Tom vs. Jimmy Pardo?

[VampireWeekday]

I've been thinking about calling in to discuss this but (a) I'm scared of calling in and (b) there's never been an opportune time for this subject when I've listened live.  Anyway:

If you're a comedy nerd like me who arrived at the Best Show by way of the AST board, then you're likely a fan of Jimmy Pardo and his podcast Never Not Funny, a weekly program of off-the-cuff, conversational comedy.  Tom and Jimmy are the hosts-with-the-most in the comedyverse right now, and as I listen to both shows I find my mind wandering to fanfiction-like scenarios in which these two giants square off in some kind of Thunderdome host-off.  In reality, though, it would be thrilling if their paths did cross somehow--like Jimmy calling up the Best Show, or something?  I dunno.  They've both got such magnetic (and funny) host personas, and I see a lot of parallels in their styles (frequently-used phrases/words, running gags such that you gotta be a listener for a while before you get everything, overlapping emphasis on certain pop-culture ephemera, etc).

Also, they share a friend and a frequent guest on both programs: Paul F. Tompkins.  Could he be the key to connecting these two?  Maybe it would turn into the awkward outing with two friends from different spheres who don't know each other, and with whom you act in different ways--or maybe it would be awesome.  Any thoughts?

[Turf Out]

tom wins.

[Matt]

tom wins.

[VampireWeekday]

Ha, wasn't trying to do a "who's better" thing, I know yall's hearts belong to Tom -- I just think it would be neat if they joined forces.

[scotttsss]

I listened to "Never not Funny" for a couple months this past summer.  I think Mr. Pardo has a keen, quick wit which is indeed funny much--indeed most-- of the time.  His music taste though is horrible, and by horrible I just mean that I don't relate to it at all...(he discussed going to a Police reunion concert and he was sitting far away etc... I was thinking, "you went at all??")..  Having listened to his podcast, I bought his cd on itunes.  I thought it was great, just amazing.  He claims he has no material, but he knows what he's doing.  As far as podcasting goes...  for me, it's not worth the time.  For me, I emphasize... --he's not at all in my hate pit...  But after he had the baby it was a few weeks of ewwww boys....  I wish him and his baby the best, but it was a podcast like all the rest, rather than the podcast we've known all along is the best, nnnnnyuk!  ew boy indeed. 

And I discovered the Best Show as a Sun City Girls(etc) fan who stumbled on WFMU at just the right time a couple years ago, to clarify my "comedy nerd" (nonexistent) credentials. 

[ericluxury]

I love them both. What they do is similiar but different enough that I can't see them ever joining forces. It'd be great, but I doubt it'll ever happen. Also, don't forget that Paul F. Tompkins is one of the top comics in the country. A lot of people want him on their show and because he is (criminally) less famous than he should be, he does quite a fair amount of them.

[Martin]

Eric is right. Different worlds! I'm a big fan of NNF.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

...  But after he had the baby it was a few weeks of ewwww boys....  I wish him and his baby the best... 

not that im against (friends with) babies, BUT...

...bringing it back to comedians, david cross has a bit on it.

[ericluxury]

David Cross does have a bit about it, but considering how much having a baby changes your life, there has to be a line. Since that DC's album came out, I feel like the tide has turned enough where the non-babied are now so emboldened about shaming people with babies to not talk about it that it's getting gross.

[yesno]

NNF is like from some alternate universe where wacky high-energy chatter is funny, instead of annoying.  I ought to hate it, but I don't.

[John Junk]

I like NNF a bit, but there was a slump of about 5 shows in a row that just weren't very good at all.  I think that David Holmes guy is the pits. The nadir is possibly when they're eating McDonalds together on mic.  But at least they admit it!  I think Jimmy Pardo is really really funny, but I just wish they had better guests.  For awhile I was calling it NEver Not Boring.  I still listen to it occasionally, but it's definitely more Dude-Zone than the Best Show.  Also, that theme music is really terrible.  AND now they have that lingerie sponsorship, and it's sorta funny that they keep talking about how they're not into lingerie, but they spend 10 to 15 minutes shilling for this underwear website every week now and that's lame.  Pardo is awesome awesome awesome as host of Match Game.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

David Cross does have a bit about it, but considering how much having a baby changes your life, there has to be a line. Since that DC's album came out, I feel like the tide has turned enough where the non-babied are now so emboldened about shaming people with babies to not talk about it that it's getting gross.

very true. although, i dont feel bold about not having babies, it does get old (quickly) hearing non-stop stories about the baby's comings and goings.  i agree there is a line, but considering i DONT have a kid, i have a line about how much i can tolerate.

not to mention i was no-one-i-know-has-babies-yet young when that album came out, and so i had no idea what he was talking about until recent years.  its only a newfound commiseration in my life.

[ericluxury]

I would agree with John Junk's assessment and it makes sense. I just don't understand the other argument. Pardo doesn't talk about his kid that much. Only passing mentions.
Nobody likes people who constantly talk about their kids, but I think Cross' joke were it written down would have an asterisk saying that the opposite and peoples intolerance of kids is equally annoying. It's become like this weird battleground (a la the ever-awful hipster debates) where the two poles are terrible.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Nobody likes people who constantly talk about their kids, but I think Cross' joke were it written down would have an asterisk saying that the opposite and peoples intolerance of kids is equally annoying. It's become like this weird battleground (a la the ever-awful hipster debates) where the two poles are terrible.

Well said, sir!  I would say I might not be pro-kid, but I'm definitely anti-anti-kid.

[VampireWeekday]

I like NNF a bit, but there was a slump of about 5 shows in a row that just weren't very good at all.

Yeah, there was definitely a slump there for a while.  The show's not as good as it used to be, episodes are now a lot more just plain conversation rather than the fast-paced witfests they once were, but there is still occasional greatness -- last week's episode with Graham Elwood, for instance, was fantastic.  And anytime Pat Francis is a guest usually means Jimmy will be in top form.