Did anybody else enjoy the sudden, brief "takeover" of Fresh Air on Chicago Public Radio by the Sound Opinions gang on Wednesday? I was listening online, so I don't know if this went out over the airwaves, but about 40 minutes into Terry Gross's interview with Ishmael Beah, someone at Navy Pier hit a wrong switch. Suddenly Terry was gone and I heard a voice say "hello, hello, Lawrence are you there... yeah I can hear you, but you sound like you're on a speaker phone or something." I assumed this was a glitch with Fresh Air, but then I heard the unmistakable Jim Dero say "so he can hear us, but we can't hear him." Then I heard someone say "Lessig" and it sounded like Kot, and then I heard Dero's trademark laugh. Then I knew: this was a privileged live look behind the scenes of the production of Sound Opinions.

I gather that they were trying to interview Lawrence Lessig and something went wrong. Jim asked Greg if he'd worked out his own internet troubles yet, to which Greg said it was totally "f***ked up" (yes, live over the air) and he was getting his mail three days late. Much laughter again. Then Jim started complaining that he was hungry and they ought to order a bunch of pizzas.

Then the best part: Jim said, "Hey look at that horrified look on Todd's face! And now Tory looks horrified too. Look, they're running towards the studio!" Then they both started yelling through the glass "what's going on! what's going on!" And then ZAP... back to Fresh Air.

Ah, this made my week! Did anyone in Chicago hear it live? I'm on the west coast of Canada, and I'd hate to think I was the only one who enjoyed this classic Sound Opinions moment.

--V

That would have been so great to hear....


Wonder if you could find it on the archives...

that sounds so funny. wish i'd heard it.

haha

So far no other SOMBies admitting to listening to Fresh Air.

Everyone is still in bed?

in cleveland but listen to both shows and wish i had an aircheck of that screw up!

Of course I'm just joking. FA used to come on around 1 pm in Chicago (I assume it still does). I haven't been to SOMB since before the switch to NPR. That's cool to get national posters.

I've heard Gross do one too many poor interviews to listen to her again. Hopefully she's better now.

I've heard too many good ones to stop, but I know what you mean.

Speaking of which...anyone know where I can find a sound file of the infamous interview between her and Gene Simmons? I've only heard reports about it and would like to hear the whole thing. It's not on Audible's archives (for obvious reasons).

Missed that story. Post back here when you find it though.

Found it. Only took a Google search...and viola!

http://erim.net/archives/gene-simmons-and-...gross-interview

holy shit. i just listened to that whole interview and that guy is a fucking tool. i always knew he was a dick, but had no idea of the breadth of his twisted women-hating, money-hungry ways. unbelievable.

TG played the end of the Gene Simmons interview on the 20th Anniversary show. They did a montage of goodbyes over the years. The Lou Reed interview didn't sound like it went too well either.

I feel that. Listening to her ask Bowie about "playing characters," something he basically stopped after Aladdinsane, kinda pushed me over the edge.

I'd love to hear that. Thanks for sharing.