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The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: cna on February 14, 2011, 10:24:13 AM

Title: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: cna on February 14, 2011, 10:24:13 AM
http://wtfpod.libsyn.com/webpage/episode-149-tom-scharpling (http://wtfpod.libsyn.com/webpage/episode-149-tom-scharpling)
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: cavorting with nudists on February 14, 2011, 10:28:53 AM
Well, I swan.  Never expected this.  Will Maron get Tom to spill all the beans about his first two marriages, ugly divorces, chemical dependencies, jail stints, etc. etc.?  Let's listen and find out!
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: badgrammer on February 14, 2011, 12:50:48 PM
Yay! Two of my favorites together at last!
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: snailed on February 14, 2011, 01:04:09 PM
When Maron said Tim + Eric were the Zappa/Ween of comedy... lolz. 

Also:  "I was afraid of you in the 90s!"

But yeah, this was excellent.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: actwithoutwords on February 14, 2011, 02:16:43 PM
Wowzers. I just refreshed WTF in iTunes and saw the word Scharpling. This is going to be interesting.

EDIT: Ha. Not even 5 minutes in and he's already talking about jealousy and resentment. Classic Maron.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: effecT on February 14, 2011, 02:36:00 PM
Seems like there is no one Maron can't get...

Except for Blazin Hazen!
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Pidgeon on February 14, 2011, 02:39:41 PM
Wowzers. I just refreshed WTF in iTunes and saw the word Scharpling. This is going to be interesting.

EDIT: Ha. Not even 5 minutes in and he's already talking about jealousy and resentment. Classic Maron.

Y'know, it's funny: When I heard bits and pieces of Maron's material, I just assumed he's this tough, mean, shock-y guy. That couldn't be further from the truth.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Rasmussen on February 14, 2011, 09:24:46 PM
Halfway through, and this is as great as I'd hoped.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Pidgeon on February 14, 2011, 09:26:56 PM
My heart sank when Tom mentioned his wife being sick, and at other personal stuff.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: HaroldBlvd on February 14, 2011, 09:31:18 PM
Really amazing WTF. It was quite something to me to hear Tom and Marc actually talking to each other and having a great time.
I like that Tom said Maron created Tom with a remark he made at Luna Lounge. Fascinating  to hear about Tom's view of The Best Show, the early days of ASSSSSSCat, and so much more.
This was an awesome podcast. Thanks to Marc for having Tom, thanks to Tom to doing it.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Christina on February 14, 2011, 09:57:59 PM
My heart sank when Tom mentioned his wife being sick, and at other personal stuff.

Whycome? Because he talked about it, like you don't want to know personal things, or because he's been through stuff?
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: mackro on February 15, 2011, 02:00:36 AM
Really amazing WTF. It was quite something to me to hear Tom and Marc actually talking to each other and having a great time.
I like that Tom said Maron created Tom with a remark he made at Luna Lounge. Fascinating  to hear about Tom's view of The Best Show, the early days of ASSSSSSCat, and so much more.
This was an awesome podcast. Thanks to Marc for having Tom, thanks to Tom to doing it.

Perfectly said.  I may not be a seasoned WTF'er, but this will probably be my favorite one for a while.

Re Alex P. & personal stuff...
I'm guessing Tom knew he would be asked some stuff like that. Maron asks his interviewees personal questions all the time.
However, I do understand being touched by some of the details though, however brief. I felt the same way.

In the end though, I was really hoping for Tom and Marc to hit it off, and tell lots and lots of stories and provide tons of introspection toward each other, and that's exactly what they did.  Such a great episode.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: dicebourbon on February 15, 2011, 02:38:15 AM
That was a really great conversation. I did cringe a little when Marc started asking more personal questions about Tom's upbringing, but then I realized that Tom wasn't going to reveal more than he was comfortable with - thankfully.

I was fascinated by the discussion of Bob Grant and Howard Stern. I'm sure this has been discussed on the board somewhere, but it was a kind of a-ha moment when Tom was describing Grant's radio personality and how much it sounded like Tom's persona, minus the deplorable politics.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Trembling Eagle on February 15, 2011, 06:21:09 AM
wow that was a damn good interview.

my fav interview of Tom to this date
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Christina on February 15, 2011, 07:23:00 AM
Re Alex P. & personal stuff...
I'm guessing Tom knew he would be asked some stuff like that. Maron asks his interviewees personal questions all the time.
However, I do understand being touched by some of the details though, however brief. I felt the same way.

I know all that. I was curious about what Alex meant b/c it can go a few different ways from there.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Pidgeon on February 15, 2011, 09:04:40 AM
It's just kind of a surreal feeling hearing about someone going through stuff, when you're a fan of them and you're not used to hearing a lot about their personal lives.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Greggulator on February 15, 2011, 10:36:12 AM
When they were talking about "adorable" comics who put being "adorable" before being funny, I was thinking Demitri Martin. Any other guesses?

