FOT Forum

The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: The guest show on September 15, 2011, 07:34:13 PM

Title: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 15, 2011, 07:34:13 PM
I was very dissapointed that Tom had this guy on for the whole show after there had been a marked quality increase since the banning of all the boring regular callers. Sure i think Hodgman can say funny things but over the course of a show he can be so dull and he takes up so much space it made me stop listening after the wurster segment. There are very few guests that actually improves on the Tom battling with stupid people formula.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: cavorting with nudists on September 15, 2011, 08:07:48 PM
There are very few guests that actually improves on the Tom battling with stupid people formula.

Truth be told, I get a bit attached to this myself, but you said it: it's a formula. Tom doesn't do formula and if he did, any shtick would become, well, formulaic after a while. No guest is going to bring the same amount of The Usual Magic to every listener every time; best to just let Tom do what works for him. I'm just grateful for the high calibre and consistency of his guest list.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Jason from Huntsville, AL on September 15, 2011, 08:48:24 PM
To each his own, but John Hodgman has been a part of many of my favorite Best Show moments and I was excited when I found out he was going to be on Tuesday.

I enjoy some guests appearances more than others, but, at worst, it's just for one week and Tom brings plenty to the table in even in those cases.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 15, 2011, 09:24:46 PM
There are very few guests that actually improves on the Tom battling with stupid people formula.

Truth be told, I get a bit attached to this myself, but you said it: it's a formula. Tom doesn't do formula and if he did, any shtick would become, well, formulaic after a while. No guest is going to bring the same amount of The Usual Magic to every listener every time; best to just let Tom do what works for him. I'm just grateful for the high calibre and consistency of his guest list.

I think one key to it being funny is that Sharpling gets genuinely annoyed with these people and their lack of manners but the flipside of that coin is that it's also emotionally draining on the guy. If he gets too much of it and things are a bit tougher in his personal life, he tends to lean a lot more on the friendly but perhaps not as funny people around him to get him through the shows. Personally i'd rather have him take the day of when that happens but i'm not sure he recognizes this himself and perhaps sometimes he feels like he's in a good run and wants to continue to not let down new listeners or something.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Kormod on September 15, 2011, 09:45:34 PM
There are very few guests that actually improves on the Tom battling with stupid people formula.

Truth be told, I get a bit attached to this myself, but you said it: it's a formula. Tom doesn't do formula and if he did, any shtick would become, well, formulaic after a while. No guest is going to bring the same amount of The Usual Magic to every listener every time; best to just let Tom do what works for him. I'm just grateful for the high calibre and consistency of his guest list.

I think one key to it being funny is that Sharpling gets genuinely annoyed with these people and their lack of manners but the flipside of that coin is that it's also emotionally draining on the guy. If he gets too much of it and things are a bit tougher in his personal life, he tends to lean a lot more on the friendly but perhaps not as funny people around him to get him through the shows. Personally i'd rather have him take the day of when that happens but i'm not sure he recognizes this himself and perhaps sometimes he feels like he's in a good run and wants to continue to not let down new listeners or something.

A lot of Best Show fans, and a lot of people who aren't Best Show fans, think John Hodgman is funny. If you don't think he's any good, that's okay, but don't assume everyone else (including Tom, apparently) shares your opinion.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 15, 2011, 09:53:19 PM
I wasn't reffering to John Hodgman there but rather some of the regular callers. I don't have an opinion of Hodgman since i haven't read any of his material, i've just found him being a bit too much on the show.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: oilcantim on September 15, 2011, 10:20:42 PM
I'm sure Tom will adjust the show to your specifications shortly.  Thanks for the input!
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 15, 2011, 10:26:14 PM
It's funny how you guys steal retorts from the show, but i suppose it's like that on all fan message boards.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Kormod on September 15, 2011, 10:47:18 PM
It's funny how you guys steal retorts from the show, but i suppose it's like that on all fan message boards.

Heave ho.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: dave from knoxville on September 15, 2011, 11:26:26 PM
Frankly I get sort of tired of listening to armchair psychologists trying to analyze Tom's motives and modus operandi. Sit back and enjoy it, or turn it off. The choice is easy. How many of you guys ARE ABD English PhDs, anyway?
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 15, 2011, 11:27:42 PM
Don't tell me what to do.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 15, 2011, 11:28:39 PM
Also you're one of the worst offenders in the case, even though i can't remember a single thing you've said on air. the different x from x'ses tends to blend together after a while.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Tom Scharpling on September 15, 2011, 11:45:15 PM
Great, another crabby dickhead. Goodbye.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: daveB from Oakland on September 16, 2011, 03:39:48 AM
Well I guess that whiney guy already got expelled ...But I just wanted to pay tribute to John Hodgman by pointing out that he's probably the only guy in the universe who could get away with saying "twisting the nipples of Cathalocism" on Tom's show (and still sound classy while saying it).
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Key Loser on September 16, 2011, 08:32:49 AM
To each his own, but John Hodgman has been a part of many of my favorite Best Show moments and I was excited when I found out he was going to be on Tuesday.

