OT: Talley (OMGB) is on TV

That is wire fraud.

You could get more than $200 :)

You didn't watch the show before agreeing to appear on it?

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

I have appeared on several shows without watching them first.

Jerry

Yup, that's always been my warning to folks who get called to do shows. We got called to do "The X Show" which was a "Man Show" rip-off and found out it was legit, so a couple of our folks went and did it.

There have been stories about this ambush/bait & switch tactic for shows like Crossballs. They even changed the name of the show at one point. You see, if the show has not aired yet ('debuted'), you can't watch it first to see what you're in for. I believe the recent articles about this revolved around "Da Ali G Show" on HBO and how this annoying moron has ambushed Sam Donaldson and others. Ah, here is the link to the story:

I'll watch for the replays this week, but it sounds like you caught on and maintained as best you could.

-Fred Shecter NAR 20117

America's Most Wanted.

No, the show was filmed in April and May and then held until July for release. All of the literature including the check from which I was paid said "The Debate Show". It wasn't until I was on the set and saw the decorations that I found out the name was actually "Crossballs".

Really, although I was lied to, I figured out what was happening soon enough that I didn't lose my cool and say something stupid. It actually was kinda fun as I played along with the joke. After the taping we were (my wife was with me) rushed out to the waiting limo and taken back to our car which we had left at my school. The limo driver was really surprised to see us laughing and smiling. It seems according to him, that most guests leave the show really pissed. I can believe that. If you prepared for a serious debate and traveled cross country for this as some did, then you would have good reason to be angry. For me, it was just a very unusual evening and about four hours of my time.

Fred, this link you provided basically sums it all up. I had my suspicions about the show early on and told them I wasn't interested. They came back and made all of these assurances and I agreed to do the show. I thought it would be good to get education issues out before the people. When we arrived, we were secreted into a very small "green room" and kept in there until the moment of taping. Several of the show's producers came in and kept us distracted. In retrospect, I am certain they were both feeling us out to see if we were on to them and at the same time, keeping us incommunicado. After the first three questions I knew the other teacher was a fake. The trouble is he was Black and I couldn't risk making comments that would expose him as a fake or fool. His so called school was a Chicago inner-city school and his students were all disadvantaged ghetto kids. If I, the teacher from the private Catholic school were to attack him and his ideas, I could come off as racially insensitive or worse. So, I had to play it close to the vest and pretend that I thought this guy was sincere but mistaken in his assumptions and theories. In between takes I joked with the audience and poked fun of my opponents ridiculous ideas but on camera I bit my lip and played the straight man. If they had let me in on the joke from the beginning I would have given them the fun they were after. But I refused to allow them to goad me into being a fool unbeknownst to me. At one point, I almost spoke about my use of rocketry in my curriculum but thought better of it given the way these folks twisted things around. I shudder to think what they would have done with rocketry and terrorists etc.

And a cause of action.

Actually, you could probably sue them for false arrest. Reece, you be sittin' on top of a gold mine!

Which ones?

Since you are a TRA zealot, I will use the example of the nightly news in Colo Springs at LDRS 1995 ish.

I was interviewed for about 3 minutes of airtime wherein I managed to mention Vulcan, Aerotech, U.S. Rockets, Tripoli and where the launch was.

Jerry

I was thinking " Cops " .

I just saw the show. I think you did well. Especially under those circumstances. I didn't think the ball busters were that good. I wonder if they toned it down so people don't get to upset.