INT. RECORDING STUDIO – DAY
The booth is empty. CONNOR, THE INTERN’S desk is vacant, with only a single banker’s box of random mementos sitting on top awaiting collection. The PRODUCER sits in front of the exterior control panel, fiddling with knobs in preparation for the first broadcast of the offseason. DJ 3000 is positioned to the side of the exterior panel, practically quivering with anticipation.
PRODUCER: So, are you all ready for the first broadcast of the year?
DJ 3000: AFFIRMATIVE.
PRODUCER: So I’m sorry to spring this on you at the last minute, but I didn’t want to spoil the surprise…
DJ 3000: THAT’S OKAY CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF COMPUTERS LIKE SURPRISES. WHAT’S THE SURPRISE?
PRODUCER: It’s a day of firsts for us. First show in three years without Connor, first show in our newly renovated studio, and our first-ever show that’s hosted by a non-human guest.
DJ 3000: [close to tears] YOU MEAN…IT’S FINALLY TIME…?
PRODUCER: [puts a gentle hand on DJ3000’s upper control panel] That’s right, friend, it’s finally time.
DJ 3000: [swelling with anticipation, fires up circuits to speak…]
— [magical portal to woodland realm flies open] —
PRODUCER: Ah, fantastic, right on schedule. DJ 3000, I want you to meet Fumblesnapskin.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: [in a high-pitched, elfin voice] Greetings!
PRODUCER: He’s a woodland spirit known as a Romonculus! These little fellows are football’s equivalent of a “ghost in the machine,” just like you!
DJ 3000: [sparks with rage, then switches into sulk mode]
PRODUCER: We’re a little tight on time, are you ready to jump right in?
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: I am!
PRODUCER: [punches “ON AIR” button] Hello! Welcome, welcome, welcome! It’s time for a brand new season of KDFO’s Request Line. You call your song, we’ll get it on…the air. I’ve got a very special guest, straight from the woodlands of North Texas, in his first ever media appearance, one of the most influential creatures in Cowboys history, the incomparable Fumblesnapskin!
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: Thanks for having me, it’s an honor to be here.
PRODUCER: Now you mentioned in your pre-interview that there were a couple of misconceptions about your kind that wanted to clear up for our listeners out there.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: That’s right. It’s said that we only exist for a few seconds. That’s nonsense. We live for as long as our deeds are remembered. And a lot of people think that we exist only to disrupt the efforts of the Dallas Cowboys. We like to think of ourselves in a little more positive light. It’s not that we want to hurt the Cowboys, it’s that we want to help their opponents.
PRODUCER: Ah, so that explains your involvement in the Super Bowl.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: Yes, as you can imagine how we were eager to give the Eagles a little lift. Even though for wee folk such as us, birds of prey are our natural enemies, ha ha ha.
PRODUCER: Yeah, I could see that.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: [brightly] Why just last month one of my nephews found himself under the shadow of a peregrine falcon and was roundly slaughtered.
PRODUCER: I…um…yeah. So I understand it was a pretty busy weekend for the DFO pantheon.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: Indeed it was. Everyone was there.
PRODUCER: Even Beergh?
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: [smiles wryly] Ah, Beergh. Well, he was present, but it’s true that he just kind of phoned this one in. Coach Belichick made some kind of Faustian bargain – we’re still not sure who with…
PRODUCER: [facetiously] Nick Saban?
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: [seriously] It’s possible. Anyhow, the Patriots players were effectively invisible to Beergh during this postseason. So he spent most of the game sulking. He popped in a few times but you could tell his heart wasn’t in it.
PRODUCER: And regarding the case of Malcolm Butler, there are rumors that the goddess of NFL sexual misconduct, Syphillisis was somehow involved?
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: Absolutely untrue. The Bringer of Consequences is pretty active during Super Bowl weekend, but she had nothing to do with Butler getting benched.
PRODUCER: So tell me about the missed field goal.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: Oh, that one was wild, wasn’t it? You remember those old Three Stooges clips where the three of them would reach for something at the same time and all bonk heads? That play was just like that for us. I did my magic on the snap, not knowing that Shan’Khor already had something planned for the kick. And then of course Doink wanted in on the action, like he always does.
PRODUCER: And now the question that has been on everyone’s mind: where the hell was Travestius? He had a pair of golden opportunities to make his presence known. What in Hades’ name happened?
