FOT Forum

The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: kenkwan on August 25, 2006, 03:33:12 PM

Title: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: kenkwan on August 25, 2006, 03:33:12 PM
It's a lot of excellent calls to have to choose only one, I know. But you have to choose one caller, and only one of their calls. If Petey is your favorite caller, you've gotta pick one of his calls.

Mine is Cliff Peterson, aka Cliff Peterski. If I'm at work a need a pick me up, that's my go to Best show. The mixture of depressed drunk, angry drunk, and arrogant drunk is just right. Randomly belching, taking an on-air piss. Saying he wants to do the weather for the layperson, only to insult them a minute later trying to explain it.

Golden

Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Dan B on August 25, 2006, 08:03:53 PM
Jon Wurster.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: william on August 25, 2006, 09:38:40 PM
my brother, charlie, from seattle, who called in this week.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: The Cleef on August 26, 2006, 04:08:48 PM
H. Jon Benjamin, Jon Glaser and Jon Wurster. Any Jon really.
thEcleef
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: bruce on August 26, 2006, 05:32:28 PM
H. Jon Benjamin, Jon Glaser and Jon Wurster. Any Jon really.
thEcleef
Does that mean our pal John Junk is part of that
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Emerson on August 26, 2006, 05:34:39 PM
Andrew Earles, the Cassavettes of prank callers.

I also enjoyed the British woman who mimiced an American accent.

~EmD
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: johnfgillson on August 27, 2006, 09:06:45 PM
I miss Steinberg.

Philly Boy Roy and Petey for the most part.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: franks. on August 27, 2006, 09:15:10 PM
Hoopstradamus was always one of my favorites.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Gregory on August 28, 2006, 12:11:44 AM
philly boy roy
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: buffcoat on August 28, 2006, 10:47:53 AM
Zachary Brimstead, also one-offs including Brad Somerstant, the Cheetah, and the Madman.

Which ones does Jon Glaser do?
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: DanSF on August 28, 2006, 03:58:53 PM
"Jimmy Crespo" talking to Mack just about got me fired I was laughing so hard. 

JC:  Who's laughing now, schmuck?
M:  What?
JC:  How many pull-ups can you do?  When I was thirteen I could do seventy-four pull-ups. 
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Matthew_S on August 28, 2006, 05:33:41 PM
Zachary Brimstead, also one-offs including Brad Somerstant, the Cheetah, and the Madman.

Which ones does Jon Glaser do?


Jon G is often "the other guy" with H.Jon B.  i.e. Yankees vs Mets, one of them is the Yankees fan and one is the Mets fan (right?).

Has he ever participated on his own?

I have a special fondness for calls with

Gene Simmons
Pout
Jamie Farr
Todd and the Audio Guru
the Gorch and
Philly Boy Roy (of course! -- the re writing of the night before xmas is amazing!)

BUT, if I must pick one and only one call -- Dick Halligan Jr.

Not exactly a caller but I say, Bring Back Chubby Checker!

Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: johnfgillson on August 29, 2006, 02:41:29 AM
Does anybody know what happened to Steinberg?
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: GetOffMyBone on August 29, 2006, 08:09:54 AM
Silly Boy Roy
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: jane on August 29, 2006, 01:20:03 PM
Great thread! 

There have been so many great callers, like the soaker, the coat check guy, Brice, but I’d have to say my favorite so far is Todd as mentioned by
Matthew _S.  Thanks for reminding me about this one. 

Todd called Tom on November 28, 2000 about 14 minutes into the show.  Now, Todd is a sensitive, bright youngster who studies calligraphy.  The thing is, Todd is also highly impressionable and has developed a “boy crush” on Tom.  Todd calls to proclaim his undying love for Tom much to Tom’s persistent protestations.  Like Paul Williams, Tom is considered by Todd to be highly “delicious”.  My favorite exchange in this phone call comes after Tom turns down Todd’s invitation to Christmas dinner.
Todd:  You’re so weak.
Tom: Fer what? (“what” is said in a high pitched voice)
Todd: Crushing me every time I call.

