Best Show Gems

[Eric Fishlegs]

I'd be curious to see how interactions w/ one of Jon's calls would work now. There's enough people who completely understand the concept of buying into a bit (like the Wally/Fredericks stuff from a few weeks back) that there could be some good material. Of course, there are also a few people every show who try to be too-cool-for-school who would just try and ruin it.

The "hold" stuff is absolutely brilliant. It's so condescending. A lot of the calls remind me of pro wrestling bits. They go deeper than Jon playing a character and Tom being the straight-man. A lot of Jon's characters are essentially jerks who you'd like to see get some kind of comeuppance, with the payoff a lot of times being the character threatening Tom's life before hanging up. It's like when the wrestling heel starts crap with the hero/face, gets humiliated somehow and cowardly leaves but not before fulfilling some bizarre need to get the very last word in.

I think there might be too many people out there intent on breaking kayfabe to take listener calls during a Wurster call. There's just a certain type of person who couldn't resist calling in to ask about the new Superchunk album or calling in just to say "This is fake." Even in the Zachery call... I know it was early in the show's run, but I can't believe anyone who was listening wouldn't have caught on that it was a comedy bit. This call especially was hardly subtle in it's humor. Not sure it'd be worth potentially ruining a bit by taking calls from whoever can get through.

Another trait Wurster adapts from typical wrestling heels- no matter how ridiculous his scheme and no matter how horribly he acts he always is firmly convinced he's in the right and when his plans fall through he is always right there to point the finger at someone else.

[masterofsparks]

They have taken calls with Wurster characters as recently as a couple of years ago. I remember because one of the last times I called (which has probably been 2 or 3 years ago), I was on the line with both Paul F. Tompkins and Philly Boy Roy, both of whom were live in the studio.

[Jason from Huntsville, AL]

They have taken calls with Wurster characters as recently as a couple of years ago. I remember because one of the last times I called (which has probably been 2 or 3 years ago), I was on the line with both Paul F. Tompkins and Philly Boy Roy, both of whom were live in the studio.

The first time I ever called the Best Show proper was when John Hodgman, Ted Leo & Karl the repairman were in the studio. Kind of hard to get around having callers and JW's in-studio appearances overlap unless he doesn't stay long.

Even though some of those early interactions with callers were funny, I think the S&W magic works best with just the two of them. The call during the episode where Aziz, J-Loko & H-Man were in-studio was, I think, thrown off by being punctuated by their laughter (which I don't blame them for...it was funny.) It gave it almost "Morning Zoo" feel.

That slow-burn happens best in a hermetically sealed environment.

[gravy boat]

It is kind of hard now unfortunately but I think my favorite call of all time is from 11/29/05 [Best Show Gem: January 11, 2010]  when a 13-year-old  named Mac, who is talking about Aerosmith and a music encyclopedia book, gets a call from Jimmy Crespo of Aerosmith. Mac thinks Crespo is a fake caller but Crespo's knowledge of Aerosmith kind of turns him around.  If you have not listened, go the archives--Mac's call starts around 1:40.

Highlights:

Mac:   How many units did Aerosmith sell?
Jimmy:  Units? Who are you, Clive Davis

-----

Jimmy: How many pull-ups can you do?

------------

Jimmy: Mac is a stupid name.

------------
Mac:   ...too much cocaine.
Jimmy:  For you maybe.
Mac:     What?

[Chris L]

It is kind of hard now unfortunately but I think my favorite call of all time is from 11/29/05  when a 13-year-old  named Mac, who is talking about Aerosmith and a music encyclopedia book, gets a call from Jimmy Crespo of Aerosmith. Mac thinks Crespo is a fake caller but Crespo's knowledge of Aerosmith kind of turns him around.  If you have not listened, go the archives--Mac's call starts around 1:40.

Highlights:

Mac:   How many units did Aerosmith sell?
Jimmy:  Units? Who are you, Clive Davis

-----

Jimmy: How many pull-ups can you do?

------------

Jimmy: Mac is a stupid name.

------------
Mac:   ...too much cocaine.
Jimmy:  For you maybe.
Mac:     What?

