Hosted Ravioli

“I probably caused a lot of people injuries, trying to do that flip!” Ozzie Smith said. Indeed, a generation of St. Louis kids attempted back flips in backyards, pretending it was the ball yard. Few humans touched St. Louis the way Ozzie Smith did. The Cardinals legend sat down with “Hosted Ravioli” to discuss memory-making and and everlasting memories. Ozzie shared which celebrity he wishes he could've met – and what it's like being the celebrity in town that everybody has met. And he told the story of running into current Cardinal Dexter Fowler at Target – when Fowler's daughter asked the Hall of Famer: “Are you a fan of my daddy's?”​ Follow Hosted Ravioli on Twitter - @HostedRavioli

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He made St. Louis sports fun. Notably on Channel 4 KMOV, Zip Rzeppa delivered the sports broadcasts with flair and flamboyance. And his famous “Zippo Awards” became something of local lore – Rzeppa would give out “awards” for "The best, the worst, and the weirdest performances in the wild and wacky wonderful world of sports.” Today, Rzeppa is 66, living in Illinois and living a life devoted to religion. He joined us on “Hosted Ravioli” to talk about the fun times – and the time he had egg on his face, literally. Follow Hosted Ravioli on Twitter - @HostedRavioli

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The epitome of a St. Louis on-air personality is Guy Phillips, who has been on radio and TV since the late 1970s. While he made his mark on Y98, he made his mark with the host of “Hosted Ravioli” thanks to the 1980s kid's game show “DB's Delight.” The show featured local St. Louis middle schoolers in a trivia contest hosted by Phillips and a mustached puppet. Phillips joined Post-Dispatch columnist Benjamin Hochman to discuss his decades in St. Louis and answer the age-old question – how the heck did the local show “DB's Delight” get the Billboard hit song “Freeze Frame” as its theme song? Follow Hosted Ravioli on Twitter - @HostedRavioli

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In St. Louis in the 1990s, Thom Sharp was the funniest guy in St. Louis – even if no one knew Thom Sharp's name. The comedian and actor starred as “The Boatmen's Guy” in numerous clever commercials for Boatmen's Bank. His dry wit while appearing in silly situations made him so popular that when the bank was merged with another, our newspaper created a “Save The Boatmen's Guy” campaign. Sharp joined Benjamin Hochman on his podcast “Hosted Ravioli” to discuss what made the commercials so great. Sharp – who says he's not bald, but instead just “outgrew his hair” – also shares acting stories from the set of “The Golden Girls” and other 90s sitcoms. Follow Hosted Ravioli on Twitter - @HostedRavioli

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“Oh baby!!” The signature call of Blues broadcaster Ken Wilson became part of St. Louis sports culture, beginning in the 1980s, all the way into the 2000s. Wilson would holler “Oh baby!” after a goal and it became a catch phrase around town – rumors were that obstetricians would do Ken Wilson impersonations upon delivery. Wilson, 70, joined “Hosted Ravioli” to share his favorite St. Louis memories, some behind-the-scenes stories and, of course, the origin of “Oh baby!”​ ​ Follow Hosted Ravioli on Twitter - @HostedRavioli

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She arrived, alas, by car. Famous for flying under the Arch on a carpet, Becky Rothman starred in quirky commercials for decades in St. Louis. She was anointed “queen of carpets,” wore a gown and crown and became a local celebrity. And so, she was a fitting first guest for my new St. Louis-themed podcast, “Hosted Ravioli,” recorded at The Post-Dispatch studios and available on iTunes and stltoday.com/podcasts. Becky gave us her first interview since Becky’s Carpet & Tile Superstore closed in 2012. “Being queen of carpets was wonderful, and I miss it dearly,” she said. “I miss getting dressed up everyday and going to work. I miss all the people. That was then, now is now. And it took me a long time to find myself again.” She's devoted herself to charity work involving dogs, and she still lives in the St. Louis area. In the studio, she graced us with her gown and crown, which I got to try on, making me, temporarily, “Benjamin, king of carpets.” It was a delightful discussion with Becky, who shared stories of the zany commercial shoots and Halloween nights, when she'd run into people dressed as herself. “I loved shooting the commercials, just loved it,” she said. “I made the commercials up as I went along. And the business went crazy after the commercials.” ​ Follow Hosted Ravioli on Twitter - @HostedRavioli

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Hosted Ravioli is a St. Louis-themed podcast hosted by Benjamin Hochman, a columnist for The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Hochman interviews fun and fascinating staples of St. Louis, from celebrities to local cult heroes, such as people from famous TV commercials, news media, sports or pop culture. The show will also discuss and debate some of St. Louis’ most “St. Louis” topics, from the best pizza or gooey butter cake or barbecue, to what is the best Cardinals’ walk-up song and best Nelly song ever. Follow Hosted Ravioli on Twitter - @HostedRavioli

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