FOT Forum

The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: sternfan86 on November 02, 2011, 12:17:33 AM

Title: off-limits topics
Post by: sternfan86 on November 02, 2011, 12:17:33 AM
Why doesn't Tom allow discussion of his other work during the show? 
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Hugman 3.0 on November 02, 2011, 12:57:44 AM
He feels that discussing ventures which he gets paid for and generate advertising revenue are a conflict of interest for a listener-sponsored radio station.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Paul DeLouisiana on November 02, 2011, 07:50:47 AM
He feels that discussing ventures which he gets paid for and generate advertising revenue are a conflict of interest for a listener-sponsored radio station.

It's weird that Andy Breckman obviously does not feel the same way. I like that Tom feels this way but I am guessing it's not something Ken says he has to do.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Crusherkc on November 02, 2011, 09:16:42 AM
I always assumed it was an FCC rule re: non-profit radio/tv; and if that is the case, that TS and Jon use it to their and the show's advantage by keeping that show-biz reality out of the community the callers and Newbridge characters helped create. Maybe that's why you also don't hear Jon call in as himself to promote his shows, records, etc.

But then that's just a guess on my part. , like Pudge would mumble..."I...I dunno I...I dunno...uh, dunno..."
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: buffcoat on November 02, 2011, 09:38:33 AM
I think Tom likes to keep those two sides separate.

That being said, other people on the show manage to mention things that are important for the FOT to be aware of.  It wouldn't be in keeping with the show (nor would it be of particular benefit) for him to say each week, "remember, reruns of Monk air at 1AM on USA all week! And my episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force airs on Cartoon Network on Monday, the 28th."

Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on November 02, 2011, 10:05:08 AM
It's a WFMU rule to prevent self-promotion or backdoor advertising.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: CSW on November 02, 2011, 10:18:44 AM
Does Tom have a pen name for TV/Movie acting work?

I remember him talking about taking meetings to work on something when he was on the Julie Klausner podcast but his wiki/IMDB just show Monk and the Tim and Eric stuff
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Tom Scharpling on November 02, 2011, 11:29:05 AM
It's all me, son. IMDB just doesn't list things that are in development. And I've been developing for the last couple years. Or maybe they do list development stuff and I'm not putting it up there. I don't know but I'll find out an answer.

But regardless there will hopefully be some things listed sooner than later up there.

Tom.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Mr. Spacely on November 02, 2011, 12:07:04 PM
It's sort of staggering to me how Tom and Jon have even resisted plugging the CD releases of their own stuff from this very show all these years, especially when times were less sunny. Even when I hear Tom reference Jon at the end of the Gems podcast I always gasp a little.  Talk about principles, as well as commitment to the bit!
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: CSW on November 02, 2011, 12:50:48 PM
It's all me, son. IMDB just doesn't list things that are in development. And I've been developing for the last couple years. Or maybe they do list development stuff and I'm not putting it up there. I don't know but I'll find out an answer.

But regardless there will hopefully be some things listed sooner than later up there.

Tom.

Thanks for the clarification Tom. I did not mean any offence by suggesting you had a pen name, I was just confused (which does not take much.)

 I look forward to your new projects. Can you talk about them on here, given you can't on air? Assuming you want to....
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: sternfan86 on November 02, 2011, 01:09:43 PM
Good info - thx guys.  I see the distinction between the listener supported concept versus the endless schilling that other radio personalities do. 
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: buffcoat on November 02, 2011, 01:45:26 PM
It's a WFMU rule to prevent self-promotion or backdoor advertising.

