When I went to sleep in the wee hours of Friday morning, after staying up too late to hear Lino Rulli and crew do the lock-in show, I told myself that this was the best show they ever did.

The next day, I reeled back those thoughts, thinking that it was based purely on emotion. "Let's wait a few days, then look at the show with a clear conscience and no bias."

As I write this nine days later, I have to say that the lock-in was indeed the best show that Lino, Lou and Maureen have ever put together. The three hours were simply fantastic.

What made the show amazing? The novelty of it was big, but when that wore off, you had a studio full of energy. No sluggishness noticeable on my end of the radio. And despite the lack of phone calls the first hour and a half, Fr. Jim's two students, Glenn and Chelsea, really gave Lino and crew a nice angle to play off of. Both students seemed like naturals on the radio, and I wouldn't be shocked to find out that one of them is pursuing an education in radio.

The segments were fantastic: "Fans wanna know" had some really good questions, the bible study really showcased Lino's theological strengths, and the late-night phone call to Greg Willits might just be the best moment we'll ever hear on the show.

I really hope to hear more lock-in shows in the future, but I'd hate for them to be a scheduled chore. Doing them once every six weeks or so would be amazing, as it gave west-coast listeners and overnight workers a chance to call in (and night owls like myself, Allicia and Kristen, who lovingly live-blogged the entire thing). I think to keep them from being mundane or stale, they need to have big-event status. I'd hate to see a lock-in with just Lino, Lou and Maureen: guests are definitely needed to make the lock-in shows really special and worth staying up late for (not saying LLM can't do it, but a studio full of people late at night is a lot more fun).

Best. Show. Ever.

11:58 pm EST - the Popcaks just wrapped up their show ... get ready for some craziness!
12:01 am EST - Okay, I can't tell if they're on Starbucks, Mountain Dew, Red Bull, and Pixie Sticks. (btw, Maureen - I have a glass of wine with me, too - you're good)
12:04 am EST - Fr. Jim is wearing a t-shirt. Oh please. Priests are allowed to wear more than just a Roman Collar (and pants).
12:08 am EST - ICEBREAKER? Um, so are we going to go around and play "two truths and a lie" or something? When I've chaperoned Catholic Lock-Ins, the Icebreaker is followed by the rule "boys are blue, girls are pink - no making purple." That rule is out the window.


**side note, comments are open. why limit the discussion to the phone. TALK TO ME, PEOPLE! **

12:13 am EST - Lock in rules (what a buzz kill).

1. No heresy
2. No alcohol or illegal drugs
3. No dangerous materials
4. No firearms
5. No one can leave the studio without the Lino pass (just like the women that are in Lino's apartment - HEY-O)
   
6. No cursing
7. No bare feet
8. No taking the Lord's name in vain (didn't Moses say that)
9. No video games, trading cards.
10. Any violations will result in calling the parents Oh please call Mama Rulli!!!
11. No hitting or name calling (am I in 3rd grade again??)
12. No flatulence (what about silent bombs?)

12:23 am EST - Icebreaker - what's your favorite Commandment. My question is - can everyone in studio recite the Commandments?

12:35 am EST - what's up with trying to find a new name for Intern Krista? I mean, I think her name is cool, although it's missing an 'n' at the end. Just sayin'.

12:36 am EST - another rule ... no kissing?!? What about the listeners?? (HEY-O)

12:38 am EST - so Chelsea answers the question about the favorite commandment with "I'm going with my boyfriend ..." Did anyone else think this answer was going somewhere else? Like Commandment Six ...?

12:40 am EST - Lino comments about the First Commandment "I like to serve myself." HEY-O!!

12:46 am EST - Bible study MSNBC style ... I heard Maureen say "and my husband". Is that in the Bible, or was Maureen just saying random stuff?

12:49 am EST - Chelsea's favorite Bible verse - 2 Corinthians 11:30

12:51 am EST - Fr. Jim busts out the "NO PURPLE" when Chelsea apparently sniff's Glenn's armpit. **Note to my boyfriend - that is not a sign of affection. Don't even think about it.**

12:55 am EST - According to Maureen's wedding verse, cuddling is in the Bible. (Ecc 4:11). Maureen quasi-drunk texts Lino. HEY-NOW

12:58 am EST - Just about an hour into the show and no callers?

1:03 am EST - On the West Coast, ER reruns on Lifetime are over and I tried to call in and there is a recording. This is a scam!!!!

1:08 am EST - Ambassador Allicia is ready to play "What the fans want to know" ... apparently it's in the PG range. BOOOO. And why can't the rest of us call in and say hey?

1:09 am EST - the first question - "Does Lino kiss on the first date?" Yes. Fr. Jim rules that Lino is still chaste (is Fr. Jim the official chaperone of Lino's dates???)

1:11 am EST - 2nd question - "If you walked into a room full of gorgeous, single, catholic, Italian women between the ages of 26-36 and loves the Foo Fighters, what is the next thing you look for? What goes beyond those initial requirements?" Answer: She must say "I love you". Fr. Jim thinks she should be able to cook & clean. Bottom line: "I'll go out with the one that likes me."

