A Little More Disclaiming

I got a hilarious note from a friend this morning.

After reading my article here over the weekend about the insanely long "contest rules" disclaimer (three full minutes spoken fast) that classical music station KMZT in Los Angeles runs EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, my friend decided to try a change in her nighttime listening.

Usually at night, she said that she likes to listen to talk radio as a calming way to easy into bedtime.  (How on earth she finds talk radio calming, what with political arguing that can become very divisive -- especially for her, since she's liberal and there aren't nearly as many of those for political talk -- is beyond me.  But she's a political talk radio junkie and has often even called up stations to make her point.  So, to her, it's a sedative.)  However, she also plays the piano and likes (and plays) classical music, so she does listen to it, as well.  So, after reading what I wrote, it sparked a thought, she thought she'd try a change of pace.

Here's what she wrote --

"Because of your essay, I listened to KMZT last night for a bit.  I rarely listen to classical music on the radio preferring "talk" to put me to sleep. And, I thought I'd be safe because it was after 11 PM when I tuned in - but lo and behold - the disclaimer came on.  I think it's hilarious!  It should be on Saturday Night Live or some satirical show."

I started laughing when I read her note, thinking that because it was late enough, after 11 PM, that it would be "safe" to listen.  In fact, as I note in the piece, though it's likely buried amid everything else in such a loooong article, that's specifically when the do run the disclaimer, between 11 PM and midnight.  Just when listening are beginning to wind down for the note and getting ready to go to sleep, that's when they air this mind-numbingly grating THREE MINUTE disclaimer that makes your grinding teeth want to fall out.  And because I knew that they are this "contest rules" disclaimer...EVERY SINGLE NIGHT as I said, I knew that it would be on, even on a Sunday.  Because it's on EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!!!

One problem with doing a satire of this is that the disclaimer itself is a satire all on its own.  You only have to repeat the thing, as written.  And as performed, speaking fast.

It’s almost hard to believe it’s real.  And that they air it EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.  And that someone wrote that and approved it.

Of course the disclaimer came on.  It comes on...let's say it together -- EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!