Origin &/or meaning of the "Heeh!" Tom makes after each call?

[Nicholas Tanek]

Origin &/or meaning of the "Heeh!" Tom makes after each call?

Just curious...
I noticed that Tom does a short and high-pitched "Heeh!" sound almost after call. Was this something he always did? Was there an origin behind it? Is the a meaning behind it? Or... is it something he just does?

 

[buffcoat]

It's "bye." He talks about it during some of the shows. It has been variously interpreted phonetically - your interpretation is as good as any.

[akaJudge]

I noticed that he generally only does this after good calls, have you found that to be true?

[buffcoat]

I noticed that he generally only does this after good calls, have you found that to be true?

Yes - it's the good call equivalent of a GOMP or heave ho.

[MarkS]

Tom also describes it as "the thing that became Gary the Squirrel" in the Best Show magazine.

[rpm1200]

Here's something I came across yesterday that blew my mind. In this 2002 episode of The Best Show on WFMU, Tom's throwing a going away party for Associate Producer Dave and trying to find someone to take his place. As he's talking to Ranger Jim and Hova from Greasy Kid Stuff, it is revealed that Tom has called that show in the past pretending to be a kid. Check out the voice (and the name that Tom used, once Jim reminds him it's not "Roger")!

http://wfmu.org/flashplayer.php?version=2&show=4850&archive=100602&starttime=1:14:02

[hairdryer]

I also remember it starting somewhere around 2002, around the time of themes like "Party Zone" and "Doc Shock" and "Xtreme Show" where Tom was goofing on radio masculinity.  I believe it may have started with a Petey call (that's the earliest I can remember him doing it). I remember it just being a kind of macho noise, like the audio equivalent of a chest bump, or a general "get pumped" kind of noise.

I'm nearing the end of 2003 in the archives (listening to one a day M-F) so this isn't terribly too far from my memory.

[hairdryer]

Unless we're talking about two different things. The OP mentioned "high pitched" so it's probably not what I'm thinking of. Otherwise, it's just him saying "bye" in a really high pitched voice.

[Nielsen]

http://wfmu.org/flashplayer.php?version=2&show=23326&archive=100788

Explanation at the 01.33.33 mark.

[rpm1200]

http://wfmu.org/flashplayer.php?version=2&show=23326&archive=100788

Explanation at the 01.33.33 mark.

Good catch. But I still love the high-pitched "Hi, it's me, Gary." in the clip I posted. It's like a low-energy Gary The Squirrel.