A later phone call has Todd’s father Claude calling in.  This happens at the first hour mark on March 13th, 2001.  Claude chastises Tom for his supposed tryst with his young son.  According to Claude, their plans include following Billy Joel and Elton John on their concert dates, and running away to a love cottage.  The best part is when Todd makes a clandestine call from the basement .  Careful though, folks, the sound of  Todd’s whispered devastation (at Tom’s denouncement of any relationship between them) may make you misty.

I can’t remember other calls by Todd.  Geeks, help me out here, and I mean “geeks” in the most affectionate of ways.  If I had the time, I would become the biggest FOT geek ever, or open a chapeau shop.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: butler on August 29, 2006, 05:12:07 PM
Zachary Brimstead, also one-offs including Brad Somerstant, the Cheetah, and the Madman.

Which ones does Jon Glaser do?


Jon G is often "the other guy" with H.Jon B.  i.e. Yankees vs Mets, one of them is the Yankees fan and one is the Mets fan (right?).

Wow, I just started listening to that one.  I think the Yankees fan is Matt Walsh.

Being a Mets fan it's taken me a long time to brave this one.  Hopefully it won't be too painful.

Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: The Cleef on August 29, 2006, 10:25:21 PM
John Junk has forgotten to take the 'h' out of his name and thus cannot be relegated as "of my favorite callers" (h jon benjamin put it aside and we hope that it will be fully removed sooner rather than later).
theCLEEF
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: shotzi on August 29, 2006, 11:25:14 PM
Andy from Lake Newbridge is the call that really sold me on the show. I thought I was dying I was laughing so hard.

Mawky Ramone is another favorite.

and the Kid Ebay call, of course, is a classic.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: buffcoat on August 31, 2006, 04:37:23 PM
So, err, has anyone been able to come up with any actual Jon Glaser characters?

I'm pretty sure the Yankees fan was Matt Walsh.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Matthew_S on August 31, 2006, 06:48:23 PM
I'm going with Turntable Artists DJ Clue and Liquid Brooklyn Stop By To Spin (as in, one is Jon G and one is H.Jon).

(I'll have to listen to Yankees v Mets again to verify)

Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: The Cleef on August 31, 2006, 07:17:11 PM
Hoopstradamus = Jon Glaser
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Mark on August 31, 2006, 11:13:58 PM
Todd Billups from Radio Free Yo La Tengo.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Tyrannosaurus Rocks on September 01, 2006, 09:16:48 PM
Although not my favorite, has everyone forgotten about one Rockin' Ronnie?
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Country Lobster on September 10, 2006, 01:26:20 AM
So, err, has anyone been able to come up with any actual Jon Glaser characters?

I know Glaser played NBA Star Mehmet Okur.

Also, I'm particularly fond of Matt Walsh calls. Especially when you add in Jon Benjamin, Horatio Sanz or Ian Roberts.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Sarah on September 10, 2006, 03:15:01 PM
Not my favorite  but a favorite and, ah, such a happy revisitation:  I am now listening to the very first archived show and reliving my old ignorance of the Best Show schtick and the identities of the callers.  (I will admit here, for the first time, that when I started listening to the Best Show, one of the things that snared me was that Tom worked for Consolidated Cardboard; I remember concluding my attempts to explain my new obsession with the happy clincher: "And the DJ works for a cardboard factory!"). Thus I'm reliving a happy innocence while at the same time savoring subtleties that escaped me the first time around. 

Plus I'm drunk and haven't slept for almost 36 hours.  Happy days.

Edit:  And here is the first appearance of Philly Boy Roy!  I had forgotten . . .