Is Andy Breckman grandfathered in or just tolerated?
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: cavorting with nudists on November 02, 2011, 02:12:22 PM
I was wondering about that.  It seems to me that while Monk was on the air, it wasn't so much that Andy mentioned it a lot as that Ken would mention it to needle Andy--about how popular it was with old ladies, etc.  Dunno whether that's a meaningful distinction though.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on November 02, 2011, 02:21:18 PM
I think there's a common-sense distinction -- obviously the USA Network doesn't need WFMU to promote its shows, and Ken needling Andy never led to either of them saying anything like "Mondays at 10! Check local listings." And WFMU DJs are allowed to have lives. During my short-lived, mostly-failed show, I was careful never to plug anything of mine, but I made no secret of the fact that I'm a playwright. DJ/Rupture would be another example -- he doesn't plug his work, but mentions panels and festivals he's worked, especially when he brings guests in. I also think that most FMU DJs don't talk much about their off-air lives because (1) it's dull radio, and (2) they want privacy.

I don't want to speak for Tom, but he has said many times in interviews that he tries to be really careful about staying on the inside of that line. I also know from listening to 7SD that Andy, or at least his on-air persona, is mostly ignorant of/indifferent to WFMU rules.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Shaggy 2 Grote on November 02, 2011, 02:23:59 PM
By the way: super-psyched about all these upcoming projects. This one has already been posted, yes?

http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/comedy-central-developing-evil-genius-comedy-starring-paul-f-tompkins/ (http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/comedy-central-developing-evil-genius-comedy-starring-paul-f-tompkins/)
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Tom Scharpling on November 02, 2011, 02:58:08 PM
I don't talk about my work because there are station rules, but I don't do it because just like I didn't want the radio show to turn into a Regular-Caller-A-Thon, I wouldn't want it to be me talking about things other than the show. It would get boring in about five minutes - trust me. I do the show to do the best version of the show, and while I am insanely proud of the things I work on in a variety of aspects of my life, they definitely have a home for discussion in other places. And the radio show is not one of those places.

Besides, I don't want to go to the show and talk about stuff that is essentially my day job. The Best Show is a break from other parts of my life!

Tom.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Eric Fishlegs on November 02, 2011, 07:19:42 PM
It's sort of staggering to me how Tom and Jon have even resisted plugging the CD releases of their own stuff from this very show all these years, especially when times were less sunny. Even when I hear Tom reference Jon at the end of the Gems podcast I always gasp a little.  Talk about principles, as well as commitment to the bit!

This might be silly on my part, but one of the things I enjoyed about becoming a Best Show fan was finding these things out for myself. Finding out who exactly this Jon Wurster guy was who was mentioned at the end of Gems. Of course it was kind of obvious he was the guy on the other end of the phone, but learning he was the drummer for Superchunk was kind of mind blowing.


I wasn't listening then, but did Tom really not mention his Stereolaffs CDs when they came out? That's impressive though it would have been simple enough to promote a "some of the best calls we've had on this show" type CD without breaking kayfabe or ruining the reality of the Newbridge-verse.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: dave from knoxville on November 02, 2011, 09:57:07 PM
It's a WFMU rule to prevent self-promotion or backdoor advertising.

Is Andy Breckman grandfathered in or just tolerated?

Ken actually encourages it, often bringing up Monk or especially Rat Race before Andy does.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Pete from Boston [and NJ] on November 11, 2011, 01:08:23 AM
I think it's good class to just let the show be the show. 

Andy Breckman serves a valuable purpose by making a lazy effort toward class.  But Dave is right -- he's never the one to bring outside stuff up.  On the show he's the one who poo-poos much discussion of his work.

Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: JonFromMaplewood on November 11, 2011, 03:30:28 PM
By the way: super-psyched about all these upcoming projects. This one has already been posted, yes?

http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/comedy-central-developing-evil-genius-comedy-starring-paul-f-tompkins/ (http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/comedy-central-developing-evil-genius-comedy-starring-paul-f-tompkins/)

Yes.  I too am very excited about this.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: masterofsparks on November 11, 2011, 05:06:24 PM
By the way: super-psyched about all these upcoming projects. This one has already been posted, yes?

http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/comedy-central-developing-evil-genius-comedy-starring-paul-f-tompkins/ (http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/comedy-central-developing-evil-genius-comedy-starring-paul-f-tompkins/)

Yes.  I too am very excited about this.

