FOT Forum
The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: buffcoat on September 13, 2011, 11:16:24 PM
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This has come up over the years, but there are now enough Best Show fans who've listened to substantial portions of the show's history live or on the archives to weigh in.
My favorite show is:
September 6, 2005: Tom Crawls Back To WFMU Completely Defeated, The Sirius Deal A Distant Memory. The Pain In His Voice Will Send Chills Up Your Spine. He Fights To Get The Will To Carry On. Does He Get It? Listen!
The first hour of this show is one of the best, funniest, most audacious pieces of entertainment I have ever heard, bar none. The pain in Tom's voice feels so real that it's almost impossible, while listening to it, to convince yourself that he DIDN'T just quit to join Little Steven and then come crawling back. It's pure magic, and if you're a fan who hasn't heard it, you need to listen to the episode before this one - to hear the swagger - and then this episode.
And to then find out, later, that he had no idea that this was where the Sirius arc would end up was the icing on the cake.
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I've been waiting for this particular topic just to sign up to the Friends of Tom board!
My favorite installment: November 3, 2009: JOHN HODGMAN In Studio! PAUL F TOMPKINS In Studio! DAVID REES In Studio! Philly Boy Roy Calls In! Talk Of Rage And Of Tom Doing His Fontasy Basketball Draft From A Kinko's On The Sunset Strip, And Discussion Of How Fat Chris Christie Is.
I will forever love this episode. This was the show that made me "get it." (We're approaching Deadhead levels of Best Show cultdom here, so beware...) I had only discovered The Best Show about a month after this aired; my first episode was the six hour one from 11/24/09...I will admit to being fooled by the first Wurster call - I really did think, at first, that Wurster's superhipster character was a real caller (I didn't know ANYTHING about the show other than that the Night People guys were fans) and the fact that I had heard something that genuinely inspired and surprising and hilarious piqued my curiosity about the Best Show. So I downloaded some previous podcasts of the show to discover what else Tom had to offer.
I should preface this by stating that I had just gone through a terrible, miserable breakup with a serious girlfriend, and I was broke, going to grad school, and working full-time and truly down in the dumps in the last few months of 2009. So there's the context, okay? Anyway, I was driving around Chicago one cold grey November afternoon, utterly depressed, and I decided to give the 11/3/09 show a listen, and within 15 minutes, I literally had to pull over because I was laughing so hard tears (I'm guessing they were cathartic, whatever) were running down my face. I don't think I stopped laughing for the entire duration of the episode. I had to go back and listen to Tom and Paul and John and David riffing on an imaginary mattress salesman-themed "Glengarry Glen Ross" three times ("These are the Glengarry leads...but you don't get them"). This was the first time I heard Philly Boy Roy, too.
So what I'm saying is that for three hours during a long, tough, horrifically cold and emotionally raw time in my life, Tom and the Best Show brought me a dose of unalloyed joy so pure that, in order to chase it down and relive that joy, I became a drooling, fawning fan, fiending for each new installment, eager to trawl the back catalogue for more Newbridge trivia and caller lore, and a wide-eyed proseltyzer for the healing power of The Best Show. I feel like I owe Tom (and Jon...and Mike....you get the idea) a huge debt of gratitude.
The only time I've ever called the show was to wish Tom a happy birthday in 2010. He sang a Cranberries song to me. It was stupendous.
I'm doing a lot better now.
Anyways, so that's my favorite episode...you munch.
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The one with Paul F. Tompkins and Philly Boy Roy in the studio together, when they created Philly Boy Paul F. Tompkins.
Also the Coffin Talk episodes.
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The episodes in the archives that I have listened to the most are the 2nd & 3rd "Best Show on WFMU Best Show Awards." Great clips and Tom's reactions to technical issues are always funny.
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It's gotta be the now-legendary ICP one. It's almost become too popular now, but there are tons of funny things in that ep beyond ICP. Cake vs. Pie, making fun of the Late Shift, the amazing Darren call.
Also, this ep bleeds into the next couple, with the Disgruntled Juggalo call and a follow-up Darren call. In fact, I'd say that as far as recent years go, the entire Summer/Fall 09 run is generally amazing.
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This has come up over the years, but there are now enough Best Show fans who've listened to substantial portions of the show's history live or on the archives to weigh in.
