My (BSWFMU) Story (how I got over the learning curve)

[colonel panic]

It's been discussed that the TBS has a steep "learning curve" to get over before one becomes a fan of the show. As we are all aware, no one can lead you over the mountain; you have to trudge along of your own volition.

My story-

I'm a new listener (early 2008).

My friend Phil mentioned the show (podcast) a couple of times over several months and I never downloaded it. We have a similar taste in comedy and music so I took note but never actually listened to the show (it seemed really long). Then, out of sheer boredom I listened to the shows that happened to be on during the pledge-a-thon. I was wooed by peoples dedication to the show and that Patton Oswalt (?!!?) was in the studio. Weird. Ted Leo actually sounded punk rock and I liked that so I kept listening.

I didn't like the Wurster calls at first. I, obviously, didn't get the inside jokes and the characters didn't sound all that different from each other. I remember telling Phil that I didn't like the Wurster calls and I think I offended him. I kept listening on the strength of the fan base calling in. I love talk radio shows where people call in.

I don't remember the point where it clicked. But I remember PBR saying something so funny that I almost cried. Then I started googling Wurster and found out he played in a bunch of bands that I like and then it was an incredibly slippery slope. I'm obsessed.

So, for me, it was a combination of the die-hard fan appreciation and star power that pushed me over that edge.

What's your "TBSOWFMU Story"?

[andrew in philadelphia]

a friend played me PBR's rendition of the song "philly pride" (from the film of the same name) and i though it was pretty good, but never gave it much further thought. a while later, he made me a CD of one of the podcasts ("snakes on a steak") and i tried to listen to it, but the long intro + tom back announcing songs i didn't hear him play = i didn't get but 10 minutes in before i shut the thing off.

months later, for whatever reason, i popped the podcast CD in while driving and found myself cracking up all the way home. was in a bad car accident a few weeks later, and my satellite radio accompanied my auto the scrapyard, so i started downloading the podcast and the rest is history. i've only been listening since january '08, but this program is by far the funniest thing i've ever heard and i'm 100% completely obsessed with it. i even keep an eye out for roy when driving through roxborough. 

[todd]

I actually heard about the show at a SXSW "comedy panel" or something that Andrew Earles and Jon Wurster were a part of. The Best Show was name-dropped a couple of times, so I wrote down a note to check it out, and started listening to two episodes a day at my old data entry job.

I made my glorious on-air debut a few months ago and was promptly banned for 11 years.

[masterofsparks]

I actually heard about the show at a SXSW "comedy panel" or something that Andrew Earles and Jon Wurster were a part of. The Best Show was name-dropped a couple of times, so I wrote down a note to check it out, and started listening to two episodes a day at my old data entry job.

That's where I heard about it, too (linked from the Chunklet site). I started listening in mid-2007 - the Hammerhead call was the first JW call I heard. Because I only knew the little about the show mentioned in those videos, I actually thought Hammerhead was a real caller for the first couple of minutes. I figured out pretty quickly what was what, though, and between that episode and the Patton Oswalt in-studio interview, I was pretty much hooked right away.

[Bryan]

I was referred to the Best Show by the Comedy Zone message board. Through early 2007 I kept seeing that comedians I liked were appearing on the show. I'd check out their interviews, and skim the rest of the show. I remember that the Nov. 20th 2007 show was the one that made me a believer - the return of Ronald Thomas Clontle.

The exact moment when I knew it was true love was when Clontle explained that he thought Bix Beiderbecke's name was Big Spiderman, and that he'd been around since Civil War times. And now I'm in deep.

[<<<<<]

I just like Tom's attitude, to be honest.  First time I heard him GOMP someone I was sold.

[<<<<<]

I made my glorious on-air debut a few months ago and was promptly banned for 11 years.

I don't remember the call, but thank you for taking one for the team.  I'm sure I got a good laugh out of it.   

[namethebats]

I first found out about the show when Fluxblog posted "Timmy von Trimble." I didn't have home Internet yet, so I didn't start listening to the show regularly until the final marathon show of 2007. I committed to the show almost immediately, although it took longer than that to catch the Newbridge inside jokes and to recognize the regular callers (I think the first one to stick out was Laurie).

[Stupornaut]

I picked up the S&W CDs first, then eventually my curiosity got piqued about two and a half years ago and I wound up listening to the Tom Plays Dark Side of the Moon segment of the 10/4/05 show. I think I got sold when he freaked out about "the pot helicopters" and eventually subscribed to the podcast, though it took me a little while to get over the unfamiliarity with the call-in aspect of the show and the fact that he didn't like a couple bands I did.

[Steve in North Hollywood]

My brother (FOT John M) had been telling me about the show for a while, and the Wursterisms had officially worked their way into his lexicon.  So, he'd say something like "You're a good Za Bra" and I'd chuckle and say "What's that from?"

After explaining The Best Show about a hundred times, I still just kept forgetting to check it out.  Then, while I was back home for Christmas, we just sat in his car while waiting on some friends to meet us for a movie.  We listened to the Darren From Work call and then the Old Skull call.

Darren from work made me chuckle a few times, but when Tom pushed play on the new Old Skull CD and that smooth jazz song started, I completely cracked up.  I've been hooked ever since.  I now listen to two episodes per night while at work on the graveyard shift.  Been doing that since January, and so far, it's all still hilarious.

[Richard_From_CHI]

I was in Grad school in my studio listening to whatever happened to be on WFMU online, and the episode where Tom plays the drums on air came on and his chanting about the New Jersey Devils had me hooked. It was pure joyous radio, loud, bombastic, silly at times, and I loved it. I've listened to all of the archives, many more than once.

[sleepytako]

I came into the Best Show from that other show on Wednesdays. The first show I remember had the German Hi-Fi salesman talking about stereos. It took me a while to "get it" but I think I was hooked for pretty much weekly listening around the time of the roadhouse show. I got a few other internet friends into the show by then and none of them had the movie that night so I turned my webcam towards the tv and streamed the video of the movie live with the show. It was great.

[kindredspirit]

I had heard about TBS from an interview on a DVD special feature. So I knew it existed somewhere out there. Later, I listened to the episode of TSOYA where Tom pulls an Al Roker and guest hosts where he played some tracks from his CD. (I think they were kid e-bay and Darren from work) and I thought they were great. So I got a couple more of the CDs then finally started listening to the show around mid 2007.

Best decision I ever made in my life.

[dicebourbon]

I got hooked via Fluxblog with "Timmy von Trimble" and later "The Hero's Call" with Brock Peuchk. After I realized it was a whole 3-hour show I started listening to the podcasts on my commute and got completely hooked. That was about two years ago. I still have never called because I don't listen live often enough and I can never think of anything for the topic.

I got my wife hooked on it in the past year. It's funny because she often has an attitude very similar to Tom's.

[mokin]

Patton Oswalt recommending it on The Sound of Young America.