Best Show Awards

[iAmBaronVonTito]

erika holds "permanent" best caller of the year blue ribbons with her powercaller status (and deservedly so).

but samir should be in the running, absolutely; not to mention, the once-mustachioed Spoony.

[Ike]

There should be a category for "Best Tom Story" or monologue. 

Two, in particular, wrecked me.

Again, the Yankees/dad story (with the parking, game, food, rudeness, etc) was just perfect. 

The other one was a story about going to the boardwalk and watching one of the carnies "pull a Jedi mind trick" on some yokels. 

His stories are, hands down, my favorite part of the show. 

Ike

[Fido]

I'd argue that analogy is flawed, because inevitably, home run hitters get named RotY or MVP. It isn't the guy who almost always hits a single in the clutch, it's the guy who swings for the fences and delivers. Julie is the guy that hits 30 home runs with 150 strikeouts. I like Emma, I like Steve, but Julie is the only one who can make me turn up my iPod.

True Wes, as far as the analogy goes, that heavy hitters get MVPs, but I vote for the consistent single clutch hitter in this case. That's someone who doesn't try too hard, which can be painful to listen to (something I actually did one time), but someone who is just trying to contribute to the show and does so successfully and pretty consistently. Samir comes to mind, so does Chris L. However, I don't even try to keep tabs on whose calls were great and whose less so, I'm in it for the gestalt Best Show experience. What I just typed looks terrible and should probably disqualify my entire post from serious consideration. Thank you for your attention.

[Steve in North Hollywood]

steve vs. emma for ROTY

worst caller: michael k.

best/most violent threat of tom's life: kurt gaistburn putting "the stuff" in tom's blood pressure pills.

I wrote Tom an email once during the dawn of the new regime suggesting the next time he wanted to subject us to three minutes of bad air he should just get Mike from the Cynics on the phone.   Then a couple weeks later some lame call was going on and Tom hung up on him and said, "who is this, the drummer from the Cynics."

Regarding Rookie of The Year: For me, there are a couple fundamental rules about this (good thing I don't make the rules around here).  Number 1) You can't want to be rookie of the year. Some (one) of the aforementioned names wanted it so bad it was palpable 2)Personally, I think if you've been GOMP'd, you don't qualify. Or at least, if you get GOMP'D more than 3 times.  That's like naming someone with 23 errors (or 30 fumbles or a 295 turnovers to 68 assists, depending on your sport of choice) Rookie of the Year.  So, that leaves Emma as my choice, although I do think Julie deserves something, and she's entertaining enough that if she gets ROTY, I won't complain.

Finally, I nominate the guy who doesn't wash his towels as saddest caller unless they introduce a grossest caller category.

Personally, I think I could take you and your pal, 1000 Fights, any day of the week.

Just kidding, Hugman.  I actually enjoy your posts and your call a few weeks ago was TOP SHELF!!!  Was that your first one?  Maybe you'll get Rookie of the Year. Keep it up, sir!

[theyellowchair]

There should be a category for "Best Tom Story" or monologue. 

Two, in particular, wrecked me.

Again, the Yankees/dad story (with the parking, game, food, rudeness, etc) was just perfect. 

The other one was a story about going to the boardwalk and watching one of the carnies "pull a Jedi mind trick" on some yokels. 

His stories are, hands down, my favorite part of the show. 

Ike

I don't want to pull a Giuliani, but Tom's 9/11 cheesecake story was pretty incredible. Thoughts on it being "nominated?"

[hugman]

Personally, I think I could take you and your pal, 1000 Fights, any day of the week.

You're good people, SINH. Seeing as we live in such close proximity, I'd hate to have to tussle with you considering F1K and I have been in 1000 fights between us.

My whole ROTY thing is mostly about preserving the tradition handed down by last year's ROTY, Ed. That guy understood the concept economy of means. But it's a new season, I suppose, and this past year's callers must be judged against each other rather than past seasons. And one call does not a Rookie make. I'm still in the minors with a spring training invite.  Oops, more baseball references.

[Steve in North Hollywood]

Personally, I think I could take you and your pal, 1000 Fights, any day of the week.

You're good people, SINH. Seeing as we live in such close proximity, I'd hate to have to tussle with you considering F1K and I have been in 1000 fights between us.

My whole ROTY thing is mostly about preserving the tradition handed down by last year's ROTY, Ed. That guy understood the concept economy of means. But it's a new season, I suppose, and this past year's callers must be judged against each other rather than past seasons. And one call does not a Rookie make. I'm still in the minors with a spring training invite.  Oops, more baseball references.

You're out here too!  That's it.  I'm extending an immediate and permenant olive branch.  I took a look at your show's site.  I seem to think we've run into each other.  Do you frequent the UCB Jr. too?

[Ike]

There should be a category for "Best Tom Story" or monologue. 

Two, in particular, wrecked me.

Again, the Yankees/dad story (with the parking, game, food, rudeness, etc) was just perfect. 

The other one was a story about going to the boardwalk and watching one of the carnies "pull a Jedi mind trick" on some yokels. 

His stories are, hands down, my favorite part of the show. 

