#85: Claudia Kishi, Live from WSTO
Claudia is feeling a little bit in the doldrums… she misses Mimi, her aunt Peaches, and now her ex-best friend Stacey (after Stacey’s falling out with the BSC). She wonders about trying a new hobby, but then she hears about the local radio station’s new contest — someone between the ages of 10-14 will get a radio show for kids, two days a week, for the next month. And of course Claudia wins it, because she’s extremely cool.
When Claudia shows up at the station for on-boarding, she finds out that the second-place winner will be her assistant, and that person is no other than Ashley Wyeth. (Remember her???) Ashley has chilled out a little bit about art, but she’s still a little ~highbrow~ for Claudia’s tastes (she wants a segment of their show to be called “A Mozart Moment"). Claudia wants a show called For Kids Only, where kids can do guest movie reviews and they play the Stoneybrook Top 40. I say, Claudia… you’re the damn boss, do whatever the hell you want. But Ashley kind of sniffs at Claudia’s ideas, even though Claud’s trying really hard to be nice.
“I had to humor her dumb ideas, and feel bad about mine.” - Claudia, page 49
Claudia will have to hold auditions for kid acts to appear on her show, and of course Kristy becomes obsessed with becoming a ~radio star~ and getting the BSC charges involved. Kristy’s play, though — featuring the Barrett/DeWitt kids — blows, and Claudia has to reject her. All in all, Claudia and Ashley find about ten acts to book, and decide that the theme of their first show will be “friendship.” The show goes really well, and Claudia even talks about how she misses her ex-best friend at the end (cryyyyy; I want Claud and Stacey back together!). Claudia Kishi, radio star.
Claudia even brings pack her advice-giving skills from her Claudia’s Personals days when they have to fill fifteen minutes of air time (due to a last-minute cancellation) and she has kids call in for advice. The station manager is like, “damn, girl, you’re a pro!” Even Ashley admires Claudia, finally. Meanwhile, Kristy finally comes up with a not-idiotic idea to audition (a book reading and game show with Marilyn and Carolyn Arnold) and Claudia can finally book her on the show. You’ve gotta hand it to Kristy: nevertheless, she friggin’ persisted.
Claudia also manages to save the station from financial ruin (for at least six months) when the mother of a boy she’d helped during her call-in advice segment pledges funding to the station as a thank-you. Sure, this is one of those what-a-coincidence/only-in-Stoneybrook type of things, but it’s nice. CLAUDIA DESERVES IT! The best part, though, is that Stacey calls the station after Claud’s last show and tells her she’s been listening to every show and that she hopes they can be friends again some day. HUZZAH! POP THE CHAMPAGNE, FRIENDS!
