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Straight From The Mouth
The Morning Mouth's January Interview with Nick, Trish & Shaggy
(Reprinted by permission; Copyright © 2005 Talentmasters Inc.)

First things first: Congratulations on your recent nuptials. When, to whom, what's he do and is he open to moving; Hey, you're in radio. Did the stations throw you a party? What did your partner buy you?

Tricia: Ah, thank you very much! His name is Jim, better known to our listeners as "Sexy Jim." He is a financial adviser for UBS and of course he is willing to relocate, he's so easy-going. I love him! We got married on November 20, 2004 back in Missouri where I grew up (Hi mom and dad!). The stations didn't throw any party, but about four of my pals flew out for the occasion. Nick bought me and Jim some matching clothes. I got the "Mrs. Sexy Jim" tank top and shorts (like Britney made for herself) and Jim got a black t-shirt with Sexy Jim on the front - I looooove it! Did you hear that Shag?! You're supposed to buy me a gift?!

Now, to the morning marriage: who's all on the show? and I are 40/40 partners; Shag pitches in the extra 20.

What did each of you do prior to WNVZ?

Nick: Got my broadcast degree at Western Michigan University (home of the mighty Broncos!) And went right into interning at a Classic Rock, then nights at a Top 40, then mornings at the same Top 40, then right from KZOO (market 178) to Norfolk/Virginia Beach.

T: Okay, here's the story, I got my job here in Virginia Beach because some dude in Missouri knocked up his wife *just kidding* but seriously, Teresa from "Rocket and Teresa" at Mix 93 in Kansas City went on maternity leave for her baby in March of 2001. I won a contest and filled in for her and from there it started to snowball. Rocket and Teresa used to do mornings at Z104 and kept in touch with Don London our Program Director. I know, I'm Cinderella, hoping the clock never strikes midnight!

Shaggy: I got started in radio 4 years ago kind of by knowing the right people. My good friend Teddy Riley knew the co-host of the show at that time and she mentioned to him that they needed a young crazy intern. So he called me and I worked my tail off to be a major player on the show.

Why do people listen to you? What do you do that no one else does?

T: They really listen for Shaggy, honestly, he could have gone down the hall for another Mountain Dew and a girl will call, "Where is Shaggy today?!" Because of Shaggy, we do Torture Tuesdays (do you really need an explanation?) and we are on the streets every week!

S: Nick makes the listeners the stars of the show. Tricia is the strong woman, but the cool hip school teacher/neighbor, and I speak for the youth, and say the things you want to say but might be scared or can't. Nick and Tricia stay in the studio and I am always out doing stunts or just hanging in the community.

Lots of TV role models these days. Leno, Letterman, O'Brian,

Stewart: which of these shows match up best to yours?

N: Definitely Conan. We all love his show, an we very much pattern ours after his in a few ways. One of them includes doing jokes or bits that make you laugh and think to yourself, "Where the hell did they find these people?" I also like the way Conan is always the same, but always different. Every night he comes on, you know he's gonna do the monologue first, and then to his desk for the first bit. The question is what bit. It always changes, and rotates. We do the same thing. Rotate the bits/games. Bring back the favorites every once in a while, but not so much you get sick of it.

T: Can I pick Oprah? Come on! We give away stuff like crazy!

You're owned by Entercom. And like all major players, they too have incorporated very specific guidelines to keep from getting fined by the FCC. Has that had any impact on your show?

N: A little bit. Entercom is very clear about what we can and cannot do/say, so you really don't push the line because you don't want to be the guy who gets canned and have everyone say, "Dude! Didn't you read the memo?" We've been given a lot of freedom, and I feel that anyone can be funny and blue, the true talent is getting the laugh creatively. Being Chris Rock is easy, being Bill Cosby isn't.

T: Are you fucking kidding me? Like we care about that shit! Totally kidding, Nick's right. We haven't had to change our show much for the FCC, we were good kids before Janet and friends.

Who worries more about that stuff, you or your PD?

