Tom Myers Online

Over the course of 64 ½ hours this week, I was available to the general public on radio and television, promoting the hell out of my DVD taping (taking place tonight and tomorrow) as well as explaining my comedy and what I do. I want to thank everyone who tuned in to one or all of my appearances. The radio and TV appearances were certainly worth it for me in terms of exposure and they are a clear indication that I haven't been wasting my time.

Part One - Mickey & Amelia

It all started on Monday afternoon when, at 4pm, I hit the airwaves of 97.9-FM, known to Baltimore-area residents as 98 Rock, appearing on "Mickey & Amelia," my personal favorite radio show (It's easy for me to wake up and catch them ). The idea on appearing on a show where several famous and talented musicians, comedians, and yes, even porn stars and strippers, appeared was really exciting for me. The fact that one of the hosts, local comedian Mickey Cucchiella, hyped up my appearance before I started driving down to the studio, gave me a good indication of the kind of interview this was going to be.

When I was shown to the studio by the producer, Scott, I thought to myself that the setup was larger than I imagined. My only experiences with radio involved webcasting with Goucher Student Radio, housed in what used to be the security booth (yes, I said booth) and taking a tour of the Infinity Broadcasting station in Towson (home of WWMX-FM, WLIF-FM, WQSR-FM, WHFS-FM, and WJFK-AM), all of which had studios about the same size of not a bit bigger. My previous conception about radio studios was shot to hell when I stepped into 98 Rock's studio, what I like to consider the Playboy Mansion of radio studios (given some of the aforementioned styles of guests I just mentioned). I don't care how many times you look at the studio pictures on 98 Rock's website, they do not do justice to actually walking into the studio, hoisting yourself onto a swivel chair that's about as high as a bar stool and broadcasting to a shitload of people.

After quite grandiose (maybe a bit overdone) hype at the beginning of the show and a similar type of introduction the following hour, I was introduced to the Baltimore area through the most popular afternoon drive-time show in this market. Out of all of my interviews this week, this one has to be my favorite in that I was given an opportunity to explain my comedy, my thoughts of the writing process and my past experiences performing the way I like to do it. I had a lot of freedom and leeway to answer questions directed to me by Mickey, Amelia and even the producer, Scott. Many of my friends who listened to the show seemed to think that Mickey was taking me to task. I didn't see it that way. Here's how I see it: I don't do the kind of material that everyone else does. As a result, the way I write my material is questioned and examined. Being into the local comedy scene as he is, Mickey was expressing concerns that I'm sure he himself has, but also expressing the thoughts of what other people (comedians, audience members) tell him about me. I hold no hard feelings or bitter grapes about that. Again, this is my favorite radio show I'm on! I'm not prepared to be picky.

I would like to thank Luke Simon and Nick Argirakis for calling in. Since Mickey only took a few calls, I was surprised at the number of Fallston High School alumni that were able to get through. What was amazing was that they were from my class! I'm almost sorry that I'll be missing the five-year reunion now.

I also want to clarify something else. A lot of people talked to me and left comments on my MySpace page about Joe Robinson's call to the show. Let me explain it this way: I am a comedian. Joe Robinson is a comedian. Anyone familiar with the comedy scene knows that comedians make jokes at the world around them, including other people and, yes, other comedians. I haven't known Joe Robinson for a long time, but I know him well enough. He's a great guy and he's funny. During the course of the interview, he picked on me and I picked on him. It's the way of the world. In short, cut Joe some slack, okay? After all, I would like the same to be done for me and I'm sure the same goes for you, right?

After my segment was finished, Mickey, Amelia and Scott thanked me for being on the show, I thanked them for allowing me to promote my DVD taping. Scott even told me to let him when the DVD was coming out. They wanted to promote it as soon as they could. Amelia even asked Scott put the interview up on 98 Rock's podcasting page! It's only been a few days and these things don't happen overnight, but I am getting a bit anxious. If you would like to hear the interview again or would like to me to come back to the show (I certainly wouldn't mind), then you can email Scott at ScottReardon@hearst.com.

Part Two - Kirk, Mark & Spiegel (KMS)

After a day of publicity-free rest, I went back to the 98 Rock studio Wednesday morning to appear on the 98 Rock Morning Show with Kirk McEwen, Mark Ondayko and Josh Spiegel. I had listened to the show in the past and I was aware of their penchant to joke around with their guests and even each other. Less than minute before I was set to air at 7:30am, I received a voice mail on my cell phone from another comedian who had been on KMS many times letting me know that KMS was different from Mickey & Amelia. They are more candid, this comedian said, and I have to be very thick-skinned and just promote the show. As soon as the voice message ended, we were on the air. This comedian's prediction was correct. Kirk and Mark could be vicious, but you know me. I can't resist being a social chameleon. Whatever they hurled at me, I could hurl right back at them. Yes, it was fun even when they played cricket noises whenever they asked me what kind of jokes I did. However, I believe the interview went well. There were several sincere moments. They asked me about Words of Mass Destruction and its coming re-release. They asked how I felt about the type of comedy I did (similar to Mickey's line of questioning on Monday afternoon). When the interview was over and the obligatory picture-taking with the Big Three of morning broadcasting was taking place, the self-proclaimed "News Genius," Josh Spiegel, possibly sensing my comebacks as hostility, asked if I knew they were just kidding around. I told him yes I did. Yes, they could be candid and vicious, but they are also funny. As soon as I got home, the comedian who left the voice message sent me an email stating that he loved the show that morning and that I held my own in what he called a "vicious morning crew ... [that] gives me shit too." He also commented on the quality of the Mickey & Amelia interview, which he enjoyed as was my banter with Joe Robinson.

All in all, I had a good time appearing on 98 Rock twice in one week! I look forward to future visits there. Many future visits!

Part Three - Fox 45 Morning News

This is the biggie! This was my debut on television! Yes, I have DVDs of me performing at various venues with various conditions prevailing and various crowd reactions. However, this is different. This is the mainstream! People can now see what I look like from the comfort of their own home (I recommend two cups of very strong coffee beforehand).

It was Thursday morning, August 17. The interview lasted less than four minutes, but the enjoyment of watching that interview again and again and again and again (I taped it) will last forever. Watching the playback of the entire hour that I taped, I noticed that I was the only guest that was interviewed by both anchors, Patrice Harris and Jennifer Gladstone. All you have to do is go to the Fox 45 Morning News page at http://www.foxbaltimore.com/newsroom/morning/index.shtml and you will see how they took my mind off of the KMS interview. Patrice and Jennifer are much easier on the eyes than Kirk, Mark & Spiegel themselves (sorry guys!) Prior to the interview, I was sitting on one end of the couch talking with Jennifer when Patrice scurried into the studio and plopped herself down on the couch next to me. She turns to me and says, in a perky tone of voice, "Hi, how are you?" Being a hot-blooded high-energy 23-year-old male, I told her I was just fine now. Needless to say, the televised interview went well, I initiate a group hug with the interviewers (It was successful), and I go home, happy that I have carved my place into Baltimore media.

All in all, it has been a very successful publicity campaign. I can't go one day without receiving a few emails or friends of mine coming into the store where I work and telling me how great they thought one of the interviews was. Now all I have to do is perform the very shows that I went on to promote. That said, let the fun begin!

Until later!

~TOM MYERS (As heard on 98 Rock, as seen on the Fox 45 Morning News)