24th August - 28th August 1998

Monday 24th August

Riff Raff in Politics

Premise : Unless the Riff Raff are given their own political party, they will revolt against the establishment, just like their historical counterparts in the French revolution. This will involve bloodshed!

Evaluation : By no means a terrible hour, the introduction began on a highly amusing note, a credit to Tommy's insite into the lifestyle of working class man. However the velocity of the debate steadily lost it's momentum soon after, and one found themselves falling rigourously down that spiral staircase. Again, as with a handful of shows with a hint of promise, the hour plummeted mainly due to the unenergetic banter eminating from the majority of callers. Shame really, after such a solid introduction.

Angry Hour

Tuesday 25th August

Eat Cats

Premise : Lethargy, heavy limbs, aching joints, bad memory, dry skin, insufficient nutrition and white spots on the fingernail, are all symptoms of pre-senile dementia (PSD), which is linked to the ownership of cats. The remedy would be to eat them, creating a homeopathic cure.

Evaluation : The hour was graced with the presence of Edna from Hampshire (hmm?), a very elderly woman who was of course outraged by the suggestion of cat owners being senile, she, as with most elderly women, didn't last the length but provided a jolly good laugh with her short, but welcome, vitriolic presence.Overall a stimulating discussion, and an interesting topic.

Quote of the week : Edna from Hampshire "No it's not better, because it's a load of old bollocks!"

Point of interest : Today the cabin doors were at manual!

Evidence to suggest Elves exist

Premise : After witnessing the presence of one whilst he was taking the rubbish out (is there a long running theme here?), Tommy proceeded to inform the listener that not only Elves exist, but the evidence is far more overwhelming than the evidence that suggests that both aliens and God exists.

Evaluation : All those mysterious crop circles, and all those missing items showing up, it's got to be mischievous Elves, and after listening to this top quality explanation, I defy anybody not to want it to be. The evidence was there and in quantity, and all the answers it provided had substantial plausability. I don't know how anyone who is remotely religious, or believes in extra-terrestrials, could possibly argue against this one. They did try, but all too predicatably, failed! In what has to be the show of the week, this simple, yet enchanting topic stimulated not only higher thought processes, but deep down had some fundamental questions to pose about our own belief systems. Absolute magic!

Classic Quote : Tommy "Don't chuck a pebble in the pond, if you don't want ripples!"

Interesting Point : There is a strong possibility that this hour will be followed up sometime in the future. Fingers crossed hey!

Wednesday 26th August

Drivers over 50

Premise : Give old people restricted road access, and ban them from rush hours, to improve road safety and the flow of traffic.

Evaluation : Not an awful hour, and by no means a classic. It's what you may call a stocking filler hour, like those very light episodes of Star Trek you have every series between fairly powerful ones. I'm still wondering whether the argument was constructive or simply provocative. Not bad, but the show is bogged down enough with traffic issues lately.

Classic Quote : Tommy to bloke with a closed mind "What are your suggestions pal? It's easy to be destructive, how about being creative?"

Boys Brigade to solve category C crimes

Premise : Considering that the police are busy in the pursuit of big time criminals and serious offenders, perhaps it's time to allow the Boys Brigade to solve the most basic of crimes, such as littering and dog fouling.

Evaluation : This was a corker. Just the mental image of a group of young boys on the street with a camera, a dictaphone and a bugle, was enough to have me in stitches. If anyone turned on one of the youngsters, they could simply blow their bugle and expect the cavalry to come to their rescue. Of course, without the bugle, they might get kicked in!!! One of the highlights was when he had a bloke on who wouldn't stop rmbling on, and even when Tommy thought he'd got rid of him and introduced a new caller, he was still on the line! There was also a wonderful story involving an old woman that use to be a member of the Hitler youth. Cracking!

Thursday 27th August

Dirty Weekend

Premise : What's the best way of organising a dirty weekend?

Evaluation : It's another one of those class hours, that you don't know why you like it so much, it's almost completely void of argument, but there's an enormous buzz factor, or more a sectretive feeling of listening to a glamorous discussion on a topic that is considered morally taboo. It's always interesting to listen to women who flirt with our man Boyd over the telephone. It's nice to know that even though he paraded around in uncomplimentary Bermuda shorts for 10 years, he still has a high chick magnet appeal!!!

Classic Quote : Tommy to idiot "You are one of the clumsiest people I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with Andrew, and I will give your marriage another six months, maximum. DOOMED, absolutely DOOMED man!"

The Internet's Fantastic

Premise : Simply a celebration of the this fantastic revolutionary form of information and communication.

Evaluation : At last, someone in the media has something positive to say about the internet as a positive, unique forum, and virtual window to the world of fact, fiction, and fantasy. Great show, and quite right too!

Classic Quote : Tommy to Derek "You can't afford the internet, and you haven't got a brain to work it!"

Friday 28th August

The Wonderful Hour

Beggars and the Homeless

Premise : After a "hard done by" could-be homeless caller phones in, claiming the moral high ground, and spitting drudgery, Tommy devoted an hour to beggars and the homeless, and simply attacked them.

Evaluation : Great! I like it when somebody speaks up and challenges what we, as sympathetic human beings, are suppose to think, and challenge those people we are are suppose to feel sorry for because they are less well off than we are. Tommy hit the nail right on the head with this one, when he points out that these people blame the governent, the media, and the country, everyone but themsleves, and we're sick of hearing it. It's healthy and it feels good to attack people we're suppose to be aligned with sympathetically!

Classic Quote : Tommy questioning a request common to most street beggars "Spare change? What's 'SPARE' change? There's a ressession coming!"