The Philips Phile is a talk radio program that airs on WTKS-FM in Orlando, Florida weekdays from 3-7pm (EST) and can also be heard on the WTKS' website as well as taped delayed on XM Satellite Radio Channel 152 and via the iheartradio app for mobile devices. The host of the program is Jim Philips. Other members of the cast include Moira, Jana "Banana" and producer Jack Bradshaw. A variety of serious and frivolous topics are discussed, though many of the show's topics are specific to the Orlando area.
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Jim Philips - The host and namesake of the program. Previously a radio news director for WKIS, Philips began the talk show more than a decade ago on WKIS 740AM and later it moved to a relatively new station in Orlando, Florida, WTKS-FM 104.1FM. Since this time, Jim and his ensemble cast have risen to become one of the highest rated radio programs in the area and, as he phrases it "the most listened to talk show of its kind heard anywhere." Philips excels at a variety of different skills including skeet shooting, cattle rustling (for which he earned the cowboy moniker "Lips"), didgeridoo playing and the ability to discern truck brands simply by hearing their horns (which he employed for a number of years in a game known as "Whatcha' Haulin'?").
Jim takes serious interest in politics and will actively berate his listeners if the opportunity arises, though many topics are discussed on the program most of which are meant strictly for entertainment. He has used his local celebrity in the past to have various subjects investigated by the local media. Unlike most talk radio show hosts who discuss politics, Philips leans decidedly to the left.
Philips is also known as the "Commodore". A reference to his early show days when his listeners joined The Commodore Club. Membership cards were given for discounts at local businesses. One of Jim's proudest physical assets is his left thumb which is uncommonly larger than his right. Jim attributes this extraordinary phenomenon to his being left-handed and asserts that in fact all left-handers possess a larger left thumb, though this is factually inaccurate.Some of Mr Philips finer moments on air include ranting the stupid people are in control after the 04 election, reveling in joy after the death of any noteworthy conservative/republican and calling 81 year old callers old bats.
Moira - (Lynn Warner) Jim's right-hand woman and second-in-command, Moira (also known as Big Mo, much to her chagrin) is a talkative member in charge of a brief news segment at the beginning of each program (known as the "Laa Dee Daa") as well as hosting duties if Jim is away. Due to her quirky and talkative personality, Moira is consistently the receiving end of jokes, especially ones regarding her age (Jack and Oddo randomly claim she is somewhere between 80-2000+ years old). Moira is Jewish, and will occasionally entertain callers in a segment known as "Ask a Jew," answer their questions regarding the religion. Much like Jim, Moira is a liberal Democrat, but seems to display an even stronger left lean than Philips himself. Moira often shows her bad habit of using her favorite intra-sentence (thought) hurdle of "Annnnndd-Ummmmmmm", especially when she is hosting. She has a heavily-accented voice, almost a caricature of a New York Jew.
Jack Bradshaw - Resident joker and New York Yankees fanatic, Jack Bradshaw adds more light conversation to the program as well as runs a variety of effects and processes in the background as the program producer. Aside from producing, Jack is also the resident sports fan and even ran a segment known as "The Yankee Update," specifically intended to update listeners on the progress of his beloved sports team. Sadly (for him anyway), Jack lost his privilege to perform this when he lost a bet to Jim regarding the outcome of the World Series final. Bradshaw can be heard piping in with random commentary. He occasionally gets involved in serious debate. He also co-hosts his own radio show on Saturdays from 2 - 4pm called "Two Guys, One Sports Show" with Cabin Boy from SBK Live.
