I listened to a fascinating and hilarious dialogue on the radio this morning, and thought I'd share it here, along with shaking my head in amazement.

A bit of background: the station I was listening to holds these "Singing Bees" in the morning, where the DJ plays a bit of a song, and when he stops it, the selected caller has to continue singing the rest of the verse on their own. Prizes are things like free tickets (typically 2-- you and a guest) to local concerts or free dinners or whatever. You know-- your usual radio contest fare.

This morning, I tuned in to hear a woman calling in, I didn't know who she was but the DJ recognized her as the woman who had just minutes earlier won today's Singing Bee and 2 tickets to see Lyle Lovett and kd lang in concert. The following conversation (paraphrased from the best of my memory, and pared down to the important parts) ensued:

Woman: (realizing she's on the air) Uh.... am I on the air? No, I can't say this...
DJ: Aww come on, it's okay!
Woman: Well, um... I need 1 more ticket.
DJ: (in disbelief) One more ticket! You know, they're still on sale. You can buy one at the ticket office.
Woman: I know, I know, I feel bad asking... but... can I get one more ticket?
DJ: Isn't this typical American? Always asking for something, always wanting something for free
Woman: (Embarrassed chuckle)
DJ: (Trying to make her feel better) Well, that's okay, if you don't ask, you don't know if you'll get it right? Oh, all right... we'll get you another ticket... BUT! You have to work for it!

So they decided to set up another Singing Bee for her to try to earn another pair of tickets:

DJ: Who's your favorite singer?
Woman: Lyle Lovett!
DJ: Well, we don't play Lyle Lovett on this station, so you'll have to pick someone else
Woman: Okay... Patsy Cline
DJ: Patsy Cline! Alright, when we get back from the commercial break, we'll hold another Singing Bee and play a Patsy Cline song!
Woman: (whiny voice) You mean I have to be on hold?
DJ: Uh... yes
Woman: (whinier voice) For what-- FIVE minutes!?

The DJ didn't even deign an answer to that, at least not on the air. They went straight to the commercial break. When they came back, the DJ played a few lines of a popular Patsy Cline song, stopped the CD, and the woman immediately chimed in (with a great singing voice, I might add!) with the rest of the verse.

Unfortunately! She got ONE single word wrong. I laughed out loud, because it seemed like such poetic (musical?) justice! The DJ pondered what to do, whether to award her the tickets or not, and the last thing I heard before they cut to playing music, was that he'd take this to an off-air vote. Alas, I arrived at work before they could come back on the air with their decision (if they even did). So whether or not the woman got her coveted tickets remains a mystery.

I thought it was amusing enough to blog because I just could not believe this woman's audacity and greed! Let's see:

1. She had the nerve to beg for the tickets. She's already won 2 free tickets to the concert. Would it kill her to go out and BUY the third ticket? It's like getting 3 tickets for the price of one! That's a bargain in its own right!
2. They made it easier for her by not only giving her another chance at a second Singing Bee, but by giving her the CHOICE as to which artist's music to play! Can you say: unfair advantage!?
3. She moaned about being put on hold for so long while they cut to a commercial. Assuming it was costing her minutes on her cell phone, I say: what, you can't spare a few minutes of your time and airtime to get a FREE ticket!?
4. As if that weren't enough, she still wanted the tickets even though she hadn't sung the verse 100% correctly.

I am impressed at the DJ's cool and patience with her, throughout all of that. If I were him I would've been rolling my eyes (ah, the joys of not having your face seen, through radio!) and thinking "Is this woman for real? Can anyone truly be that shameless and greedy!?"

I wish they would've returned on the air sooner with their verdict, but maybe it's best if I don't know. I can make the outcome anything I want in my mind, depending on my mood ;-)

Really gives added meaning to the term "Only in America", doesn't it?