MMMMobbed

The callers were desperate. They’d been up all night and even ditched work, school or both to reach Rick Dees during his morning radio show on KIIS-FM (102.7).

They didn’t mind begging. Please, Mr. Dees. Could we have tickets to your free KIISMas Party at Knott’s Berry Farm?

There were lots of free passes--10,000 were handed out, with parents and their children willing to do almost any stunt to get inside the Buena Park amusement park for the Dec. 17 party.

One caller to the station--an exhausted mother--was so flummoxed she couldn’t identify the sound of sleigh bells to win tickets. But after a few tense minutes of pleading, Dees gave her four passes anyway. After all, ‘tis the season of giveaways.

What was the event’s biggest draw? Hanson, those three singing brothers and their puppy-love pop.

From the Calico Square stage, the boys from Tulsa, Okla., saw what they’ve been seeing since their first public “MMMBop” in the spring--throngs of teenage girls exposing their wide, and mostly wired, smiles.