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: [giggles] Hee hee hee! Ah yes, that. That, my friend, was the work of Distracticon.
PRODUCER: Distracticon? I’m not familiar with that name.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: His sphere of influence is off-field distractions. After some persuasion from Doink, he intervened to place Travestius into a time loop during the Corey Clement touchdown review. So Travestius was simply looking at the replay over, and over, and over again while the rest of the game went on normally.
PRODUCER: But wait, wouldn’t Travestius notice that the replay was seeming to take forever?
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: Yes, to him it seemed just like any other replay.
PRODUCER: Aha! And that was why they took so long looking at the Zach Ertz play.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: That’s right! The officials were waiting and waiting and waiting for Travestius to intervene on behalf of the Patriots, but he remained silent. So eventually they were forced to simply move on.
PRODUCER: Was he also involved in the Malcolm Butler benching?
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: Indeed he was. That was his price for taking action during the game.
PRODUCER: But…the Malcolm Butler benching happened before the Super Bowl.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: Yes, as I just explained, Distracticon has the divine ability to manipulate time. He can create distractions in the past, in the present, or even in the future. That’s why so many coaches made offerings to him this season in hope of keeping Colin Kaepernick off their roster.
PRODUCER: Well he was certainly benevolent to them in that sense.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: In this case, I suppose, but don’t go thinking of him as one of the good guys. Distracticon is much like the rest of us when it comes to the affairs of mortal men – capricious and sometimes cruel.
PRODUCER: I mean, it certainly sounds like Distracticon has a soft spot for the Eagles.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: Actually, that was Doink’s doing. As is his way, he tricked Distracticon into believing that he was helping each team equally, when in truth all the coin flips were coming up Eagles.
PRODUCER: So Doink was working against the Patriots? I thought all he cares about is chaos.
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: Oh, absolutely. And there’s nothing that he hates more than the joyless precision of a Belichick team.
PRODUCER: Well I have to admit, this has been incredibly informative. Thanks so much for giving us such an entertaining finish to the season. Have you got a theme for today’s Request Line?
FUMBLESNAPSKIN: I sure do! Today’s theme is divine intervention. Prayers, miracles, anything that demands the touch of an immortal spirit. I’ll get us started with a classic from the late Leonard Cohen.
Editor’s Note: For those who are joining us for the first time – your job is to post youtube links of songs that fit the theme into the comment section below. In order to post videos so they will show up in comments, you don’t have to mess around with embed codes or anything, just post plain links as such: “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkkVrlvgkc”. When you hit refresh it should show up as embedded and you can rock out at your leisure. I’ll be collecting all these songs into a youtube (and Spotify) playlist for publication on Tuesday morning.
DEAD BEATLE DOUBLE SHOT!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wZIpRfqaco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swje_zoG1mU
Just out of spite:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=7Gx1Pv02w3Q&feature=youtu.be
First downvote(s) ever?
Hahaha….wait is this NSFW?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgBfdY_HN3A
Yes they did do a music video for this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8ZF_R_j0OY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxc20saM8DA
You got me with G&O. You lost me with Burnham.
“THE ONE THING WE’RE ALL WAITING FOR, IS DEATH TO DEAN – AN END TO ALL!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DaY8-Mui0I
On target.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoX98MOBFHc
DOUBLE SHOT MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8htAULV2Lo
Now there’s an angel on my shoulder telling me
Forget, forgive, let live and live
Let be what will and what the hell?
And there’s a devil on my back
Just saying, what’s the problem?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4BIyf8YIF0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9iDBkJqxNg
Pushing the limits of the theme, but I haven’t thought about this song in a long time and I like it a lot so I’m gonna give it a spin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-JtAcpKtYQ
Sorta cheating, ‘cause divine intervention did NOT happen
SOAD – Chop Suey
https://youtube.com/watch?v=CSvFpBOe8eY
https://youtube.com/watch?v=fe19Sas5RSs&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_g9VxNeuts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nxQLJmshak
A little more Clapton?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSbqm7ZK_9s
Best enjoyed with the windows wide open.
Oh, goddamm.
You’d think all those millions could buy a baby gate.
