Here at Fishbowl, we like to flatter ourselves that we are sought out by all sorts of exotic and important people every day. It's not at all true, but every so often we actually do find a name in our inbox that fills us with delight. A day or so ago, that name was Philip Bump.

Astute Fishbowl readers/Daily Show watchers will remember Phil as the courageous labor leader in California standing up to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the name of a disappointed state (this was on the infamous Fareed Zakaria episode). He displayed similar courage in standing up to Daily Show correspondent Samantha Bee, who can be scary at times despite being Canadian. Consider this exchange:

Bump: The State of California is saying Arnold Schwarzenegger is doing a bad job.
Bee: Oh, I made a terrible mistake, I voted for a movie star! Waaaah! I crapped my pants! I'm covered in poo!

...and, in a running theme of mocking poor Phil Bump's name:

Bee: If it were possible to go back in time, would the Phil Bump of the future tell the Phil Bump of the present to change his name?
Bump: I don't think Bee's such a terrific name.
Bee: (warningly) Oh. I will [bleep]ing tear you to pieces. [Bleep]

(The entire segment is available here - Bee also commented that a Schwarzenegger with hands left idle would be "all over you like a fat kid on a smartie" - see for yourself how delicious our Phil is!)

Fishbowl, in our role as afflicter of the comfortable and comforter of afflicted, gave Phil both our pity and our props, which drove him into our arms via email: "I read your commentary on the Fareed Zakaria episode of the Daily Show, on which I appeared. You, kindly, stuck up for me, which I appreciate."

Now Phil is our bestest friend and we'll never let him go, not ever - especially when he gave us these neat little insider tidbits:

• The interview took place in a hotel room (wakka wakka)
  
• Yes, it is a set up and he did know he was being mocked
  
• Nay, he helped them
  
• But, they didn't feed him! Boo on you, cheap Daily Show!
  
• They said they would call him to tell him when it was airing but - they didn't!
  
• Phil was hoping Jon Stewart would make fun of his name, too.
  
• Phil totally ID'd Bernardo from the Sharks in our graffiti post. BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!
  
• We originally likened Phil to the closeted gay Republican lawyer in "Angels In America" but to quote the man himself: "I am so far from being a closeted gay Republican lawyer, it's sick." Oh, Phil Bump, GROWL!

You can read Phil's own account of the experience here, and the Fishbowl recap of the episode here. Feel free to send all Phil Bump-inspired playlists to us at FISHBOWLNY@mediabistro.com. We'll start you out: "Who Put The Bump (In The Bump Bump Bump)?"