I hope it was because I am not a fan of him at all. I've dubbed him "Twee Gallagher."
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Christina on February 15, 2011, 11:46:33 AM
It's just kind of a surreal feeling

Gotcha - just curious ...
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: effecT on February 15, 2011, 12:22:54 PM
When they were talking about "adorable" comics who put being "adorable" before being funny, I was thinking Demitri Martin. Any other guesses?
I was thinking of Jon Benjamin and Jonathan Katz.
Also Todd Barry! He compared himself to prairie dogs and coined the phrase "Ey Do Ra Bley".

But seriously: I don't find Dimitri Martin to be yearning for affection and adoration that much. Rather i do not find him to be greatly funny. He does all his weird tricks and seems to be vying for hipster/alternativo approval, which is annoying. His show was still very good for Comedy Central standards.
I actually have no idea who Tom referred to...
Michael Ian Black?
Just a wild guess...
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Pidgeon on February 15, 2011, 12:24:31 PM
My first thought was Eugene Mirman.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Christina on February 15, 2011, 12:28:40 PM
They also referenced guys who go for a particular crowd really hard, like "college" - so I was thinking of Dane Cook. I don't think he's really "adorable" though.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: amiright?? on February 15, 2011, 01:05:31 PM
That was a really great conversation. I did cringe a little when Marc started asking more personal questions about Tom's upbringing, but then I realized that Tom wasn't going to reveal more than he was comfortable with - thankfully.

Does anyone reveal more than they're comfortable with on WTF? Everyone seems to just open up automatically there these days, if they're up for it...

I couldn't help but notice the pause as Maron asked about Tom's family. I wasn't sure if they were going to continue down that road - you could almost hear Tom weigh it in his head...

I also thought Demetri Martin was the person Maron was criticizing.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: daveB from Oakland on February 15, 2011, 01:56:02 PM
My first thought was Eugene Mirman.

I'm pretty sure Maron's indicated a dislike for Demetri Martin on previous WTFs. But I think he's a fan of Mirman (he did the "Stand Uppity" comedy tour which was a package with Maron, Mirman, and Andy Kindler) ... also, Mirman and Kindler were guests on some of the older (now "premium") wtf episodes.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: dicebourbon on February 15, 2011, 02:02:43 PM
That was a really great conversation. I did cringe a little when Marc started asking more personal questions about Tom's upbringing, but then I realized that Tom wasn't going to reveal more than he was comfortable with - thankfully.

Does anyone reveal more than they're comfortable with on WTF? Everyone seems to just open up automatically there these days, if they're up for it...

Now that I think about it, I guess it would be impossible to reveal more than you're comfortable with unless you're under oath.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: dave from knoxville on February 15, 2011, 03:53:10 PM
Like with Barbra Walters', there are always tears at Maron interviews. Unlike with Walters', the tears are always Maron's. That's part of why I enjoy him so much.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: spruce on February 15, 2011, 05:02:02 PM
It was a good interview. Maron was surprisingly restrained. I was glad that Tom didn't start spilling much. For some reason I was worried that he would. One thing I appreciate about Tom, Paul F. Tompkins, Patton Oswalt and I guess most of the comdedian friends of the show is that they seem to be relatively private people who don't feel the urge to gush about everything that happens to them, good or bad. I think that's something to be respected, though I'm not sure Maron can really wrap his brain around it. It came up sort of in the discussion about his inability to appreciate Tim & Eric.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: dave from knoxville on February 15, 2011, 09:01:30 PM
It was a good interview. Maron was surprisingly restrained. I was glad that Tom didn't start spilling much. For some reason I was worried that he would. One thing I appreciate about Tom, Paul F. Tompkins, Patton Oswalt and I guess most of the comdedian friends of the show is that they seem to be relatively private people who don't feel the urge to gush about everything that happens to them, good or bad. I think that's something to be respected, though I'm not sure Maron can really wrap his brain around it. It came up sort of in the discussion about his inability to appreciate Tim & Eric.

Add me to that list.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: stepheninchicago on February 15, 2011, 09:31:35 PM
Jon Benjamin and Todd Barry are hardly "Adorable" comedians.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: NJL on February 15, 2011, 09:46:07 PM
I was thinking more along the lines of Garfunkel and Oates, but maybe that is too literal.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Stupornaut on February 15, 2011, 10:30:46 PM
I was thinking more along the lines of Garfunkel and Oates, but maybe that is too literal.

Garfunkel and Oates earned my eternal enmity for including "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" in their "songs we hate" medley. I know Michael Jackson turned out to be a total creep but still, eff that noise.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Christina on February 16, 2011, 12:06:22 AM
Garfunkel and Oates earned my eternal enmity for including "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" in their "songs we hate" medley.

