when youre friends don't like TBS

[Fig Neutron]

I have actually always thoroughly enjoyed Howard Stern's news segments.  That is the one part of the show (and, frankly, I think he saves up for it) where he actually shows his comedic talent.

While I love every bit of Tom's shows, I think we all know where the true, deep comedy lies.  So I say, send the friend this link...

http://www.scharplingandwurster.com/index.php?cat=7

Of course, one must have a semi-deep grasp, and cynicism, of pop culture (and society) to really 'get' TBSOWFU.

If they do not get it, just know it's not you--accept that they need to keep skimming the comedic surface for awhile, and maybe one day they will catch on.

P.S.  I must admit I probably have a special appreciation for Tom's show because "I" discovered it, and not because someone told me it was great.

[ian]

i found out about the show and wfmu in general while looking up jon benjamin on imdb, and seeing links of some of his appearances in the message board area

this was around 2004

[God Stewart]

I wish more of my friends listened to the show because my girlfriend and I quote it all the time and we keep having to explain ourselves to those who don't listen. Some friends of ours in Boston listen and we bandy Philly Boy Roy quotes back and forth. It's fun. I used to give a long explanation of the show to the uninitiated, now I just say: "It's a really funny call in show on the free form station WFMU. You should check it out...or else."

[iAmBaronVonTito]

my fiance (roommate at the time) showed me TBS.


i think its great Tom can bring people around the radio.  we're going back to basics:

[scotttsss]

Japanese noise music in the 90's => Bananafish Magazine => "Experimental"/Improv Music in general=> WFMU Sun City Girl's cd => stumbled onto Best Show one hilarious and amazing night when Tom was reviewing the "festival Express" DVD.  The Following week was Tom's hour long take on Clerks II, I think. 

[andrew in philadelphia]

i know - if given the chance - my friends could totally get into TBS, but i doubt they have the patience to give it enough listens to allow the magic to take hold (definitely not love at first sight/hear for me - i just didn't get it.)

i got into it via a pal who played me a bunch of philly boy roy clips. he figured i'd get a kick out of them on account of that being my hometown and all. he was right.

i've been a stern listener most of my adult life but get turned off by a lot of the lousy music, reality tv chat, negativity and overall meanness of it at times. popped in a disc of the podcast the same person who introduced me to the show gave me that i'd been holding onto for a while one day when i needed a break from howard. i was floored and darn near crashed my car listening to tom rip on steely dan (they might be good and whatever - but it's NOT jazz, people!) and PBR talk about "snakes on a steak." brenner's street soiree? i lost it..

even got my wife howling with laughter a few times when i put it on in the car. she likes the show ok, but prefers the wurster bits over listener calls. i'll make a slob out of her yet.

since getting the podcast and the scharpling and wurster discs,  i haven't listened to howard in 4 months and counting.,

[masterofsparks]

Japanese noise music in the 90's => Bananafish Magazine => "Experimental"/Improv Music in general=> WFMU Sun City Girl's cd => stumbled onto Best Show one hilarious and amazing night when Tom was reviewing the "festival Express" DVD.  The Following week was Tom's hour long take on Clerks II, I think. 

That Festival Express review is pretty amazing. I'm not sure if it's from the same show, but I like when Tom keeps playing the hideously out-of-tune clip of the Mamas & the Papas from the Monterey Pop DVD and cracking himself up.

[AaronC]

I'm curious how all of you found the show. WFMU fans? Word of mouth? Internet/magazine/newspaper articles? Via other comedy outlets?

Fluxblog via a search for Ted Leo on The Hype Machine.  It was Ted Leo's cover of "Rock N' Roll Dreams Will Come Through" that introduced me to the show. 

[TremblingEagle]

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.

word. I'm a hypocrite 
I just need SOMEthing to take up the soul crushing hours.

[dave from knoxville]

Spillover from SSD

[Spoony]

I'm sure if you sat down with Stern and had a beer or ate noodles or something like that, he'd be a funny guy. He probably isn't a shit 100% of the time, but there's a difference between comedy that makes the Big Joke and comedy that makes the Smart Joke. I have the patience to sit through the work it takes to make the Smart Joke, but I know that not everyone does and that's fine.

I have alot of friends who are Stern fans and we regale each other with highlights and joys of our comic heros, and none of of them are alike. It saves me the trouble of having to sit through hours of titty jokes to get to the Pat Cooper meltdown, and they don't have to listen to Spike to hear how things are in Newbridge. How well-rounded we slobs are.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

Tom's execution hooked me to TBS immediately.  it resembles a face-to-face conversation, at which point, there is a lull until someone says something new, or calls back to something originally said.  dead air seems to be what friends find pain stakingly boring.  it moves too slow, they say. 

this isnt the jerry bruckheimer radio hour, its the best show!

[buffcoat]

Whoa!  For a minute there I thought Tom got executed.

[Joe Rogaine]

I always ask them how could they watch that terrible Angel show on TNT instead of a Seinfield marathon in the middle of a Atlanta Braves rain delay.

[paul]

the Stereolaffs cds have definitely converted a few friends of mine.

as for those who don't get it... they suck.