How I became BFFs with Angi Taylor

Every morning on my way to work, I listen to Fred and Angi‘s morning radio show on Kiss FM.

They do a segment called The Five at 7:45 where contestants answer five pop culture/ general knowledge questions. Two callers play each other, and the winner goes on to play the next day; if that person wins five in a row he or she plays Angi.

I love it. I always play along in my car, shouting out the answers. Some days I know all of them, some days I think to myself, “Holy shit, I’m glad that’s not me.”

Last week I decided I should try and get on. I had a pretty good track record in my car, and I thought I would do pretty well as long as I didn’t call on one of the unlucky days with all the hard questions.

When Fred announced the segment Wednesday morning, I was like, “Why not?” and called the number. It was busy.

I didn’t even know phones could be busy anymore! I hung up and tried again. Still busy. I tired once more to no avail.

I shrugged and listened in as I made my way to work. (I got 5/5 that day.)

Thursday morning rolled around, and I decided I was going to try calling in again. As soon as Fred started talking about it, I dialed, and it RANG!

It rang, and rang, and rang. Finally, I thought I heard someone pick up on the other end, but the call disconnected.

I cursed to myself and tried again. Busy. Damnit.

I’ll try one more time, I thought to myself, and it started ringing!

And then Joffrey (the phone guy– sorry I don’t know the technical term for that job) answered! OH MY GOD!

He asked if I was driving to work, and if I was alone in the car. Affirmative.

He asked two practice questions: 1. Who hosts Carpool Karaoke? James Corden. Easy. 2. Who was the film producer accused of sexual misconduct? Harvey Weinstein. Kicking ass.

“Ok, Becca, we’re going put you on the show. We’ll do it in about 20 seconds, so make sure your radio is turned down.”

OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD.

I’d called via the Bluetooth connected to my car, so I wasn’t sure if I needed to turn the volume down, but I could hear the song playing on the radio as I waited. I thought maybe the radio had come back on in my car because I was on hold, so I turned the volume down so I could barely hear it. I didn’t want to mess up my chance to be on the show.

My heart was pounding as I anticipated hearing Fred and Angi’s voices talking to me. I moved into the right lane, so I could focus less on driving fast and more on my impending victory.

I was patiently waiting, listening to the silence and wondering if I should have turned my volume down or not. I turned it up a couple notches to check, and heard the intro to the segment.

Oh my God! It’s starting without me! I hurriedly turned the volume back up– way up, basically top volume, so I wouldn’t miss anything– just as Fred was introducing me.

“Becca! Welcome to the show. Tell us about yourself.”

They ask every person who plays to tell them about themselves, and almost every time the person says, “Well, um, I’m on my way to work,” and every time I heard someone say that, I thought to myself, “That’s so stupid, being on your way to work isn’t something about yourself; that’s what you’re doing.”

I vowed that if I was ever on the show, I’d have some sort of clever response, or a quirky tid-bit to share.

The time came for me to tell Fred and Angi, and the rest of the team, and you know, all of the Chicgoland area about myself, and I was feeling the pressure. My mind was drawing a blank. What was interesting about me?!

Guess what I said?

“Well, um, I’m on my way to work.”

I added something else about it being only the second time I called and that I was “super excited,” but I said the stupid thing. I couldn’t believe it. However, there wasn’t time to dwell..

“You ready, Becca? Question one…”

Question 1: Name the TV personality fired from Good Morning America this week due to sexual misconduct allegations.

“Matt Laurer.”

Question 2: Which natural disaster is measured using the Richter scale?

“Earthquake.”

Question 3: True or False: Mischa Barton played Marissa Cooper on the TV show The OC?

“True.”

Question 4: What is the name of the game show that Howie Mandel hosted from 2005-2009?

“Oh! Um… the one with the suitcases! Um…”

And then I got the countdown, and I knew I didn’t have enough time to think it through, so I spit out, “Make a Deal?”

Question 5: Which actor played Marty McFly in the 80’s classic Back to the Future?

“Michael J. Fox.”

I got 4 right– not too bad! I had an actual shot at winning!

The current champ came on, and she answered with the following: Matt Laurer, Earthquake, True, Deal or No Deal– damn those suitcases briefcases– and, I have no idea.

She also got 4 answers right, so we tied. They have this stupid rule that the current champ wins all ties, which is a total bummer and slightly unfair IMO. Although I’m sure, if I was the reigning champ, I’d love it.

We exchanged a few words at the end– I was a good sport, and glad I didn’t embarrass myself. (One time a girl was doing so poorly she hung up!) Then I got confused by being on hold/ hearing the radio again; eventually Joffrey came back and said they would send me a runner-up prize either in the mail or by email in the next week or two.

I hung up the phone and immediately called my husband, “HI! I WAS JUST ON THE RADIO!!!!!”

I wondered if anyone had heard me. I called my sister.

“Have you left for work yet?”

“No, I’m about to, why?”

“Damnit! I was just on the radio!!!”

I regaled my husband and sister with the details of my radio fame, then decided I should probably stop talking on the phone and pay more attention to the road.

Even though I didn’t win, I still felt like I was on something akin to a runner’s high. I couldn’t believe I’d actually been on the radio, and talked to Fred and Angie, who I feel like are my friends. I mean, we basically hang out every morning on my drive to work, right? I wished I’d been more clever though, so they’d want to be my friend IRL.

Naturally, when I got to work I tweeted them.

A few minutes later, Angie tweeted back!

And that, my friends, is how I became BFFs with Angi Taylor.

If you’re interested, you can listen to my segment HERE. (It starts around the 50:00 mark.)

P.S. I got my runner-up prize.

I know, I know they didn’t have to send me anything, but seriously?! C’mon guys!

P.P.S. (or is it P.S.S?) I am SO glad I didn’t call in today. I would have only gotten two right.

Here are the Qs from today, if you want to give it a go:

1. What kind of car OJ did drive in his famous police chase in the 90’s?
2. True or False: January is the month when Earth is closest to the sun.
3. Which artist is featured on Eminem’s new track, “Walk on Water”?
4. This country has been banned from the 2018 Olympics for doping?
5. How many movies are in “The Santa Clause” franchise starring Tim Allen?