Oh, well now they earned mine too. You can't touch Off the Wall.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: effecT on February 16, 2011, 03:19:15 AM
Jon Benjamin and Todd Barry are hardly "Adorable" comedians.
Sorry Stephen, the "But seriously" after i mentioned them was to signify that i was calling them adorable in jest.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Pidgeon on February 16, 2011, 03:24:26 AM
I think Paul Scheer is a good example of a comedian who's adorable without really trying at all to be adorable.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: mackro on February 16, 2011, 04:05:37 AM
That whole segment about "comedians who try hard to be who they're not before they do comedy" reminded me so much of Paul Lynde.  I watched the Paul Lynde Halloween Special last Halloween, and decided to check out the bonus features.

On there, there's a really awkward interview with Peter Marshall where Marshall smiles and laughs his way though reminiscing about all the times Lynde had non-stop fits of anger, drinking problems, and was really bitter about how things ended up after his earlier career in musicals. Lynde was also, acc. to Marshall, extremely jealous of other younger celebrities to boot. Marshall even laughed about how Lynde called him "Beaver Face" all the time. Essentially, Marshall tried to paint a rosy picture of Paul Lynde, and ended up doing the exact opposite. Lynde sounded like an aggressively mean man who happened to have a talent for catty one-liners.  Then again, if one was in the Center Square for over a decade, that could drive anyone a bit crazy.

Apologies for the tangent, as I'm sure Paul Lynde was the last person either Tom or Marc were alluding to in that moment in the interview.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: JonFromMaplewood on February 16, 2011, 11:38:19 AM
That whole segment about "comedians who try hard to be who they're not before they do comedy" reminded me so much of Paul Lynde.  I watched the Paul Lynde Halloween Special last Halloween, and decided to check out the bonus features.

On there, there's a really awkward interview with Peter Marshall where Marshall smiles and laughs his way though reminiscing about all the times Lynde had non-stop fits of anger, drinking problems, and was really bitter about how things ended up after his earlier career in musicals. Lynde was also, acc. to Marshall, extremely jealous of other younger celebrities to boot. Marshall even laughed about how Lynde called him "Beaver Face" all the time. Essentially, Marshall tried to paint a rosy picture of Paul Lynde, and ended up doing the exact opposite. Lynde sounded like an aggressively mean man who happened to have a talent for catty one-liners.  Then again, if one was in the Center Square for over a decade, that could drive anyone a bit crazy.

Apologies for the tangent, as I'm sure Paul Lynde was the last person either Tom or Marc were alluding to in that moment in the interview.

No apology necessary.  That was fascinating!
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Rhymes with Don Draper on February 16, 2011, 01:05:49 PM
I really enjoyed this interview and I could tell that Marc Maron genuinely respects Tom.  Also, I like Tom comparing his radio persona to The Wizard of Oz:  behind the big, intimidating facade, there's a nice and thoughtful guy.

AND--  I think Marc should call into The Best Show.  He should try it out.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: JonFromMaplewood on February 16, 2011, 01:37:01 PM
I think Marc created a false dichotomy between his "raw" comedy and the Best Show gang's clean comedy.  Anyone heard Patton's "Orgy"
 sketch?  Or any other sketch by him for that matter?

That being said, this was indeed an amazing interview.  Great job, Tom, and great job, Marc.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Rick in Salt Lake on February 16, 2011, 03:47:42 PM
Anyone heard Patton's "Orgy" sketch?

Maybe. Is that the bit about Fucksquatch?
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: effecT on February 16, 2011, 04:35:16 PM
Anyone heard Patton's "Orgy" sketch?

Maybe. Is that the bit about Fucksquatch?
The one where he goes house-hunting...
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Matt on February 16, 2011, 05:44:50 PM
It was a good interview. Maron was surprisingly restrained. I was glad that Tom didn't start spilling much. For some reason I was worried that he would. One thing I appreciate about Tom, Paul F. Tompkins, Patton Oswalt and I guess most of the comdedian friends of the show is that they seem to be relatively private people who don't feel the urge to gush about everything that happens to them, good or bad. I think that's something to be respected, though I'm not sure Maron can really wrap his brain around it. It came up sort of in the discussion about his inability to appreciate Tim & Eric.

Add me to that list.

Third me to that register. I love that WTF has become the forum for "honesty," but a few comedians could be accused of oversharing. Like, say, Jim Norton, for example.

And I also have enmity against Garfunkel & Oates. Their songs are funny enough, but I can't stomach the ultra-over-enunciating singing style for more than fifteen seconds. I realize it's my problem and not theirs, but I will still never listen to them willingly because of it.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: effecT on February 16, 2011, 06:34:01 PM
It was a good interview. Maron was surprisingly restrained. I was glad that Tom didn't start spilling much. For some reason I was worried that he would. One thing I appreciate about Tom, Paul F. Tompkins, Patton Oswalt and I guess most of the comdedian friends of the show is that they seem to be relatively private people who don't feel the urge to gush about everything that happens to them, good or bad. I think that's something to be respected, though I'm not sure Maron can really wrap his brain around it. It came up sort of in the discussion about his inability to appreciate Tim & Eric.