Ike

I don't want to pull a Giuliani, but Tom's 9/11 cheesecake story was pretty incredible. Thoughts on it being "nominated?"

Oh, absolutely...it was out of left field, and really, really touching.  Not the right word, touching isn't the right word. It moved me, though. 

The Casino fight story was great, too. 

Ike

[gravy boat]

There should be a category for "Best Tom Story" or monologue. 

Two, in particular, wrecked me.

Again, the Yankees/dad story (with the parking, game, food, rudeness, etc) was just perfect. 

The other one was a story about going to the boardwalk and watching one of the carnies "pull a Jedi mind trick" on some yokels. 

His stories are, hands down, my favorite part of the show. 

Ike

I don't want to pull a Giuliani, but Tom's 9/11 cheesecake story was pretty incredible. Thoughts on it being "nominated?"

Oh, absolutely...it was out of left field, and really, really touching.  Not the right word, touching isn't the right word. It moved me, though. 

The Casino fight story was great, too. 

Ike

I'll nominate the "searching for a Beatles bootleg" story.  From a Meadowlands fair to the sketchy flea markets near Englishtown, dragging a tired Ms. Barberie to one more stop.  Great stuff.  I also remember laughing real hard about the wild kid eating at Panera bread (wearing Yankee clothes I think) who was giving Tom the eye.

His stories are great -- when they come. I think he's smart and has great judgment  in not trying to make every everyday occurrence into fodder for TBSOWFMU.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

i liked the ferris wheel story.  last august i was in LA and went to the santa monica pier.  i thought, "wow, let's do the ferris wheel that will be nice."  when i couldnt see the ground anymore, i slowly realized, "this was a bad idea."  i was forzen, couldnt move and all i could think was, "great, if anything happens, im on a rickety old pier over the ocean...thats brilliant."

i truly felt for him.



i also liked the starbucks story (thumb in the cup and "really?!"), as i can commiserate with these as well.  and the story about selling his dvds on craigslist. 

[A.M. Thomas]

i liked the ferris wheel story.  last august i was in LA and went to the santa monica pier.  i thought, "wow, let's do the ferris wheel that will be nice."  when i couldnt see the ground anymore, i slowly realized, "this was a bad idea."  i was forzen, couldnt move and all i could think was, "great, if anything happens, im on a rickety old pier over the ocean...thats brilliant."

i truly felt for him.



i also liked the starbucks story (thumb in the cup and "really?!"), as i can commiserate with these as well.  and the story about selling his dvds on craigslist. 

I really think this is a common experience.  There's something about ferris wheels where, when you become an adult, you forget how scary they can be.  I had a very similar experience as Tom when I rode the Wonder Wheel for the first time, except for the whole pretending to be on the phone to get off the ride part.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

i liked the ferris wheel story.  last august i was in LA and went to the santa monica pier.  i thought, "wow, let's do the ferris wheel that will be nice."  when i couldnt see the ground anymore, i slowly realized, "this was a bad idea."  i was forzen, couldnt move and all i could think was, "great, if anything happens, im on a rickety old pier over the ocean...thats brilliant."

i truly felt for him.



i also liked the starbucks story (thumb in the cup and "really?!"), as i can commiserate with these as well.  and the story about selling his dvds on craigslist. 

I really think this is a common experience.  There's something about ferris wheels where, when you become an adult, you forget how scary they can be.  I had a very similar experience as Tom when I rode the Wonder Wheel for the first time, except for the whole pretending to be on the phone to get off the ride part.

this could be.  i never rode a ferris wheel until i was an adult.  in this instance, i forgot that i was severely afraid of heights. 

[Ike]

There should be a category for "Best Tom Story" or monologue. 

Two, in particular, wrecked me.

Again, the Yankees/dad story (with the parking, game, food, rudeness, etc) was just perfect. 

The other one was a story about going to the boardwalk and watching one of the carnies "pull a Jedi mind trick" on some yokels. 

His stories are, hands down, my favorite part of the show. 

Ike

I don't want to pull a Giuliani, but Tom's 9/11 cheesecake story was pretty incredible. Thoughts on it being "nominated?"

Oh, absolutely...it was out of left field, and really, really touching.  Not the right word, touching isn't the right word. It moved me, though. 

The Casino fight story was great, too. 

Ike

I'll nominate the "searching for a Beatles bootleg" story.  From a Meadowlands fair to the sketchy flea markets near Englishtown, dragging a tired Ms. Barberie to one more stop.  Great stuff.  I also remember laughing real hard about the wild kid eating at Panera bread (wearing Yankee clothes I think) who was giving Tom the eye.

His stories are great -- when they come. I think he's smart and has great judgment  in not trying to make every everyday occurrence into fodder for TBSOWFMU.

YES. They don't seem forced.  Maybe he's trying to stall, or buy time until Philly Boy Roy calls in, but they stories always unfold beautifully. 
I appreciate (and have always appreciated) people who live to the hilt.  He seems to live to the hilt, in his own way. 
Ike

[bachwards]

I like Tom's account of the Papa Roach basketball event for best story.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

I like Tom's account of the Papa Roach basketball event for best story.

"JIM BEAM, DUDE!!"