FOT Forum
The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: Jeff in Seattle on February 09, 2011, 04:29:51 PM
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Who ya got?
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I'm new here, so I don't know the history and what not, but after his first impression, I am a backer of Mr. Gethard. But again, I'm new-ish to all of this, so what do I know?
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Geneva for Protege. She's got radio experience, she doesn't have any famous brothers, and she's a lady.
edited so as not to associate her with that which shall not be named
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Can I vote for the Geneva and Damian show, with H-Man filling in for Mr. Pink Eyes when musical duties call?
Even if I can't, I'm going to anyway.
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Geneva.
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NOT the H-Man. There, I said it.
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I am pulling for young Max.
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I would like to see someone who would go into it with an "All About Eve" kind of agenda, because of the larks that would ensue.
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At first I was fully behind Gethard, but now I'm liking Geneva for the job.
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Reasons you should NOT support me:
1) I've been kind of irritating when I listen back on the show's archives.
2) Basketball talk is probably not for everyone.
3) I've been too aggressive and probably too agreeable with Tom. (But he said "Of course he agrees with me" when discussing the crappiness that is Primus last call. How can you NOT agree that Primus is terrible?) (Also -- I'm not nearly like that in real life. I am somehow both a pretty passive person and also an argumentative, contrarian ass, at least in the view of Mrs. Gethard).
4) Geneva is indeed awesome.
5) Max is awesome, too.
6) Tom seems extra irritated when I call.
Defenses to some some criticisms:
1) Is my brother actually famous? His credits include being the lead on a Comedy Central sit-com that no one watched and got canceled pretty quickly, a bit role in The Other Guys (he was the bank teller at the end of the movie) and had a good write-up in the NY Times because he annoyed P. Diddy enough on Twitter so he could be a guest at my brother's show.
I will admit that my brother's more famous than me -- more people in Philadelphia clearly know who he is than I do, despite the fact that I've run my own comedy show and have performed in Philly for about four years. But no one in the world of oil journalism knows who my brother is, so I do have at least that in the Gethard family tree.
Reasons to support me:
1) I'm not The H-Man, whose time has passed.
2) I am indeed a "social miscreant" (as Tom labeled me) and I enjoy talking about my personal failures in public, which should provide Best Show listeners with some entertainment and much comfort that their lives are significantly better than mine.
3) I have excitement and exuberance for the possibility of the protege position. I never called The Best Show (and usually had to listen to it the next day) until Tom mentioned me on the air, hence my excitement. I didn't volunteer myself for the position; my name was floated as a candidate. I've already learned after going from "fan" to "student" of the best show and am trying to calm down with the "podcast toilet talk" on my podcast and have eliminated all curse words from my live comedy stuff.
4) I have perverse enjoyment from being mocked in public settings, much like on Tuesday night.
4) I was raised in North Jersey and live in Philadelphia, arguably the two primary geographic regions that focus around Best Show chatter.
5) Basketball talk SHOULD be for everyone since basketball rules.
6) WFMU has been a big part of my life since I've been 12 after my friend Eli was allowed to have his own hour on the air since his mom was good friends with a DJ. Bill Kelly and Glen Jones are two of the bigger influences of my music taste and the Glen Jones marathon in 2000 was one of the best weekends I've ever had. I also volunteered a few times to stuff shirts and the like.
7) This is also a tale of personal redemption. I used to prank call WFMU talk shows non-stop as a kid, in particular Chris T's "An Aerial View" which was sometimes guest hosted by Gerard Cosloy, the founder of Matador Records and also of Can't Stop the Bleeding fame. Cosloy ended up giving my parents' number out over the air which led to his forced departure from the station. (I was also really grounded for all of this.)
8) I've given the FOT message board links to both Modern Butlers and Billy Joel Fan Club message boards.
The list of why NOT to support me for the position is probably stronger than the reasons TO support me. But the reasons to support me are more numerous. I leave it in your hands.
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Pink Eyes Pink Eyes Pink Eyes.
It's not even fair how much Pink Eyes.