I enjoy some guests appearances more than others, but, at worst, it's just for one week and Tom brings plenty to the table in even in those cases.

I was pleasantly suprised that Mr Hodgman was on this week. I thought his presence added to the quality of the show, and there were some great calls to boot.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Greggulator on September 16, 2011, 09:25:57 AM
Two words: Four Loko.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Yannick on September 16, 2011, 09:29:34 AM
Love John Hodgman, he and the best show are strong comedy hands, shaking each other in respect and union.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on September 16, 2011, 10:05:35 AM
Haven't listened to this week's show yet, but Hodgman's Williamsburg high-rise with the ironic Roy Rogers fixins' bar in the lobby is a classic in the Grote household.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 16, 2011, 10:28:12 AM
wut i thought i got banned.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 16, 2011, 10:29:57 AM
oh he must have just banned the ip and not removed the username. how sophomoric.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: fonpr on September 16, 2011, 10:34:52 AM
wut i thought i got banned.

Ban!
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 16, 2011, 10:38:59 AM
he'll get to it relax.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: fonpr on September 16, 2011, 10:49:50 AM
Roll-On.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: cavorting with nudists on September 16, 2011, 11:43:14 AM
Thus we have a fine illustration of Tom's bit this week about what if every doof with a smart phone could have told Bill Murray "That scene in Ghostbusters stunk!"
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Tom Scharpling on September 16, 2011, 11:44:47 AM
I meant 'goodbye' as in you're a yet another fucking bore who is working some agenda here and I'm going to ignore your posts. You'll probably end up getting kicked off the board too. But for the time being I'm not going to give you what you want, which is my attention.

Best of luck with the rest of your life!

Tom.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: guidedbyboognish on September 16, 2011, 05:42:40 PM
I thought the show this week was incredible. I laughed throughout in public places. Congrats and thank you to Tom, John and Jon.

Hope guest show gets banned soon!
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Kormod on September 16, 2011, 05:53:23 PM
I think letting him wander the boards, shunned and hated, like some message-board troll Cain, is an even better punishment.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: JesseFromVegas on September 16, 2011, 06:05:33 PM
Well, Podmass put this week's show in the Best category and Carolla's show in The Rest, but obviously we and they should all defer to the opinion of a random nobody before waving our "Good Guys Win" pennants
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: roubaix on September 16, 2011, 07:31:59 PM
Hogman's cruise ship call to Mike & Therese was fun for the whole family
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: NJL on September 16, 2011, 09:11:02 PM
Quote
On September 15th, John Hodgman unveiled his involvement with the third Ghostbusters movie to Tom Scharpling on The Best Show on WFMU with Tom Scharpling after stating he had been running some "secret" errands for Dan Aykroyd lately. It was hinted that Hodgman was offered the role of Egon Spengler's deadbeat son. "If you were hypothetically offered a role in Ghostbusters 3... would you take the role? Let's say you're [playing] sort of the dissolute son of Egon, the Harold Ramis character, and you're kind of like John Candy in Splash, you're kind of a mess. But it turns out you're a natural ghost-whisperer, a natural psychic." Hodgman also alluded that Bill Murray was in fact the main hold up with the film and did not want a new cast or film to be made without his involvement. "But here's the thing: Bill Murray's not going to be in this movie, and probably not happy that you are. But you get to be in a major role, in a major movie and one of the greatest franchises of all time. Would you do it?"[28]
  I know i09 and AV Club reported on this, but this was put up on the wikipedia page for the Ghostbusters franchise website.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: mackro on September 16, 2011, 10:38:27 PM
I like John Hodgman, though I'm not a Hodgman devotee.

Hodgman killed it on this show, however. Maybe it was those Dark Arts.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Mr. Spacely on September 17, 2011, 04:20:37 AM
Hodgman was great. I just wish he didn't keep stepping on Tom's riffing about "The Disciple." Let Tom get the jokes out!

Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 17, 2011, 04:23:19 AM
Exactly Mr Spacely he interferes too much.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Dan of Orange on September 17, 2011, 05:18:24 AM
He just does it and does it and does it.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: daveB from Oakland on September 17, 2011, 12:23:55 PM
oh he must have just banned the ip and not removed the username. how sophomoric.

(http://origin.arstechnica.com/news.media/nick_burns.jpg) (http://www.changeforge.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/Nick_Burns.jpg)

Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: gravy boat on September 19, 2011, 01:38:33 PM
I'd have to think that at least 90% of Tom's fans really like Hodgman as a guest. Which is about as high as it gets.

I saw Hodgman Saturday night at the Eugene Mirman Festival-Drunk Talent show at the Bell House where he was a host. Hodgman was flat-out great--funny as hell and holding the show together like the most competent and smartest guy in the room, which he probably was.  I think the 4loko show helped prepare him.

