FOT Forum
The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: orator on January 19, 2009, 11:21:26 PM
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Since everyone loves lists, what is the single greatest Best Show episode, and why?
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My personal favorite is 10/4/05, in which Tom plays Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. That show had it all.
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June 3rd, 2008. The debut of "The World Is In The Turlet" was the most euphoric radio moment I've ever experienced.
Start to finish, the show had a good premise, strong calls, TLRX, and a deadline to add just the right amount of pressure. It was just brilliant.
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I'm going to go old school and say May 6th, 2003. In fact, there was a run of about 3 shows there that were just unbelievable.
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I know this borders on the completely insane and/or kneejerk, but last week's show is a top candidate for me. It is rivaled, however, by the 10/3/06 episode where Tom calls PC Richard and marvels at their hold music. His rendition of their jingle where he sings about his shoplifting technique never, ever fails to make me laugh.
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I agree that the P.C. Richard segment is one of the best of all time, but I give half the credit to the brilliant, unknown P.C. Richard hold music composer.
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The PC Richard show also has Petey doing his best impersonation of a Jim Cramer caller. That one was a classic.
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I'm a pretty big fan of the 10/23/07 show with PFT. It's a good goto show for me when I need a bump, or try to lure in new listeners. Commercials that should be movies is the topic, and then Tom and Paul Vs Kid Rock's Rolling Stone article is amazing.
There was a streak in '06 though where Tom declared several shows L's that I thought were pretty amazing too. Those kind of mutant caller L's are some of my favorites.
DON'T MAKE ME PICK A FAVORITE!
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Mayubinatorial debate
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Mayubinatorial debate
Seconded
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I can't get over my love for the Philly Boy Roy turns Paul F. Tompkins into Philly Boy Paul episode.
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I have only been listening for about 6 months, so small frame of reference, but I think the first show of 2009 was dyn-O-MITE. Non-stop laughs.
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I'm going to go old school and say May 6th, 2003. In fact, there was a run of about 3 shows there that were just unbelievable.
Just calling you out because noone else has.
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I can't get over my love for the Philly Boy Roy turns Paul F. Tompkins into Philly Boy Paul episode.
That one is pretty special. I have to tip my hat to the one from February '06 that they were using as a sample show for a while with Rick from Albany and Tom's railing of the Poster children's podcast. I heard that one when I could still listen live in NY and was pretty blown away.
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I can't get over my love for the Philly Boy Roy turns Paul F. Tompkins into Philly Boy Paul episode.
That one is pretty special. I have to tip my hat to the one from February '06 that they were using as a sample show for a while with Rick from Albany and Tom's railing of the Poster children's podcast. I heard that one when I could still listen live in NY and was pretty blown away.
Rick in Albany is a Top 5 Moment fer me.
No one suggested July 11 2006? That goddamn show was so chock-full, they took down the archive. PBR, Judge Davies, Mauling of Tourgasm, A call from Ted... man-o-man
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It is rivaled, however, by the 10/3/06 episode where Tom calls PC Richard and marvels at their hold music. His rendition of their jingle where he sings about his shoplifting technique never, ever fails to make me laugh.
one of the all time best.
i still think "the order of everything" is my fav. p-90x and tom - a winning combo!
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I know this borders on the completely insane and/or kneejerk, but last week's show is a top candidate for me. It is rivaled, however, by the 10/3/06 episode where Tom calls PC Richard and marvels at their hold music. His rendition of their jingle where he sings about his shoplifting technique never, ever fails to make me laugh.
Also the Killers review at the end is classic.
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I nominate 4/24/07, the Seth Galifianakis episode.
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The XFL show. Mike Ruggles, Buddy Swales and Gerald Perlmutter. You can't beat that.
Also, Mike Ruggles introduces the nascent idea of "President Football."
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I know this borders on the completely insane and/or kneejerk, but last week's show is a top candidate for me. It is rivaled, however, by the 10/3/06 episode where Tom calls PC Richard and marvels at their hold music. His rendition of their jingle where he sings about his shoplifting technique never, ever fails to make me laugh.
Also the Killers review at the end is classic.
And I almost forgot the Bryce call about how all the Presidents from Nixon onwards smoked weed, and the ensuing super-agitated caller (theorized by Tom to be Fred From Queens) complaining about how "some lady" impugned on Reagan's good name. "JIMMY CARTER SMOKED MARIJUANA!"
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It is rivaled, however, by the 10/3/06 episode where Tom calls PC Richard and marvels at their hold music. His rendition of their jingle where he sings about his shoplifting technique never, ever fails to make me laugh.
one of the all time best.
i still think "the order of everything" is my fav. p-90x and tom - a winning combo!
The entire "Porcupine Pie Era" of The Best Show is amazing.
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This newbie appreciates such a thread. Thanks chums!