Don't read the Claire Zulkey interview in that case.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Trembling Eagle on November 12, 2011, 03:50:03 AM
The one thing I want Tom to talk about that  I've never seen him address on the show or in other media is his process playing Willie Nelson on ATHF.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: dave from knoxville on November 12, 2011, 09:43:25 AM
Alcohol, Tobacco, Handburgers and Firearms?
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Crusherkc on November 12, 2011, 11:23:35 AM
Omigod!  Tom is Willie Nelson on The Shaving episode of AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE. I had either no idea or buried that memory.  Time to blow the dust off that dvd and give it a spin again.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: D.JGeorge on November 13, 2011, 05:01:29 AM
Omigod!  Tom is Willie Nelson on The Shaving episode of AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE. I had either no idea or buried that memory.  Time to blow the dust off that dvd and give it a spin again.

His voice sounds different than wat we hear on the best show so I can see why people may have missed that one...soli episode and great voice acting by tom!
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Boogdish on November 13, 2011, 11:30:40 AM
I was rewatching the UCB tv show last night and in the "Saigon Suicide Squadron" episode, I was surprised to see Tom in the audience.  He's a couple rows behind Matt Walsh when Matt is doing his drunken Irishman character.  Rob Cordry, Paul Scheer, Rob Riggle and Nick Kroll are also in the audience in that episode.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Key Loser on November 14, 2011, 10:10:37 AM
I was rewatching the UCB tv show last night and in the "Saigon Suicide Squadron" episode, I was surprised to see Tom in the audience.  He's a couple rows behind Matt Walsh when Matt is doing his drunken Irishman character.  Rob Cordry, Paul Scheer, Rob Riggle and Nick Kroll are also in the audience in that episode.

Vortex! I watched that episode a few days ago! I almost jumped out of my seat.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Steeley Chris on November 14, 2011, 08:54:01 PM
I was rewatching the UCB tv show last night and in the "Saigon Suicide Squadron" episode, I was surprised to see Tom in the audience.  He's a couple rows behind Matt Walsh when Matt is doing his drunken Irishman character.  Rob Cordry, Paul Scheer, Rob Riggle and Nick Kroll are also in the audience in that episode.
Don't forget Tom's ladyfriend Jillian Barberie. She was there too, I think.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: ChronoMojo on November 21, 2011, 10:30:23 AM
Omigod!  Tom is Willie Nelson on The Shaving episode of AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE. I had either no idea or buried that memory.  Time to blow the dust off that dvd and give it a spin again.

His voice sounds different than wat we hear on the best show so I can see why people may have missed that one...soli episode and great voice acting by tom!

That episode of ATHF is actually what got me into the Best Show.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: Crusherkc on November 21, 2011, 02:15:50 PM
Omigod!  Tom is Willie Nelson on The Shaving episode of AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE. I had either no idea or buried that memory.  Time to blow the dust off that dvd and give it a spin again.

His voice sounds different than wat we hear on the best show so I can see why people may have missed that one...soli episode and great voice acting by tom!

That episode of ATHF is actually what got me into the Best Show.

And I knew he was involved in the writing of ATHF (didn't know the voice work) and that cemented my high opinion of him and the show.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: GroverJefferson on December 05, 2011, 08:04:28 PM
I, for one, would love to know the various projects Tom and others have done punch-up on.  I know it's protocol not to reveal such things, and would be poor form to be like, "yeah, the good jokes in that one are mine," but every time there's a glimpse (I recall Patton saying he did some work on Rango, for instance), I am automatically intrigued.
Title: Re: off-limits topics
Post by: YuriDedman on February 21, 2012, 05:18:32 PM
I was rewatching the UCB tv show last night and in the "Saigon Suicide Squadron" episode, I was surprised to see Tom in the audience.  He's a couple rows behind Matt Walsh when Matt is doing his drunken Irishman character.  Rob Cordry, Paul Scheer, Rob Riggle and Nick Kroll are also in the audience in that episode.
Don't forget Tom's ladyfriend Jillian Barberie. She was there too, I think.
Video.
The crowd from "Saigon Suicide Show" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFfkvE4p8CU#)