FOT Forum
The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: Epic Soundtracks on November 17, 2012, 06:50:04 PM
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Apologies if there is already a thread buried somewhere here, but I would love recommendations for favorite "episodes" for lack of a better word. I started listening in reverse order but quickly found myself jumping around. I've enjoyed them all, but would appreciate knowing your all's personal favorites--overall shows and not just "gems" (which i love too). thanks in advance!
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Apologies if there is already a thread buried somewhere here, but I would love recommendations for favorite "episodes" for lack of a better word. I started listening in reverse order but quickly found myself jumping around. I've enjoyed them all, but would appreciate knowing personal favorites--overall shows and not just "gems" (which i love too). thanks in advance!
Jon Auer/Morrissey.
Tom doesn't remember it. I do.
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The "Best Show on WFMU Best Show Awards" are jam-packed with great moments.
The episode where John Hodgman and John Oliver are discussing D&D with Milo is another favorite.
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I say bite the bullet! Listen to them from the beginning to the end. There's a cumulative effect. The strange emergence of Spike. The gradual building of the Newbridge world. The trials of Petey. The "Blue" epidemic. It's the only way to truly appreciate the entirety of the Best Show Multi-verse.
I listened to most of it during a 2 year period of personal depression and unemployment. It's a big commitment. But without the distraction of work or a social life, it can be done.
Another option is to just start the archives around 2005-2006. The show really came into its own then. (And also you aren't missing many shows because of removed archives.) Remember to buy the Scharpling and Wurster CDs too!
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Thanks for the advice everyone!
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The six hour parade of celebrities from a few years ago is super solid. It sounds a hell of a lot like an L.A. podcast.
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I'm of the opinion that the Best Show started great and just got better as it rolled along. However, in retrospect, for a newcomer some of the shows of the first couple of years can be slower-paced and possessed of an unsure identity, as Tom used to play a lot more music (some of the really early 2000-2001 shows, when TBSOWFMU was only two hours long, can be more music than talking). On the other hand, you really don't want to miss the "origin stories" of some of the Wurster characters that are located here. Philly Boy Roy, in his first few appearances on TBSOWFU, had a much different accent and cadence to his voice, for instance. Also, the incomprehension of many of the unsuspecting listener/callers is fascinating to behold - it's easy to get used to the parameters of the show as it exists right now and not realize that the first years, when the audience was mostly local and used to WFMU as *music* station, Tom was truly fighting an uphill battle in getting a show this radically different from all previous radio call-in shows heard and understood. In that light, the first couple years approach a prankish dada theater aspect at times. The Best Show certainly has a much more "underground"/samizdat kind of feel during the first couple of years, particularly whenever Jon Benjamin appeared (solo, or with Jon Glaser); what Tom and co. were doing here was pretty daring, when you consider the context.
As the show progresses, regular callers come, stay for a while, go, reappear; if you're not an Officer Tom fan, skip over the 2002-2006 period. (But why wouldn't you be? He and Tom had a great, easy rapport). Likewise, if you're not a Petey fan (Now THAT I can understand), you may want to skip around some more. This era is where, I think, Tom really comes into his own as a talker/conversationalist/monologuist/raconteur. One of my favorites from this era is the 100 Best Movie Quotes show (June 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.), because of the rapid-fire patter between Tom and the callers. One other thing that this show (and many others of the period) does is solidify a certain aesthetic around The Best Show and in particular around Tom's own sensibilities; when Tom dispatches many of the callers' quotes as too pedestrian or a bad fit for the list, what emerges is a full picture of Tom's own tastes and preferences (The humor of "Caddyshack," for instance), which heretofore inform the Shows to a much higher degree. The Newbridge mythology gets superthick during this era too. (It's also clear that more listeners are finally catching on that not everything on TBSOWFMU is what it appears to be.)
With the move to a podcasted Best Show in 2006, the show gains incredible popularity and hits a plateau of incomparable excellence for the next few years. "Celebrities" begin to appear on the show more and more, 2008 Mayubenatorial Race routines get truly crazed, Tom and Jon hone their dialogues to fine a fine diamond-y luster, etc. Pretty much every show from 2006-2010 is a "W," in my book. Particularly good shows during this period include 4-22-08, 7-21-09, 6-03-08, 11-24-09, 6-15-10. But essentially it's all of a piece, a piece of such high quality that every show is worth a listen.