Add me to that list.

Third me to that register. I love that WTF has become the forum for "honesty," but a few comedians could be accused of oversharing. Like, say, Jim Norton, for example.


Or Patrice O'Neal talking his weird misogynist game.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Rick in Salt Lake on February 16, 2011, 07:52:28 PM
Anyone heard Patton's "Orgy" sketch?

Maybe. Is that the bit about Fucksquatch?
The one where he goes house-hunting...

Right. It's the bit that starts with his wife seeing a rat which gives her the impetus to want to move so they go house hunting... Great stuff...
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Creekmore_Banks on February 16, 2011, 08:51:55 PM
I think Marc created a false dichotomy between his "raw" comedy and the Best Show gang's clean comedy.  Anyone heard Patton's "Orgy"
 sketch?  Or any other sketch by him for that matter?

That being said, this was indeed an amazing interview.  Great job, Tom, and great job, Marc.

Yeah, I thought that was a particularly self-serving comment. The "I'm too brutally honest" or "I'm too edgy" cards some comedians play get little respect from me. I like Marc and enjoy the majority of his work, but his self-appointed rogue persona can be a little much. Of course, maybe I would use the same coping mechanism if I were in Marc's shoes . I don't know.

I still loved the interview. I wondered if it would work and it definitely did. Interesting discussion that I could have listened to for another hour.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Christina on February 16, 2011, 10:41:48 PM
One thing I loved about the interview was Tom talking about (and Marc agreeing w/) the weird thing about doing radio, where they're all alone in this room doing this thing, and how weird it is since they know they're talking to hundreds of thousands of people.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Sashamak on February 16, 2011, 11:05:35 PM
I'm thinking Craig Ferguson. He fits adorable without being funny.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Christina on February 16, 2011, 11:09:30 PM
I'm thinking Craig Ferguson. He fits adorable without being funny.

Ugh, not for me ... he has that smug, WASPy over grown frat guy quality that makes me hurl.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: HaroldBlvd on February 16, 2011, 11:43:15 PM
Tom's appearance on Comedy Death Ray last week was really great too. He was on there with Weird Al and PFT as Gary Marshall. I hoped that Tom would appear on these, my two favorite podcasts after the Best Show. It was podcast heaven this week. 


http://www.earwolf.com/episode/episode-91-weird-al-yankovic-paul-f-tompkins-tom-scharpling (http://www.earwolf.com/episode/episode-91-weird-al-yankovic-paul-f-tompkins-tom-scharpling)
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: buffcoat on February 17, 2011, 01:03:07 AM
I'm thinking Craig Ferguson. He fits adorable without being funny.

Ugh, not for me ... he has that smug, WASPy over grown frat guy quality that makes me hurl.

You mean Craig Kilborn, right?  Craig Ferguson is many things, but he doesn't strike me as THOSE things.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Pidgeon on February 17, 2011, 06:58:00 AM
I'm thinking Craig Ferguson. He fits adorable without being funny.

Ugh, not for me ... he has that smug, WASPy over grown frat guy quality that makes me hurl.

Can Scots really be considered WASPs, though?
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: cavorting with nudists on February 17, 2011, 07:28:27 AM

You mean Craig Kilborn, right? 

Or, as I like to call him in a Spikey mood, Craig Shouldhavebeenkilledbeforehewasborn.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: Christina on February 17, 2011, 07:29:53 AM
GOD DAMMIT - I did it again. the Frat guy I was talking about it Craig Kilbourn. Every time Ferguson's name comes up, I get confused & think they're talking about Kilbourn.

I still don't think Ferguson's funny, but he's not a douchebag a-hole like Kilbourn.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: JonFromMaplewood on February 17, 2011, 09:03:00 AM
I think Marc created a false dichotomy between his "raw" comedy and the Best Show gang's clean comedy.  Anyone heard Patton's "Orgy"
 sketch?  Or any other sketch by him for that matter?

That being said, this was indeed an amazing interview.  Great job, Tom, and great job, Marc.

By "sketch," of course I mean "bit."

Ew buoy.
Title: Re: Scharpling on WTF
Post by: colonel panic on February 17, 2011, 03:35:05 PM
GOD DAMMIT - I did it again. the Frat guy I was talking about it Craig Kilbourn. Every time Ferguson's name comes up, I get confused & think they're talking about Kilbourn.

I still don't think Ferguson's funny, but he's not a douchebag a-hole like Kilbourn.

^^That's weird. I'm with you on this confusion; the correction to Kilbourn totally threw me.