I have a couple of tough decisions to make in the next 24 hours and hope that the IMAO Fans can help a brother out:
1) I am co-hosting the Republican Radio talk show tomorrow here in Seattle (broadcast live from 11am-1pm Pacific Time on the Internet via the Universal Talk Network) and I’m frustrated with the guests they’ve got lined up: Dr. James Marlowe of the Evergreen Historical Preservation Society, Trevor Cranston-Smythe with Washingtonians for Liberty, and William Pitts, the co-founder of the Legal Immigration Foundation. My problem is that none of these guys sound very exciting and they all sound like the old rich WASP everyone thinks of when they hear the word “Republican.” Should I be worried about reinforcing a stereotype?
2) My day job is offering to send me to a private screening of Star Wars Episode III for free, but I have already promised myself that after Episodes I and II that I wouldn’t be screwed again by George Lucas. Should I break my own promise and take the free ticket?
Deep, meaningful conservation shall ensue in the Comments section, I’m sure!
My cats breath smells like catfood
Okay, Ralph Wiggum.
Anyway, Scott, you should definetely not go to Episode III. You should agree to take them up on their offer, and send the ticket to me, and I’ll tell you how it ended.
It’s your employer’s time and your employer’s money – how are you getting screwed?
How can I get that job?
BTW,
If you aren’t paying for the ticket. then in a way – aren’t YOU screwing George Lucas?
In a financial sort of way. Of course.
As far as the WASP image – yep. You’re right.
It seems you could have fun with William Pitts in the line of asking for his take on all the illegal aliens that stream across our borders.
Dr. James Marlowe comes across as a tree hugger considering the title of the group he represents. The Evergreen Historical Preservation Society could also be taken as protecting the folding stuff of the well-to-do.
If interviewing these guys has you nervous you could always try the old debate team method. All you have to do is picture your “guests” in their underwear.
I don’t think you have a thing to worry about with the talk show. You do a great job with the blogging.
You should do what your heart tells you…
Yeah, you know what it is. Is there even any doubt?
Talk with a bunch of dudes who you think could be reinforcing a stereotypes or go see the last Star Wars movie to be made…
Tough choice, eh?
/sarc
Star Wars 3 baby! If you don’t like that then go to your talk show dressed as Darth Vader. That’ll force them to ask and you can tell them your skipping a advance screening of Star Wars III for them. It should make them feel important, lol.
That definitely is a guest list from hell, I’m going to guess that the average handicap of that group is less than 5. But I’m pretty sure you should be ok seeing III for free, Lucas doesn’t benefit at all from that. You aren’t allowed to announce that you enjoyed it though.
JMK
While I don’t usually recommend such things, if it gets boring to the point of unlistenability, you can always revert to the tried-and-true talk-show technique of heaping abuse on your guests in the guise of asking them a pointlessly controvertial non-sequiter question like a leftist would.
For instance “Dr. Marlowe, tell me why the Evergreen Historical Preservation Society isn’t a haven for rich, white patriarchal male do-gooder WASPS and thus a complete and utter waste of time and resources for all involved?”
“Mr. Cranston-Smithee…” wait for him to correct your pronounciation of his name..”well, it’s spelled Smithee…anyway…aren’t the vast majority of Washingtonians for Liberty? Are you intending to construe that those who disagree with you aren’t for liberty? I mean, would Dr. Marlowe be for liberty if he didn’t, for instance, join your group? And, isn’t it true that your great-great-great-granduncle was Sir Thomas Smythe, a well-known abuser of peaceful Indian labor in the 17th century Imperialist East India Company?”
“Mr. Pitts – how do you account for the fact that most legal immigrants are still damn, dirty immigrants? Even the Aussies. Especially the Aussies. Isn’t there something you can do about that?”
🙂
Definitely see the movie. You’re getting paid for it, after all. Some people have much worse jobs than having to watch Chewbacca and Yoda pal around for two hours… But then again, if it’s just a free ticket to be used on your own time, then it’s a wash.
As for the talk show, isn’t it a bit too late to worry about the guest list?
If you can get your guests to overplay and parody the WASPy, blueblood, stereotype you could have some fun. Otherwise, yeah, you’re probably going to leave your listeners thinking they’ve just heard the audio from the yacht club directors meeting.
I didn’t bother with episode II or V or umpty-ump or whatever in Hell Lucas called it this week. I wasn’t interested when I found out they weren’t turning Jar-Jar Binks into shoe leather. So I guess it all depends on whether you feel like losing three hours of your time to something you don’t much like.