Jana "Banana" - The most recent addition to the Phile, Jana originally came on as an intern and was eventually offered a regular spot on the program. Jana proudly hails from the state of Kansas, and tends to comment on the difference between metropolitan city-life and the rural area she grew up in. Though many people contend that it is a well-performed act, Jana asks about some very strange and/or silly things. She has mentioned so many weird things over the years that the other members joke that she is from Mars and does not understand Earth culture. Aside from adding air-headed comments, leading cheers and inserting the occasional unintended sexual innuendo ("I just got corn-holed!"), Jana regularly mentions stories about her husband, Jason, and their dog, Sassy, whom she loves more than anything else in this world, since she believes she is her reincarnated grandmother. Although the Phile makes no mention of, and refuses to take any calls about it, Jana uses a wheelchair exclusively.[1]
Oddo - Show rocker and wild-man, Oddo was the most aggressive and antagonistic member of the Phile. In the past Oddo involved himself in music and videogaming, but more recently had taken up a heavy addiction to poker, both on-line and off-line. Oddo was the resident voice-actor for the radio program and would occasionally grace the show with an impersonated celebrity or stereotypical foreign accent. For a number of years, he had a regular schedule of recording raunchy and embarrassing monologues as the newscaster Ted Koppel. Oddo also tended to be the cast member to participate in radio bits, including dressing up in a Viking helmet and being lassoed by Jim Philips in the parking lot and stripping for Moira on her birthday. On the program Oddo tried not to chime in on political topics, as he preferred participating in the ribbing of other cast members, normally alongside Jack Bradshaw. Oddo was terminated on April 28, 2009, due to budget cuts by Clear Channel. However, on June 9, 2009, Oddo officially returned to WTKS as a member of The BS (Buckethead Show). He stated that he is "grateful for the time and experience on The Philips Phile but that chapter is over." The BS airs Monday through Friday from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Ms.B! - Leslie "Ms.B!" Brewington was born in Puerto Rico. as an infant she was adopted and the family moved to Harlem in New York City. "Ms.B!" came to Florida at the age of 20. Leslie is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a B.A. Degree in Radio and Television Communications. Her radio career began in 1986 at WKIS-AM 740 as producer for the Clive Thomas show. Leslie became known as "Ms.B!", when she moved with Jim Philips to WTKS-FM 104.1 in 1992. Leslie was Jim's foil for 4 years. Ms. B! did her last "Philips Phile" show Nov. 18, 1996.
The Philips Phile has a very regular rotation of games and guests on the program based upon the day of the week. The show has two games played every day for a prize they are "What'd I Say," in which Jim asks a question near the end of the show relating to something that was discussed earlier on that day's program. To win a prize, listeners call in at the designated time and the first person with the correct answer to the question wins. And Closest to the Pin in which one caller is chosen to answer 5 questions as close to the correct answer as possible.
Monday
The Monday Movie Review
Local gay celebrities Michael "Wanzie" and Doug review films currently in theaters and regale the Phile with tales of their activities over the last week, normally involving their involvement with local theater and any gay-friendly events in the coming days.
Tuesday
"Insert Game Name Here"
Originally created so that listeners could create their own games for the Phile to play, it is currently cycling between two games, "Who's The Smarty", a game in which members try to answer a difficult question with clues that gets easier each round, and "Todd's Top Ten", a game where the Phile splits into two teams and tries to guess the top ten on a variety of different lists.
Wednesday
Scott Maxwell's Takin' Names
A respected gossip and political columnist for the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, Scott Maxwell, spills the beans to Jim and crew regarding local events, celebrity encounters and political mishaps.[2]
Thursday
The Five Minute Professor
Bill Keevan is the "Five Minute Professor".[3] Each week the professor gives a brief "lecture" on a topic chosen for that week. Following the lecture, a series of related trivia questions are asked of the "class" (the Phile) for bragging rights.
Friday
Sports Talk with Pat Clarke
Sports Director for WESH-2 Channel 2 News and friend of the Philips Phile Pat Clarke calls in to voice his opinion regarding news in the sports world, especially regarding local sports teams such as the Orlando Magic and University of Florida Gators (Jim's favorite team and his college alma mater). Occasionally Jim will keep Pat on the line to discuss other topics with him, including his culinary creation, the Goop Dog.
So You Wanna' Winna'
The most popular of the games hosted by the program, this involves listeners calling in and successfully passing three rounds of questions. The rounds include a True or False question, Common Bond, in which players must state the link between three seemingly separate things and a survival question, answering a question related to survival through an incident. After every answer given by a player, an audio clip of Regis Philbin from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire asks, "Is that your final answer?"
Eddie the Shaman
A friend of the Phile, Eddie comes in each week to both act as a life-line for "So You Wanna' Winna'," but also to give his spiritual guidance to the program and its listeners, doling out cryptic words of wisdom and ending with his mantra "peace, love and the Philips Phile!"