thing in comedy now, and it will be my favorite thing in comedy afterwards. I have no entitlements to any time on this show whatsoever.
It was a huge thrill when Tom mentioned my dumb little podcast on the show and to get involved in the protege race. And it's been really funny to hear Tom suggest people pants me at a listening party. It's been super fun to call in and to be a part of this thing... but it's also a lot of fun to listen without taking part. (And listening the next day at work really helps me get through the day and avoid my annoying co-workers.)
It's also a study of the power of "less is more." I think I can come up with a few funny things of what's the topic every week. But I called in WAAAY too much during the whole protege thing and it sucked. I can totally get down with calling in once every few months.
And people who are banned can also take part in the greater Best Show community if they still want. There's the message board and Twitter. And if you feel the need to be funny in audio form, it's pretty easy to start your own podcast.
Gah! Why the hell would anyone get upset at this?