A little past halfway through 2010, Tom takes a break, obviously fatigued by the effort he's put into creating something this monumental over the last ten years. Surrounding that break, however, are several shows that are exceedingly dark and personal affairs, full of soul-searching, sadness, anger, etc. Frankly, they're painful to listen to. Since then though, TBSOWFMU has come back hard, each show professional and polished. I pine for the return of some of the early Wurster characters like Zachary Brimstead or the rockers in POUT, but whenever Jon appears, it's a triumph. Also, Mike has emerged as a major player in the Best Show saga, becoming Tom's muse and foil. Gary the Squirrel's ascendance is also something to celebrate. The Four Loko episodes are fantastic, as are the 5-19-12 and 8-14-12 shows. But again, the same old story is that it's all of a single piece - the Best Show, as a totality, rises from the cultural landscape like an earthwork. (The iceberg goes *incredibly* deep.) Individual shows may be gems, but I agree with others that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts - go back and listen to the show from the beginning to catch the continuity of everything: the unfinished jokes that resolve themselves in later episodes, the self-references, and the evolution of a community.
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That's a great post, Austin. I will point prospective listeners to it.
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As the show progresses, regular callers come, stay for a while, go, reappear; if you're not an Officer Tom fan, skip over the 2002-2006 period. (But why wouldn't you be? He and Tom had a great, easy rapport).
Clearly, you have never met Officer Tom.
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Wow, Austin. Extraordinary post...I was looking for something like that. Thanks. (and everyone else). I cannot BELIEVE that I can't download Real Player after installing Mountain Lion. Now I can't listen to anything prior to Oct 7, 2008! If anyone knows of a fix, I would appreciate it. Thanks again!
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The great thing about the Best Show is that there'll be something to make you laugh out loud every week. This week it was Charlie Daniels as a conduit for Satan: "Good job, Charlie."
For my money, the single funniest thing in Best Show history is the full-length Mother 13 Climbs Mount Everest saga. But there could be something better next week - you never know.
I've listened to all the Newbridge calls - a couple of years ago, I started working my way backward through the shows (as well as forward a week at a time). I have found this fascinating - you get a "preview" of the previous show by listening to the aftermath. I just heard the 6-hour show and Jen Kirkman's first call. Now I'm listening to the Dogmo show, which is really sad, but it's good to hear in light of all the people who called in later weeks and gave their condolences.
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Austin, that was terrific.
I was thinking a couple of days ago that the show's been a real hot streak for awhile. I'm looking at the archive right now and trying to figure out when it started, but I can't tell, the streak is so long. I think maybe it started a little while after the ban.
Anyway, my favorite shows are whenever Jon is in the studio.
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I was about to start listing shows based upon the archive, and then I started laughing at the phrasing of "You Went Too Far, Now You Are The One Who Is Wrong."
It's impossible to choose, but mid- to late 2009 is very, very strong (as it would be if the only bit were "GET METSMERIZED"!)
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I would love to hear a 3 hour sit down interview with TS conducted by Austin from Chicago...
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I would love to hear a 3 hour sit down interview with TS conducted by Austin from Chicago...
Thanks. That's flattering.
I'd actually much rather write a comprehensive, in-depth book about Tom and The Best Show. But then again, I'd much rather read such a book from someone who can write a lot better than me.
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I would love to hear a 3 hour sit down interview with TS conducted by Austin from Chicago...
I'd actually much rather write a comprehensive, in-depth book about Tom and The Best Show.
You should! Your post was great, probably the most informative and well-written thing I've seen on this board to date.
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Wow - great post, Austin.
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The episode where Tom and callers write lyrics to the song, The World Is In The Turlet, send them to Ted Leo, and then debut the recorded song on the air at the end belongs in the broadcasting hall of fame.
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The episode where Tom and callers write lyrics to the song, The World Is In The Turlet, send them to Ted Leo, and then debut the recorded song on the air at the end belongs in the broadcasting hall of fame.
That's the one that hooked me.
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I have a confession to make: I'd never listened to the Newbridge Mayubernatorial debate. That was broadcast about six months before I started listening regularly, and I haven't actually gone back to listen to huge numbers of early shows, but Austin from Chicago's post inspired me to finally do so. This episode is completely amazing and hilarious. The canned audience applause makes me laugh every time, and I think maybe my single favorite thing is how the one candidate who actually has some substantive ideas for things that could benefit the people of Newbridge--Pudge--never stands half a chance because he lacks self-confidence (which in this context is to say he lacks overwhelming, completely unjustified egomania).
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I have a confession to make: I'd never listened to the Newbridge Mayubernatorial debate. That was broadcast about six months before I started listening regularly, and I haven't actually gone back to listen to huge numbers of early shows, but Austin from Chicago's post inspired me to finally do so. This episode is completely amazing and hilarious. The canned audience applause makes me laugh every time, and I think maybe my single favorite thing is how the one candidate who actually has some substantive ideas for things that could benefit the people of Newbridge--Pudge--never stands half a chance because he lacks self-confidence (which in this context is to say he lacks overwhelming, completely unjustified egomania).
