31 August 2002

Xfm Series 2 August 2002 - August 2003 List of episodes

Episodes: 24 August 2002 (Transcript) 31 August 2002 (Transcript) 07 September 2002 (Transcript) 14 September 2002 (Transcript) ('Best of') 21 September 2002 (Transcript) 28 September 2002 (Transcript) 05 October 2002 (Transcript) 12 October 2002 (Transcript) 19 October 2002 (Transcript) 26 October 2002 (Transcript) 02 November 2002 (Transcript) 09 November 2002 (Transcript) 16 November 2002 (Transcript) 23 November 2002 (Transcript) 30 November 2002 (Transcript) 07 December 2002 (Transcript) 14 December 2002 (Transcript) 21 December 2002 (Transcript) 28 December 2002 (Transcript) ('Best of') 04 January 2003 (Transcript) 11 January 2003 (Transcript) 18 January 2003 (Transcript) 25 January 2003 (Transcript) 01 February 2003 (Transcript) 08 February 2003 (Transcript) 15 February 2003 (Transcript) 22 February 2003 (Transcript) ('Best of') 01 March 2003 (Transcript) ('Best of') 08 March 2003 (Transcript) 15 March 2003 (Transcript) 22 March 2003 (Transcript) 29 March 2003 (Transcript) 05 April 2003 (Transcript) 12 April 2003 (Transcript) 19 April 2003 (Transcript) 26 April 2003 (Transcript) 03 May 2003 (Transcript) 10 May 2003 (Transcript) 17 May 2003 (Transcript) 31 May 2003 (Transcript) 07 June 2003 (Transcript) 14 June 2003 (Transcript) 21 June 2003 (Transcript) 28 June 2003 05 July 2003 12 July 2003 19 July 2003 26 July 2003 02 August 2003 09 August 2003 16 August 2003

Ricky and Steve interview Karl to re-introduce him to the listening public. Karl reveals the true origin of the phrase 'chucking the baby out with the bathwater'. And Karl starts a competition he calls 'What's the Song?' which in later shows becomes Rockbusters.

Track Listing

For a full transcript of this episode see 31 August 2002/Transcript.

Note: Timestamps below match the downloaded show which is 0:52:36 in length, and does not include the 4th and 7th links.

1. In the Beginning (0:00:00)

Ricky starts out trying to be a proper DJ, for about 12 seconds. Xfm are bringing in 4 or 5 new listeners a week! Ricky tells the story of how Karl came to be the producer of the show, and Steve suggests that he and Ricky re-familiarise the listeners with the wonder that is Karl Pilkington.

2. Q & A (0:02:38)

Ricky and Steve ask Karl a series of questions beginning with his age, which he's not quite sure of ("Where are we?") Also his date of birth, star sign, place of birth, qualifications, childhood best friend, and childhood pet.

3. Inside the Producer's Studio (0:07:07)

Ricky and Steve make further enquiries about Karl, revealing his ideal job is a paper round, which he defends against criticism with a resounding "Nahhhhh". His school friends included a boy with a pigeon chest and a couple of unrelated boys who both had big heads and webbed hands. His favourite noise is Elvis' In the Ghetto and his worst noise is fire engines. Karl also says that should he find himself at the gates of heaven, he would hope that God just be friendly.

4. The Reindeer Section

A quick link in which Steve praises the Scottish indie-supergroup The Reindeer Section.

5. Parrot's Blood (0:12:13)

Karl tells the story of a sick child who was given parrot's blood because of a bad phone line. An article on the Time Magazine website gives almost as few details as Karl, but places the incident in 1931. Karl then admonishes the contestants of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here because they didn't do the research about jungle creatures. Karl recommends that if a snake comes at you, kick sand in its eyes.

6. The Baby and the Bathwater (0:17:48)

Karl tells the fantastic story of a letter that was delivered 75 years late. Karl also explains that the saying 'chucking the baby out with the bathwater' came from the commonplace event that it literally describes.

7. Need More Adverts

Ricky and Steve get excited about Karl's new quiz and then beg for some adverts.

8. What's the Song? (0:26:00)

Karl premieres his new game wherein he tells a little story which reveals the title of a song. He explains it to Steve using an example about a doctor, a new mother, and her guncky baby. In later shows this eventually becomes Rockbusters.

9. Stealing From Mayo (0:30:40)

Ricky, Steve and Karl take callers for 'What's The Song?' One person rings in to mention that he'd heard this game before on Simon Mayo's Radio 1 show years ago.

10. You Thought How Karl Does (0:37:10)

A few listener shout-outs, and Ricky calls Xfm "Radio 1, for less people". Someone eventually gets the answer to Karl's competition, which is Oasis - She's Electric. Ricky is downtrodden by this but Steve is on Karl's side.

11. Hold the Line (0:40:59)

They've had loads of emails (2) about Karl's game. Steve talks to Ricky about the tracks on the classic rock album Driving Rock, and they play a clip from Toto's Hold the Line. They contemplate just stealing more ideas from other DJs.

12. Born to Fight (0:44:42)

Ricky says he's going to take up boxing, but Steve is skeptical that the portly, unhealthy Ricky is up to it. Steve reminds him that he was laid up for two days after choking on some dust, and is something of a hypochondriac. Steve's more open to the idea once he realizes he could make some money off it.

13. Unready to Rumble (0:51:08)

Ricky turns down a caller's offer of a fight because he was too young and too fit. Closing the show with a song sent to Steve by Harry, this week's Song For The Ladies.

Playlist

Oasis - Little by Little
Iggy Pop - I'm Bored
Blur - Coffee & TV
The Reindeer Section - Grand Parade
Feeder - Come Back Around
Rod Stewart - You Wear It Well
Supergrass - Grace
The Vines - Outtathaway!
Cat Stevens - Trouble
Coldplay - One I Love
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
Aqualung - Strange and Beautiful
Toto - Hold the Line
The Streets - Weak Becomes Heroes
The White Stripes - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
The Hives - Hate to Say I Told You So
Song For The Ladies: Kevin Tihista - Pretty Please

Quotes

Ricky: (to Karl) You're just like your little magpie, thieving ideas from Mayo's nest.

Steve: (on hearing Ricky's taking up boxing) But your face is my fortune.

Ricky:And then we discovered he's not just a little... like a little... dork, a little Mancy sort of idiot. He's got a nice shirt. He's got something else.

External Links

• Current schedule for Inside the Actor's Studio
• Parrot's Blood Article
• Simon Mayo's radio biography
• YouTube audio clip - "You Swallowed Some Dust"
• The original Fortean Times article about the postcard which turned up late