June 10, 2006 - Torvald at KBTC, the Tacoma PBS Station
KBTC Pledge Drive, June 10, 2006
Torvald Runs the Show
When Doctor Who was playing on our local PBS station, KBTC, we used to go down to the station every six months, without fail, to participate in the pledge drive for Doctor Who. The station had a great deal of support for the show from at least three local organization, including our own Emerald City Androgums.
But then the BBC or BBC America started to shop around the rights to the new Doctor Who, and didn't renew any contracts for the old show (speculation is that they were offering both the new and the old as a package). A couple of PBS stations had long-term contracts and could still show it, but our local station only bought the show six months in advance. When that six months ran out, they had to stop showing it, and the pledge drives stopped.
Flash forward - the Sci Fi Channel bought the new show, but passed on the old, and PBS stations could suddenly buy it to show again. KBTC, who hadn't been able to show it for a year and a half, jumped on as soon as the show was offered, then contacted the local fan clubs for a big pledge drive and party.
Torvald insisted upon coming.
Excited by the Technology, Torvald jumped right in and tested the microphones that the Talent use while on air. Unfortunately, his yodelling was incorrectly interpreted as feedback by the crew, and somebody else had to come back and retest all of them.
Undaunted, Torvald then took a pledge. He listened carefully to the person on the other end of the phone, who said, "I just called to tell you that Esperanto is the language of the New World Order. Thank You," and hung up. Torvald had to step aside and ponder that one for awhile.
With the microphones and the pledge-taking behind him, Torvald took a turn operating the cameras. He did fine at that job, as long as he didn't actually have to change the camera's position. See, his feet didn't quite touch the floor...
Considering the excellent job he'd done so far, Torvald then started prompting the Talent on the thank you gifts, helpfully pointing out the words they were supposed to say next with his walking staff.
Fascinated by the Thank You gifts, Torvald attempted to examine them, but was attacked by a RC Dalek that kept promising to EX-TER-MIN-ATE! him. Torvald eventually retreated to another table.
...where he met Montague the Penguin and got to read some of the Doctor Who: The Legend Continues book, as well as hang out in the TARDIS. He also acquired a party favor or two. Monty and Torvald then left the studio for some pizza, and stayed out in the lobby chatting with Klingons and eating until it was time to go.
Torvald's only regret was that, as far as he knows, he didn't manage to get on camera at all during the drive. Monty managed it almost every break, but Torvald was always blocked from view by the banner showing the phone number.
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