The "egghead" Ira Glass (**I love This American Life) was a "panelist" too and was drunker than Cooter Brown. I can't wait to read the Brooklyn Vegan comments.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: puppycity on September 19, 2011, 02:42:54 PM
I'm a Hodgman devote from listening to the show and I'm not just kissing ass cause I'm new here. The guy is a class act all the way, his comedy intellect is top shelf and he has formidable mustache powers.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: AllSussedOut on September 20, 2011, 09:50:33 AM
In case any of you missed it, JH's George R.R. Martin interview on this week's TSOYA was delightful.  I've never read any of Martin's books, and I haven't seen "Game of Thrones," but his (Hodgman's) joy in interviewing someone he admires was palpable.  I may pick up the books as a result (including, of course, Hodgman's latest, "That is All.")
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: The guest show on September 20, 2011, 11:27:03 AM
so much for a rallying cry against john hodgman.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Stan on September 20, 2011, 01:09:27 PM
so much for a rallying cry against john hodgman.

 You had a good run, guest show.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Crusherkc on September 20, 2011, 03:27:50 PM
Hodgeman was awesome last week as always on the BEST SHOW.  Fie to anyone who 'thinks' otherwise.  ChurchofSatan!ChurchofSatan!yougotChurchofSatan!

He's always in the moment and he does his host a service b/c he's a regular listener (he knows well-known callers like the Alabammy Comet by voice, by way of an example).  His segment in the Fantasia in Best Show Minor DVD w/Wurster is top notch. How dare anyone who calls himself a show listener refer to him as "this guy".  BTway, I'm not a fucking sheeple either, I just don't fret over or bother with putting forth things I disagree w/Scharpling about things to do with pop culture.  IT DOESN'T ADD TO THE FUN!  Silly Billies are you who do.

Good day sir.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: mostlymeat on September 20, 2011, 04:49:18 PM
Hodgeman was awesome last week as always on the BEST SHOW.  Fie to anyone who 'thinks' otherwise.  ChurchofSatan!ChurchofSatan!yougotChurchofSatan!


I agree, the Hodge has really found his Best Show rythym. I used to hate guests because I wanted MORE TOM but John was on fire last week, so good!

-Ajax
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Chrissy in MN on September 20, 2011, 06:51:17 PM
I am a Hodgman fan and I always love his appearances on The Best Show along with everything else he does.  As I was watching the Emmy's on Sunday, I kept wishing it was Hodgman's commentary instead of the guy the had this year.  Hodgman was much better--the commentary this year was awful. 
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Jason from Huntsville, AL on September 23, 2011, 11:01:38 PM
John Hodgman: Are Magic Tricks Really Magic?
2011 World Maker Faire
http://fora.tv/2011/09/17/John_Hodgman_Are_Magic_Tricks_Really_Magic (http://fora.tv/2011/09/17/John_Hodgman_Are_Magic_Tricks_Really_Magic)
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: RonJon on October 02, 2011, 11:22:06 AM
Hodgman makes Tom laugh more than almost anyone else.  Enough said.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: NJL on October 26, 2011, 08:14:18 PM
I've been waiting all day for someone to post on this.  What gives?

http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/67gs (http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/67gs)
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Jason from Huntsville, AL on October 26, 2011, 09:22:35 PM
We were leaving it for you, NJL. You didn't let us down!
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: fonpr on October 26, 2011, 09:38:45 PM
Listen to the latest "Stuff You Should Know".
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: ben on October 31, 2011, 07:22:23 PM
John Hodgman was on All Things Considered today talking about his new book and other fun things.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/10/31/141803647/john-hodgman-and-robert-siegel-consider-all-things-some-of-them-rather-dubious (http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/10/31/141803647/john-hodgman-and-robert-siegel-consider-all-things-some-of-them-rather-dubious)
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: yesno on October 31, 2011, 07:31:40 PM
Even the URL, "some things rather dubious," is very NPR-like.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Dan from St Louis on November 03, 2011, 11:34:24 PM
Today I saw Mr. Hodgman in Saint Louis. He gave me my Discount even though I didn't have my FOT card. He said "you don't seem like a liar to me."

Class act all the way.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Kormod on November 08, 2011, 03:51:09 PM
AV Club just did a fairly fresh-ass interview with John Hodgman: http://www.avclub.com/articles/john-hodgman-part-one-the-global-superpocalypse,64718/ (http://www.avclub.com/articles/john-hodgman-part-one-the-global-superpocalypse,64718/)
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: Dan of Orange on November 08, 2011, 06:02:33 PM
Hodgman was funny as heck on the Nerdist podcast about two weeks back if anyone's interested.
Title: Re: John Hodgman
Post by: tbennett on November 08, 2011, 08:16:01 PM
Funny mention of 'The Hate Pit of Newbridge, NJ' in the new book, describing it as a 'Popular Tourist Trap'.