My TV Interview Invite

I'd mentioned a couple of times lately that I was once invited onto a national TV show but declined on the grounds that I didn't want my foes to know my face.   

After all, they were then at the heights of their psychotic behavior where they were threatening my life over a frickin' internet debate about science fiction technology, so that last vestige of anonymity -- given that they'd already been calling my home, distributing my address, workplace, and discussing 'home visits' -- was my remaining tactical advantage in the event they ever made good on their plans.  Well, that and the crappy .380 I used to have.  (Fear not, I now have a much finer selection.)

In any case, I'd been trying to recall details about it and searching my e-mails to try to find it, but for some reason I kept having trouble locating anything even close to it.   Of course, the fact that my e-mails are absolutely swarming with references to "tv", "show", "producer", and whatnot wasn't helpful.

But finally, I found it.   Turns out it was for a show on TechTV (which later became G4techTV, then just G4).

Unscrewed With Martin Sargent reveals the pop culture side of technology: what's new, what's hip, what's hot. The ultimate showcase for the darker, funnier, sexier world of the modern technophile, Unscrewed With Martin Sargent pushes the boundaries of late night television. Hosted by the funny and forthright Martin Sargent from The Screen Savers, with his sidekick, the lovely Laura Swisher, this outrageous 30 minutes promises to go where no other show on television has gone. Sargent mingles with tantalizing guests in studio and remotely.

The show apparently once featured an interview with Maddox of "The Best Page in the Universe" fame, so I would've been amongst august company (at least to hear Maddox tell it).

Anyway, here's the e-mail . . . and yeah, it says posting permission was "no", but (a) it's been over a decade, (b) the show and network are gone, and (c) it was business and not a personal message from a reader, so I don't think it's important anymore.  Nevertheless, as is my custom, I will redact all personally identifiable whatzits:

From: Sean [redacted]
To: g2k @ st-v-sw.net
Date: Mon, Sep 22, 2003 at 6:34 PM
Subject: ST-v-SW.Net Feedback 

redirect: http://www.st-v-sw.net/STSWhi.html 

source: Went to it. 

posting+permission: No. 

comment: Hi 

My name is Sean [redacted], I am a television producer working with the booking manager for TechTVs newest show 'Unscrewed with Martin Sargent'. It is our goal to 'unscrew' the top off the internet and show our viewers the people and places that make the internet so interesting. I came across your website and thought you would make a perfect guest. We w like to conduct this interview via netcam (If you do not have one I am more than happy to send you one for free). 

We would like to talk to you about how you got started, what the response has been to your website and what plans you might have for the website in the future. The interview itself will only take a few minutes so hopefully this will be as painless as possible. 

We shoot all of our shows on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00pm-10:00 PDT. 

Thanks very much for your consideration and pleasel free to call or email me with any questions or concerns you might have, or contact Unscrewed's booking manager, Adam [redacted]. 

Adam [redacted]
Booking Manager/Guest Producer
'Unscrewed'
techtv.com/unscrewedtechtv.com 

I look forward to speaking with you. Please email me back with a phone number and the best time to call. 

Sean [redacted] 

About TechTV
TechTV is the cable network that showcases the smart, edgy and unexpected side of technology. By telling stories through the prism of technologechTV intrigues viewers with everything from help and information to cutting-edge documentaries to outrageous late-night fun. TechTV viewers are highly interactive and passionate about engaging in the television experience and log a monthly average of 1.5 million unique visitors to techtv.com. Owned by Vulcan Inc., TechTV is currently available in nearly 40 million homes in the US and distributes content to more than 70 countries.