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SUMMARY
In this classic Hamish & Andy radio segment, the duo conducts a "random reference" prank. Hamish calls a complete stranger, James, and asks him to lie for him as a job reference for an accounting firm. To their surprise, James agrees without hesitation. Ten minutes later, Andy calls James back pretending to be the employer. James proceeds to weave an elaborate and supportive backstory for "Tim," claiming they've been friends for ten years through a football club. The prank ends with the hosts revealing the ruse and praising James for being an incredibly loyal stranger.

TRANSCRIPT
[00:00] JAMES: Hello, James speaking.

[00:01] HAMISH: Oh, g'day mate. Sorry, my name's Tim. How are ya?

[00:04] JAMES: I'm great, how are you?

[00:05] HAMISH: Mate, I'm wondering if you can help me out of a slightly sticky situation. I'm just about to go into a job interview at an accounting firm. I've gotta put, like, references down on a list. I don't have enough to fill it up. I've just—I don't know why, but I've written down a random number and I just, like, called to see if it's a real thing. It's your number.

[00:25] JAMES: Yeah, ah, so you've just called this number? Yeah, go on.

[00:28] HAMISH: Well, I just didn't want to leave an empty list, but then it's occurred to me they might call. I doubt they will do, but if someone calls you and asks, "Do you know Tim Barnard?" can you just...

[00:36] JAMES: Yeah, I'll say you used to work for—what job's it for?

[00:39] HAMISH: I'm going for a job at an accounting firm, but just say that... I've put you down as a personal reference.

[00:45] JAMES: Yeah, sweet. I'll just say I know you from way back, blah blah blah. I'll say you're a really good bloke. I've got you covered. Is that alright?

[00:50] HAMISH: Yeah?

[00:51] JAMES: Yeah, not a problem, dude.

[00:52] HAMISH: Mate, you're a legend. I'm going in in, like, one minute. I mean, I doubt you'll get a call, but if you do, Tim Barnard.

[00:56] JAMES: Yeah, yeah, sweet as. No worries, dude.

[00:58] HAMISH: Thank you, James. Cheers.

[00:59] JAMES: See you mate, have a good one. Good luck with it.

[visual: A title card appears on screen reading "10 MINUTES LATER".]

[01:01] [visual: Andy is now wearing a hat and preparing to make the follow-up call.]

[01:05] JAMES: Hello, James speaking.

[01:07] ANDY: Oh hi, it's Graham Burn here. Is that James?

[01:09] JAMES: Yes.

[01:10] ANDY: Great, it's Graham here. I'm calling from Kelvin Co. We're an accounting firm. I've just come out of an interview with a friend of yours, Tim Barnard.

[01:17] JAMES: Oh, yes, yes, yes.

[01:18] [visual: Hamish is seen in the background, smiling and listening intently.]

[01:19] ANDY: Who looked to be a great candidate, so we thought we'd, uh, make our way back through the references quite promptly. You know Tim?

[01:26] JAMES: Yeah, I know Tim personally. I've known him for a few years now. We go back a bit, for a while.

[01:31] ANDY: How long have you known Tim?

[01:33] JAMES: I've known Tim for probably, ah, ten years.

[01:36] ANDY: How did you guys become friends?

[01:38] JAMES: Through footy, the footy club.

[01:40] [visual: Hamish is laughing silently in the studio.]

[01:41] ANDY: Right, fantastic. He didn't strike me as a footy player.

[01:44] JAMES: Oh, he wasn't really a player. He was more, he'd come in as a, uh, spectator sort of thing.

[01:50] ANDY: Ah yes, just helping out round the club.

[01:52] JAMES: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[01:53] ANDY: Okay, fantastic. He'll be dealing with, um, higher-end companies in his role. Businesses of profits of a million dollars plus. Is he known to be good with money, do you know anything about that?

[02:04] JAMES: Ah, from my understanding, like, he's helped out a lot with a few fundraisers and stuff like that.

[02:09] ANDY: Yep.

[02:10] JAMES: So yeah, as far as I know.

[02:12] ANDY: Any other examples of him taking on responsibility?

[02:15] JAMES: He helps out the treasurer a lot.

[02:17] ANDY: Uh-hum, oh that's good.

[02:19] JAMES: And he does that a fair bit.

[02:22] ANDY: Just describe the best thing about him, appearance-wise.

[02:27] JAMES: Appearance-wise, well... what you see is pretty much what you get with him. He's just, he's a go-getter, and when he says things are gonna get done, they get done!

[02:37] ANDY: Fantastic. Sorry James...

[02:39] HAMISH: James, sorry mate! It's Hamish and Andy here, James.

[02:42] JAMES: Ah, you're kidding!

[02:44] ANDY: James, mate, you are the best guy in the world!

[02:47] HAMISH: You're the best bloke in the world, James!

[02:50] JAMES: You are kidding me!
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