@The Liberal Moonbat
"you get one and only one phone call" schtick. The Constitution guarantees you counsel. The courts have held that the right to counsel at least as early as being indicted, charged or a warrant for your arrest is issued (or whatever other act may be deemed to be "the start of judicial proceedings". As a result, you have an implicit right to contact one or to contact somebody to arrange to get you one. After that it is pretty much a matter of state law. Most states have provisions requiring that you get one or more phone calls because they'd rather not have their cases thrown out for violating your right to counsel. Here, by way of example, is a chunk of California Penal Code Section 851.5

(a)(1) Immediately upon being booked and, except where physically impossible, no later than three hours after arrest, an arrested person has the right to make at least three completed telephone calls, as described in subdivision (b).

(2) The arrested person shall be entitled to make at least three calls at no expense if the calls are completed to telephone numbers within the local calling area or at his or her own expense if outside the local calling area.

(b) At any police facility or place where an arrestee is detained, a sign containing the following information in bold block type shall be posted in a conspicuous place:

The arrestee has the right to free telephone calls within the local calling area, or at his or her own expense if outside the local calling area, to three of the following:

(1) An attorney of his or her choice or, if he or she has no funds, the public defender or other attorney assigned by the court to assist indigents, whose telephone number shall be posted.  This telephone call shall not be monitored, eavesdropped upon, or recorded.

(2) A bail bondsman.

(3) A relative or other person.

(c) As soon as practicable upon being arrested but, except where physically impossible, no later than three hours after arrest, the arresting or booking officer shall inquire as to whether the arrested person is a custodial parent with responsibility for a minor child.  The arresting or booking officer shall notify the arrested person who is a custodial parent with responsibility for a minor child that he or she is entitled to, and may request to, make two additional telephone calls at no expense if the telephone calls are completed to telephone numbers within the local calling area, or at his or her own expense if outside the local calling area, to a relative or other person for the purpose of arranging for the care of the minor child or children in the parent's absence.

Your mileage may differ, so check your local codes.
As always, IANAL

be well and have a good one.

Isn't the "right to a phone call" something that Hollywood made up (at least originally)?

On the one hand, it doesn't take much to imagine cops taking advantage (even cruel, even calculated-to-be-cruel) of that fact.

On the other hand...