My favorite show is:
September 6, 2005: Tom Crawls Back To WFMU Completely Defeated, The Sirius Deal A Distant Memory. The Pain In His Voice Will Send Chills Up Your Spine. He Fights To Get The Will To Carry On. Does He Get It? Listen!
The thing that makes me laugh every time is that first "GEEEEEET OOOOFFFFFF MMMYYYYY PPPPHHHHHOOOONNNNE".
Not sure I have a favorite show really - it's weird little things all over the archives that make me laugh like an idiot. Like the one where Tom made every caller talk to the Toblerone bars.
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Yeah, I don't have a favorite.
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As I said in the other thread, mine is:
June 15, 2010: The Legendary PAUL F TOMPKINS Is Live In The Studio Along With Puppet WALLY WACKIMAN And Tom's Protegee THE H-MAN! A Call From DAMIAN From F'ed Up. The Musical Pacings Of The West Wing Are Discussed And More! You Can't Miss This One!
I'm a fairly new FOT, and this is the show that got me to transition from just listening to the Gems podcast to downloading full episodes and listening live. Aside from a brief slow start, it's hilarious end to end. Milo's call about D&D, Tom and PFT's faux-interest in an epically boring Michael-K.-from-the-Cynics anecdote, Tom's "all fives" story about an unscrupulous car repairman, Tom razzing the H-Man about getting a job, a caller suggesting that Wally appear in corporate training videos, the West Wing music bit... there's more, too. Just amazing.
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Mayubinatorial debate
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Four Lokomas, but I'm currently working my way forward from late 2008 so this may change.
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March 13th, 2001: "Listener Appreciation Week"
Tom opens the show with a spring in his step, sending only the most positive vibes to the listeners and regular callers, making outgoing calls to thank them. In a nearly perfect linear fashion, the quality of the calls declines until dropping into lame territory with a guy from Goshen who is inexplicably angry and keeps talking about his tractor. The show spirals into a frustrating lack of content--just boring chitchat. Several clever callers find something fishy about one particular set of calls, claiming they were "fake".
The show ends like this:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1488942/2001-03-13-ending.mp3 (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1488942/2001-03-13-ending.mp3)
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It wasn't the first episode I listened to, but it was close. When Matt "toilet mouth" Walsh dropped his filthy toilet talk on the show, which lead tom to go off the deep end for 45 minutes. Every time he would hang up on someone because he was still mad at Walsh it just killed me, that was the episode where I knew the best show was going to be one of my favorites.
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yadda
The Paul F. + Hodgman + Philly Boy episode also was the first one that really hooked me, too.
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Has anyone heard, or can explain this one...
January 6, 2004: (Show One) Tom Talks To An Angry Record Promo Guy. Tom Talks To 'Extreme Dad'. Tom Talks About Who Is A Factory Wrapped Douche. Archive Taken Down at the request of Tom.
Archive Taken Down at the request of Tom Due To Controversial Statements - That's Why You've Got To Listen To The Best Show LIVE!
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Has anyone heard, or can explain this one...
January 6, 2004: (Show One) Tom Talks To An Angry Record Promo Guy. Tom Talks To 'Extreme Dad'. Tom Talks About Who Is A Factory Wrapped Douche. Archive Taken Down at the request of Tom.
Archive Taken Down at the request of Tom Due To Controversial Statements - That's Why You've Got To Listen To The Best Show LIVE!
I've heard Angry Record Promo guy and Extreme Dad - I have to guess that the "who is a FWD" bit was the one that got it taken down.
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Four Lokomas, but I'm currently working my way forward from late 2008 so this may change.
This one is up there. Was "don't you know I'm Loko?" in this one?
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It wasn't the first episode I listened to, but it was close. When Matt "toilet mouth" Walsh dropped his filthy toilet talk on the show, which lead tom to go off the deep end for 45 minutes. Every time he would hang up on someone because he was still mad at Walsh it just killed me, that was the episode where I knew the best show was going to be one of my favorites.
Matt Walsh's calls are the most consistenly hilarious parts of the early Best Show. He makes himself come across as the most put-upon person on the planet. His interactions with Horatio Sanz and with Jon Benjamin are fantastic.