1:15 am EST - 3rd question - "What movie do you secretly love but don’t want to admit for fear of man card revocation? Free pass to admit it and what is your FAVORITE part?" Answer: Love Actually. AND Lino just admitted that he almost bought the COLLECTORS EDITION of The Notebook. Glenn likes Mean Girls.

Okay, as a woman, I never saw the Notebook and I really disliked Love Actually. BUT, I LOVE Mean Girls. Glenn, you can have your Man Card laminated.


1:19 am EST - 4th question ... if God gave Lino a free pass to sin, would Lino take it? "oh yeah!" Besides, killing Maureen, he would commit a sin "of a sexual nature".

1:21 am EST - "Who would you rather go out for a bear with Fr. Rob or Fr. Jim?" (clarify - one beer at a time). Answer - Fr. Rob
"Who would you rather go to a Yankees vs Mets game with Fr. Rob or Fr. Jim?" - Fr. Jim
"Road trip to Mexico for Doritos, burritos, and tequila?" Fr. Rob
"Who's the better wingman for picking up chicks?" Fr. Jim. Lou comments that Fr. Rob would make Lino look better.

1:26 am EST - "Have you sent flowers to a woman?" Yes. Allicia offers that she wants flowers. Dustin, you okay? btw, Lino - I would like some flowers. My boyfriend wouldn't mind.

1:27 am EST - "Swimtrunks or Speedo? USA or Europe?" Whole studio groans. I think that means swimtrunks.

1:30 am EST - Chelsea raises her hand and asks Mr. Rulli if she can use the 'lav'. Mr. Rulli writes Chelsea's name on the board and gives her a Lino pass to use the 'lav'.

1:36 am EST - Glenn's favorite Bible verse - Proverbs 1:7

1:46 am EST - Lou's favorite Bible passage - 1 John 4:18

1:51 am EST - WE HAVE A CALLER! Norvena from Santa Clara, CA. Her verse is 1 John 4:8

1:53 am EST - Krista's favorite Bible verse - 1 Timothy 4:12. Modern translation - "hey, don't mess with us because we're kids"

2:03 am EST - Chelsea & Glenn share how they met. It involved the Wii in the basement of the Newman Center and a dance that sounds like a dance that you don't exactly dance in the basement of a Catholic student center. **Glenn, Chelsea - please teach me that dance so I can teach my boyfriend.**

2:05 am EST - some really cool girl calls in. The Astros are awesome.

2:08 am EST - Max from Chicago called in. Apparently there is a picture of John Paul II the Great (sorry Fr. Rob) that was stolen from Lino's apartment. Max asks the crew for plugs of why he should extend his 7 day free trial.

<<>>

2:11 am EST - Kristy from Kentucky calls in and says that the Lock-In is great and it should happen once a month. Maureen, Lino, Fr. Jim agree. Lou wants a Lock-In several times a month (I think he was being sarcastic). Lino says he won't be Kristy's monthly visitor late at night. ** Insert Psycho stabbing sound clip theme **



2:15 am EST - Dustin from Arkansas calls in still sad about the Celtics losing to the Lakers. He thinks Lino should receive another Emmy for this Lock-In. Dustin asks what other hosts on TCC the crew may call at this obscene hour. Dustin delivers a "God bless you brother" that was apparently better than the lovely woman that called earlier. And the Astros are awesome.

2:18 am EST - Jamie from Kansas City (the other cop) calls in. He offers to deliver a breathalizer to the crew to see just how much alcohol Maureen has had to drink.

2:22 am EST - George from Colombus, Ohio is curious with a segment idea of Clean Catholic Joke of the Week. He tells a clean Catholic joke.

2:50 am EST - the crew understands the joke.

2:30 am EST - Who is better at guiding the souls of college-aged students: Lino or Fr Jim? aka Who has the better minion?
Questions included:
- Doctors of the Church?
- What is the 5th Commandment?
- Patron saint of blessing the throats?
- Century Christianity was legalized
- How old is Pope Benedict XVI?
- How was St Peter martyred?
- How many books are in the Bible?
- In which city will the next World Youth Day?
- What does the word catholic mean?
- Who wrote Summa Theologica?

Krista the intern wins!!! (my prize - an 'n' at the end of her name)

2:50 am EST - Greg Willits suggest a prank call to the other Catholic Show hosts. Greg - what were you thinking??? Greg can't believe that Lino actually did it to him. Lino asks if Greg is clothed. HEY NOW! Lino tells Greg how much he loves him at nearly 3 am. Greg is still half asleep and meant that Lino should call one of the OTHER hosts. C'mon, Greg - get your head in the game!

2:53 am EST - Kristan is still giggling that Greg really didn't think that Lino would call him. Greg - have you MET Lino??

2:55 am EST - Yoda John suggests the show go 3 more hours. Yoda John can blog it next time.

2:58 am EST - Lino plugs Catholicguyshow.com (and, indirectly, the Boston Celtics and the Houston Astros)