29 Apr 2025

First Time Long Time Last Time

by Joe MacLeod

In my mind, after my triumphant call-in, Andy Richter begins each day wondering if I will call-in again to make the show even better.

I LOVE TO listen to radio in all its forms. I enjoy podcasts, satellite radio, and regular “terrestrial” radio, the original Radio! Mostly, I like to listen to funny stuff, and I have been listening to The Andy Richter Call-In Show on satellite radio, that I pay for, but it seems to be in all the normal pod-places, maybe just a week or two behind, so you could check it out for free, this is not me trying to get signups for satellite radio, I don’t get anything out of this, especially not here on Flaming Hydra! No ads! No masters!

Anyway, I also listen to the Conan O’Brien programming, which led me to the Andy Richter Call-In Show, and it is fun to listen to. They come up with a topic, people sign up to call in, and then they tell their stories related to the topic and the hosts goof on it, but not on the callers very much. They’re not all great, the stories, but that’s where Andy and his celebrity guest come in, they keep it moving, and they’re never jerks to the callers like shock-jocks or anything. If somebody is kind of a dud, they figure out a way to get something out of the call and then they move on in a nice way.

I like to think I am an okay writer, but I am absolutely not a good story-teller using my mouth. I can’t even tell jokes very well. I wanted to call-in, though, because it seemed like fun, kind of a game, and while I don’t think I’m good at crafting a story out loud with words, I think I am a pretty good talker, does that make any sense? Maybe like a delusional parrot, I have a facility for making word-shaped noises?

Here’s the info if you think you want to go on the show. I have forgotten how to locate the week’s topic. I either heard it announced on the show, or else I saw it on theinternet someplace, sorry, it’s out there, though, you can find it! Also, they have a “wild card” segment, so you can just try and sign up on the strength of your story and you could be a “wild card,” although, be warned, they play that classic rave-club-party BOW-BOW-BOW-BOWWWW airhorn sound effect every time they say “wild card” on the show, and it seemed to be a little disorienting for some of the callers. Be prepared!