Additional edit:  And the show is way scarier and creepier than anything that has happened of late.  War of the Worlds writ small.  Superb.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: TheAce on September 11, 2006, 01:35:57 PM
Id have to say my top 3 "callers" are:
1. Bryce...wait, whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
2. Marky Ramone...in the jugglah
3. Philly Boy Roy
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: jane on October 28, 2006, 09:39:36 AM
The predator -  'cause he's so impressive.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Fido on October 28, 2006, 12:35:25 PM
The various calls from Matt Walsh, many of which degenerated into combativeness with between Matt and various third parties on the phone (e.g. Horatio Sanz) and Tom taking a deliberate hands-off approach, which only escalated the level of rancor, with Matt accusing Tom of allowing the show to fall into chaos, with Matt as the supposed victim.  I think those might have been my favorites.  There have been so many great moments that it's hard to say what my absolute favorite was. 
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: whalleywhat on November 08, 2006, 03:04:49 AM
Bryce calling in while Tom played all of Dark Side of the Moon.
Every once in a while the words "Keep it Real You Crazy Dude" pop into my head and I crack up.

Mike Sajack is classic.

Pudge is up there.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: b/a on November 09, 2006, 04:14:13 PM
Bryce usually makes me laugh the hardest but as far as one off calls/characters go when Jon Benjamin called in as the dude from Smirnoff Ice I just lost it. "The Harlem Shuffle". So damn funny.

The "predator" guy from a couple weeks ago is destined to be a classic too.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Jason on November 09, 2006, 05:04:49 PM
Are we all forgetting someone?

(http://www.poster.net/vincent-jan-michael/vincent-jan-michael-photo-jan-michael-vincent-6201170.jpg)

Triple vodka and sprite.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Richard_From_CHI on November 09, 2006, 05:08:14 PM
And lets not forget Woodsy....
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Will K. on November 05, 2014, 09:05:46 PM
So, err, has anyone been able to come up with any actual Jon Glaser characters?

I'm pretty sure the Yankees fan was Matt Walsh.
Also, Jon Glaser was the sound engineer for voice-over legend Kendrick Martin (Jon Benjamin) when that interview almost, kinda happened on 8/28/2001.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: fonpr on November 05, 2014, 09:39:38 PM
So, err, has anyone been able to come up with any actual Jon Glaser characters?

I'm pretty sure the Yankees fan was Matt Walsh.
Also, Jon Glaser was the sound engineer for voice-over legend Kendrick Martin (Jon Benjamin) when that interview almost, kinda happened on 8/28/2001.
Thanks for reviving an old thread.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: fieldingmellish on November 06, 2014, 05:32:13 PM
About once a month I wonder what Stevie Blue is doing these days.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: justinmh05 on November 06, 2014, 06:55:02 PM
About once a month I wonder what Stevie Blue is doing these days.

He inherited the position of Vice President of Hasbro.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: mcgob on November 07, 2014, 08:04:35 AM
I listen to the Woodsy episode every three months or so. It's one of my favorite things in the world.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: mnordine on November 09, 2014, 11:22:42 AM
James
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: buffcoat on November 10, 2014, 11:35:03 AM
I listen to the Woodsy episode every three months or so. It's one of my favorite things in the world.

There are several Woodsy eps! He's fantastic.

The caller responsible for Woodsy also calls as "CC Tennessee" in first Patriot Zone episode and then calls in a couple of other times as a caller.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: CW3 on November 12, 2014, 05:08:44 PM
I feel like I'm not supposed to say Laurie from Miami/Rehab... but I find her call intoxicating
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: neuroticomic on November 13, 2014, 02:00:34 PM
As far as Wuster calls, it has to be Roy.
Such a long historic run. Others came and went [gorch/ronald fuqua/zachary brimstead etc] but PBR ran the distance.
When he would call it was like hearing from an old friend.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: buffcoat on November 13, 2014, 02:17:28 PM
I feel like I'm not supposed to say Laurie from Miami/Rehab... but I find her calls intoxicating

So, and I mean this in the most respectful possible way, did she.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: CW3 on November 13, 2014, 05:24:09 PM
a pun!

So, and I mean this in the most respectful possible way, did she.
[/quote]
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: justinmh05 on November 14, 2014, 12:13:24 AM
Least favorite: the Poster Children
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: bigginsjp on November 14, 2014, 11:39:30 AM
Caesar, Tom's impressionable young nephew, who pens a salacious story for his school newspaper ("Just good reportage") that Tom calls foul on.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Kal_El on November 14, 2014, 04:48:53 PM
My favorite phone caller of all time is the guy who built lasers and acted like he'd never heard the word "potatoes" before. I believe it was July 2, 2013.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Jason from Huntsville, AL on November 14, 2014, 06:00:42 PM
Clark.