I have no idea who any of those guests are, but that “evergreen” guy sounds like a hippe tree hugger. Good luck with the show, If you stick to the way you’ve been blogging you’ll kick their asses. As far as episode III goes, if its free, I’d take it. Also, exactly how did you get screwed on the last couple of episodes, I thought they were decent.
I have no idea who any of those guests are, but that “evergreen” guy sounds like a hippe tree hugger. Good luck with the show, If you stick to the way you’ve been blogging you’ll kick their asses. As far as episode III goes, if its free, I’d take it. Also, exactly how did you get screwed on the last couple of episodes, I thought they were decent.
First time poster here. Hey, I’m from Seattle, how come I ain’t on? 🙂 And isn’t Michael Medved from around here? Get him on… it would be a hoot.
Thanks El Santo,
Michael Medved lives and broadcasts from Seattle. I’ve met Mr. Medved and frequently talked to his producers Dan “Darth” Sytman and Jeremy Steiner, and attempted to collaborate on some parody audio with Blogger Brian.
Republican Radio is broadcast in Seattle on the KOL 1300AM, a Salem Communications station. Although Medved is a Salem employee, the Republican Radio show doesn’t any contact with him (a shame really–he’s my personal fave and one of the best in the business).
Simple.
E-mail a note that says “Republicans are simply a bunch of one dimensional neo-McCarthyites – Discuss amongst yourselves”
Then go the movie.
I say misintroduce the dude from the “The Evergreen Historical Preservation Society” as being from “The Everclear® Historical Preservation Society” and make him talk to all the drunks that call in to tell him how much they love Everclear® and how they love him and his society for trying to preserve it.
Skip Episode III and go see The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
Personally, I want to see it anyway. But if your principles include not supporting George Lucas, here is my advice:
Is your company buying out the theater? If so, whether you go or not probably makes no difference in the total cost. But if they’re buying individual tickets, you should skip it if that’s what you really believe.
Well William Pitt is a regular poster at DU(I think). There should be some good fodder there
actual the guy on your radio is William PittS. The DU poster is William Pitt no S.
Man, my day job never offers to send me to private screenings. Anyway, Kevin Smith was squealing with glee after seeing Episode III, so maybe it’s good.
As for you first question, it’s radio, so pretend one of your guests is black.
I would sell my own mother to get Ep III tickets
Scott,
I just caught your segment on Republican Radio with Ali from “MuslimsforAmerica.us”.
Bravo!
You and Ann-Marie make quite an electric team.
All the best! Now back to hear your blogger segment.
efc!
Let me tell you a story:
From 1998 to 2002, I was in the Army, and from March to August 1999 I was stationed in Bosnia, at the main base camp in Tuzla. MWR had just built a movie theater for the troops, with free admission and everything. Episode I came out that May.
I saw it three times in three days. Why? Because I love Jar Jar Binks? No. Because it was FREE.
Isn’t that what we’re all about? Freedom?
Anyway, go see Episode III at company expense. No matter how bad it is, at least it has Darth Vader!!
James Marlowe?
Wasn’t he in Earth vs. The Flying Saucers?
Take the ticket.
well I could care less about George Lucas and star wars but I will say that anytime something is free in life take it. Besides if you did see the movie for free arent you kinda screwing Lucas because your seeing his movie for free and thats money he’s not getting
I know a longtime (I mean, decades) Seattle GOP activist who is one of the plaintiffs in the Washington Governor’s race mess you have going up there. He is an absolute piece of work, though not a blogger or particularly a tech guy. Very humorous and quick on his feet, he’d be a great guest. E-mail me if you want contact information.
Take the guys from the radio show to see Star Wars III.
Problem Solved
I just Googled “Washingtonians for Liberty” and “Trevor Cranston-Smythe.” The organization returned no meaningful results, and the name returned only your blog. Clearly Trevor Cranston-Smythe is fictitious, which means either:
1.) It’s a trap, Frank! Don’t go there! There are ninjas waiting for you! With monkeys! OR
2.) You made the whole thing up.
It sounds to me like you’re going to the movie, either way.
Go see Episode III. It HAS TO BE as good as or better than Ep.II (which was definitely better than Ep.I simply because Jar Jar had LESS onscreen time). My friend just got back from Episode III Celebration in Indiana and apparently it was awesome. Plus critics are saying this one’s gonna be WAY darker and scarier than the first two family friendly hatchet jobs. If Ep.III isn’t good enough, GL is in deep shizzle with his fans, especially the ones on the web.
Um, Mitch, two things: 1) This is Scott McCollum posting, not Frank J., and 2) He just did that radio stuff this morning, so that’s already been resolved.
You fail at internets.
Oh, er, I mean yesterday morning (now that it’s after midnight).
Ask them if they have any Grey Poupon.