If you ever want to read this debate, you can do so here:
http://www.recidivism.org/2008/08/balance_buddies.html (http://www.recidivism.org/2008/08/balance_buddies.html)
VON TRIMBLE: Little guys need pleasure, too!
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I would love to hear a 3 hour sit down interview with TS conducted by Austin from Chicago...
Thanks. That's flattering.
I'd actually much rather write a comprehensive, in-depth book about Tom and The Best Show. But then again, I'd much rather read such a book from someone who can write a lot better than me.
I would throw in money on a Kickstarter for such a book to be written. By you. Maybe if enough of us push it off on you it will take it's own momentum?
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I have a confession to make: I'd never listened to the Newbridge Mayubernatorial debate. That was broadcast about six months before I started listening regularly, and I haven't actually gone back to listen to huge numbers of early shows, but Austin from Chicago's post inspired me to finally do so. This episode is completely amazing and hilarious. The canned audience applause makes me laugh every time, and I think maybe my single favorite thing is how the one candidate who actually has some substantive ideas for things that could benefit the people of Newbridge--Pudge--never stands half a chance because he lacks self-confidence (which in this context is to say he lacks overwhelming, completely unjustified egomania).
If you ever want to read this debate, you can do so here:
http://www.recidivism.org/2008/08/balance_buddies.html (http://www.recidivism.org/2008/08/balance_buddies.html)
VON TRIMBLE: Little guys need pleasure, too!
Aside from the stunning performances involved in the debate itself, what I really love about that episode is where it places Tom in the context of Newbridge, that he's evidently the most respected broadcast journalist in the city and is hosting the debates. And accordingly, he's instantly ready to blow off radio for TV. Just one of those hilarious Newbridge-Tom show-within-the-Show character details that I don't thing ever gets enough credit, that Tom is simultaneously playing a character and hosting a live, unscripted radio show.
The Mayubernatorial Debate era is also the source of one of my biggest Newbridge mysteries, the brief and terrible rise to power of Tor Halversom and what happened to cause his ever faster fall. I always got the sense that there was a storyline brewing there that ended up changing course.
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I have a confession to make: I'd never listened to the Newbridge Mayubernatorial debate. That was broadcast about six months before I started listening regularly, and I haven't actually gone back to listen to huge numbers of early shows, but Austin from Chicago's post inspired me to finally do so. This episode is completely amazing and hilarious. The canned audience applause makes me laugh every time, and I think maybe my single favorite thing is how the one candidate who actually has some substantive ideas for things that could benefit the people of Newbridge--Pudge--never stands half a chance because he lacks self-confidence (which in this context is to say he lacks overwhelming, completely unjustified egomania).
If you ever want to read this debate, you can do so here:
http://www.recidivism.org/2008/08/balance_buddies.html (http://www.recidivism.org/2008/08/balance_buddies.html)
VON TRIMBLE: Little guys need pleasure, too!
Aside from the stunning performances involved in the debate itself, what I really love about that episode is where it places Tom in the context of Newbridge, that he's evidently the most respected broadcast journalist in the city and is hosting the debates. And accordingly, he's instantly ready to blow off radio for TV. Just one of those hilarious Newbridge-Tom show-within-the-Show character details that I don't thing ever gets enough credit, that Tom is simultaneously playing a character and hosting a live, unscripted radio show.
The Mayubernatorial Debate era is also the source of one of my biggest Newbridge mysteries, the brief and terrible rise to power of Tor Halversom and what happened to cause his ever faster fall. I always got the sense that there was a storyline brewing there that ended up changing course.
Another great thing about Tom playing a character while simultaneously hosting a "real" show is that never once has Tom ever broken character and said, "By the way, this is a fictional thing I'm doing, and let's have a big hand for Jon Wurster," nor has he ever even acknowledged that Jon Wurster plays all the different characters on the air. After 13 years, Wurster calls are still framed as "just another call," even though it's become clearer that there's a collision of fictional and non-fictional worlds. The first Wurster call I ever heard didn't seem like a "fake" call to me at first, because in the context of the show, when the callers and Tom can both be so combative, having Jon call up as some weird, uber-confident guy just seemed like business as usual. When I first heard the Best Show, I had to go online and research who it was who was playing the characters on the show - listenership/fandom requires actual work because Tom doesn't give away the secrets to the show on the show. I can't imagine how weird that must have been for listeners in the early days when the show was local and there was far less information about TBSOWFMU online. Even now, with a wealth of info about Tom and Jon out there in the media, Tom still has to shore up the mystery about the process of the show's production in order for it to work as well as it does. When you think about it, Tom's absolute, steadfast refusal to acknowledge the separate worlds of "the show" and "Newbridge" is really bizarre and brave - instead of breaking down the Fourth Wall, Tom is constantly reinforcing the Fourth Wall. That trick neatly reverses the gains of post-modernism (in a way). With everything being so "meta" these days, it's almost reverse-meta.
