Paul F. Tompkins Says Hello To You

[Paul F Tompkins]

Hello, good gentles. I am posting to say thank you to all the FOTs I have met since I started doing the Tompkins 300 shows all over the stupid place.

Every time someone comes up to me at my hastily thrown-together "merch table" after a gig and professes to be a fan of The Best Show, that someone has always been nice, polite, cheerful, and funny. Meeting you guys never fails to make me smile.

I am lucky indeed to be an occasional part of my favorite thing in the world, and that I get to meet such sweet folk as a result is like going through the pockets of that favorite thing and finding an unexpected $20 bill. Is that an expression people use? Did that work?

So, thanks, you all. See you where you live.

Paul

[JonFromMaplewood]

Dear Paul,

My wife had a rough go this Winter with the passing of her mother.  Levity was simply nowhere to be found.  But I remember one exception.  We were driving from Boston to New York, the kids doing their own thing in the back, and I put on Freak Wharf.  It was on shuffle and started with your take on smashed pennies.  For the first time in what had to have been a month, I saw my wife bust out laughing. And I am not talking about little chortles.  I am talking about the kind of laughing where the superego totally loses control and the id usurps all.

Thank you for that Paul, and for everything else. 

-Jon from Maplewood (aka @PaulFTomTomClub)

[Christina]

Paul F. Tompkins, I have got the ants in the pants in anticipation for your show in Brooklyn on Sunday.

Friends of Tom will be out in full force, and our enjoyment of the show, I am sure, will be nothing like when those fuck-nuts in Improv Everywhere faked out that band and then This American Life did a story about it.

Our enjoyment will be totally genuine! That's what I meant.

[JustNicole]

Dear Mr. PFT,

I am sorry that I could not rouse 300 Kentuckians to bring you to Louisville before I leave this state. However, I am not from this state. I was merely trying to bring you here as a gift to them. Their loss, not mine. You rule.

Sincerely,
Nicole

[dave from knoxville]

Dear Paul F. Tompkins,

Are you breaking up with us?

dfk

[senorcorazon]

It's not you, Dave. It's not your fault.

Excited to see the show, Mr. F. Tompkins. This is a huge understatement.

[Bryan]

I was thrilled to see that you were doing a couple of shows at Just For Laughs in Montreal. I'll be there!

[pscan]

Dear Mister Tompkins --

One time, I saw you perform by yourself at the UCB in NYC (aka, the REAL UCB). You told a story about teeth and dentists that prominently featured a Baby Ruth bar. That story made my face hurt from laughing.

Thanks.

(And would it be too much to ask if you could re-tell it at Bell House this Sunday, a show for which I cannot wait?)

Your friend who is also named Paul

[Paul DePhiladelphia]

Dear Mr. Tompkins,

Thank you thank you thank you for adding a Philly show. Trust me it will be well attended!

Sincerely,

Paul

[DoodleJump!]

Paul- it was definitely a highlight of the year when my brothers and I got to chat with you at the Laughing Skull in Atl. You were such a gentleman, which is nothing less than I expected, and it was so cool to get to meet someone who has consistently been one of my favorite personalities on the Best Show. Thanks for a great show and chat and I look forward to next time you're in town!

[crumbum]

Paul-

I have you to thank for introducing me to the whole concept of an alternative comedy scene and, in a roundabout way, the Best Show and many of my other favourite things in the world.

About six years ago I was visiting a friend in LA and he took me to see Jon Brion do one of his regular Friday night shows at the Largo. I was familiar with Jon's soundtrack work but had little idea what I was in for, much less that there was also a totally unique comedy scene centered partially around that club. Of course Mr. Brion blew my mind, but it also happens that you did about fifteen minutes between his sets and helped make that evening one of the best nights out I've ever had.

It wasn't long before I was full-on obsessed with the whole scene surrounding the Largo, the UCB, and finally the Best Show. All of those things make my life more fun and so, Dear Sir, I thank you.

[Stupornaut]

Paul: I screwed up. I work for an alt-weekly and wanted to use some of my journalistic weight-throwing-around power to get on the guest list to see your show at the Triple Rock in Minneapolis two years ago. But the guest list situation didn't pan out -- some wires got crossed or something, apparently, and my name was omitted -- and since I did not actually have any real-world grown-up money that evening I had to walk away knowing that I had missed an opportunity to see you live. I blame myself for attempting to cop a free ride on some media-heavyweight trip, and the next time you come to the Twin Cities I figure I subsequently owe you a beer. Assuming you drink, at least; failing that, I owe you a sandwich, assuming you eat.

EDIT: This was my 666th post. I did not realize this until after the fact, and now I must rescind my offer knowing it was guided by the hand of the darkest lier of lies.

[fonpr]

EDIT: This was my 666th post. I did not realize this until after the fact, and now I must rescind my offer knowing it was guided by the hand of the darkest lier of lies.

The number of the beast is 616.

You're dialing the wrong number!

[mackro]

Mr. Tompkins, you're a grand exception to the "never meet your heroes" motto. So glad I went to both Seattle shows. I hope the awkward merch booth exchange was pleasant-awkward. Thank you again!

Mackro (or Brian, if you want it cozy)

[Ojingeo]

Paul, you're one of my favorite comedians of all time. You're up there with Zach, Patton and JAMESED! YOU GOT JAMESED!