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I am offering up my son AFK. He played Danny Zucco, maintains a music blog, and has started DJ shifts at the University radio station WUTK.
I hope Tom will consider taking AFK under his wing; I can't afford to feed him anymore.
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Pink Eyes Pink Eyes Pink Eyes.
It's not even fair how much Pink Eyes.
Huge Pink Eyes fan but (1) I want him concentrating on making music and (2) after he hoisted Tom. onstage at Vegas, I don't think it would work out. There's a certain respect of authority--is the word obsequiousness?--that must be observed in this particular protege position. It would end poorly and maybe violently.
I go with Gregg. Family connections or not, he is the hungriest.
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Pink Eyes Pink Eyes Pink Eyes.
It's not even fair how much Pink Eyes.
Huge Pink Eyes fan but (1) I want him concentrating on making music and (2) after he hoisted Tom. onstage at Vegas, I don't think it would work out. There's a certain respect of authority--is the word obsequiousness?--that must be observed in this particular protege position. It would end poorly and maybe violently.
I go with Gregg. Family connections or not, he is the hungriest.
Buuuuuuut he hosts a music show in Canada on TV now. I think you've lost control of his just concentrating on music. After I typed Pink Eyes so many times earlier, I felt a little bad. I do like Geneva; she makes me feel calm when she calls. It's not so frantic, kinda like a Laurie from Miami vibe. Friendly voices.
Gregg's all right. A little overzealous, as has been acknowledged. (Does anybody think he sounds like Petey if he had stuck around? Just picture Gregg saying, "All right, Tommy. Sure thing, Tommy. Yeah, Tommy, all right." Sounds like Gregg.)
Everyone gets credit just for trying.
I dunno. Maybe Pink Eyes should get his own hardcore show. He namedrops so many obscure and new/small bands that I could never keep up with; it'd be cool to have a show with all that stuff.
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I leave it in your hands.
Which exert no kind of pull whatsoever.
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5) Basketball talk SHOULD be for everyone since basketball rules.
Valid point.
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There's nothing wrong with more Ben Kharakh. I think we can all agree on that.
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There's nothing wrong with more Ben Kharakh. I think we can all agree on that.
Thank you! I was editing my comment about being interested in being the protege while you wrote your comment.
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Man, Geneva really brought it this week, all business. She's got my (valueless, as mentioned above) vote. (Sorry Gregg.)
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Geneva.
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Man, Geneva really brought it this week, all business. She's got my (valueless, as mentioned above) vote. (Sorry Gregg.)
Thanks! And thanks to everyone who posted here in support of team Geneva for Protege (haha, I find it very funny/weird to refer to myself in this way, but whaddya going to do?)
This is really awesome you guys!
Yeah! I'm still trying to figure out how Tuesday night's show was the least nervous I have ever sounded on TBS...all business indeed!
And in response to my fellow running mates...all I have to say is that I'm just getting started! Currently cooking up something for the campaign with some fellow, very kind FOTs!
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There's nothing wrong with more Ben Kharakh. I think we can all agree on that.
I agree on that.
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AFK is still awaiting his first supporter. Anyone?
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AFK was a really great radio speaker, if I recall. No 'ums' or long pauses.
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oh, please don't start calling it Team Geneva...I may have to throw my support back to the Greggulator, or Mr Kharakh's dark horse candidacy. (not that my opinion matters at all)
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oh, please don't start calling it Team Geneva...I may have to throw my support back to the Greggulator, or Mr Kharakh's dark horse candidacy. (not that my opinion matters at all)
What should I say? Ideas? (I am not being sarcastic or defensive). Since you are offering feedback...
I think it's pretty ridiculous to call it that myself, but I thought it was funny since I am probably the least likely person to have a "team"..heh
Kind of in the same vein of how the best show was named in the first place.
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Geneva for protege is good...the whole Team thing is too Twilight.
The Swiss Army?
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I only support candidates who represent the Greasy Funk Party
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Dark Horse? When did I become the James K. Polk of this race?
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Well, James K Polk won, didn't he?