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the 10/3/06 episode where Tom calls PC Richard and marvels at their hold music. His rendition of their jingle where he sings about his shoplifting technique never, ever fails to make me laugh.
I might be wrong, but I think that was the first show I heard. If not, it was somewhere around there. I agree that it was amazing, and looking back on it I think that for anything else it would be unfortunate to hear one of the best shows first, since the later shows would suffer in comparison, but everything after that was so solid that I didn't even notice the exemplary nature of that particular one until much later—I just assumed that's how good the show was (and I wasn't wrong).
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My personal favorite is 10/4/05, in which Tom plays Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. That show had it all.
Including a call from JP
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April 12, 2005: Tim & Eric From 'Tom Goes To The Mayor Check In. Some People Get Mad. If You're One Of Them, Fuck You You Don't Deserve Their Show, You Piece Of Shit. Maybe You're Too Fucking Dumb To Get It. And, Listeners Vote Whether Officer Tom Is Hall Of Fame-Worthy.
That was great. I loved Tim and Eric, and the backlash was at first sad but then really funny as Tom trounced on the callers. Tim and Eric also really did a great job making up the HoJo they were at on the phone. I remember exactly where I was when I listened to this show live.
The other great show, which I forgot the date but I remember riding my bike around listening to the podcast was the show that had the Bryce call about "turret hits" and all the generals in WWII.
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June 3rd, 2008. The debut of "The World Is In The Turlet" was the most euphoric radio moment I've ever experienced.
Start to finish, the show had a good premise, strong calls, TLRX, and a deadline to add just the right amount of pressure. It was just brilliant.
This would be my choice, for the same reasons. (My apologies to The Order Of Everything.)
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The other great show, which I forgot the date but I remember riding my bike around listening to the podcast was the show that had the Bryce call about "turret hits" and all the generals in WWII.
That was also the PC Richard show. IT KEEPS ON GIVING
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I especially enjoy shows where Tom changes character for a long while, such as the "Shop for a coffin" fugue state he went into last year, and the dial-in shrink. But most of all, I loved the first Patriot Zone call. That was genius to me.
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I think my personal favorite is still the episode with Bryce calling in at the beginning talking about Oscar nominations and how his neighbor's lion bit his hand off, followed by Marky Ramone premiering his erotic novel series AND talking about the Ramone's reunion featuring Marky, Richie, and Tommy all on drums and C.J. on bass.
These calls were so classic to me, plus it has the Payola kid (i believe!) Kind of forget what else happens, but it's probably my favorite Best Show ever.
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I refuse to say this is THE best Best Show, because the show's trajectory clearly states that the best is yet to come. I just have to call out the August 31-September 6, 2005 move to Sirius story arc, as those were the shows that cemented me as a Best Show fan 4 life.
Never before or since have I seen a 'prank' (for lack of a better word that doesn't devalue the high art this was) pulled off with such grand design. Over the course of the weeks leading up to his 'departure', Tom plays the entire audience like an award winning fiddle player. He both uses the time to say goodbye, pulling deep emotions from people while showing everyone exactly what they would be missing if he really did leave by putting on some of the best shows in the archive. When it all pays off in one final blow-out love fest you think the worst has passed, the show is gone, but the very next week Tom 'crawls back', torturing anyone who cares with his deep inner pain and showing them the death of his soul. Even when the reveal comes, it still feels like things could go south like that at any minute. That feeling has threaded it's way through every single show and I just love it! It is truly a thing of beauty.
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one my top favorites is when 2/3 of Human Giant aka Jason Woliner and Paul Scheer called in about Comicon 2008 or any best show that involves 'this one time...' stories from guests.
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I think my personal favorite is still the episode with Bryce calling in at the beginning talking about Oscar nominations and how his neighbor's lion bit his hand off, followed by Marky Ramone premiering his erotic novel series AND talking about the Ramone's reunion featuring Marky, Richie, and Tommy all on drums and C.J. on bass.
It also had Garret, the ultimate punk, who informed Tom that he'd make him melt.
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Petey's second birthday show is pretty great (02/01/05). So is the one where Tom bashes Lord of the Rings for the first time (02/05/02). And the one where he bashes LotR the second time (01/21/03). I also have a soft spot for the shows where Tom turns an L on its head, like the one where the calls get so bad he just sings Elton John for awhile (12/29/04) and the one where he has to do another three hours and he's so bored he's trying to call phone booths (09/02/03). Speaking of singing, I also like the one where Tom starts singing Bridge Over Troubled Water to Sathington to cheer him up, but gets so into it he just winds up singing the rest of the album.
And I feel like it goes without saying, but the episodes where Wurster comes in are in a league of their own, particularly the one with Paul F Tompkins.
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It's impossible to choose.
