April 10, 1997

Nighttime in Orlando is different than in other cities, especially when it comes to the airwaves. We've got something other big cities don't: Drew Garabo. Drew is host of Real Radio 104.1's midnight to 5 a.m. overnight show: an eclectic assortment of insightful and unusual callers and Drew's funny and intelligent conversation.

On the evening of April 1, the topic was cults, and Drew formed his own in the wake of the California lets-kill-ourselves-so-we-can-hop-aboard-the -alien-ship-hidden-in-the-comet cult. Before the show, Drew, his producer Mandy, and Amy, the Overnights-turned-Philips Phile intern, sat in the small office and chatted about the night's topic and other things. Their rapport is the same on and off the air. Shortly before midnight, they moved across the hall into the multi-room studio where all of Real Radio's shows emanate from. The facilities are small and worn, but that certainly doesn't affect the quality of Drew's show. During the show, Mandy answers the phones and runs the board. She's also responsible for those well-timed Homer Simpson drops that compliment Drew's spontaneous humor.

Drew gets calls all night from people 12 to 38; from places as near as Winter Park and as far as Delaware (thanks to AudioNet, where people worldwide can listen to Real Radio programming live via the Internet). His show attracts everyone: from college students to truck drivers, all of whom seek what Drew offers: "an escape from reality." There are plenty of die-hard "Big Papa" fans, like a listener named Josh, who set up a "Cult of Drew" web page (which he updated as Drew added new "cult requirements" like penance in the form of Mallomars) during the cult show.

The 27-year-old host told a caller that his show was about "talking nonsense with people and making them laugh," and that sums it up very well. When he first started the show, Drew says his goal was "to inform and amuse." Now, though, he's somewhat flipped that philosophy, putting the entertainment aspect first, making the audience "think along the way."

Andy Dehnart I spend much of my time deconstructing my surroundings by writing. Other diversions: crossing the line, sucking down caffeine-laced carbonated beverages, pen fighting with the staff of the paper I edit, listening intensely to SHE 100.3, and analyzing my world with an overuse of superlatives. Also find me here. Other Articles I've Written