One of the things that's always struck me about these stories (because there's one for almost every major right-wing media personality) is just how damned odd these guys are. Every single time, whether it's Limbaugh getting booed when guest hosting Wheel of Fortune and walking off in a snit, or O'Reilly every time ever, it's this bizarre refusal to interact with other human beings from people who spend every waking moment shouting how much more connected they are to what Americans think.
(To some extent, the thin-skinned stuff from Limbaugh and the other Radio jocks never shocked me that much. Radio's a much more one-sided medium than most shows let on- most DJs will rarely take calls live. Nowadays, it's possible to even do on-the fly cutting up of calls to control how much air time you use. More common for music stations, where you'll be taking a call over the first few seconds of a song and need to make it end right on time, but I've no doubt the same techniques are used in talk radio, "live" or not.)
This reminds me of the "Phone Cops" episode from WKRP in Cincinnati. Except, wouldn't a network security guard be even less threatening than a mall security guard?
"If you try mentioning Olbermann's name on our network again, so help me God, we will call you back again. Don't think we won't."
We mostly sent notes on it to our friends, rather than people who would report back to him, but it was great. We had a long running series about his attempts to find accommodation for his "assistants," Birget and Stacey, a pair of dancers he met in Las Vegas, who were working with him on his Russian energy consulting project.
I hope you saved those, and someday they get "discovered" in furtherance of a new, tell-all biography. The stationary could have been very helpful if you had trouble with a landlord, or the government of a third world country.
I hate admitting this because it makes it look like I care enough to want to know but don't know enough that I should care, but if you google WMYBSALB it becomes pretty clear that it's "Why must you be such a little bitch." Thus far, its use seems to be limited to Unfogged. Thus far.
That ad shares the troubling feature with this and ads for HDTV, that in order to truly grasp the reasons it proffers for the advertisandum, one must already be in possession of it or its effect. So it is self-defeating.
wow. just when I begin to think these assclowns can no longer surprise me....
Posted by soubzriquet | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 11:03 AM
One of the things that's always struck me about these stories (because there's one for almost every major right-wing media personality) is just how damned odd these guys are. Every single time, whether it's Limbaugh getting booed when guest hosting Wheel of Fortune and walking off in a snit, or O'Reilly every time ever, it's this bizarre refusal to interact with other human beings from people who spend every waking moment shouting how much more connected they are to what Americans think.
(To some extent, the thin-skinned stuff from Limbaugh and the other Radio jocks never shocked me that much. Radio's a much more one-sided medium than most shows let on- most DJs will rarely take calls live. Nowadays, it's possible to even do on-the fly cutting up of calls to control how much air time you use. More common for music stations, where you'll be taking a call over the first few seconds of a song and need to make it end right on time, but I've no doubt the same techniques are used in talk radio, "live" or not.)
Posted by Moleman | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 11:03 AM
Wait 'til "Tony" tries this stunt on a resident of North Carolina, where even the liberals own guns.
Posted by Lex | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 11:14 AM
Yeah, this NC resident would be reduced to tears, but they would be tears of laughter.
"Fox Security, huh? Yeah, whatcha gonna do, big guy?"
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 11:25 AM
This reminds me of the "Phone Cops" episode from WKRP in Cincinnati. Except, wouldn't a network security guard be even less threatening than a mall security guard?
"If you try mentioning Olbermann's name on our network again, so help me God, we will call you back again. Don't think we won't."
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 11:29 AM
It's like they are all engaged in some kind of competition to see who can come across as the weakest, most puffed up, least badass, arsewipe of all...
It'd funny if it wasn't for the fact that fuckwits like these are behind just about every nasty, violent right-wing populist movement... ever.
Posted by nattarGcM ttaM | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 11:32 AM
Oh, come on; violent right-wing populist movements never hurt anyone.
Posted by Joe Drymala | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 11:43 AM
No man who speaks German can be bad!
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 1:06 PM
Wait 'til "Tony" tries this on a resident of South Carolina, where even the liberal children have guns.
Posted by Paul | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 1:19 PM
I changed my mind. Tony isn't an underemployed actor; he's an intern.
Posted by Tia | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 2:24 PM
OT, but I remember being an intern and having access to some of Hen/ry Kissen/ger's official stationery. That was fun.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 2:37 PM
did you save any?
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 2:44 PM
I didn't, but a friend still has some.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 2:46 PM
I once hid a REDACTED in the wall of REDACTED. I wonder if it's still there, or for that matter, if anyone will ever find it.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 2:47 PM
I found it.
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 2:50 PM
I ate it.
Posted by Tia | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 2:53 PM
Goodness, Tia. I hope you used a condiment.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 2:55 PM
only after I found it.
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 2:55 PM
This was your doing, Standpipe?
Posted by Becks | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 2:58 PM
We mostly sent notes on it to our friends, rather than people who would report back to him, but it was great. We had a long running series about his attempts to find accommodation for his "assistants," Birget and Stacey, a pair of dancers he met in Las Vegas, who were working with him on his Russian energy consulting project.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 3:00 PM
17: Of course I did! I'm not one of those prom dress girls.
Posted by Tia | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 3:02 PM
I hope you saved those, and someday they get "discovered" in furtherance of a new, tell-all biography. The stationary could have been very helpful if you had trouble with a landlord, or the government of a third world country.
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 3:06 PM
This was your doing, Standpipe?
Oh, gross. No. Official mystery-preserving answer: Maybe. But no.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 3:10 PM
I don't know what "WMYBSALB" is and I believe you made it up.
Posted by Isle of Toads | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 6:31 PM
I hate admitting this because it makes it look like I care enough to want to know but don't know enough that I should care, but if you google WMYBSALB it becomes pretty clear that it's "Why must you be such a little bitch." Thus far, its use seems to be limited to Unfogged. Thus far.
Posted by Jackmormon | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 6:42 PM
I both use and mention: WMYBSALB?
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 6:42 PM
I maintain that this is not full Weiner-pwnage, since I supplied the link.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 6:45 PM
Well, GFYSIA.
Posted by Isle of Toads | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 7:00 PM
We're all frenemies here, I hope?
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 7:27 PM
We're all frenemies here
Or frenula.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 7:43 PM
But Toads! 'Round the 'Shaft, we all WFYIA.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 8:09 PM
(Not work-safe.)
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 8:12 PM
I give myself a 10 for concept, 4 for execution. Meh.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 8:17 PM
Pray, SB, what is NSFW about the Soesman Language Training advertisement? It seems fairly middle-of-the-road to this viewer.
Posted by The Modesto Kid | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 9:37 PM
That salacious rhythm! It's worse than "Bolero".
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 03-14-06 9:49 PM
That ad shares the troubling feature with this and ads for HDTV, that in order to truly grasp the reasons it proffers for the advertisandum, one must already be in possession of it or its effect. So it is self-defeating.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 03-15-06 6:40 AM
antecedent of "it or its effect" = advertisandum, not advertisement (advertisans?)
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 03-15-06 6:41 AM
First use of the acronymized form. The first lament about its use is further downthread.
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 03-15-06 2:30 PM