A blocked toilet disaster has made the BBC Radio 1 basement smell like a sewer, Scott’s convinced he knows who did it, and a bizarre new dating craze called “eye gazing” is sweeping New York City—but the episode’s real revelation is that Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” inexplicably stops babies from crying.
The show opens with Scott dealing with the aftermath of a major plumbing catastrophe affecting the whole building. A rumor circulates that it happened around 11 a.m., and though names are hinted at, Scott decides not to point fingers on air—though he clearly has his suspicions. The smell is described as absolutely revolting, affecting even the reception area where celebrity guests are arriving.
The show then pivots to a new American dating phenomenon called “eye gazing.” Unlike speed dating, singles line up facing each other and simply stare into one another’s eyes for two to three minutes without speaking, attempting to create an “unspoken love connection.” Scott finds this concept baffling and potentially disastrous for someone like him who prefers not to rely on talking to attract people. The team discusses dating rules, including a caller named Baza who contributes the surprising advice that stroking a girl’s hair is an effective way to gauge romantic interest—if she doesn’t stop you, she wants to be kissed.
Scott’s also thoroughly grossed out by a plot line in EastEnders involving flirtatious dialogue he finds inappropriately suggestive. He’s also convinced the show has stolen his wine sound effects, and plays clips comparing them. The team discusses whether they’ve improved the original, and jokes that EastEnders wants to use them in future episodes.
The episode’s most bizarre segment involves callers reporting that playing Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” to crying babies makes them stop crying instantly. Scott tests this live on air with a caller named Haley whose baby Forest is crying, with mixed results—the baby initially quiets but then seems to cry more when the song plays, forcing Scott to turn it off and apologize.
COMMENTS