This call had its own Best Show Gem: January 11, 2010

[gravy boat]

It is kind of hard now unfortunately but I think my favorite call of all time is from 11/29/05  when a 13-year-old  named Mac, who is talking about Aerosmith and a music encyclopedia book, gets a call from Jimmy Crespo of Aerosmith. Mac thinks Crespo is a fake caller but Crespo's knowledge of Aerosmith kind of turns him around.  If you have not listened, go the archives--Mac's call starts around 1:40.

Highlights:

Mac:   How many units did Aerosmith sell?
Jimmy:  Units? Who are you, Clive Davis

-----

Jimmy: How many pull-ups can you do?

------------

Jimmy: Mac is a stupid name.

------------
Mac:   ...too much cocaine.
Jimmy:  For you maybe.
Mac:     What?

This call had its own Best Show Gem: January 11, 2010

Ahh, thanks.  And I listened to that Gem which probably explains why I still like it so much.  Martin is doing good things.

[CSW]

The "hold" stuff is absolutely brilliant. It's so condescending. A lot of the calls remind me of pro wrestling bits. They go deeper than Jon playing a character and Tom being the straight-man. A lot of Jon's characters are essentially jerks who you'd like to see get some kind of comeuppance, with the payoff a lot of times being the character threatening Tom's life before hanging up. It's like when the wrestling heel starts crap with the hero/face, gets humiliated somehow and cowardly leaves but not before fulfilling some bizarre need to get the very last word in.
top.

Yes, Gregg, yes. I have thought that before.

There's a quote from (I think) Michael Hayes in one of Mick Foley's books about advice he gave to Mick on the art of being an effective heel that goes something like "the heel must absolutely believe in what he's saying, no matter how ridiculous or over the top it is" (forgive the vagaries of my memory, it's something like that) which I've often thought back to on some of the Wurster characters.

[Martin]

New Gem up today - a call from Tom's big brother Dom:

http://wfmu.org/playlists/BD

Now you can "like" Best Show Gems on Facebook! Do it:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Best-Show-Gems/167457079981562

[Mr. Spacely]

Love the Dom call.  In fact, all Tom family calls are great.  They broaden "Newbridge Tom" and we often learn that he's not a morally perfect straight man. Sometimes he screws up and does the wrong thing.

Thanks for putting this one up in easily-to-download Gem-form.

[buffcoat]

Love the Dom call.  In fact, all Tom family calls are great.  They broaden "Newbridge Tom" and we often learn that he's not a morally perfect straight man. Sometimes he screws up and does the wrong thing.

Thanks for putting this one up in easily-to-download Gem-form.

I know what you mean.  When I heard Tom wore sunglasses in spite of his father's teachings I was taken aback.  Though not, perhaps, as taken aback as those people in McCarren Park.

[Martin]

HAMMERHEAD:

http://wfmu.org/playlists/BD

And don't forget to "like" Best Show Gems on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Best-Show-Gems/167457079981562

[Steeley Chris]

HAMMERHEAD:

http://wfmu.org/playlists/BD

And don't forget to "like" Best Show Gems on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Best-Show-Gems/167457079981562

NO WEAK PITS!!!

[Greggulator]

Hammerhead completely rules in every way possible.

I still remember the "joy" of going to some meathead hardcore show with my friends in Jersey somewhere (most like with some combination of H20, Madball, 25 Ta Life, Floorpunch or whatever) while wearing an It's A Shame About Ray T-Shirt. I didn't catch the beating Tom did but it was still really awkward. And I also loved witnessing the dumb brawls between various geographic regions.

I really wonder what all of those kids are doing now. Probably "plastics" lobbyists or the like.

[Hugman 3.0]

Today's gem is from the show in which I made my very first call! Not to brag, but 100% of my calls have resulted in Best Show Award nominations.

[Mr. Spacely]

This call has always made me wonder: Where was JW when he made it?  Was he at his house? A hotel? In a car?  Could others hear the air horn? 

And if JW was at his house, does he live deep in the North Carolina woods or something?