I only say Dark Horse because I didn't realize you had thrown your hat in the ring.
that said, your calls when you were trying the caffeinated butterfinger were probably my favorite calls and are worthy of protege status on their merit alone.
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My vote goes to Geneva. She has one thing the other candidates lack: Unbridled enthusiasm. That and a certain kind of niceness. So you can say she has two things. Plus, she doesn't have a ironic bone in her body. So those are the three things about Geneva...
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I am eagerly recruiting members to join The Greggulation Nation.
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Plus, she doesn't have a ironic bone in her body.
Well, that's great!
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Geneva.
also I'm throwing my Cutty Sark promotional baseball cap into the ring to be Tom's "Artie."
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Greggulator, I consider your brother to be Twitter famous, particularly because of the #diddygethard situation.
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...also I'm throwing my Cutty Sark promotional baseball cap into the ring to be Tom's "Artie."
Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you already "Artie-ing" for someone there in Chicago?
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I'd like to throw my hat into the ring.
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At this time I would officially like to call off my campaign and throw my support behind Geneva.
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My vote goes to Geneva. She has one thing the other candidates lack: Unbridled enthusiasm. That and a certain kind of niceness. So you can say she has two things. Plus, she doesn't have a ironic bone in her body. So those are the three things about Geneva...
Geneva is also playing this thing smart, keeping in the background while Gregg and the H-Man talk themselves out.
It's that kind of restraint that the protégé is going to need when taking over Best Show.
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Plus, she doesn't have a ironic bone in her body.
Well, that's great!
I'm glad you're on board. If only we could build an motor that runs on irony. We have an inexhaustible supply here now that it's the the Irony Age. NASA could then make a spaceship powerful enough to go into the past, pick up a young Charlton Heston, then send him into the future to deal with those dirty Apes. It's about time?
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...also I'm throwing my Cutty Sark promotional baseball cap into the ring to be Tom's "Artie."
Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you already "Artie-ing" for someone there in Chicago?
I can handle both.
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I'd vote for Geneva too, hoping her wide eyed optimism and joie de vivre makes Tom turn down the bullying a couple notches.
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Q to protege candidates:
Are you in the FOT fohntasy basketball league?
(this doesn't effect my opinion, I'm just curious).
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Q to protege candidates:
Are you in the FOT fohntasy basketball league?
(this doesn't effect my opinion, I'm just curious).
I am not but I do run a NBA podcast.
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Q to protege candidates:
Are you in the FOT fohntasy basketball league?
(this doesn't effect my opinion, I'm just curious).
I am not but I do run a NBA podcast.
I was actually wondering if you were in, Greg, but I wanted to give equal opportunity to respond.
Things are starting to heat up in the 'ol fohntasy league as we roll into the playoffs.
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Must be Geneva!
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I've called in with my (Lee Atwateresque) endorsement, but had to make it official here. Geneva all the way!!! The other have great strengths, and would do a great job, but Geneva just has the x factor we need. She'll fight for the brownbaggers!
Viva Geneva!!!
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I'm definitely team Geneva.
I also wouldn't mind seeing the Fredericks soundboard take over for Tom when he leaves.
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If AFK can't get any play, I am with Geneva. That studio's a little too testerony.
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Behold.
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g130/badgrammer/Flyer.png)
Thanks to JohnintheUK! We're just getting started here at The Geneva Convention!
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Shouldn't that say "protégée"?
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Reasons you should NOT support me:
1) I've been kind of irritating when I listen back on the show's archives.
2) Basketball talk is probably not for everyone.
3) I've been too aggressive and probably too agreeable with Tom. (But he said "Of course he agrees with me" when discussing the crappiness that is Primus last call. How can you NOT agree that Primus is terrible?) (Also -- I'm not nearly like that in real life. I am somehow both a pretty passive person and also an argumentative, contrarian ass, at least in the view of Mrs. Gethard).
4) Geneva is indeed awesome.
5) Max is awesome, too.
6) Tom seems extra irritated when I call.
7. You don't like Morrissey/The Smiths
that's really my only gripe
I vote for Geneva though. VOTES FOR WOMEN!