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Four Lokomas, but I'm currently working my way forward from late 2008 so this may change.
This one is up there. Was "don't you know I'm Loko?" in this one?
The original "Don't you know I'm Loko?" was the previous episode with Julie Klausner when Mike was drinking it by himself. He said it again during the next week's full on Four Lokomas celebration several times, and iirc there was much discussion of Mike's creepy luggage by John Hodgman. Also Tom sang some BNL.
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I've always liked the Danielson Family Bachelor Party from October 10th, 2006. Pudge, Timmy Von Trimble, PBR, Marky Ramone, AND the original bully Troy Dershman. Interacting with the Danielson Family? So great. But idunno.
Freddy Danielson Bachelor Party (pt.1) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlI4LgQrwQI#)
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World is in the turlit.
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Though fairly recent, I'm calling the episode from November 30th 2010 my favorite. The old man, then Todd Barry, then the Bruce Springsteen biographer.
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The episode when
Evan Davies Bryce did not show up and Tom had to go overtime and called up people from the phone-book.
The beginning is excruciatingly boring, because Tom can't get any hooks into the people he calls.
Tom ends up calling a family of *interesting people* and has a hilarious conversation with them.
It's a great payoff.
I will look for the date in the archives.
Addendum and correction:
September 2, 2003: (Part Two): Bryce Doesn't Show Up, So Tom Calls Payphones From Around The Country. This Features An Hour-Long Conversation With A Man In California Named Clem And His Step Daughter. Pure Radio Magic!
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October 7, 2008: A Call From Todd Palin, Tom Talks Of His Adventures On A Ferris Wheel And A Few Other Fun Things.
Autumn 2008-Spring 2009 is my favorite stretch so to speak.
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The Order of Everything.
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The moment I became a Scharpling and Wurster fan is when Ronald Thomas Clontle said "he just blocks him, what is he DOING?" underneath his breath during Rock, Rot and Rule.
I didn't discover the Best Show for a few more months. The Gorch saying, "I made him suck on my pipe" and having no idea why that sounded strange was what sealed that for me.
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cant find the date but there is one when jon calls in a few times and they are clearly spur of the moment, about Payola for playing the New Pornographers, also i think that is the episode where jon threatens to melt tom and jon calls in again as "the ones brother" think this is sometime during 06/07... also the episode during the VP debate in 04 is another great one.
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cant find the date but there is one when jon calls in a few times and they are clearly spur of the moment, about Payola for playing the New Pornographers, also i think that is the episode where jon threatens to melt tom and jon calls in again as "the ones brother" think this is sometime during 06/07... also the episode during the VP debate in 04 is another great one.
Jan 31 2006. One of my absolute favorites too. "Marky Ramone" reads a passage from Lady Waynesworth's Desires. "The One" threatens Tom with this memorable line: "I'll melt you." Then, his brother calls in with some other threat, I believe. Some actual caller claims "Indie payola exists and I've proven it tonight." Then "Mills" from Matador checks up on Tom- "Little light on the NPs tonight."
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cant find the date but there is one when jon calls in a few times and they are clearly spur of the moment, about Payola for playing the New Pornographers, also i think that is the episode where jon threatens to melt tom and jon calls in again as "the ones brother" think this is sometime during 06/07... also the episode during the VP debate in 04 is another great one.
Jan 31 2006. One of my absolute favorites too. "Marky Ramone" reads a passage from Lady Waynesworth's Desires. "The One" threatens Tom with this memorable line: "I'll melt you." Then, his brother calls in with some other threat, I believe. Some actual caller claims "Indie payola exists and I've proven it tonight." Then "Mills" from Matador checks up on Tom- "Little light on the NPs tonight."
The "actual caller" said his name was "Gordon from South Dakota," but it was actually Kid Kansas, Tom's mid-2000s nemesis (along with Capt J**k and the Mr. T Guy). I hope Tom's last show ever (when it comes) is very emotional and introspective and then ends with "shut up-shut up-shut up-shut up-shut up-foo" as the sound fades.
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I'm going WAY back into archives and listening to the second tribute to Billy Joel. The show is so completely different. I love the whole "WFMU Listeners Have Spoken" stuff, knowing that since this was well before the show took off, the standard WFMU listerner must be completely infuriated hearing "Pressure" on the air.
