when youre friends don't like TBS

[iAmBaronVonTito]

does anyone else have this problem:

i have a friend at work who listens to HOWARD STERN and ADAM CAROLLA, thus in an effort to show off my comedic taste(s), i forwarded Tom.  after only one archived show to swallow, he calls me (majorly) disappointed, "i dont get this.  he's never going to get big.  how is throwing change in korea losing your cool?"  listen, im trying to open your horizons, maybe get you to find something more than the world smallest penis contest and fart jokes humorous and you cant digest a single phone call on The Best Show?


ugh, i wish i could gomp people to their faces. 

[Julie]

Some "friends" aren't really your friends.

[erika]

My closest friend up in Pittsburgh gives me a lot of crap about how he doesn't think Tom's funny. He only listened to the show twice, and he's also a huge grump who likes very little.

I told him he's a dumb-tard for not liking it.

There's no accounting for other people's taste. But my friend is stoopid.

[yesno]

It took me a while to get into The Best Show, too.

ps:  Not now, but Howard Stern used to be really funny.  Some of the best Stern segments were long-form and expansive.  So I think there is hope for a Stern fan to upgrade.

pps:  I'd start with a show that featured Tom making fun of something for an extended period of time.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

granted, he has different tastes.  but ive tried THREE different shows (i dont remember the other two), over the last 6 months.  he doesnt have to think Tom is as funny as i think he is, but really?

glad im not alone

[Steve in North Hollywood]

Don't be discouraged, it took my own brother almost a year and a half to finally talk me into listening to the show.  Now, I'm hooked.

You can lead a horse to water ... and so forth.

[God Stewart]

I've definitely had people come over and listen to the show with mixed results. Listening live can be hit or miss for people regardless of the callers or Tom. Most people just don't have the patience to sit still and listen to something for 3 hours. What I find a lot more successful is marking points on the podcast and playing some clips for people to get them up to speed. Tom singing is always good but I find the best bit to get people hooked on the show is playing the "Worst Song in History" segment. It's a topic people can relate to, it was pretty fast paced, Tom's really funny throughout and the pay-off is great. Then you can start to get into more of the Wurster calls.

I was speaking with a friend of mine in L.A. recently and found out that he had come across the show. I asked him what he thought of the show and he said, "He seems really funny but I don't like how he loops the music in the background; so I don't listen."

What!?

[TremblingEagle]

Tom says he is fan of Stern
which blows my mind
I been listening to Stern for the past year because  I need something to listen to all day at work
and boy, it helps pass the time, but now I really look sideways who says they are a Stern fan.

[Tom Scharpling]

Trembling Eagle -

Let me qualify something. I haven't heard the Howard Stern Show in well over ten years. I used to listen a looooong time ago but stopped because I was bored to tears by the show and got turned off to the meanness of it. I hate anything where an innocent person with problems is used as cannon fodder to fill the time. Hate it.

So if you look sideways at anyone who listens, don't look sideways at me. Look sideways at the man in the mirror, son.

Tom.

[ericluxury]

I've never understood Stern but at a friends insistence, I gave the new Stern shows a listen. They are a lot better than they used to be with Jackie Martling being replaced (maybe not anymore) by Artie Lange and not having a E! show. The show isn't as heavy on the strippers and Howard salivating over women. It's also a lot kinder than I remember without as many characters who are '_____ the (some physical deformity)' and just there to be mocked. Its not exactly to my taste but its not bad enough for you to be judging others about it (especially if you listen).

As far as converting your friends to Tom, it sounds like your friend likes among the best of a certain kind of radio style where someone is always talking and theres a party atmosphere while the main host gets on his soapbox and rants. There are similiarities between that and Tom, but the fact that he is alone really changes things. The rhythm of the Best Show is pretty different and the style of humor is very different. It's not going to be everyones taste.
The fact that the Best Show is the phenomena it is despite all odds being against it is a testament to the fact that the show is great. Share the show with your friends, but its finding people anyway, so if they don't like it, c'est la vie.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

I was speaking with a friend of mine in L.A. recently and found out that he had come across the show. I asked him what he thought of the show and he said, "He seems really funny but I don't like how he loops the music in the background; so I don't listen."

What!?

my sentiments exactly. 

[mostlymeat]

The Best Show is a state of mind. An "otherness" that probably shoudn't exist in this world.

But it does!

Trying to tell people about the Best Show is like talking about how great Jesus is. What's the point? It doesn't exist unless you want it to.

-Ajax

[senorcorazon]

i have a friend at work

There's your problem. My theory is that you only have "workpals", the forced sociality of being in the same environment for most of your day. If you're still friends with them a year after you leave, then you're "friends". And then, they should be punished for not liking The Best Show.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

i have a friend at work

There's your problem. My theory is that you only have "workpals", the forced sociality of being in the same environment for most of your day. If you're still friends with them a year after you leave, then you're "friends". And then, they should be punished for not liking The Best Show.

i can appreciate this theory.  i'll keep it in mind.

[Phantom Hugger]

I usually start by lending some of the Stereo Laffs CDs to people that I think would appreciate the show, if they are interested then Ill recommend some choice cuts or segments that they might personally relate to (aggressive tall bikers, angry Mr. Bungle fan, etc).

Also i find that the Marky Ramone Erotic Fiction is a good starter bit (palatable to the uninitiated, but also typically bizarre of the Wurster segments).


The Best Show is Hot! Some folks need time to ease themselves in.