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It's impossible to choose.
yeah, but...you have to.
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I love the shows where Tom is singing Aimee Mann. I'm not sure what that says about me, but there you have it.
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It's impossible to choose.
yeah, but...you have to.
YA GOTTA!!
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April 17, 2007: The Exciting Return Of Tom. Philly Boy Roy Is Becoming A Mogul, And Some Random Chit Chat.
That's a good one. Tom getting a kidney stone on air was disquieting. But then his return, and the build up, was triumphant!
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I love the shows where Tom is singing Aimee Mann. I'm not sure what that says about me, but there you have it.
Seconded. Much like "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", I can't hear that song the same way anymore.
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The episode where Tom sang "All By Myself" over and over again was awesome.
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Tom singing in general = instant quality. See also his rendition of "Kids" from Bye Bye Birdie.
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My personal favorite when it comes to Tom singing is his rendition of "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson. Instant smile.
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without a doubt june 5th 2007. in which philly boy roy takes over the studio.
who don't love slap bass?
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It's impossible to choose.
yeah, but...you have to.
YA GOTTA!!
Alright, fine, TOTAL CURVE BALL! October 29th, 2002: Mischief Night Discussions!
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It's impossible to choose.
yeah, but...you have to.
YA GOTTA!!
I don't.
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SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 HIGHLIGHTS
Henry Owings gets screamed at
Joe Torre's Bigelow Tea commercials are reviewed
A deer builds an iron man suit to kill Ted Nugent
Tom talks about air hockey
Clark calls three times
Eddie calls and Tom doesn't like him
GOOD STUFF!
"left bank! guh-ga-da. right bank! guh-ga-da. DOWN THE GULLET! guh-ga-da!"
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A deer builds an iron man suit to kill Ted Nugent
Wow, I just laughed really hard from reading this. I need to go listen to that episode again - TODAY!
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That show also saw my first ever call. I was very nervous, and talked about Uwe Boll.
I remember it because a) it was September 11, and b) I had just seen the National the previous night. They were good.
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SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 HIGHLIGHTS
A deer builds an iron man suit to kill Ted Nugent
amazing
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Tom humming the guitar riff to Iron Man as the deer rises up from the bushes = poop your pants funny.
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The other great show, which I forgot the date but I remember riding my bike around listening to the podcast was the show that had the Bryce call about "turret hits" and all the generals in WWII.
That was also the PC Richard show. IT KEEPS ON GIVING
AH! I remember walking through the Max-Valu shopping for something for dinner trying not to crack up listening to the PC Richard part of the show.
Re-listening now.
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I refuse to say this is THE best Best Show, because the show's trajectory clearly states that the best is yet to come. I just have to call out the August 31-September 6, 2005 move to Sirius story arc, as those were the shows that cemented me as a Best Show fan 4 life.
Never before or since have I seen a 'prank' (for lack of a better word that doesn't devalue the high art this was) pulled off with such grand design. Over the course of the weeks leading up to his 'departure', Tom plays the entire audience like an award winning fiddle player. He both uses the time to say goodbye, pulling deep emotions from people while showing everyone exactly what they would be missing if he really did leave by putting on some of the best shows in the archive. When it all pays off in one final blow-out love fest you think the worst has passed, the show is gone, but the very next week Tom 'crawls back', torturing anyone who cares with his deep inner pain and showing them the death of his soul. Even when the reveal comes, it still feels like things could go south like that at any minute. That feeling has threaded it's way through every single show and I just love it! It is truly a thing of beauty.
Seconded. I was still living in NY when this was going on and was just a WFMU fan who enjoyed listening to the best show whenever it was on. This hooked me completely and I've tried never to miss a show since.
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My personal favorite when it comes to Tom singing is his rendition of "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson. Instant smile.
I think this is the same episode with Poster Children and Uncle Zeph. Great stuff. Love the singing
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I love the amazement at the name "Zeph"
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Hard to pick one, but the Ted Leo/World Is In the Turlet show stands out for me.
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that show puts butterflies in my stomach every time.
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i thought the danielson family bachelor party episode was a lot of fun - partly cause it was one of the first i heard, i think. plus nice assortment of calls, friendly guests, it was great!
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One of my favorites is the 1/31/06 show. It starts off with a very leisurely paced but absolutely fascinating half-hour Tom/Spike/APMike chat, followed by a couple of great Bryce & Marky Ramone calls. JW was in top form this day- he has a couple of impromptu calls towards the end that make me laugh like a drain.
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I vote for the episode when Todd Palin first called in because it was the first show I heard. Unbelievable.
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I vote for the episode when Todd Palin first called in because it was the first show I heard. Unbelievable.
I started listening around this time, too ... so, while I can't weigh in on the BEST Best Show, I just want to say I'm loving that air horn every time it gets worked in.