John Hodgman

[The guest show]

I was very dissapointed that Tom had this guy on for the whole show after there had been a marked quality increase since the banning of all the boring regular callers. Sure i think Hodgman can say funny things but over the course of a show he can be so dull and he takes up so much space it made me stop listening after the wurster segment. There are very few guests that actually improves on the Tom battling with stupid people formula.

[cavorting with nudists]

There are very few guests that actually improves on the Tom battling with stupid people formula.

Truth be told, I get a bit attached to this myself, but you said it: it's a formula. Tom doesn't do formula and if he did, any shtick would become, well, formulaic after a while. No guest is going to bring the same amount of The Usual Magic to every listener every time; best to just let Tom do what works for him. I'm just grateful for the high calibre and consistency of his guest list.

[Jason from Huntsville, AL]

To each his own, but John Hodgman has been a part of many of my favorite Best Show moments and I was excited when I found out he was going to be on Tuesday.

I enjoy some guests appearances more than others, but, at worst, it's just for one week and Tom brings plenty to the table in even in those cases.

[The guest show]

There are very few guests that actually improves on the Tom battling with stupid people formula.

Truth be told, I get a bit attached to this myself, but you said it: it's a formula. Tom doesn't do formula and if he did, any shtick would become, well, formulaic after a while. No guest is going to bring the same amount of The Usual Magic to every listener every time; best to just let Tom do what works for him. I'm just grateful for the high calibre and consistency of his guest list.

I think one key to it being funny is that Sharpling gets genuinely annoyed with these people and their lack of manners but the flipside of that coin is that it's also emotionally draining on the guy. If he gets too much of it and things are a bit tougher in his personal life, he tends to lean a lot more on the friendly but perhaps not as funny people around him to get him through the shows. Personally i'd rather have him take the day of when that happens but i'm not sure he recognizes this himself and perhaps sometimes he feels like he's in a good run and wants to continue to not let down new listeners or something.

[Kormod]

There are very few guests that actually improves on the Tom battling with stupid people formula.

Truth be told, I get a bit attached to this myself, but you said it: it's a formula. Tom doesn't do formula and if he did, any shtick would become, well, formulaic after a while. No guest is going to bring the same amount of The Usual Magic to every listener every time; best to just let Tom do what works for him. I'm just grateful for the high calibre and consistency of his guest list.

I think one key to it being funny is that Sharpling gets genuinely annoyed with these people and their lack of manners but the flipside of that coin is that it's also emotionally draining on the guy. If he gets too much of it and things are a bit tougher in his personal life, he tends to lean a lot more on the friendly but perhaps not as funny people around him to get him through the shows. Personally i'd rather have him take the day of when that happens but i'm not sure he recognizes this himself and perhaps sometimes he feels like he's in a good run and wants to continue to not let down new listeners or something.

A lot of Best Show fans, and a lot of people who aren't Best Show fans, think John Hodgman is funny. If you don't think he's any good, that's okay, but don't assume everyone else (including Tom, apparently) shares your opinion.

[The guest show]

I wasn't reffering to John Hodgman there but rather some of the regular callers. I don't have an opinion of Hodgman since i haven't read any of his material, i've just found him being a bit too much on the show.

[oilcantim]

I'm sure Tom will adjust the show to your specifications shortly.  Thanks for the input!

[The guest show]

It's funny how you guys steal retorts from the show, but i suppose it's like that on all fan message boards.

[Kormod]

It's funny how you guys steal retorts from the show, but i suppose it's like that on all fan message boards.

Heave ho.

[dave from knoxville]

Frankly I get sort of tired of listening to armchair psychologists trying to analyze Tom's motives and modus operandi. Sit back and enjoy it, or turn it off. The choice is easy. How many of you guys ARE ABD English PhDs, anyway?

[The guest show]

Don't tell me what to do.

[The guest show]

Also you're one of the worst offenders in the case, even though i can't remember a single thing you've said on air. the different x from x'ses tends to blend together after a while.

[Tom Scharpling]

Great, another crabby dickhead. Goodbye.

[daveB from Oakland]

Well I guess that whiney guy already got expelled ...But I just wanted to pay tribute to John Hodgman by pointing out that he's probably the only guy in the universe who could get away with saying "twisting the nipples of Cathalocism" on Tom's show (and still sound classy while saying it).

[Key Loser]

To each his own, but John Hodgman has been a part of many of my favorite Best Show moments and I was excited when I found out he was going to be on Tuesday.

I enjoy some guests appearances more than others, but, at worst, it's just for one week and Tom brings plenty to the table in even in those cases.

I was pleasantly suprised that Mr Hodgman was on this week. I thought his presence added to the quality of the show, and there were some great calls to boot.