FOT Forum
The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: Kormodd on October 30, 2013, 02:03:40 AM
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Yep, we're done here, jerks.
(01:46:46) Tom_Scharpling: The Best Show On WFMU is ending on December 17th.
(01:46:57) Tom_Scharpling: Write it in stone. It's happening.
Pay your last respects.
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Time to walk into the ocean.
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Does anyone know if WFMU will still maintain the archive? I'm hoping that they do.
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Don't worry, I am sure Seven Second Delay will rise from the ashes and become the number one fund raiser once again! 8)
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Yep, we're done here, jerks.
(01:46:46) Tom_Scharpling: The Best Show On WFMU is ending on December 17th.
Like someone wrote on twitter last night "but he didn't say what year, did he!"
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I really have no idea how he did it for so long. And kept it great. Work days will be a lot more dull...
:'(
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What are we going to do now?
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The silver lining I'm trying to wring for myself is that now I get to be a cosmonaut in the archives and try to write some insane comprehensive history of the show without worrying about keeping up on the new episodes
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VELLCOME TO DE MIKE SHOW
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VELLCOME TO DE MIKE SHOW
;D ;D ;D
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http://sadvuvuzela.me/ (http://sadvuvuzela.me/)
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I'm going to put some extra effort into fotpedia to clean up the spam and plan to keep it running indefinitely. Thanks for everything tom!
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I'm sad. I'm really sad. But more than being sad, I'm grateful. Tom has given me and us all SO MUCH and for free. What he created is enormous, a serious achievement. To ask for more would be greedy.
Anyone in the Chicago area want to get together somewhere to listen to the last show?
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The silver lining I'm trying to wring for myself is that now I get to be a cosmonaut in the archives and try to write some insane comprehensive history of the show without worrying about keeping up on the new episodes
Better act quickly.
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I think it would be fun to coordinate ongoing (weekly?) listens progressing through the archives at a schedule time, so we can get together on chat/twitter. Assuming others would be into this, what would be a good place to do it --- anybody know if the archives will remain online on WFMU.org?
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VELLCOME TO DE MIKE SHOW
"Hi, I'm Dennis!" -- Ken needs to listen to that clip over and over again and realize what he's got on his hands.
Mike is a national treasure (as has been stated many times before) and deserves his own show. I'm hoping Ken recognizes the wellspring of potential here and gives Depravity's Rainbow a spot on the WFMU schedule.
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I think it would be fun to coordinate ongoing (weekly?) listens progressing through the archives at a schedule time, so we can get together on chat/twitter. Assuming others would be into this, what would be a good place to do it --- anybody know if the archives will remain online on WFMU.org?
As Best Show fan who only discovered the show a couple years ago, this would be really really awesome.
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VELLCOME TO DE MIKE SHOW
"Hi, I'm Dennis!" -- Ken needs to listen to that clip over and over again and realize what he's got on his hands.
Mike is a national treasure (as has been stated many times before) and deserves his own show. I'm hoping Ken recognizes the wellspring of potential here and gives Depravity's Rainbow a spot on the WFMU schedule.
From your lips to Ken's ears.
Depravity's Rainbow would absolutely be a worthy heir of that Tuesday night time slot, or any time slot for that matter. If anyone can fill Tom's shoes, it's Mike.
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I'm sad. I'm really sad. But more than being sad, I'm grateful. Tom has given me and us all SO MUCH and for free. What he created is enormous, a serious achievement. To ask for more would be greedy.
Anyone in the Chicago area want to get together somewhere to listen to the last show?
http://friendsoftom.com/forum/index.php/topic,9442.0.html (http://friendsoftom.com/forum/index.php/topic,9442.0.html)
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Is there going to be a final premium?
If there is, here's hoping it's some sort of "Complete Best Show" archives on a multi mp3 DVD set. I have a lot of the archives converted from .rm to .mp3 already, but having them all in one package would be great!
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Is there going to be a final premium?
If there is, here's hoping it's some sort of "Complete Best Show" archives on a multi mp3 DVD set. I have a lot of the archives converted from .rm to .mp3 already, but having them all in one package would be great!
Yeah, I'd definitely drop money for this. If it's a big hassle, I'd say make it a three dj premium sized pledge.
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Whoever's counting: this is my pre-order. I've converted some of my favorites from rm, but all is a daunting task. I would think that the Best Show oeuvre bundle would be an amazingly strong earner.
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Is there going to be a final premium?
If there is, here's hoping it's some sort of "Complete Best Show" archives on a multi mp3 DVD set. I have a lot of the archives converted from .rm to .mp3 already, but having them all in one package would be great!
This is a wonderful idea.
I'd definitely pay a good chunk of change for such a set.
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+1 for the MP3 compilation.
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I'd be into the complete set compilation as well.
I still think a book of Tom and Jon's notes, scripts, doodles etc. along with the existing art and some newly commissioned art would be a great thing to behold.
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Yes hello there is some kind of petition requesting a premium with the complete Best Show archives going around that I would like to sign.
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I would pay pretty good money for that. I really can't listen to the .rm files. They always freeze up for me. Being able to dump them on my iphone and listen to old shows on the go would be amazing.
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In this time of sadness, I'm taking great solace in the archives, and I would support any sort of reformatting or compiling with my wallet. I'm currently listening to the movie game from 2/21/06 and it's really warming my heart. Tom casts Elliott Gould and Manute Bol in a buddy comedy in which they enter a high-stakes Texas hold 'em tournament. The nuggets of brilliance are endless!
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I too would love (and let's face it, will need) an mp3 set of the archives. I would be happy to contribute in whatever way possible financially or using my computer to convert files and QC them if a process/standard is set!