CLARK.

CLARK!

Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Carver on November 16, 2014, 11:39:40 AM
"Sorry General, the guy who plays bass in Traymarsh built this laser."
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Cfootie on November 16, 2014, 11:37:14 PM
I never get more excited than when I hear "What up douche, this is Ploptron 5000"
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: roman on November 17, 2014, 03:39:01 PM
I don't know who my favorite is, but I've been going back and listening to the archives chronologically, and I can say with certainty that Blue Willie and Louie the Liverpudlian are absolutely as low as it gets.  Although Tom's reaction to those calls kind of makes them great.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: crud191919 on November 17, 2014, 05:10:27 PM
Best non-Wurster, for me, has gotta be Jason from Huntsville. 
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: JesseFromVegas on November 17, 2014, 05:50:07 PM
Best non-Wurster, for me, has gotta be Jason from Huntsville.

Seconded
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: agent_jimmy on November 17, 2014, 06:27:38 PM
Molly Mollsworth!!!!!!
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Joe Rogaine on November 17, 2014, 08:09:54 PM
vanilla hot box grits
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: little mickey on November 17, 2014, 08:20:19 PM
I'm a big Samir (hope I spelled that correctly!) in Florida fan.  :) He always brings an interesting story and the fact that an erudite English guy lives in Florida and comments on what is happening there is inherently hilarious. The other call I listen to alot is the guy who tried to get Gary Busey to sign a handmade Hider In The House poster at an autograph convention in Alaska, he's so genuine and deadpan about such a bizarre experience.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Joe Rogaine on November 17, 2014, 09:46:43 PM
Who was the guy that used to call from Las Vegas and talk about hip hop with Tom?
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: buffcoat on November 17, 2014, 11:45:40 PM
I'm partial to the guy who kept trying to explain basic Mexican dishes (including tacos and burritos) to Tom.

To learn more, search this forum for "Newark, California."
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: justinmh05 on November 18, 2014, 01:01:16 PM
Stevie Blue was great. A true eccentric - and not in a threatening way like Captain Jack.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: RonJon on November 24, 2014, 09:42:51 PM
Who was the guy that used to call from Las Vegas and talk about hip hop with Tom?

Trembling Eagle the MMA enthusiast
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: heliumsocket on November 24, 2014, 09:52:45 PM
My favorite phone caller of all time is the guy who built lasers and acted like he'd never heard the word "potatoes" before. I believe it was July 2, 2013.
That was among the best calls ever. So great.

TREYMARSH
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Chooch on November 25, 2014, 05:21:11 PM
There's a comforting lack of Spike in these responses. That said, I thought the "Weirdos Exposed" series of calls were amazing...
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: justinmh05 on November 25, 2014, 06:53:52 PM
There's a comforting lack of Spike in these responses.

I think that it might be because Spike was SO hit-and-miss. He frequently had off-nights - and when he was off, it was pretty terrible.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Epic Soundtracks on November 25, 2014, 08:05:51 PM
Rick Benson
Mike Healy
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: Jason from Huntsville, AL on November 25, 2014, 08:35:30 PM
There's a comforting lack of Spike in these responses.

I think that it might be because Spike was SO hit-and-miss. He frequently had off-nights - and when he was off, it was pretty terrible.

For me, Spike kind of transcends the good/bad scale. I can say I have enjoyed almost every Spike call I've heard.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: AllSussedOut on November 26, 2014, 12:09:26 PM
That, and the fact that the more "off" Spike was, the more "on" Tom could be.
Title: Re: Who is your favorite Best show caller?
Post by: TrapNeuterReturn on November 28, 2014, 10:57:44 PM
Fredericks never fails to crack me up. Good or bad, Spike is always a laff. Hammerhead needs more exposure.