Back in the 1970's, WDBJ TV in Roanoke used to produce several local television shows. One of them was Klassroom Kwiz which I thoroughly embarrassed myself on in 1977. The host at that time was George Bassett. Before George took over that show, it was hosted by local media star, Ted Powers.
Ted was quite a character and came across as extremely vain. His signature contribution to the station's line-up was a show he produced and starred in called "Dialog." This topical show starred Ted sitting in a plush office chair on a darkened stage beside a telephone. The phone, a fancy one with lights showing three incoming lines, rested on a simple telephone stand beside the chair.
Ted would begin the show with some kind of monologue then he would invite a dialog on the topic of the day as he puffed politely and stoically on his pipe.
The show usually went off uneventfully every day from 7:30 to 8pm...except for one day...
Ted started in usual fashion then threw open the phone lines. Sometimes the phones didn't light up and Ted would have to just talk for a while. Anyway, on that night, the phone lit right up. Ted spoke between puffs, "Caller on line one, you're on the air." He punched the button on the phone, and all of Roanoke (that bothered to watch pompous Ted) heard a man in a thick, slow drawl say, "T-eee-dddd, I ________ed your mother last night."
Ted immediately dropped his jaw and quickly hung up on the guy. He apologized to the viewers and continued on with the show like a true professional. Again he called for callers and the phone immediately lit up. Ted punched line one and said, "Caller on line one, you're on 'Dialog." "T-ee-ddd, I ________ed your mother last...." [click]. Ted hung up.
As God is my witness, Ted went back to the phone lines one more time, and sure enough the guy got through again, "T-eeee-dddd, I ....[click]"
Unflappable Ted was red-faced and thoroughly embarrassed.
It happened; it really did.
Ted was quite a character and came across as extremely vain. His signature contribution to the station's line-up was a show he produced and starred in called "Dialog." This topical show starred Ted sitting in a plush office chair on a darkened stage beside a telephone. The phone, a fancy one with lights showing three incoming lines, rested on a simple telephone stand beside the chair.
Ted would begin the show with some kind of monologue then he would invite a dialog on the topic of the day as he puffed politely and stoically on his pipe.
The show usually went off uneventfully every day from 7:30 to 8pm...except for one day...
Ted started in usual fashion then threw open the phone lines. Sometimes the phones didn't light up and Ted would have to just talk for a while. Anyway, on that night, the phone lit right up. Ted spoke between puffs, "Caller on line one, you're on the air." He punched the button on the phone, and all of Roanoke (that bothered to watch pompous Ted) heard a man in a thick, slow drawl say, "T-eee-dddd, I ________ed your mother last night."
Ted immediately dropped his jaw and quickly hung up on the guy. He apologized to the viewers and continued on with the show like a true professional. Again he called for callers and the phone immediately lit up. Ted punched line one and said, "Caller on line one, you're on 'Dialog." "T-ee-ddd, I ________ed your mother last...." [click]. Ted hung up.
As God is my witness, Ted went back to the phone lines one more time, and sure enough the guy got through again, "T-eeee-dddd, I ....[click]"
Unflappable Ted was red-faced and thoroughly embarrassed.
It happened; it really did.
1 comment:
I remember Klassroom Kwiz. The Ted story is a jewel. No caller ID back then or *69.
Gives a new meaning to T -eeee-ddd. Sounds like "Lumford" in Office Space (movie).
SC
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