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Behold.
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g130/badgrammer/Flyer.png)
Thanks to JohnintheUK! We're just getting started here at The Geneva Convention!
Nice Job Johnny!
Should have run it by Sarah first for a grammar check, though.
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Shouldn't that say "protégée"?
Whoops, I didn't realise there were different spellings for male and female.
I guess I should change "Protégé" at the top of the flyer to "Protégé(e)"? Maybe just forget changing anything and leave it as is, like how "Comedienne" isn't really used anymore. I don't know... Anyone? Geneva?
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Shouldn't that say "protégée"?
Maybe just forget changing anything and leave it as is, like how "Comedienne" isn't really used anymore.
I would check with Ms. Julie Klausner before dropping blanket statements like that.
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I would check with Ms. Julie Klausner before dropping blanket statements like that.
Maybe I could have worded that better, it wasn't meant as a blanket statement. What I was saying was that many people prefer to use "comedian" instead of "comedienne" these days.
Anyways, I'll leave the spelling choice up to Geneva. It'll only take 30 seconds to change, no big deal.
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Look, every one of the people who have thrown their hat in the protégé ring seems pleasant. Likable people all, polite callers, friendly, good-natured. But does even one of them have the stuff to take Tom's place in front of the microphone when he decides he can't stand us anymore? Will any of them have the flair, the pizzazz, the charisma to distract us from our loss when he turns his back on us? I'm sorry to say, I think not. Even with Tom's guidance, I don't believe that any of the current candidates will ever evolve into a powerful enough force to fill the void left by Tommy Tornado' passing.
So, who does? I have reflected on the problem at length (i.e., for about an hour while I was doing dishes earlier). Obviously, no one can do what Tom can do, so his successor has to bring something new yet equally compelling to the table. And I think I have come up with the only candidate who could possibly, not fill Tom's shoes, but come equipped with an entirely different style of footwear.
Who is this paragon? I hear you cry (I think you'll wonder why you didn't think of it yourselves when you hear).
My nomination is . . .
Big Timpani Drum Roll Sound Effect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1B5njIbtOE#)
JULIE FROM CINCINNATI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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mameshiba
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I would check with Ms. Julie Klausner before dropping blanket statements like that.
Maybe I could have worded that better, it wasn't meant as a blanket statement. What I was saying was that many people prefer to use "comedian" instead of "comedienne" these days.
Anyways, I'll leave the spelling choice up to Geneva. It'll only take 30 seconds to change, no big deal.
I was just kidding around, johnintheuk. Your poster is awesome and righteous.
I like Geneva, but she needs to toughen up. She needs to hang out in front of a garbage can with flames, warming up her hands (wearing fingerless gloves of course). She needs to get in a fight underneath the Colgate clock or something.
By the way, anyone have a photo of said clock?
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I would check with Ms. Julie Klausner before dropping blanket statements like that.
Maybe I could have worded that better, it wasn't meant as a blanket statement. What I was saying was that many people prefer to use "comedian" instead of "comedienne" these days.
Anyways, I'll leave the spelling choice up to Geneva. It'll only take 30 seconds to change, no big deal.
Whatever you'd like to do! The general FOT public seems like to the female form of the word from what I can gather, but no need to go out of your way! Either way works for me!
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I would check with Ms. Julie Klausner before dropping blanket statements like that.
Maybe I could have worded that better, it wasn't meant as a blanket statement. What I was saying was that many people prefer to use "comedian" instead of "comedienne" these days.
Anyways, I'll leave the spelling choice up to Geneva. It'll only take 30 seconds to change, no big deal.
I was just kidding around, johnintheuk. Your poster is awesome and righteous.
I like Geneva, but she needs to toughen up. She needs to hang out in front of a garbage can with flames, warming up her hands (wearing fingerless gloves of course). She needs to get in a fight underneath the Colgate clock or something.
By the way, anyone have a photo of said clock?
Can somebody draw a picture of me as a street-tough/hobo? Thx.
