# What have you won by calling into a radio show? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** radio-podcast\ **Created:** [August 5, 2025, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714 "2025-08-05T04:38:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/81 "2025-08-10T16:14:59Z")
What are the two US states where the majority of the residents live on an island? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/82 "2025-08-10T16:40:24Z")
A single island or islands? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/83 "2025-08-10T17:01:27Z")
A single island ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/84 "2025-08-10T17:40:59Z")
Hawaii is obvious, but Long Island is only about 40% of New York’s population. I can’t see any other state coming close. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/85 "2025-08-10T17:44:27Z")
Shit. I got that wrong. The other way. Apologies ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/86 "2025-08-10T23:02:03Z")
My father had a technique or lucky fingers to use his office phone - rotary dial (!) - back in the 80’s to win stuff. I used it to win 2 tickets to the opening preview of “Heavy Metal” in August 1981 in NYC. Then won two in one of my brother’s friends name (I was only 14 - so needed 17 year old brother). Then two more for a friend. Then two more for another of my brother’s friends. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/87 "2025-08-11T04:29:25Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > What are the two US states where the majority of the residents live on an island? I’m thinking it’s Hawaii and New York eta: Missed the part about it being a single island. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/88 "2025-08-11T04:38:37Z")
Okay, as long as I’m on this strange state border kick, one more: Aside from Alaska and Hawaii, what are the only two states that did not border another state when they achieved statehood? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/89 "2025-08-11T04:59:58Z")
Texas and California ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/90 "2025-08-11T15:10:17Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Aside from Alaska and Hawaii, what are the only two states that did not border another state when they achieved statehood? It’s Louisiana in 1812 and California in 1850. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/91 "2025-08-11T19:05:01Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Oh, I almost lost on Friday, but pulled out a big comeback and play again Monday, hopefully with a new prize in play. I won tickets for KC and the Sunshine Band today! Once again by the skin of my teeth. The host not asking questions can knock out both players by getting to five, but they can only answer if the contestants don’t or can’t. They got to four, and my opponent to two, before I ran the table on the last five questions. I even had to resort to educated guesses (who has the most major golf wins, and where are the Spanish Steps). ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/92 "2025-08-12T01:20:21Z")
Years ago. Pink Floyd concert tickets. The challenge was to name three Pink Floyd songs. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/93 "2025-08-12T01:47:41Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > name three Pink Floyd songs. “Uh….” “Come on, time is money!” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/94 "2025-08-12T14:55:48Z")
“One of these days, I tell ya…” ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/95 "2025-08-12T14:58:31Z")
Something Something Dorothy? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/96 "2025-08-12T15:32:31Z")
This thread brought back memories, so I am trying (and failing) to find out information about a series of radio contests put on by the Mark And Brian Show called “You Just Can’t Win” where you were given vague clues in order to answer specific questions. Anybody? ---
**Author:** ![BrieSpice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f17d59/32.png) [@BrieSpice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrieSpice)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/97 "2025-08-12T15:49:09Z")
In the early 90’s at college, I used to call in to radio contests fairly often. I won two tickets to a Pearl Jam concert at the Roseland Theater in Portland. The fact that the tickets were free made an already amazing concert even better. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/98 "2025-08-12T15:52:05Z")
My sister ALMOST won something, the show offered a prize (I don’t remember what it was) to anyone who could speak with them for 5 minutes without saying the words “yes” and “no”. My sister managed it like a champ, always answering “you could say that” “I agree with that”, “I disagree with that other thing”, and so on. Until they said something like “Perfect! you were great, you’ve almost won! one last question though: do you have a boyfriend?” My sister’s 12 year old brain short-circuited and she answered with an indignant “NO!”. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/99 "2025-08-12T17:51:51Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > This thread brought back memories, so I am trying (and failing) to find out information about a series of radio contests put on by the Mark And Brian Show called “You Just Can’t Win” where you were given vague clues in order to answer specific questions. Anybody? My vague memory was this. One caller per day. Three very tricky questions. Same questions every day until someone got all three. When you miss a question, you are out. Eventually someone would get the first question and if you had been listening, you would know that one and move to the second. Similar once someone got the second question. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714/100 "2025-08-12T18:50:36Z")
If I remember correctly the game took forever because the massive amounts of research needed, but as a joke on I think April Fools Day they set up a ringer. This person has all three answers and the hosts acted like they thought it was a scam and they were going to bring hell down on this person and the “evil” people on the inside that were in on it. It seemed to get very hot and nasty on the show, then…”April Fools!”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-you-won-by-calling-into-a-radio-show/1021714.md?page=6)