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As I said in the other thread, mine is:
June 15, 2010: The Legendary PAUL F TOMPKINS Is Live In The Studio Along With Puppet WALLY WACKIMAN And Tom's Protegee THE H-MAN! A Call From DAMIAN From F'ed Up. The Musical Pacings Of The West Wing Are Discussed And More! You Can't Miss This One!
I'm a fairly new FOT, and this is the show that got me to transition from just listening to the Gems podcast to downloading full episodes and listening live. Aside from a brief slow start, it's hilarious end to end. Milo's call about D&D, Tom and PFT's faux-interest in an epically boring Michael-K.-from-the-Cynics anecdote, Tom's "all fives" story about an unscrupulous car repairman, Tom razzing the H-Man about getting a job, a caller suggesting that Wally appear in corporate training videos, the West Wing music bit... there's more, too. Just amazing.
Not to be a copycat, but I too am a fairly new FOT and this was also the episode where it all finally clicked for me and I made the transition from Best Show Gems into the Best Show proper. I think the combination of Damien from F'ed Up, and PFT and Tom in studio, dealing (masterfully) with calls Milo, Spike, *and* Michael K. really sealed the deal.
I think a very close second might be:
March 29, 2011: Philly Boy Roy is stuck at an Emerald Nightmare party! Guy Ritchie is a British Kevin Smith! NJ’s most dangerous theme park, Action Park! PATTON OSWALT calls from onstage in Athens, GA! And PAUL F. TOMPKINS checks in from Australia! What a show!
for the Tom's discussion of going to the Beatles convention, if nothing else. The kazoo at the end, really. "Mistaaaaah Mooooonliiiiiighhhht...."
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If I had to pick it would be the Tom at the Beatles convention episode, I've had a couple of conniptions over that one.
Jon says so many funny things ( also follow his Twitter if you're not, ye Gods, he kills every day ) I couldn't pick any one call.
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Three top previously-unmentioned candidates (in no particular order):
-August 18, 2009: PATTON OSWALT Gets Metsmerized Live In The Studio! A Caller With A Cursed Family. Matt Fraction Gets Interviewed By The Tombstone Kid And Larry Da Perv Requests A Radio Date With Laurie! (That "Get Metsmerized" bit is maybe one of the funniest things ever deconstructed on the show. The rest is just gravy. Really good gravy.)
-October 3, 2006: Bryce And Reagan. PC Richard. Sam's Town. Atlantic City. The Scary Neighbor. Jim Cramer. The Children Of Ritalin. (I don't know why entirely, but the "Tom creates lyrics about shoplifting and sings them to the PC Richard theme" bit absolutely killed me.)
-November 28, 2006: Pudge And His Reading, A Local Man With Some Money Issues, Talk Of Happy Feet, And Some Of The Worst Callers In The History Of Radio. (Better known as the episode where all those defensive Tom Waits fans call in and "Best Show Law" is established. Also the first episode I listened to where I really "got it" -- I listened to the 10/3 episode later, and before that I mostly just knew about the S&W stuff, which I loved.)
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I hope Tom's last show ever (when it comes) is very emotional and introspective and then ends with "shut up-shut up-shut up-shut up-shut up-foo" as the sound fades.
I'm a little disappointed in Mr. T Guy.
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1/17/12 - especially Philly Boy Roy's call from Weirdowood, when he started talking about the never aired again finale of Barney Miller and the episode of "What's Happening Now" when England Dan was the quest star and the kids trash talked John Ford Coley had laughter tears pouring down my face and I had a hard time explaining to my boss what happened.
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Been listening to old shows- came across this one again: Jun 28, 2005: Tom Starts To Assemble A List Of The Top 100 Movie Quotes To Counter The Dopey AFI Quotes List. Everybody Calls In! Philly Boy Roy Drops In. And NBA Star Mehmet Okur Calls In To Discuss His Love Of Surfing.
I'm pretty sure that's Jon Glaser as Mehmet the "NBA star" and it's lovely non-Wurster bit.
Philly Boy Roy shows up during the Best Show movie quote discussion to pump up his "movie" Philly Pride.