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Not a fan of the way this is going. I'd much rather hear the Protégés-to-be deliver some quality calls rather than round up a posse and make posters.
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Dear Tom,
I think you should reconsider using the term Protégé. I hate to say it, but it sounds a little...errr...French? I can imagine FOX News having a field day spinning that in their election coverage. You don't want to be swift boated by those clowns. Some possible replacement phrases:
Pinch Hitter
Faithful Ward
Understudy
Apprentice
Acolyte
Guardian of the flame
Water carrier
Second banana
Puppet regime (unless Wally Wackiman gets the job)
or my favorite...
Lieutenant FOTernor
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Not a fan of the way this is going. I'd much rather hear the Protégés-to-be deliver some quality calls rather than round up a posse and make posters.
I think I just got sassed.
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Not a fan of the way this is going. I'd much rather hear the Protégés-to-be deliver some quality calls rather than round up a posse and make posters.
*Disbands the Kharakh-a-teers & deletes the awesome poster of Ben Kharakh as Voltron he was about to upload.*
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I'm still on the fence between Gregg and Geneva.
And in reference to the comment about Gregg losing points for not liking Morrisey and The Smiths, well that get's Gregg extra points in my book. Trust me, I'm local to Manchester, England.
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Not a fan of the way this is going. I'd much rather hear the Protégés-to-be deliver some quality calls rather than round up a posse and make posters.
*Disbands the Kharakh-a-teers & deletes the awesome poster of Ben Kharakh as Voltron he was about to upload.*
While I would say, "Thank you,", I think I would still be of the same position. I am, after all, an English major. "Show, don't tell."
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I also ask you what protege canadidate drove 1.5 hours on a Sunday morning to go to the Pine Barrens to be in Tom's video, drove 1.5 hours back and then hosted his own comedy show a mere few hours later.
THAT is the dedication the protege candidate should have!
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I bet Geneva would have done that, if she lived 1.5 hours from the Pine Barrens. And had a comedy show to host.
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She needs to hang out in front of a garbage can with flames, warming up her hands (wearing fingerless gloves of course).
I bet Spike has done this, while singing doo-wop.
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I also ask you what protege canadidate drove 1.5 hours on a Sunday morning to go to the Pine Barrens to be in Tom's video, drove 1.5 hours back and then hosted his own comedy show a mere few hours later.
THAT is the dedication the protege candidate should have!
This already puts you 1 step ahead of the H-man. (referring of course to the Best Show meet up in 2009, where even Wally Wackiman showed up, and he isn't even human)
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GLN Titantron Intro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G8_wyPps-c#ws)
This is a video my friend Dom (and fan of The Best Show) made to support my candidacy. I had no idea he was doing this! It features my performance as The Ultimate Warrior (reciting bits from The Rush Limbaugh Show), general stand-up comedy, my Jaykob Strange extreme street magician character and clips of when I was on "Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego" in 8th grade. All interspersed with late-90s WCW wrestling clips!
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GLN Titantron Intro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G8_wyPps-c#ws)
This is a video my friend Dom (and fan of The Best Show) made to support my candidacy. I had no idea he was doing this! It features my performance as The Ultimate Warrior (reciting bits from The Rush Limbaugh Show), general stand-up comedy, and my Jaykob Strange extreme street magician character. All interspersed with late-90s WCW wrestling clips!
I believe the proper response is "too sweeet!"
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I bet Geneva would have done that, if she lived 1.5 hours from the Pine Barrens. And had a comedy show to host.
Me too. I also bet she wouldn't tell everyone about it in a rather sad attempt to pander to gullible voters.
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I bet Geneva would have done that, if she lived 1.5 hours from the Pine Barrens. And had a comedy show to host.
Me too. I also bet she wouldn't tell everyone about it in a rather sad attempt to pander to gullible voters.
There are no voters.
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GLN Titantron Intro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G8_wyPps-c#ws)
This is a video my friend Dom (and fan of The Best Show) made to support my candidacy. I had no idea he was doing this! It features my performance as The Ultimate Warrior (reciting bits from The Rush Limbaugh Show), general stand-up comedy, my Jaykob Strange extreme street magician character and clips of when I was on "Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego" in 8th grade. All interspersed with late-90s WCW wrestling clips!
