Bob has a little piece of logic for those who believe that everything is a part of God's perfect plan: If you pray to God to do something for you, you are effectively second-guessing God's perfect plan, asking him to alter it for you. People who pray must not have much faith in God's perfect plan. Callers aren't happy -- and a Lassiter favorite, Scott from Clearwater, calls in to explain that God does answer prayers.
An angry old lady who'd called in during the previous week's "Battle of the Bewildered" show calls in again to accuse Bob of lying the week before. Also a couple of other random, silly callers on an evening of open phones.
(Photo: Terrence McKeever, right, and Cleveland Wheeler on the air at Q105)
An epic discussion of the Bible with Bob holding court against two professors from Clearwater Christian College. It's not one of the more fiery religious debates Bob's so well known for, but a surprisingly scholarly and in-depth debate of Biblical text, history, geography, and interpretation. The most contentious moment comes not in their conversation, but a call from one of Bob's favorite callers, Tom from Lutz.
Listeners are invited to call into the show and talk about which groups, ethnic or otherwise, they hate. He won't challenge their hate, he promises; nevertheless, as he puts it at the end, it's "an ugly show."
Bob, finding himself identifying more and more with young people as he matures, invites young people (strictly 30 and under) to call. Regular Lassiter listeners will know this format as a variation on his "Sense of the Audience" schtick, which essentially means the show is a poll of the youth of Tampa Bay. It's more interesting than it sounds, though.
(Photo: WPLP building in Seminole, late '80s)
The most popular, most requested, probably most acclaimed show the Mad Dog ever broadcast. It's New Year's Day, 1987, and Bob rings in the New Year by announcing the new policy of giving away $50,000 to every person who calls the station, and an additional $10,000 to everyone listening. After all, there are rooms at the station filled with cash to give away. Say --- what's that voice in the background saying?
WPLP's 8th birthday party was a live broadcast by the regular weekday air staff -- Lassiter, David Fowler, Tim Coles, and John Eastman, with news/program director Don Richards moderating -- from WestShore Plaza in Tampa. Audio quality isn't great, but as far as content this is probably one of our best clips -- the contentious feisty debate that the more famous "WFLA Battle of the Talk Show Hosts" wasn't.
Another very short clip from one of Bob's most talked-about radio moments, his campaign to increase the minimum wage. This clip was actually provided by Tampa radio favorite Carolyn Dundas (a/k/a "Carolyn from New Port Richey"). Please e-mail us if you have more!
(Photo: Tim Coles on the air at WPLP.)
(Photo: David Fowler in the 1990s. Please excuse the fake antlers; it's the only verified Fowler photo we could find.)
A very short snippet from Bob's apparent 1986 campaign for U.S. Senate, with Gordon Byrd voicing over a funny campaign ad. We don't have (or really know) anything more about this bit of radio fun, but it sounds hilarious: Please e-mail us if you have more clips!
A discussion of education in America, specifically of its problems. A wonky kind of a show, not terribly contentious, but probably even more relevant today than it was 25 years ago. Near soundboard quality, too.
A 20-minute segment from one of Bob's oft-complained-about, rarely heard Saturday night shows at WPLP in 1986. It's a schmooze fest, including some banter about the single life, Norman Rockwell, the Bible, and an unfortunate cut-off as Bob's telling the story of his first job as a talk-show host.
Before the Bob Lassiter Christmas shows, there was this: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, as performed by the staff of WPLP and broadcast Christmas Eve, 1985. Bob plays The Ghost of Christmas Present. Also on hand are future wife Mary as Mrs. Cratchit, and David Fowler narrating.