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ric flair farewell - leave the memories alone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0sSB6rkmrk#)
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Have been a lurker on this board for too long but felt compelled to sign up finally to voice my +1 for any sort of archival package of the show's run. The RM files are a nightmare and I have never been savvy enough to be able to convert them to MP3. This would be such a great positive on what has been a sad announcement (can't spin it any other way, I've been gutted since Tuesday night).
Having said that, I want to echo the thoughts of everyone else and thank Tom, Jon, Mike and everyone else associated with the show for creating something that means so much to so many and I anxiously await to see what is next.
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The Best Show should end like Breaking Bad. Tom shoots up Kern Pharms, poisons AP Mike, and Saves Philly Boy Roy, however amidst gunfire Tom is shot, he dies a right there in the studio, ariel zoom out as Solid Gold Hell comes on. Fade to black.
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Going to add my voice to the chorus of folks talking about an all-show archive. I would be happy to pay a lot for such a thing.
And I am 100% on board with The Mike Show or Depravity's Rainbow being a weekly concern. That would be awesome.
Like most everyone else here, I'm an FOT for life. I can't wait to see what comes next, because it's going to be great.
I'm not going to be maudlin in this thread, though! TBS is far and away my favorite comedy in any medium, and I want to publicly thank Tom, Jon, Mike, and everyone else involved in the show for doing all this work.
THANK YOU.
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If it is Lipstick City, then so be it, maybe LA Podcast will add a new show to it's list. The Tom Show.
So much love to Tom, his people, all of you FOTs, WFMU etc...
Everything has to end, most things don't end after doing so much awesome.
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I actually converted all of the old RealMedia files to MP3s a few years ago but I think the hard drive they were on may have died. I'll check when I get home from work.
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I would definitely throw down for an mp3 archive
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I recall that some time ago, Station Manager Ken said that he aimed to convert the RealAudio files to MP3, but obviously that hasn't happened.
We all want an MP3 version of the archive...who would be willing to work on it? If a group of dedicated FOTs could stream the RealAudio shows and record them to MP3, would that not suffice? All it would take would be access to a Windows PC running XP, and Audacity, which is free. I've done a few, and the quality is acceptable, at least to my ears.
And time...but the more people involved, the less time it would take.
Fans of the Neil Rogers show (the late, Miami radio legend) have undertaken a similar effort, and have posted his shows to Soundcloud and YouTube going back to the early 90s. I wonder if a similar effort would work for The Best Show, and if Ken would be willing to replace the Real streams with FOT-generated MP3s?
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I've listened to it twice now. Tom says end of Best Show...on WFMU. I'm thinking it's gonna be a "pay to play" podcast along the lines of WTF.
On another note, bring on Depravities Rainbow with Mike and Therese.
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The RM files are a nightmare and I have never been savvy enough to be able to convert them to MP3.
Have you tried downloading realplayer? It's actually not as bloated or terrible as I remember it being in the mid-2000s.
I too would make a payment or a donation to WFMU in exchange for a hard copy of the archives.
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And now for some support group talk. I always knew this would happen, even hoped it would happen, because making it in showbiz and having a weekly radio show in NJ aren't really compatible. So when Tom made the big announcement I was happy for him. But here I am a couple of days later and I'm in a funk. I bet I'm not the only one!
I know The Best Show has a been a lifeline for a lot of people out there (I know the feeling, in 1993 it was bags of store-brand apple cinnamon cereal and MST3K that kept me going). For me it's different. The last couple of years have been as good as my life is probably ever going to be. The Best Show is the icing on the cake. I've been super busy but I always had time for The Best Show.
Now I gotta figure out where to put a "FOT FOR LIFE" tattoo.
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Now I gotta figure out where to put a "FOT FOR LIFE" tattoo.
Have you considered your neck, N.T. Clay?
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Hypothetically, what's the best way for someone with the archives converted to MP3 to share them with interested parties?
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Have been a lurker on this board for too long but felt compelled to sign up finally to voice my +1 for any sort of archival package of the show's run. The RM files are a nightmare and I have never been savvy enough to be able to convert them to MP3. This would be such a great positive on what has been sad announcement (can't spin it any other way, I've been gutted since Tuesday night).
Having said that, I want to echo the thoughts of everyone else and thank Tom, Jon, Mike and everyone else associated with the show for creating something that means so much to so many and I anxiously await to see what is next.
I have the entire show run converted to MP3 files (including the "lost" shows and de-archived shows), with all the music edited out of them. This was actually the initial impetus for starting the Best Show podcast to begin with, back in 2006 (I would use those old archive files to put a "classic" rerun show on the podcast feed on those weeks when Tom didn't do a live show).
I'm not sure if it would be cool with Tom and/or Station Manager Ken for me to set these MP3 files free, but if I get the OK, I'll be glad to make them available in some form or another.
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Also coming out of lurkerdom to pledge cash-money for an archive in mp3 format!
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I have listened for several years. I have never posted before. I never called the show. But I love the Best Show. I cannot even describe how much I love it.
I feel such tremendous loss because the Best Show is in a category all by itself. That is a cliche, but in this case it's true. It's not like there are other things out there that are like it. There isn't even one other thing out thee that's like it. We have no other options. The Best Show evolved out of its own weird primordial soup and no one could replicate it. Except Tom.
I'll pay whatever you want, man. Just give me a weekly download. I will sign up. All the best.
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I haven't heard the podcast yet, and saw the news on my FB feed. I'm stunned.
Sure, it had to happen some day. All good things and all that.
I'm not crass enough to complain about no longer getting a freebie. I'm just glad that I had the chance to experience the delirium that was Newbridge for five great years. And besides, the Best Show was for me a gateway drug to other shows on WFMU. (Cherry Blossom Clinic, anyone?)
I would go so far as to put the Best Show's brand of radio comedy up there with the Goons. That, my friends, is the highest praise I can give.
Best of luck, Tom and Jon. Thanks, AP Mike. Thanks to all of you for your years of meritorious service.
And thanks to the callers who always brought something to the table (intentionally or otherwise): Jason from Huntsville, Dave from Knoxville, Fredericks from Newport Richey, Mr. Larry D. Perv, Auntie Christina, Omar the Scrivener, Paydirt from Tasmania, and.. yeah, okay, Spike.. to name a few.
And Tom? We're still your Friends. Keep in touch, 'kay?
-- HeaveHo
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Mr. Larry D. Perv
No offense to the other great callers, but this man needs to be singled out for excellence.
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Mr. Larry D. Perv
No offense to the other great callers, but this man needs to be singled out for excellence.
Hear, hear! Probably my favorite caller. I wish I had recorded all his follow-up apology calls after Tom had gomped him. A true gentleman (as in gentlemen's clubs).
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I would love to SPEND MONEY on a complete archive of the shows. Also, the book idea of sketches and pictures would be great!
But, I think we should slow down when talking about passing around mp3 files. I'm not sure who owns the intellectual property (I hope it's Tom), but we should let Tom or WFMU decide how to make this free show, which we've all enjoyed for years, easier for us to listen to.
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Have you tried downloading realplayer? It's actually not as bloated or terrible as I remember it being in the mid-2000s.
I too would make a payment or a donation to WFMU in exchange for a hard copy of the archives.
Realplayer has a nasty habit of freezing up on me on any number of computers I've tried the process on. It works, but can't beat having the entire archive of shows at your disposal without having to stream it.
Agree with what others have said, I would be more than happy to pony up any sort of donation/fee for the archives. Without knowing the logistics of ownership of the archives and Tom's plan for them, one idea may be for WFMU to create some sort of donation = login access for the archives to download on a per month/year basis. Could help bring some $$ back to the station that will likely be lost with the show leaving.
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Mr. Larry D. Perv
No offense to the other great callers, but this man needs to be singled out for excellence.
Hear, hear! Probably my favorite caller. I wish I had recorded all his follow-up apology calls after Tom had gomped him. A true gentleman (as in gentlemen's clubs).
I wish you had! Were they in character?
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Larry D. Pervison has never broken character while he is on the phone.
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For whatever it's worth, I'd also be more than happy to make a donation for the archived shows. Perhaps as a fundraising pledge premium? Obviously (as others have already pointed out), Tom or WFMU might not be cool with it. However, with the podcast files of shows going back to last November being readily available through iTunes, perhaps it wouldn't be as much of a problem if it were the files of the shows without the music. However, it would also be a massive time/energy consuming task.
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I’m really sad to hear the show is ending, but I am pretty excited to see what Tom does next. I’m also really excited to see what’s in store for these final Best Shows. It’s the one thing that hasn’t happened on the show yet, an end date, and I can’t wait to see what Tom, Jon and Mike have in store for us. Also, I want to say just one little way the show has changed me. I now laugh way more than I should whenever I listen to talk radio or someone talking on a phone and they accidentally press the number buttons as they are talking. It brings me back to every one of Jon’s calls and I can’t help but laugh out loud. Thanks guys!
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Yes for free but he has created a life long fan of WFMU. I now pledge every year usually as much as I can, and I have found a bigger music nerd then myself in the form of a radio station/website/podcasts. Of course I'm sure I'm not the only one and I will be following Tom's comedic and creative ventures into their next stage.
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Wouldn't it be great if all of the FOTs, for next year's WFMU marathon and for however many more to come, would sprinkle all of WFMU's shows with pledges, all saying "in memory of The Best Show"? 8)
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The silver lining I'm trying to wring for myself is that now I get to be a cosmonaut in the archives and try to write some insane comprehensive history of the show without worrying about keeping up on the new episodes
Yeah, I've thought about trying to get a truly comprehensive Wiki of the show going, for a while, now. More than some of the attempts I've come across. Like DEEP, with all sorts of cross-references to specific dates and times in shows, but with all of the hours, it's tough to relisten to all I have heard, let alone everything that came before, take notes, AND know 3 more hours are going to be added to the pile, each week. If I (or anyone gets around to it), that can be the only plus to be taken from this, aside, of course, for Tom getting a chance to spread his wings and take the chump-steamrolling to the next level (with income attached, as well).
-Zach
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I'd be into the complete set compilation as well.
I still think a book of Tom and Jon's notes, scripts, doodles etc. along with the existing art and some newly commissioned art would be a great thing to behold.
THIS
A map of Newbridge and profiles of every character wouldl be great too.
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Have been a lurker on this board for too long but felt compelled to sign up finally to voice my +1 for any sort of archival package of the show's run. The RM files are a nightmare and I have never been savvy enough to be able to convert them to MP3. This would be such a great positive on what has been sad announcement (can't spin it any other way, I've been gutted since Tuesday night).
Having said that, I want to echo the thoughts of everyone else and thank Tom, Jon, Mike and everyone else associated with the show for creating something that means so much to so many and I anxiously await to see what is next.
I have the entire show run converted to MP3 files (including the "lost" shows and de-archived shows), with all the music edited out of them. This was actually the initial impetus for starting the Best Show podcast to begin with, back in 2006 (I would use those old archive files to put a "classic" rerun show on the podcast feed on those weeks when Tom didn't do a live show).
I'm not sure if it would be cool with Tom and/or Station Manager Ken for me to set these MP3 files free, but if I get the OK, I'll be glad to make them available in some form or another.
This is great to hear. Please keep us updated on this. How can we help you in the process?
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I'd be into the complete set compilation as well.
I still think a book of Tom and Jon's notes, scripts, doodles etc. along with the existing art and some newly commissioned art would be a great thing to behold.
THIS
A map of Newbridge and profiles of every character wouldl be great too.
An extremely thorough Oral History of The Best Show book (on par with the SNL/ESPN/MTV/etc. books) is what needs to be done. I would estimate that it would take a minimum of 5 years to properly complete.
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An extremely thorough Oral History of The Best Show book (on par with the SNL/ESPN/MTV/etc. books) is what needs to be done. I would estimate that it would take a minimum of 5 years to properly complete.
I knew we could count on you, Omar. I am putting in a Google calendar reminder for February 2019 (I gave you an extra month!).
Looking forward,
gb
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I'd be into the complete set compilation as well.
I still think a book of Tom and Jon's notes, scripts, doodles etc. along with the existing art and some newly commissioned art would be a great thing to behold.
THIS
A map of Newbridge and profiles of every character wouldl be great too.
An extremely thorough Oral History of The Best Show book (on par with the SNL/ESPN/MTV/etc. books) is what needs to be done. I would estimate that it would take a minimum of 5 years to properly complete.
Hit the nail on the head.
Especially because this means Mike could claim credit for the whole thing, just like Tom's been worrying about all these years.
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Wouldn't it be great if all of the FOTs, for next year's WFMU marathon and for however many more to come, would sprinkle all of WFMU's shows with pledges, all saying "in memory of The Best Show"? 8)
Does Dr. Stupid still have a show?
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Can we chip in to buy Tom a going away present?http://aggronautix.com/products.cfm?productid=2 (http://aggronautix.com/products.cfm?productid=2)
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"I remember when I was casting The Best Show... I needed someone to play the host of the show. I held open auditions, this one guy came in. He was raw, green, talentless. But I saw something there, I knew I could mold it to fit my vision of what The Best Show should be."
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Larry D. Pervison has never broken character while he is on the phone.
Dedication. I doff my phone receiver to him.
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I'd be into the complete set compilation as well.
I still think a book of Tom and Jon's notes, scripts, doodles etc. along with the existing art and some newly commissioned art would be a great thing to behold.
THIS
A map of Newbridge and profiles of every character wouldl be great too.
http://youtu.be/ad37pR8lrEo (http://youtu.be/ad37pR8lrEo)
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I don't think this was real to me until I heard Tom say "Jon Wurster" on the air, now I feel a little bit like I got punched in the stomach.
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And Spike, we have seven more episodes to go. An in studio guest appearance from you would be the perfect way to go out. I honestly think a photo of you and Tom together would get me misty eyed.
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I'm guessing we never see Spike, sadly....but it does make me wonder what kind of "Last Waltz" (I know, I know) scenario we could be looking at for the last show
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I'm guessing we never see Spike, sadly....but it does make me wonder what kind of "Last Waltz" (I know, I know) scenario we could be looking at for the last show
There is a town in north New Jersey,
With dream comfort memory to spare...
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I wish that director of the Daniel Johnston doc would just set up shop in the studio and shoot the last however many episodes there will be. Someone should do a doc on Best Show, come to think of it
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The process of how everything comes to be each week would be fascinating to see, also if the filmmakers could follow the major players and regular callers.
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The process of how everything comes to be each week would be fascinating to see, also if the filmmakers could follow the major players and regular callers.
The scene of me listening while goofing off on a laptop while charging my phone would be scintillating.
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I'm guessing we never see Spike, sadly....but it does make me wonder what kind of "Last Waltz" (I know, I know) scenario we could be looking at for the last show
They need to pull out all of the stops to get Spike to come to the studio. Maybe lure him in by having John Wesley Shipp on the program. I get the feeling that the carrot and stick approach is the only way to get Spike to come to the station.
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I'm guessing we never see Spike, sadly....but it does make me wonder what kind of "Last Waltz" (I know, I know) scenario we could be looking at for the last show
They need to pull out all of the stops to get Spike to come to the studio. Maybe lure him in by having John Wesley Shipp on the program. I get the feeling that the carrot and stick approach is the only way to get Spike to come to the station.
Even if Spike is not lured into the studio, it would indeed be interesting to hear from Mr. Shipp. He corresponds with Spike via FB, so he would probably call at Spike's request. Other than a few Newbridge characters, Shipp is probably the most talked about person who has not actually appeared on the show in some form.
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I'm hoping for a return of Clark and Stevie Blue, myself.
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Hey we haven't heard from Austin from Chicago (who wrote that great short critical history of the Best Show) since the big news, it's time for him to pick up the pen again!
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Even if Spike is not lured into the studio, it would indeed be interesting to hear from Mr. Shipp. He corresponds with Spike via FB, so he would probably call at Spike's request. Other than a few Newbridge characters, Shipp is probably the most talked about person who has not actually appeared on the show in some form.
https://twitter.com/JohnWesleyShipp
He's got 1,300 followers…I don't think he'd be that tough of a get.
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Also: what are the odds that Spike currently has no idea that The Best Show is going off the air?
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Also: what are the odds that Spike currently has no idea that The Best Show is going off the air?
He's aware of it -- he linked to the Splitsider article on FB, noting "End of an Era."
UPDATE: Tom commented on that post and asked him to come on the show.
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As fascinating as an in-studio appearance by Spike would be, I'd hate to lose The Mystique.
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Something occurred to me over the weekend:
With no Best Show on the air....How on earth is Todd Barry going to plug his tour dates anymore?
And then something else occurred to me:
From 18th December, never again will I have to listen to Michael K. Every cloud has a silver lining I guess.
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Also: what are the odds that Spike currently has no idea that The Best Show is going off the air?
He's aware of it -- he linked to the Splitsider article on FB, noting "End of an Era."
UPDATE: Tom commented on that post and asked him to come on the show.
Thanks, Omar, I am no longer on FB but saw the article, and am so happy that Tom invited him to come on the show...he really should be Tom's Boswell.
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Time for The H-Man to step up.
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I haven't heard the podcast yet, and saw the news on my FB feed. I'm stunned.
Sure, it had to happen some day. All good things and all that.
I'm not crass enough to complain about no longer getting a freebie. I'm just glad that I had the chance to experience the delirium that was Newbridge for five great years. And besides, the Best Show was for me a gateway drug to other shows on WFMU. (Cherry Blossom Clinic, anyone?)
I would go so far as to put the Best Show's brand of radio comedy up there with the Goons. That, my friends, is the highest praise I can give.
Best of luck, Tom and Jon. Thanks, AP Mike. Thanks to all of you for your years of meritorious service.
And thanks to the callers who always brought something to the table (intentionally or otherwise): Jason from Huntsville, Dave from Knoxville, Fredericks from Newport Richey, Mr. Larry D. Perv, Auntie Christina, Omar the Scrivener, Paydirt from Tasmania, and.. yeah, okay, Spike.. to name a few.
And Tom? We're still your Friends. Keep in touch, 'kay?
-- HeaveHo
I wonder if Laurie from Miami will make a comeback. What was the other girls name that always called in drunk with her dog in the background, im having a mind fart, it started with an L.
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I wonder if Laurie from Miami will make a comeback. What was the other girls name that always called in drunk with her dog in the background, im having a mind fart, it started with an L.
Julie from Cincinatti!
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From 18th December, never again will I have to listen to Michael K. Every cloud has a silver lining I guess.
THIS. Used to enjoy/at least stomach his calls but the last year or so they have been brutal. If only he had started getting Bad Company'd earlier, would have made them much more tolerable.
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I wonder if Laurie from Miami will make a comeback. What was the other girls name that always called in drunk with her dog in the background, im having a mind fart, it started with an L.
Julie from Cincinatti!
Ha Yes!
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I wonder if Laurie from Miami will make a comeback. What was the other girls name that always called in drunk with her dog in the background, im having a mind fart, it started with an L.
Julie from Cincinatti!
Ha Yes!
It would be great to hear Julie again, she was always something to look forward to becasue she was always so nice. Her quick in-studio appearance was also a true highlight of the show.
Also if youre not following her on twitter, you should. https://twitter.com/JulieFromCinci
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I wish that director of the Daniel Johnston doc would just set up shop in the studio and shoot the last however many episodes there will be. Someone should do a doc on Best Show, come to think of it
The producer of that movie is one of my bandmates!
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I miss Julie. She started calling in right when I started listening.
I kinda liked the idea of Spike not knowing about the show's closing and still calling in to whatever's on in January 2014.
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It's too bad Kevin Michael Allin can't make an appearance, having passed on so many years ago. However, the rest of the Murder Junkies are still walking the planet...
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The scene of me listening while goofing off on a laptop while charging my phone would be scintillating.
Would've liked to see your face when delivering the Mike-suggested "pop a squat" line.
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The Best Show has been the juice which got me through so many tough times over the past seven years or so. I live in Helsinki so have always been a podcast listener, although at one point I had an early shift at work that enabled me to listen live. I always dreamt of calling in but never thought I had anything interesting to say (abject fear of being GOMPed/Heave Hoed/Bad Companied).
I first discovered WFMU because of a cool radio show on Monday or Tuesday mornings, but that ended soon afterwards. Then I found SSD and TBSOWFMU and all the other musical and magical programs. SSD and TBS remain the ones I come to each and every week for a laugh. I guess something will eventually fill this space in my heart and in my ears but I don't see how anything could replace the special feeling that Tom, Jon and Mike (and all the guests and good callers) brought to us all this time.
Before discovering WFMU, I'd never really been a financial donor of any regularity - maybe a UNICEF or WFP or disaster pledge every once in a while. Now I'm a mouse pledger for the past few years! Weird, that feeling of belonging.
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Dude What the F U C K. You cannot just go. And leave us all to live out OUR (COLLECTIVELY) LIVE OUT OUR PATHETIC LIVES. WTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTF.. OK I'll live. But couldyou be less of a bitch and hang around. .... And I do understand the answer is NONONO. Move on brother. You are missed already: as long as it took for me to warmup to it all. Thank you,
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The Best Show has been the juice which got me through so many tough times over the past seven years or so. I live in Helsinki so have always been a podcast listener, although at one point I had an early shift at work that enabled me to listen live. I always dreamt of calling in but never thought I had anything interesting to say (abject fear of being GOMPed/Heave Hoed/Bad Companied).
I first discovered WFMU because of a cool radio show on Monday or Tuesday mornings, but that ended soon afterwards. Then I found SSD and TBSOWFMU and all the other musical and magical programs. SSD and TBS remain the ones I come to each and every week for a laugh. I guess something will eventually fill this space in my heart and in my ears but I don't see how anything could replace the special feeling that Tom, Jon and Mike (and all the guests and good callers) brought to us all this time.
Before discovering WFMU, I'd never really been a financial donor of any regularity - maybe a UNICEF or WFP or disaster pledge every once in a while. Now I'm a mouse pledger for the past few years! Weird, that feeling of belonging.
Just curious what was the show on Monday and Tuesday mornings?
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Dude What the F U C K. You cannot just go. And leave us all to live out OUR (COLLECTIVELY) LIVE OUT OUR PATHETIC LIVES. WTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTF.. OK I'll live. But couldyou be less of a bitch and hang around. .... And I do understand the answer is NONONO. Move on brother. You are missed already: as long as it took for me to warmup to it all. Thank you,
Post of the year.
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Congratulations to Mr. Scharpling
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Somehow wishing for a Petey call. A reconciliation even, maybe.
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I'm going to put some extra effort into fotpedia to clean up the spam and plan to keep it running indefinitely. Thanks for everything tom!
I noticed all the entries are protected now, even for admins. I hope it doesn't stay that way.
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Somehow wishing for a Petey call. A reconciliation even, maybe.
He was in the chat on Tuesday. Said he was going to call in next week.
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Since there are still a few shows left, the show's not dead, etc., I'd love to hear Steve Albini dial in a second time.
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The Best Show has been the juice which got me through so many tough times over the past seven years or so. I live in Helsinki so have always been a podcast listener, although at one point I had an early shift at work that enabled me to listen live. I always dreamt of calling in but never thought I had anything interesting to say (abject fear of being GOMPed/Heave Hoed/Bad Companied).
I first discovered WFMU because of a cool radio show on Monday or Tuesday mornings, but that ended soon afterwards. Then I found SSD and TBSOWFMU and all the other musical and magical programs. SSD and TBS remain the ones I come to each and every week for a laugh. I guess something will eventually fill this space in my heart and in my ears but I don't see how anything could replace the special feeling that Tom, Jon and Mike (and all the guests and good callers) brought to us all this time.
Before discovering WFMU, I'd never really been a financial donor of any regularity - maybe a UNICEF or WFP or disaster pledge every once in a while. Now I'm a mouse pledger for the past few years! Weird, that feeling of belonging.
Just curious what was the show on Monday and Tuesday mornings?
It was Monday mornings I think, Charlie Lewis was the DJ. It was super.
HA! A little googling taught me after a year or so away, he came back on the air on a different day, with a different show name! http://wfmu.org/playlists/CL (http://wfmu.org/playlists/CL) Duh!
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I hope the last show that Jon breaks the fourth wall and gets to say his peace and final farewells, i think that would be a nice ending moment.
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It's hard for me to convey how much the show has meant to me.
Living in Australia, I got on board when the podcast began around (2007) ? I had my very first ipod and new nothing about podcasts so I had a look around, and The Best Show was the first podcast I ever listened to!!
I can't even remember how I found it. I truly believe it was an act of God blessing me!
Tom has taught me so much about pop culture, music, comedy, books etc I can hardly believe it. He's added to my vocabulary in so many ways.
Jon has cracked me up with all the characters. I've bought all the cd's and I listen to them on trips with my wife and young kids. My kids LOVE them! Timmy Von Trimble and Hippy Johnny are two of their faves.
My family quote lines from the show, and have loads of "in jokes" from the show.
How can a radio show have been this important to us all?
What a ride It's been!!
Thank you Tom and Jon.
Stewart.
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good night sweet prince.
great run
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good night sweet prince.
great run
Please call in one last time before the show ends.
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Will Zork still be coming?
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I realize I am dreaming aloud here but here goes-
Knowing that each idea I list here is being said in a vacuum, without taking into direct account various reality-based cashflow/business/ past relationship consideration(s) the following are some ideas how one might theoretically monetize the Best Show and keep it (chump steam-) rollin'
In no particular order:
The Best Show on Maximum Fun.org (Does Jesse Thorn pay folks who do podcasts on his network? Is he "rolling in NPR cash"? I dunno)
Maron expands his podcast empire and co-presents the Best Show as a weekly video podcast network live show
IFC/Adult Swim/Comedy Central/Tim Heidecker's Ab-so-lutely {or was that Twitter exchange real- I've always assumed it was a well executed prank?} (co-) Presents Newbridge Commons tv show (animated or Live Action- you take your pick)
The Best Show moves to Earwolf- Tom keeps popping up every so often on those Earwolf podcasts...) (Similar ? Do Aukerman and co. pay those who podcast on Earwolf- also dunno)
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You know that leftover record that plays from Antique Radio Show at the beginning, it should end with the sound of somebody picking up the needle and The Best Show was just a record playing the whole time, Right?
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I was listening to my iTunes on random and a track came up that I had totally forgotten that I made: Tom talking over HELL YEAH by Neil Diamond from a 2008 show.
More important now than ever. (https://app.box.com/shared/jqdid3er1l)
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The silver lining I'm trying to wring for myself is that now I get to be a cosmonaut in the archives and try to write some insane comprehensive history of the show without worrying about keeping up on the new episodes
Yeah, I've thought about trying to get a truly comprehensive Wiki of the show going, for a while, now. More than some of the attempts I've come across. Like DEEP, with all sorts of cross-references to specific dates and times in shows, but with all of the hours, it's tough to relisten to all I have heard, let alone everything that came before, take notes, AND know 3 more hours are going to be added to the pile, each week. If I (or anyone gets around to it), that can be the only plus to be taken from this, aside, of course, for Tom getting a chance to spread his wings and take the chump-steamrolling to the next level (with income attached, as well).
-Zach
I would love to see a Best Show wiki with the same completeness and level of cross-referencing as the Homestar Runner wiki (http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Hammerspace). The task becomes more manageable, in theory, with the weekly inflow of new material stopping or slowing (https://twitter.com/scharpling/status/396454724494700544) after December 17th.
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The silver lining I'm trying to wring for myself is that now I get to be a cosmonaut in the archives and try to write some insane comprehensive history of the show without worrying about keeping up on the new episodes
Yeah, I've thought about trying to get a truly comprehensive Wiki of the show going, for a while, now. More than some of the attempts I've come across. Like DEEP, with all sorts of cross-references to specific dates and times in shows, but with all of the hours, it's tough to relisten to all I have heard, let alone everything that came before, take notes, AND know 3 more hours are going to be added to the pile, each week. If I (or anyone gets around to it), that can be the only plus to be taken from this, aside, of course, for Tom getting a chance to spread his wings and take the chump-steamrolling to the next level (with income attached, as well).
-Zach
I would love to see a Best Show wiki with the same completeness and level of cross-referencing as the Homestar Runner wiki (http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Hammerspace). The task becomes more manageable, in theory, with the weekly inflow of new material stopping or slowing (https://twitter.com/scharpling/status/396454724494700544) after December 17th.
Like this?
http://bestshow.wikia.com/wiki/Tom_Scharpling (http://bestshow.wikia.com/wiki/Tom_Scharpling)
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That's a start. I was thinking something hosted on its own domain and having an overwhelming amount of information, for example a page for "The Magazine" giving its 1st and last appearance, summarizing the premise, citing every character to have alluded to it, and listing every one of those mentions by episode and time. Unfortunately, like Omar said earlier in this thread about an extremely thorough oral history book (http://friendsoftom.com/forum/index.php/topic,9434.msg203102.html#msg203102), such a work would require years to compile. Perhaps less time with a KISS Army of organized fans listening back to assigned ranges of shows and working within entry guidelines to maintain consistency in the format and level of detail.
Sometimes I think such a wiki would be a great resource for new listeners to get a handle on the scope of the universe they're entering, but part of the fun is being thrust into a strange world without a guide and landing on your own two feet. Also, I'm reminded of the E. B. White quote about analyzing humor.
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The Best Show can only end with a playing of "Je T'aime (Moi Non Plus)".
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It will end with Tom disconnecting the voice modulator and we finally hear his real voice.
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So is tonight like that second-to-last episode of The Tonight Show when Johnny gave his last monologue, etc. -- the last regular episode before the big finale?
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This isn't Lou Reed dying.
It's the Velvet Underground breaking up.
I'm looking forward to seeing Tom's Transformer. Maybe he'll even get the financial compensation he deserves.
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Do you think we will ever get to hear the Jack White story?
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I was going through a painful divorce that was crashing down in the Fall of 2010. I was living below Avenue C in a shit apartment and my wife had just moved out. As I had for the last 7 years, I was basically spending every day listening to the Best Show archives on headphones while I worked. When things got bad, the Best Show was truly the only thing that put a smile on my face. One morning I was walking on Houston Street, smoking, feeling like I was going to barf, and I suddenly see Tom's giant sunglasses. We were passing over Clinton Street and I stopped him, turned around and walked with him for a moment. This was right after he'd had that meltdown with a caller and took a few weeks off from the show. He looked frazzled and seemed at loose ends, as did I. I think he'd also just had the pilot idea fall through. Just chatting and joking with him for 5 minutes on the street about the show and music remains my best memory of living in the city. To bump into one of your heroes at random during a terrible time is an experience that can't be overstated, for me anyway. I'll miss this show.
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Rough waters ahead for WFMU, at least the first semester of 2014. :-\
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I was going through a painful divorce that was crashing down in the Fall of 2010.
Me too! Circa '06, during a terrible depression and collapse, the Best Show Lifeline kept me alive. Kept me MORE THAN ALIVE.
When I told my 15 yr old son the show was ending, he was sad too. "We've been listening to the Best Show my whole life" he said wistfully.
I'll never forget playing monopoly with him and a friend up in a cabin in the woods and having Big Bill Little Bill blow all our minds!
Thanks again Tom & Jon!
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I just re-listened to the September 7, 2010 episode, the one before the hiatus.
In addition to the extraordinarily jerky caller from the Midwest, it features a very early (earliest?) call from Zach from Mit Hamine, where he screws up and Tom dumps his call. Portentous.
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^ That was exactly the time period. I honestly thought Tom was exaggerating on-air frustrations when he went on hiatus, but I think a lot else was going on, and it showed. But then he returned and kicked ass right on schedule.
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I remember the Fall '10 break and thinking he was d-o-n-e. When he announced he was leaving this time, my first thought was it was probably going to be temporary, like that one.
What's interesting is on his first show back November '10, he has this call with Wurster, where Darren just got back from rock 'n roll fantasy camp. It's a pretty good call, but it's one of the only times where Tom seems genuinely annoyed with Jon/Darren at the end. I assume it's just good acting, but I've always wondered if he was angry with Jon about something there.
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It's weird telling people that the thing I'm going to miss about the greatest radio show ever is when the puppets come on to talk.
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It's weird telling people that the thing I'm going to miss about the greatest radio show ever is when the puppets come on to talk.
#Vanceforlife!
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What's interesting is on his first show back November '10, he has this call with Wurster, where Darren just got back from rock 'n roll fantasy camp. It's a pretty good call, but it's one of the only times where Tom seems genuinely annoyed with Jon/Darren at the end. I assume it's just good acting, but I've always wondered if he was angry with Jon about something there.
It is ACTING! Admire our performances!
Tom.
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What's interesting is on his first show back November '10, he has this call with Wurster, where Darren just got back from rock 'n roll fantasy camp. It's a pretty good call, but it's one of the only times where Tom seems genuinely annoyed with Jon/Darren at the end. I assume it's just good acting, but I've always wondered if he was angry with Jon about something there.
It is ACTING! Admire our performances!
Tom.
Haha! Awesome! Thank you for putting my mind at ease after these three years. Despite knowing full-well how good the acting is on the calls, I really have had this niggling fear you were actually mad at him for something there.
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That's a start. I was thinking something hosted on its own domain and having an overwhelming amount of information, for example a page for "The Magazine" giving its 1st and last appearance, summarizing the premise, citing every character to have alluded to it, and listing every one of those mentions by episode and time. Unfortunately, like Omar said earlier in this thread about an extremely thorough oral history book (http://friendsoftom.com/forum/index.php/topic,9434.msg203102.html#msg203102), such a work would require years to compile. Perhaps less time with a KISS Army of organized fans listening back to assigned ranges of shows and working within entry guidelines to maintain consistency in the format and level of detail.
Sometimes I think such a wiki would be a great resource for new listeners to get a handle on the scope of the universe they're entering, but part of the fun is being thrust into a strange world without a guide and landing on your own two feet. Also, I'm reminded of the E. B. White quote about analyzing humor.
That's exactly the type of thing I was alluding to wanting to try. It would be an overwhelming undertaking, especially for just one person, but at the same time, opening it up to a crowd would allow for more room for mistakes or opinions getting tossed in. I wish I could devote the time and energy to something like that, but I just have to take care of other things in my own creative path, first, before devoting that effort to recording someone else's creative achievments, regardless of how great they are.
-Zach
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I really hope that last bit doesn't come off as arrogant. I wasn't sure how else to say it. I just honestly think that even Tom, while being incredibly impressed and flattered by such a comprehensive, detail-oriented undertaking, he might think it was kind of crazy, too, especially for one person to do. Even just going through one show a day and taking notes would take probably close to two years, let alone cross-referencing and compiling all the individual entries for it all, throughout the entire 13 year run.
-Zach
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I really hope that last bit doesn't come off as arrogant.
It kinda did.
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GULP! Sorry.
-Zach
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I can't think of a way that the show saved my life or brought me back from the brink, medication was the only thing that really did that. But realistically, I don't think I can put a finger on the ways that this show has influenced my life or the way that the loss of this show will change things. And there's really nothing else in media I can say that about. Lots of tv shows could end that had a vast influence on me, people could retire or pass away, but there is just nothing else that leaves an impression like this show.
And I will miss it greatly. Count me in as someone that would pay dearly for a complete MP3 archive.
Thanks, Tom. I'm seriously looking forward to what comes next.
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James here. I am going to miss this so much. So much.
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This is the place where we come to grieve?
Ugh, thinking about this being the last show kind of feels like getting punched in the stomach.
I archive-binged back in the early aughts and have never missed an episode since.
So big void. Grateful for all times the show cracked me up like nothing else over the years.
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James here. I am going to miss this so much. So much.
Like, "James" James? As in "You got Jamesed" and "I Jamesed James!"? I was meaning to ask what happened to him.
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James here. I am going to miss this so much. So much.
Like, "James" James? As in "You got Jamesed" and "I Jamesed James!"? I was meaning to ask what happened to him.
Yeah, no other show will ever be worth Jamesing.
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James here. I am going to miss this so much. So much.
Stay strong, brother.
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James here. I am going to miss this so much. So much.
Like, "James" James? As in "You got Jamesed" and "I Jamesed James!"? I was meaning to ask what happened to him.
Yeah, no other show will ever be worth Jamesing.
James, call in tonight and let Tom James you again, one last time. LET THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN!
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Never really posted here, but the Best Show really helped me through some rough patches in my life. There's nothing I appreciate more than the gift of laughter. Thanks for everything.
(http://i40.tinypic.com/3325un9.jpg)
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I listened to Tom's whole run pre-best show to the end. I started alone but to my great surprise and delight my 10 year old son became my best show companion and for that I will NEVER forget Tom and Jon and Mike and everyone else involved in the show. All my love to the best show!!!
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I'm looking forward to whatever comes next. This show has meant a lot to me.
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I first heard of Tom and Jon when they emcee'd the Matador at 21 bash in Las Vegas, which I attended last minute. I liked their bits, and followed the internet trail to the Scharpling and Wurster CDs. Coincidentally that same year, my family binge-watched all 8 seasons of Monk during Christmas break (great family show, btw), so the Scharpling name kept coming up. It eventually led me to the Best Show, itself, taking me a couple listens to "get" the rhythms and idiosyncrasies--and I fell in love. Like all the rest of you, it has become One of My Favorite Things.
There's a pure joy in the whole show. In an era where "edgy" comedy takes the now-easy routes of sex and race, this show always felt...is 'wholesome' the right word? Sure, Jon's characters have their awesomely seedy sides--but that seediness is always more danced around than revealed, with perfect precision. I get so sick of comics who think they are "pushing the envelope;" it's copycat. Boring. Get back in the envelope! What Tom and Jon do is so wonderfully original. While I'm sure some of it can be chalked up to limitations imposed by traditional radio, ultimately it's Tom's exquisite sensibility--the fundamental kindness and I daresay righteousness--beneath the radio persona that really makes this show so meaningful, strange, and special.
Not to mention the regular dissing of The Band, Zappa, etc. that fell like manna upon my ears.
Looking forward to what the future brings. Come on, some mover and shaker has got to see there's money to be made, here! Give Tom a deal! We will support it!
Best Show for life!
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JoJo... I totally agree with what you wrote. In addition to being great, there is something good at the Best Show's core.
I came late to the thing. 2009.
If I had a time machine and could go back to 2000, the first thing I would do is go visit myself and tell me to listen to the show. (OK. Maybe there are a couple of other things I would do first, but after I did those things...)
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Pretty good tribute here: http://www.avclub.com/article/how-the-best-show-on-wfmu-became-the-simpsons-of-c-200688 (http://www.avclub.com/article/how-the-best-show-on-wfmu-became-the-simpsons-of-c-200688)
Newbridge has always reminded me of Springfield, with the whole universe of characters and locations.
Article is worth reading, but I would advise leaving the site quickly lest your vision be haunted by web banners for the rest of the holidays.
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Tom, Jon, and Mike got me through some really rough times. I met Tom and Jon on separate occasions outside of shows, and they were both exceedingly cool.
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I hope the last show that Jon breaks the fourth wall and gets to say his peace and final farewells, i think that would be a nice ending moment.
Sooo called it!
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I hope the last show that Jon breaks the fourth wall and gets to say his peace and final farewells, i think that would be a nice ending moment.
Sooo called it!
It was the perfect way to bring it all around.
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The Best Show was among my list of 10 biggest music losses of 2013, up there with Lou Reed, Scott Miller and Maxwell's:
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmusic/2013/12/ten_we_lost_in_2013.php (http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmusic/2013/12/ten_we_lost_in_2013.php)
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The Best Show was among my list of 10 biggest music losses of 2013, up there with Lou Reed, Scott Miller and Maxwell's:
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmusic/2013/12/ten_we_lost_in_2013.php (http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmusic/2013/12/ten_we_lost_in_2013.php)
Must've been written before Peter O'toole died.