I like you, Gregg, but it was uncool how much that wasn't Ultimate Warrior. I don't even know what that was.
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I bet Geneva would have done that, if she lived 1.5 hours from the Pine Barrens. And had a comedy show to host.
Me too. I also bet she wouldn't tell everyone about it in a rather sad attempt to pander to gullible voters.
There are no voters.
Really? I guess you should brush up on you're protege selection rules. I'm sure Geneva knows them backwards and forwards.
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Gregg, did that video also have footage of marching troops and war crimes?
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I stopped watching when it got to the dancing chicken from Eraserhead.
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You people have listened to the show before, right? You're not running an election. You're trying to convince Tom to give you the spot. This is Tom Scharpling, the popular vote is likely to hinder rather than help you. He does what he wants, when he wants, who he wants.
That being said you seem to be having fun with it so in my best Spike voice "carry on."
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Leonard from California did have a good point about getting multiple protégés for Tom, Inc.
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You people have listened to the show before, right? You're not running an election. You're trying to convince Tom to give you the spot. This is Tom Scharpling, the popular vote is likely to hinder rather than help you. He does what he wants, when he wants, who he wants.
That being said you seem to be having fun with it so in my best Spike voice "carry on."
The campaigning part on my end is just for fun. It's also not going very well since the Geneva Convention is trouncing the Greggulation Nation.
I like the idea of multiple proteges for Tom. I really like Geneva and Max a lot. We've had some great Twitter conversations. I think we all bring strengths to the table and balance each other out.
I know I'm the "'polarizing" candidate which I take to mean that a lot of folks don't like me. But I'm also doing a lot of work for this, and it's more than just going to the Titus taping (which talking about in the way I did was obnoxious, but I still did go to the Titus taping when I had a lot on my plate). I'm listening to old Best Show episodes and Gems as much as humanly possible, but this time I'm trying to break down why different bits/phone calls/moments work and trying to guess as to how Tom/Wurster put things together. And then I'm trying to use what I'm learning and applying it to my basketball podcast and the comedy stuff I do in Philly.
Case in point: I love Tom's Amtrak cross-country trip. I think it works because it's a really great travelogue that's centered around the awkwardness of being forced to talk to people on a train ride. There's a great level of detail in Tom's story, but it's tightly said. I'm trying to focus when I tell personal stuff on the podcast to bring really specific details to stories but doing so in a tighter and more concise manner.
I apologize ahead if any of you think talking this up is pandering but I'm doing the work, which was the main crux of Tom's advice he doled out a few weeks ago.
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Trouncing is an awesome word that I'm using for my campaign (thanks for reading that on twitter Gregg!) but I don't think the Convention is trouncing the Greggulation nation by any means at this point. Plus I know NOTHING about basketball, although I have had some nice folks volunteer to tutor me on the history/player basics if it's needed, heh. I don't necessarily think Tom is looking for his double though.
I'd be down for Leonard's idea of Team Scharpling. I think we all have our strengths and weaknesses. We'd be satellite Scharplings!
That all being said, I don't think people like that we proteges get along pretty well, considering this is a race. From what I have heard/read, the public wants more snark and cattiness! Oh the internet...
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Hey Omar, I am listening to the first H-man call on the April 12, 2005 archive. Arrested Development talk. Tom apparently hadn't heard about it. ;)
Just thought you might want to log it for a possible protege showdown or something.
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Nowah in Ashland did this!!! OMG!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfmu/2248691813/#in/set-72157603873576097/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfmu/2248691813/#in/set-72157603873576097/)
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The Greggulation Nation support's Gregg Gethard! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LQscAx9FM#ws)
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You don't look as Eddie Deezen-y as I had imagined.
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even though this was disbanded, i hope the 2012 presidential election rekindles the race.
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God, I don't.
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The presidential election is going to be hard enough to take as it is. That thing will last longer than the NBA finals.