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I have a confession to make: I'd never listened to the Newbridge Mayubernatorial debate. That was broadcast about six months before I started listening regularly, and I haven't actually gone back to listen to huge numbers of early shows, but Austin from Chicago's post inspired me to finally do so. This episode is completely amazing and hilarious. The canned audience applause makes me laugh every time, and I think maybe my single favorite thing is how the one candidate who actually has some substantive ideas for things that could benefit the people of Newbridge--Pudge--never stands half a chance because he lacks self-confidence (which in this context is to say he lacks overwhelming, completely unjustified egomania).
If you ever want to read this debate, you can do so here:
http://www.recidivism.org/2008/08/balance_buddies.html (http://www.recidivism.org/2008/08/balance_buddies.html)
VON TRIMBLE: Little guys need pleasure, too!
Aside from the stunning performances involved in the debate itself, what I really love about that episode is where it places Tom in the context of Newbridge, that he's evidently the most respected broadcast journalist in the city and is hosting the debates. And accordingly, he's instantly ready to blow off radio for TV. Just one of those hilarious Newbridge-Tom show-within-the-Show character details that I don't thing ever gets enough credit, that Tom is simultaneously playing a character and hosting a live, unscripted radio show.
The Mayubernatorial Debate era is also the source of one of my biggest Newbridge mysteries, the brief and terrible rise to power of Tor Halversom and what happened to cause his ever faster fall. I always got the sense that there was a storyline brewing there that ended up changing course.
Another great thing about Tom playing a character while simultaneously hosting a "real" show is that never once has Tom ever broken character and said, "By the way, this is a fictional thing I'm doing, and let's have a big hand for Jon Wurster," nor has he ever even acknowledged that Jon Wurster plays all the different characters on the air. After 13 years, Wurster calls are still framed as "just another call," even though it's become clearer that there's a collision of fictional and non-fictional worlds. The first Wurster call I ever heard didn't seem like a "fake" call to me at first, because in the context of the show, when the callers and Tom can both be so combative, having Jon call up as some weird, uber-confident guy just seemed like business as usual. When I first heard the Best Show, I had to go online and research who it was who was playing the characters on the show - listenership/fandom requires actual work because Tom doesn't give away the secrets to the show on the show. I can't imagine how weird that must have been for listeners in the early days when the show was local and there was far less information about TBSOWFMU online. Even now, with a wealth of info about Tom and Jon out there in the media, Tom still has to shore up the mystery about the process of the show's production in order for it to work as well as it does. When you think about it, Tom's absolute, steadfast refusal to acknowledge the separate worlds of "the show" and "Newbridge" is really bizarre and brave - instead of breaking down the Fourth Wall, Tom is constantly reinforcing the Fourth Wall. That trick neatly reverses the gains of post-modernism, the spoils of which so many contemporary artists and comedians receive plaudits.
I went through this when I started listening about 3 years back, and it was mystifying and really effective. One of the first things I heard, a Gem I think, had me googling "Black Tyger" and scratching my head wondering what was going on. That's another great part, that many of the references in the calls are effectively google proof, and would lead only back to Best Show related sites.
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I don't recall the date, but the episode with "The Julie Show" is pretty sweet...
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I don't recall the date, but the episode with "The Julie Show" is pretty sweet...
June 2, 2009
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January 19, 2010.
I loved it.
Tom doesn't remember it.
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January 19, 2010.
I loved it.
Tom doesn't remember it.
"YOU'RE LOSING THE VOICE!!!!!!"
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Does anyone remember on which show the "magazine" storyline concluded? I've heard a ton of the JW calls where he mentions the magazine, but I can't seem to find the show where the whole thing wraps up. Thanks in advance!
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Does anyone remember on which show the "magazine" storyline concluded? I've heard a ton of the JW calls where he mentions the magazine, but I can't seem to find the show where the whole thing wraps up. Thanks in advance!
It's the very last show of that year - 2008? At the very end of the show. Tom says he has to "do one more thing" and calls the guy.
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Thank you very much?
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Does anyone remember on which show the "magazine" storyline concluded? I've heard a ton of the JW calls where he mentions the magazine, but I can't seem to find the show where the whole thing wraps up. Thanks in advance!
It's the very last show of that year - 2008? At the very end of the show. Tom says he has to "do one more thing" and calls the guy.
It's 2009, actually. Just listened to that show in the archive. :)
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I clicked a link on a message board that said something like "this show is good" and heard my first show. It was the Todd Palin episode. Hooked ever since. There was something about that one that made it accessible to an outsider. Remains one of my favs. Also the only show I've listened to multiple times is the Kevin Smith one, that whole show is gold.