FOT's - Why so quiet?

[B_Buster]

I thought the June 19 show was a recent example of a show that had consistently good callers. The topic got a good response and there was a steady flow of non-crank callers that Tom could work with. The stupid callers (Mr. T, pre-Spike Spike) drag the show down because Tom can't make the funny with them. They get on, do their unfunny bit, and waste everyone's time. And just because Tom is having a conversation with you doesn't mean there will be a significant drop in GOMPs (witness what happened to Evan this week, a regular caller who we learned has a ghoulish streak).

[Grimlock]

I thought the June 19 show was a recent example of a show that had consistently good callers. The topic got a good response and there was a steady flow of non-crank callers that Tom could work with. The stupid callers (Mr. T, pre-Spike Spike) drag the show down because Tom can't make the funny with them. They get on, do their unfunny bit, and waste everyone's time. And just because Tom is having a conversation with you doesn't mean there will be a significant drop in GOMPs (witness what happened to Evan this week, a regular caller who we learned has a ghoulish streak).

I have to say that when Tom feels the show is going badly, and it's in the final minutes, and he's pulling, against all odds, for a W, and he opens the lines up and hopes, beyond hope, that the basic human goodness of the last-stand callers will save the day for the good guys, and he takes the call and... and... and...

It's Mr. T...

Pitying the fool...

I laugh. I laugh hard, despite myself. I laugh not at Tom, not at the show, not even at Mr. T, but at how Pure Evil knows just when and how and where to manifest.

I swear Pazazu is pushing the buttons on that Mr. T soundboard.

[B_Buster]

True, Grimlocktopus. There is something to be said for a well-timed Mr. T call. I was talking about the weekly Mr. T calls that used to plague the show.

I also agree that Tom can be extremely funny when he's battling the forces of evil. Unlike John from Cincinnati, he suffers so that we can laugh (I'd like to see that parrot-talking idiot savant do a radio show with kidney stones punching his guts).

[GetOffMyBone]

I miss Kid Kansas.

I think the Best Show should do more topics on the WORSE or BEST things again. Sure they are throwaway topics but it's something everyone can call in. The worse band and the worse song episodes were a smash and so was the Best Movie Quotes.

I remember seeing this ridiculous list of best movie characters which lacked Judge Smails but had Randall Graves in the Top 5! ridiculous!

[dave from knoxville]

I am still holding out for worst cover version.

[Richard_From_CHI]

I miss Kid Kansas.

In some sick sick way so do I.

[Richard_From_CHI]

Although the recent return of the leader was quite shocking.

[erika]

My intention with this thread was NOT to get FOT's to call in as only FOT's. Hearing people call in and say how much they like the show isn't as entertaining as when people participate on-topic. I wouldn't want to listen to it either.

But I still don't understand why there are so few callers from the chat when a topic is put on the table. The topics are a great way to be creative. I listen, come up with a good response to the topic (do you guys REALLY have nothing funny to be ashamed of, for instance?), and call in. It was my intention this week to call in on-topic, but it ended up being somewhat of a pep-talk. I didn't mean for it to end up that way.

And I don't see this as a "focus group." and I'm not sure where that came from. I was asking a very honest question of the people on this board. I am, in every way, letting Tom "do his thing" but I just find it funny that so many people can be so incredibly involved in the chat, be enthusiastic and funny, and yet I'm sitting here listening to these drones and monsters call into the show.

I feel like I may have done more harm than good by raising the question. Regrets.......

[Sarah]

Nonsense, erika.  What harm have you done?  Sure, as a fearful caller, I get a little defensive (stupidly) when people talk so blithely about setting aside one's nervousness, which just isn't so easy for a lot of people (chatting is a far cry from being on air).  But no damage has been done.

I don't see how this thread constitutes a focus group, either.  We're not dissecting the show but rather discussing what makes it so hard for some of us to contribute to it, which is a different-colored horse altogether. 

[Dorvid Barnas]

I have nothing against this thread, Erika, and I'm glad that you call in every week -you're a lovely person and a great caller.
I just don't buy the premise that  ____ is what a good call is and _____  is what a good show is. 
That's all I meant by "focus group".  It might've come out harsher than I intended; please don't take it personally, POB.  You know I'm a fan of yours.

It just sort of feels like you're taking it upon yourself to fix a problem that I think doesn't exist.
You've done no harm, of course.  This is a board for talking about the show, so please do.  I'm just disagreeing with some finer points because that's how I roll.

[LostInReno]

"That's how I roll"

[JP]

I've called in a few times before and it was a lot of fun talking to Tom.  However:

1. It was a bit scary

2.  From my view, Tom is so consistently right on, and more deeply knowledgeable when it comes to pop culture and, to a slightly lesser extent, morality that I just don't think I have anything to bring to the table.  Much of the show thrives on the light and heat that can only come from two opposing views.  Whether it is Tom vs. the Abercrombie and Fitch CEO via a magazine article, Tom versus gov't bureaucracy, doo-wop and S&M all wrapped up as "Spike," Tom versus pre-teens in years 2001 to 2003, or Tom versus Maurice Kern.

I did have a well documented pro-Tommert stance http://www.friendsoftom.com/newboard/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=asktom;action=viewprofile;username=jp- I probably could have called up in support.

Now "Jamesing" as it is now known, could be an opposing view, but the problem is that the Jameses leave cowardly little weak James bombs and then run away like criminals.  I'm sure if the Jameses would face Tom that it could be entertaining.

3. Some callers are legitimately funny on their own, like Petey and Paul F. Tompkins.  I like those too. But I'm not going to be able to come on with my own material.

If I could listen live I'd try to call more often, but it's probably good that I don't because I'm not going to be funny (3.) and I'm not going to be interesting (2.) 

That said, I'd bet if more of you could or would call it would be great.  Either way I've never heard an episode I didn't enjoy.

[erika]

That said, I'd bet if more of you could or would call it would be great.  Either way I've never heard an episode I didn't enjoy.

This encapsulates my point. No good call vs bad call (I shouldn't have said that in my first post) or anything like that.

Thanks for posting some of the reasons why you don't call, though. I really was curious.

[Richard_From_CHI]

I try to call when I listen live. The only downer about calling is that if your timing is bad and there is a super caller (ala Teddy Rockstar) you either have to ride out the hold or call back and if you were commenting on a topic it often has faded by the time you get through but c'mon guys what doesn't kill you makes you stornger. What's the worst that could happen, someone gives you a bit of a hard time in good fun? I bet that happens on  a daily basis.

[Deric W. Haircare]

I'm a long time listener (since, like, '03 or something) but I never call because I have a shitty cell that breaks up constantly, and I know I would get totally and swiftly GOMPed if I even tried it.

BUT I LOVE YOU ALL THE SAME, TOM.