N: I think we do. You know when you were a kid, and you upset your parents? You would rather have them yell at you than give you the "I'm so disappointed in you" face. It's that way with our PD, Don. He's so cool and gives us so much freedom, that disappointing him would really piss me off.

T: I think we're pretty straight with all that - no one needs to worry about us. Of course, I'm always looking out for that rare live caller that might drop the f-bomb.

What's the most outrageous bit you've ever done?

N: Sent Shaggy into a Wal-Mart in a suit posing as the new district manager. He ordered people around, until security had him detained. That Wal-Mart got so many phone calls from our listeners that morning they actually called us and asked us to tell our listeners to please stop calling.

T: We sent Shaggy out with a megaphone to see if he could pull over the average driver using the little siren on it, and he ended up pulling over a school bus full of kids!

What bit makes you proudest?

N: Dirty work Wednesday. So proud that I won't share it. Sorry.

T: I love Extreme Karaoke. Nick puts together a montage of songs. The listener picks one of five categories, but doesn't know the song, and when the music stops, they have to keep singing acappella.

S: I am the stunt guy I have done everyting from walking through mousetraps, to swimming with sharks, and getting hosed by the fire department. Honestly, you name it, I've done it. do?

N: Ok, this is easy, so pay attention! We do a game called "You're the Expert." While not everyone is as smart as Ken Jennings, it's safe to say everyone is an expert on something, right? We tell you to call us and tell us what you're an expert on! It can be a movie, a TV show, a musical artist, shoes, cheese, whatever!? We look up a question based on that subject online and ask you a trivia question. There are hundreds of web sites just on trivia with questions ready to go! Don't believe me? Type "Saved by the Bell Trivia" into Google and see what you get.

T: I can't remember who to give credit to from Boot Camp, but we absolutely love the Music with your Mouth bit. (Thanks a million!) We have such a blast trying to get it right and each time we find out that someone has a new talent we didn't know existed.

Do you consider yourself a radio person? Are there other shows that you follow, or personalities that inspire or inspired you along the way?

N: Totally a radio person. Growing up I listened to Mason in the Morning, Dick Purtan, Jim Harper, and my personal favorite-the electrifying Mojo on WJLB. They all inspired me, and I continue to be inspired by some of them today.

T: Sure, I'm a radio person, but I'm such a listener at heart that I think it benefits me. I've really had to do this career transition all on my own, but I always fall back on my sister Julie for inspiration. She's just an awesome mother and wife and you can't beat that combo!

S: I don't consider myself a radio person. I love what I do but I am not on the radio web sites at night, and I don't know the call letters in every city. I love what I do and respect it but there's life outside radio.

Have you ever had a listener with a crush? Never some weirdo that followed you at remotes?

N: Shaggy has a stalker named Butch. He's a weirdo who insists he invented the moonwalk and was in "The Wizard of Oz."

T: Well, we have this group of people that come out to every remote. I call them "The Movie Clique" because they only come out for the sneak movie passes and that's about it. They're harmless, but a little freaky. One of them is a 70-year-old lady named Alice that bakes me banana nutbread and muffins wrapped in Saran Wrap - so yeah, a little weird.

S: I had a girl follow me to all the clubs until one night she followed me home. She yelled at me saying if I don't speak to her she wasn't going to leave and I kept walking to my house she got out of her car and laid on my lawn butt naked. It was 2:30am and I wake up at 4am for the show when I came outside she was still there! Crazy!

Lot's of talk about satellite. What do you make of Stern crossing over? Is this just the beginning of a lot of personality crossover?"

N: I won't be worried until satellite is a standard option in cars. But don't think "people will ever pay for that which they can get for free," that's what they said about cable TV. How many people these days do you know who don't have cable?

T: Hell yeah! Look out Stern, Nick, Tricia, and Shaggy are hot on your trail!

What's your New Year's wish?

N: For Tricia to get pregnant. I've told her husband Jim that baby equals ratings! Get to work man!

Read previous Morning Mouth interviews.

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