Extensive phone lines channel into a color TV that sits across from a red and black clay replica of a KISS band member’s head. The head glows from the silver strobe light dangling above it.

This abnormal display infiltrates the atmosphere of Mike Magruder’s and Annika Kispersky’s damp and gloomy basement each week to concoct the strangeness of MTV’s Loveline. The show answers its viewers love-related questions.

Magruder and Kispersky have spent three weekends making their home the Loveline of Carbondale, and the two just may be beginning lifetime careers in Hollywood.

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Loveline is a radio-talk show that began more than 10 years ago. It is now in its fifth season on MTV and is nationally syndicated in more than 20 markets. The one-hour show airs at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Kispersky, a recent SIUC graduate from Springfield, said she is thrilled to be working with Loveline and has noted a huge reaction to her job from SIUC students. So far, she and Magruder have taped 12 area people for Loveline.

It’s a very popular show, she said. I’ve had a couple people say, Oh yeah, I watch that show all the time. I’ll do it.’ And there are a lot of people who just don’t believe it.

Each weekend before a taping, the show calls them to receive the question of their guest caller. Today it is Marie. Thirty minutes later the producers call back, and Marie gets geared up to be on MTV.

Kispersky and Magruder race to a small room in the basement where the platform for the show is arranged.

They carefully recheck the phone line to confirm its connection with the television’s audio-video feed of the Loveline. The faces of the hosts Dr. Drew Pinsky, a certified internist and addictionologist, and comedian Adam Carolla pop up on the screen with the show already in progress.

The show is being broadcast live. Marie waits on the phone while Adam makes one of his sarcastic remarks before introducing her.

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Adam doesn’t really like the via phone because it’s not TV, Magruder said. It’s like a computer. There’s a difference in quality between the video and what we’re doing. Adam’s not very patient.

Marie begins to tell the hosts about her confusion concerning her two friends. While Marie and her friends were at a party, she entered the restroom and found her two female friends kissing. She did not know whether to tell one of the friend’s boyfriend or to talk to both of her friends about the situation.

After listening to the two hosts’ advice, Marie decides that it may be best for her friends to watch the show. This way, it could make things easier for Marie.

I was a little apprehensive about it at first, she said. But, if they see it, I guess that would be good. It will be out. Something’s going to happen after that for sure.

While Marie’s taping was a real experience, some people may be skeptical of the posted signs on campus stating MTV’s Loveline is taping in Carbondale.

But, the really astounding spin of the radio and television students’ operation is how they obtained their jobs in the first place.

Last summer, Kispersky and Magruder participated in SIUC’s Hollywood Studies Program and were given internships at Stone Stanley Productions. They first worked on the game show Shop Til You Drop.

The Hollywood Studies Program, initiated by the Radio and Television and the Cinema and Photography departments in 1995, places students in unpaid media internships throughout the Los Angeles area.

Michael Starr, chairman of the Radio and Television Department, said he is not surprised that students have made promising pacts with people in Hollywood.

One of the big benefits is all the networking you get to do, he said. A lot of interns end up with permanent jobs, and many internships lead to other people. Working as an intern, you learn other things.

Some past participants are now employed with major production companies and television shows, including Rescue 911 and Chicago Hope. MTV’s Loveline may be the latest addition to the list.

Magruder and Kispersky made a good impression on the production company they worked with last summer and were selected to work on Loveline, another of the company’s shows.

I’m glad to see that my internship got me something like this, Magruder said. There’s 10,000 people in L.A. that could do this, but we we’re just lucky we were set up with them. I’m glad I bought myself a job. But, I think [the Hollywood Studies Program] was worth it.

The job allows Magruder and Kispersky to work from Carbondale as field producers Their jobs are still hectic though far from the lights and action of Hollywood.

Hearing some of the wild questions people have on the show makes the job even more exciting for Kispersky. Students from Carbondale have had various questions ranging from drugs to sex, which has not made a good impression on Dr. Drew.

Drew thinks everyone from Carbondale are drug addicts, she said. But, sometimes they call us and tell us what they want. Sometimes they want us to spice it up a bit. But when this guy had a question about oral sex, they said it was too risky for the show.

All in all, Kispersky and Magruder are getting a taste of the Hollywood limelight. Both are prepared for their possible future careers.

Kispersky said she is now equipped for her move to Hollywood in March. Because of the Hollywood Studies Program, her resume is filled with an abundance of credentials to help her along.

I’m hoping that it’s going to get me a job with the company, she said. They know we can get the job done. Obviously we worked our butts off this summer, so they thought they could trust us.