Tons of baaaaaad callers get the Gomp
And anti-Semite, factory-wrapped douche Tommert gets BANNED FOR LIFE for his disgusting comment to MC Steinberg. "On the Best Show scale you're a sad-sack fellow, your nails are long and your teeth are yellow, I wear nice clothes, my parties are a ball, you're a stupid pothead and your bleep is small, you can't stands me, I'm a rappin' legend, I'm a Best Show breakout, your career is fledgin', you can see my chains through the thickest fog, to see my Uncle Silas check out my blog!"
My movie quote would be from STAR WARS™ "Oh this bath is going to feel so good"
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My all-time favorite is March 6,2001 when comedian Jon Benjamin calls in as a drunken TV weatherman Cliff Petterson.
I had never heard of the Best Show when I first stumbled across clips of this episode while browsing the WFMU archives. A listener had made a mashup of the bit and entered it in the Best Show song contest. I thought it was REAL! It is absolutely convincing and hysterical! I searched all over the internet for more information about Cliff Petterson and found nothing. Eventually I was thrilled to find the Best Show episode and got to hear the entire call. At that point I still was not aware it was an improvised comedy bit with Jon Benjamin. Strange thing is, I was actually a big fan of Jon's character Ben from the Dr. Katz animated show, and had previously made 'Ben' mix tapes for my friends. It finally hit me when I was making a Cliff Petterson mix tape....I've heard this voice before...
If you've never heard it do yourself a favor and give it a listen.
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July 13, 2004: Philly Boy Roy! Skag Winesack! The Party Doctor! Matt Walsh! Petey's Grandmother! The Leader! And Hanging Outside The Holland Tunnel At A Hess Station With Officer Tom And Some Reckless Youth!
To fill time before leaving to do the last half hour of the show in a gas station parking lot, Tom calls up Matt Walsh to talk about Matt Besser's new Comedy Central show, Amy Pholer's SNL success and Ian Roberts' role in the newly-released Anchorman. Walsh then says Terre T's show is better than the Best Show. Tom agrees and they make TV and movies analogies of the shows featuring probably the first ever broadcast mention of Anchorman 2. Tom then leaves for the gas station, still on the air via cell phone, blasting Zeppelin, to meet "The Leader" a caller who works at a gas station and describes himself as covered in tattoos, with a crew cut and 300 lbs. Officer Tom comes along to escort Tom with excitement rivaling that of Murf Vs. Gimghoul. This episode also features a call from a 15-year-old H-Man.
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That is also my favorite! I was gonna post it but then YOU!!!!!
My second favorite is the first Party Zone episode. I'd heard a small handful of full episodes at that point, but Party Zone 1 came highly recommended from a friend and it made me love the show so much that I embarked on a full listening to the archives because of it.
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August 12th 2008 was pretty stand out for me. This being the pay-off for the H-man build up. In the weeks leading up to this episode Tom had hinted that he was leaving the show (a constant in-joke on the show) and that he had found his replcement, The H-man. When the moment finally came about 35mins into the show it was very clear the joke was on us. The rest of the show is a masterful comedy of errors as Tom spin every small mistake the H-man makes to the shows benefit. Its quite entertaining to have a consistent straight man for Tom to play off. The whole show brings the best out of the callers.
There are many more favorites over the years I've been listening. Though this one I've re-listened to recently and thought I would share. Take care FOT.
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August 12th 2008 was pretty stand out for me. This being the pay-off for the H-man build up. In the weeks leading up to this episode Tom had hinted that he was leaving the show (a constant in-joke on the show) and that he had found his replcement, The H-man. When the moment finally came about 35mins into the show it was very clear the joke was on us. The rest of the show is a masterful comedy of errors as Tom spin every small mistake the H-man makes to the shows benefit. Its quite entertaining to have a consistent straight man for Tom to play off. The whole show brings the best out of the callers.
The best part of this episode IMO was Tom convincing H-Man to GOMP callers, but he'd leave the caller on the phone for a few seconds to react to being GOMPed.
The first time, a woman was in the middle of a story. H-Man interrupted with a "Get off my phone". A few seconds of silence. The women replies: "...Okay?". And then H-Man offered a timid, "Sorry."
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Track Jacket Chat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VMY1jT92rM#)
don't know where else to put this but it's great...maybe this is from a past year's premium?
