Thoughts and questions on June 26 podcast

[dustin]

Hey everyone,

Listened to the classic show podcast yesterday and as someone who only started listening to the show last year (aside from some of the vault stuff), I was struck by a few things.  Mainly, the fact that Tom has come a long way as a broadcaster since 2004.  As he might say, this show sounded a little bush league to me.  The man seemed a little unsure of himself or what he wanted the show to be.  Today the show is so much slicker and Tom's on-air personality is much stronger.  Some other questions/comments:

-What is/was The Party Zone??

-Who played Skag Winesack and why doesn't he appear anymore?  The Party Doctor was great as well.  I get the impression that the show used to have more characters besides the current Wurster ones...what changed?

-Tons of callers with their radios on.  Didn't Tom have a call screener to instruct these people?

-Tom sounded a little desperate to get people to join him on his gas station adventure, which is totally beneath him.   I can't imagine him doing this today.

-Tom used the phrase "factory rep douche" far more than necessary.

-The bed music for this show was awful.

-The Petey call was awesome.  "I saw one of the most political and controversial movies out there.  Yeah, I saw White Chicks."  I miss Petey calls.

That is all!

-
Dustin

[Tim K in DC]

Lots of Wurster/Earles tandem trade-offs going on.

As for the Party Zone... well, you need a Real Player, son.

[bookem_dan-o]

Tom has come a long way as a broadcaster since 2004.  As he might say, this show sounded a little bush league to me.  The man seemed a little unsure of himself or what he wanted the show to be.

...giggle...

you ask too many questions, son...we don't talk about what goes on behind the curtain, here.

I mean, I'm sure you own a copy of "Fight Club", right?

[dustin]

Duly noted.  If only there were a "show discussion" forum somewhere!



I kid.  In any case, many thanks for all your work on the podcast.

...giggle...

you ask too many questions, son...we don't talk about what goes on behind the curtain, here.

I mean, I'm sure you own a copy of "Fight Club", right?

[bobby.]

About all of the radios in the background... I think one of the callers said "is _____ not there tonight?" and Tom said no.

Poor Mike must be driven mad telling all of these guys to switch off!

[John Junk]

I was actually just nostalgically pining for the best show old days with a friend of mine the other night.  Not that I'm complaining!  He is a lot tighter than he used to be, but I think the show has grown a lot in popularity and influence over the years and that reflects back on the show.  A lot of the old shows that would seem to be headed off the rails only to be saved just barely by Tom putting himself out or punishing his listeners with The Party Zone are my faves, but I think it would be naive to think that they weren't exhausting for The Kid.  Things develop over time.  I think once The Good Guys Won in 2006 it was the beginning of a new era for the Best Show.  I'm just glad the show is still on because it's quite honestly helped me get through a lot of tough times and I hope it stays on for years to come.

[erika]

I'm just glad the show is still on because it's quite honestly helped me get through a lot of tough times and I hope it stays on for years to come.

I agree with this sentiment, and never thought I'd feel that way about a radio show. But I've been listening since February of this year, and I find that it's become a highlight of my week. I NEED my Best Show by the time Tuesday night rolls around.

I enjoy listening to the differences between the "Archives Tom" and the "07 Tom" -- it's nice to hear the growth.

[Gregory]

and I find that it's become a highlight of my week.

same here

[chrisfoll577]

great pick for a 'classic' best show this week for the podcast! the physical graffiti at the hess station had me cracking up at work.

i also have to agree with the previous posts about how the best show is the highlight of my ipod/radio listening week and makes three out of my forty hours at work just a little bit more bearable.

[PatrickChew]

-Tom used the phrase "factory rep douche" far more than necessary.

That's Factory Wrapped Douche, son. There should be more talk of FWDs in my opinion.

[Laurie]

-Tom used the phrase "factory rep douche" far more than necessary.

That's Factory Wrapped Douche, son. There should be more talk of FWDs in my opinion.

I think Joe Francis is still reigning as Factory Wrapped Douche of the year. It hasn't been a year since I nominated him, has it?

[Omar]

-Tom used the phrase "factory rep douche" far more than necessary.

That's Factory Wrapped Douche, son. There should be more talk of FWDs in my opinion.

I think Joe Francis is still reigning as Factory Wrapped Douche of the year. It hasn't been a year since I nominated him, has it?

You nominated him on 8/8/06.  (As the recap below states, you nominated him for a month on your call, but then extended it to a full year on the board or maybe the chat.)

"FOT Laurie calls (starts at 2:34) to revive the long-dormant FWD of the Week® feature by nominating the man-tanned, Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis for a month-long residency. Laurie has been beating the douche drum on the FOT board and was pushed over the edge by Claire Hoffman's recent L.A. Times expose. Laurie's assesment is that he's "kinda creepy", and Tom points out that she's severely understating the case against him. Hoffman punched Francis after he demonstrated a cop-like strongarm maneuver on her, though it remains unclear if she is the same pugilist who socked Francis in the eye, causing him to call the fire department."

[bongo]

This classic Best Show was greatness from beginning to end! The ending was radio gold and that Matt Walsh call was hilarious. This episode should be filed in the 'psychedelic rock' section...

[Richard_From_CHI]

While I love all of the episodes of the show, I too pine for the old days in some ways. I think the chaos of the early 2000s was my favorite era.

The callers were funnier then too.

Young Petey. I miss the young Petey calls. Back when Tom was "Puberty's Chaperone"