Best Show Origins

[Stupornaut]

So I'm going through my archives, listening to the 3/13/01 [OK JEEZ TYPO FIXED] "Listener Appreciation Show", and Tom berates a hanger-upper named Henry who is described as listening to the show on an old transistor radio while sitting on an orange crate. I always kinda thought orange crates were associated with Spike, or in some other way a relatively recent thing, so it got me wondering as to what some of the originating points of other, much-beloved Best Show tropes and characters were:

-What was the first GOMP?
-What was the first "official" Philly Boy Roy call? He or a Roy-equivalent did call in during the first archived show ("Yankees vs. Mets") but it seemed kind of prototypical and he actually claimed to not care about baseball, which seems kind of inexplicable given his recent New Year's activities. 1/15/02 sounds like a pretty early example of Roy As We Know Him, and Tom seems completely bewildered by now-familiar pronunciations such as "nem".
-When were the first appearances of Petey, Officer Tom, Purple Shirt and that one maritime-obsessed weirdo who has since been written out of continuity?
-What was the first attribution of a new movie role going to Andy Milonakis?

[Josh]

LISTENER APPRECIATION WEEK, MARCH 13, 2001

"Henry, if you're out there listening, sitting in front of your old transistor radio, probably sitting on the orange crate in your apartment, or in your parents' basement, you got where you got because of that attitude, buddy!"

also features Listener Danny, webmaster of "Hannibal's Domain":
"Come on, you can't tell me you've never been to a rock concert and wanted to, you know, play your little guitar."

[yesno]

There was a "who would you throw into space"-type topic (for real) in 04.

[buffcoat]

I can answer one question.  The war with Goshen started with this little skirmish WAAY before the real war started.

October 28, 2003: Tom Fights Goshen (2:05)

[Pete Velcro]

Is Consolidated Cardboard part of Newbridge, or does it just exist "somehere" in Jersey? Or is it somewhat dismaying that I'm wanting to over-analyze Best Show lore in this way - even if it's for an entry in the fan fiction contest?

And for that matter, does the fan fiction contest exist?

[buffcoat]

Consolidated Cardboard is definitely a "corporate citizen" of Newbridge, New Jersey, itself the beating heart of Newbridge County.  The Jewel of the Quint Cities!

[Pete Velcro]

Consolidated Cardboard is definitely a "corporate citizen" of Newbridge, New Jersey, itself the beating heart of Newbridge County.  The Jewel of the Quint Cities!

I Love It

[yesno]

Someone should make a map of Newbridge along the lines of the Springfield map that was made a few years back.  And I have no talent.

[Denim Gremlin]

Someone should make a map of Newbridge along the lines of the Springfield map that was made a few years back.  And I have no talent.

neil numberman where are you when we need you?

[Sarah]

Someone proposed this before, a couple of years ago, I think.  Don't know if it ever went anywhere.  Good idea, though.

[jed]

Young Petey is given Supercaller status 01/07/2003 .

[Stupornaut]

I think the first Augie Richards call (6/26/01) is also the first mention of Muffler Row (which Tom mistakes for "Toilet Row" later in the call). In fact, I think it might actually be the first mention of Newbridge.

[neilnumberman]

Someone should make a map of Newbridge along the lines of the Springfield map that was made a few years back.  And I have no talent.

neil numberman where are you when we need you?

I've thought about it, but yikes, that would be a daunting task

[dave from knoxville]

Someone should make a map of Newbridge along the lines of the Springfield map that was made a few years back.  And I have no talent.

neil numberman where are you when we need you?

I've thought about it, but yikes, that would be a daunting task

I have seen your work; "daunt" is your middle name! Look up "daunt" in the dictionary, you'll see a picture of Numberman.

[perry]

even though i know he wouldn't do this for his first book after talking about doing one so much, i always thought tom should put out like...a visitors guide to newbridge and it's residents.  i'd really like something like that to use as reference, especially when i have friends over who are sort of new to the show and are wondering what some of the inside jokes are.