Santería time: Marc Anthony – Aguanile
https://youtube.com/watch?v=4Nx8URjepjo
From “El cantante”, Marc’s movie in which he played Héctor Lavoe—never surpassed, but Marc is very VERY close.
YA BETTER REQUEST SOMEBOOODDDDYYYYYY!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo0BTqcVqfE
DOUBLE SHAWT…AWT…AWt…awt…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-SQGOYOjxs
Can’t believe I almost forgot this one. Props to Don T for reminding me to do a simple search for “divine”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUiP5eyx3NM
DJ 3000 in sulk mode is the funniest shit I’ve seen all week. I’m LOVING this offseason.
New Pornographers – It’s Only Divine Right
https://youtube.com/watch?v=lYKPFiWo3cI
I just want to say that the name Fumblesnapskin is just the greatest fucking name in like fucking ever.
Daw, thanks. I was trying to think of a (new) name for the one that disrupted the pass to Brady but I couldn’t think of anything good so I recycled that from the original Romonculus post.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d2W4cK_FdU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBbyglq37E
I’m posting a cover cuz I’m not if the song counts. Or maybe it’s just an excuse to listen to Rachel Price wail. Whatever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl15MU7e05o
It’s time for the first DOUBLE SHOT of the season…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y413Vk9FzY0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCIFHAe0ygc
Best enjoyed after a breakup and with a glass of something brown and strong:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgvrtiF7NGs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qev-i9-VKlY
How did they ever get a pic of Janis with Southern Comfort???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ4J-jvDAuQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcLM_gqLlYc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9okF0_m1EQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZtdxS_UD1Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X58v5GH-7G0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht7mxF9XZiA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN3rzi7dZVQ
I, for one, would like a big reduction in the price of beer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDQ_WxPE4sM
Oh this is a solid pick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_5U0M9ErGA
Don’t want our ancient Greek friends to feel left out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go6FYVw6tTo
“Ooh, intervention, I had one of those!” – Justin Blackmon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rcyAF4lz04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXCh9OhDiCI
Here’s what I find when I pray…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9mhsW5aWJM
You did a lot of work explaining how the various gods affected the game, and for that I salute you. Will post a video (or a hundred) shortly, but I wanted to separately say how much I enjoy Request Line, and how much I already miss Connor.
Connor’s got a full-time job working for Jimmy & The Animal these days, so he’s still around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbGdvpWgJVo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyU4jOIkdhw
Deals with the Devil are okay, right?
/rhetorical question
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpD6ONVgdAQ
[shrugs] – Nick Saban
/but seriously, yes, very much works for the theme.
Really giving those lats a workout, I see.
A good whippin’ is great with any Intervention and she is divine… Divine, but divine.
Remember the good old days when the religious types got their panties all twisted up over this video? Now having a president who cheats on his wife with porn stars and then pays for their silence doesn’t even get them to raise an eyebrow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79fzeNUqQbQ
FAKE NEWS #MAGA #LIBRULSBURNINHELL
A long time ago our household had the dilemma of whether we should start watching Smallville or 24. I have an old roommate who will forever hold it against the rest of us that we chose Smallville.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYdCzs5uPrI
Counterpoint… Superman’s dead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CBBtorFg2I
Yay Request Line is back.
But also…Ah crap. Here’s something else to distract me. You guys really don’t want TGISF tonight apparently.
Welp, here’s my only contribution until I get a little more writing done. (can’t wait to see what you guys come up with tho)…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xqiu0ekahw
Yeah, didn’t figure that’d still be waiting for me.
Shut it down… Duchess is going to knock this out of the park on his first submission… Remember that this song was played while the lead singer to Rilo Kiley was riding on the back of a motorcycle on her way to California with Fred Savage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R6WIbx8ysE
+10 points for the song choice, but minus one millions points for NOT POSTING THE VERSION FROM THE MOVIE RAD!
Never saw that movie… showing my age… but that reminds me of the Mitchell and Webb Look skit about the Angel Summoner and the BMX Bandit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFuMpYTyRjw
11 year-old me thought RAD! was the greatest film of all time. I am wise enough to avoid ever watching it again and having that illusion dispelled.
8 yr old me thinks the same about The Wizard
I’m of course talking about the Wizard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUImM1-7DBE
“Got a funny story about this song…” – Josh Brent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lydBPm2KRaU
Anything from: