When/How/Why did you become a FOT?

[Gilly]

Aha, so "The Man" = Tom.  I think I misunderstood. 

Anyway, bring it, sisters!

I ask this because both WFMU fandom and the alternative comedy scene have reputations as being male-heavy, but I've always found both to have plenty of estrogen.  It's an interesting topic, perhaps worthy of its own thread.  I have a friend who's on staff at The Daily Show, I think the only female there, and she once told me that all of the guys she works with are totally sweet and nerdy and enlightened, but often she can't get a word in edgewise at the writers' table just because her voice is higher.  She came up with the title "You Don't Know Dick" for the Cheney series, but no one heard her when she said it - she had to send it by email or something like that.

Really? I've always found that the alternative comedy scene has more women fans than mainstream comedy or at least hardcore fans...You can even count the Best Show on that list. It has way more female callers than your average call-in show.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Yeah, Gilly, that was kinda my point.

[Gilly]

Oh my bad. I shouldn't skim posts.

[Beth]

i'd heard the best show at random times when i was living in nj---i was a long time wfmu fan-- but it didn't become an obsession until this summer. my friend had hired me to sell merchandise for her band on their summer tour. obviously, there were many long drives during which i desperately looked for some form of entertainment. the chick who was touring with us as the  opening act recommended i podcast the best show...and i was hooked. i started reading the forum around the same time, but only started posting a couple of weeks ago. i'm glad i took the plunge into posting... and someday i really want to call the show when my nerves are feeling up to it--i'm terrible on the phone.

[masterofsparks]

Beth, don't fret. I'm a relative newcomer and I made my first call during the recent movie quotes episode. Tom was really nice and even included my submission, all in spite of the fact that (due to my nerves) I was barely audible and sounded like a narcoleptic.

[nerryawesome]

My friend recommended that I listen to the best show podcast back in Early 2006. I listened but had a crappy attention span, so I didn't get far enough into the show to be impressed (I think I made it to 2 minutes, if that).

About a year later, I had some extra free time, so I listened to a few shows. I was really impressed with Tom's brand of humor. It's pretty much all of the same types of things that me and my friends do, which I guess is why my friend recommended that I listen.

Here's the fun part of the story. Shortly after these events, I joined the Friends of Tom, and eagerly awaited my membership card. When it arrived, I looked at the handwriting on the envelope and card, and I thought I had written and mailed these things myself. Literally, Tom's handwriting looks IDENTICAL to mine. I even print every character in all uppercase, just like Tom did with my membership card. The only discernible difference I can find is that he makes his A's without lifting the pen, whereas I lift the pen to cross the A.

So now, I'm a loyal fan of the best show, and I'm a member of the friends of Tom, walking around with a membership card that everybody thinks is a fake because the handwriting looks like mine.

I listen live sometimes, but I haven't mustered the courage to call in. I'm not even really afraid of talking to Tom; I'm more intimidated about making it through Mike.