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I don't know if it's my favorite episode but my favorite moment is from July 2nd 2013... The caller who built lasers who said "Mashed Potatoes?" It was one of those moments where I was laughing so hard and uncontrollably, I was actually embarrassed. It was the sound of confusion in his voice that got me... I seriously wondered if he had never heard of mashed potatoes before.
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As I said in the other thread, mine is:
June 15, 2010: The Legendary PAUL F TOMPKINS Is Live In The Studio Along With Puppet WALLY WACKIMAN And Tom's Protegee THE H-MAN! A Call From DAMIAN From F'ed Up. The Musical Pacings Of The West Wing Are Discussed And More! You Can't Miss This One!
I'm a fairly new FOT, and this is the show that got me to transition from just listening to the Gems podcast to downloading full episodes and listening live. Aside from a brief slow start, it's hilarious end to end. Milo's call about D&D, Tom and PFT's faux-interest in an epically boring Michael-K.-from-the-Cynics anecdote, Tom's "all fives" story about an unscrupulous car repairman, Tom razzing the H-Man about getting a job, a caller suggesting that Wally appear in corporate training videos, the West Wing music bit... there's more, too. Just amazing.
OMG. I was the dude who gave Wally the career advice. Figured my call was an epic flame-out. It was a pretty great episode though.
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Been listening to old shows- came across this one again: Jun 28, 2005: Tom Starts To Assemble A List Of The Top 100 Movie Quotes To Counter The Dopey AFI Quotes List. Everybody Calls In! Philly Boy Roy Drops In. And NBA Star Mehmet Okur Calls In To Discuss His Love Of Surfing.
I'm pretty sure that's Jon Glaser as Mehmet the "NBA star" and it's lovely non-Wurster bit.
Philly Boy Roy shows up during the Best Show movie quote discussion to pump up his "movie" Philly Pride.
Tons of baaaaaad callers get the Gomp
And anti-Semite, factory-wrapped douche Tommert gets BANNED FOR LIFE for his disgusting comment to MC Steinberg. "On the Best Show scale you're a sad-sack fellow, your nails are long and your teeth are yellow, I wear nice clothes, my parties are a ball, you're a stupid pothead and your bleep is small, you can't stands me, I'm a rappin' legend, I'm a Best Show breakout, your career is fledgin', you can see my chains through the thickest fog, to see my Uncle Silas check out my blog!"
My movie quote would be from STAR WARS™ "Oh this bath is going to feel so good"
I was going to pick this one myself as it was the first Best Show episode I ever heard, when Philly Boy Roy described Alan Iverson killing Bruce Springsteen with the Rocky statue while saying "you'll like it in hell it's a lot like New Jersey" i knew i was hooked forever.
I'll add my personal favorite
June 5, 2007: The Gorch Finally Reaches The WFMU Studios To Murder Tom! Philly Boy Roy Stops By And Takes Control Of The Station, Interviewing Ben Gibbard In The Process. Plus Another Interview With Ken Rogers. Hall Of Fame, People!
I don't even know where to begin with this one, It's just perfect
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I recently listened to September 24, 2003, and Tom singing most of the 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' album to a troubled teen is all-time great moment.
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This has come up over the years, but there are now enough Best Show fans who've listened to substantial portions of the show's history live or on the archives to weigh in.
My favorite show is:
September 6, 2005: Tom Crawls Back To WFMU Completely Defeated, The Sirius Deal A Distant Memory. The Pain In His Voice Will Send Chills Up Your Spine. He Fights To Get The Will To Carry On. Does He Get It? Listen!
The first hour of this show is one of the best, funniest, most audacious pieces of entertainment I have ever heard, bar none. The pain in Tom's voice feels so real that it's almost impossible, while listening to it, to convince yourself that he DIDN'T just quit to join Little Steven and then come crawling back. It's pure magic, and if you're a fan who hasn't heard it, you need to listen to the episode before this one - to hear the swagger - and then this episode.
And to then find out, later, that he had no idea that this was where the Sirius arc would end up was the icing on the cake.
I've been listening through the 2005 archives (pretty much an episode per night at work) and the episode before Sep. 6 is what's up next for me to listen to. Really looking forward to them.
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I'm ashamed to admit this, but probably at the top of my list are the Goshen losers and The Leader
Shows my maturity level