"Wait...whaaaaaatttt?" The Best Show on WFMU content.

[m welch]

If anyone wants to get down on possibly the best podcast running check here:
http://www.friendsoftom.com (The Best Show on WFMU official site)
http://www.wfmu.org/podcast/BS.xml (Podcast link)
http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/bs (Archives of the Best Show, including brief descriptions.  The "Marky Ramone" calls are highly recommended!)
http://www.scharplingandwurster.com (newly launched home of all things Scharpling and Wurster.  Includes blogs!  Merch!)

It's a podcast of about 2.5 hours consisting of talk and call-ins, but it's really, really funny.  It has regular callers, some real, some fake (the fake ones are usually Superchunk drummer/comedian Jon Wurster.  Sometimes they are Andrew Earles).  I'll say it again, this is a really funny and engaging show, so if anyone has a sense of humor whatsoever, they will enjoy this.

Joe III and Frank Unlovable are recent subscribers.  Myself and Shotzi are long time listeners. 

So subscribe already!  Give it a shot! 


Ok, so this week's episode ruled.  The millionaire call in part was GLORIOUS.  I about died when he called Tom a clod. 

Pudge calling was awesome, but I've heard better out of him.  The whole Tom Waits diatribe and the Best Show law was grade A. 

So awesome.  I hope either Bryce or Philly Boy Roy call in next week.

Anyway, this post will probably just float to the bottom with no replies.  At least I tried. 

m welch

[SockhopShindig]

Okay, you've convinced me to give it a try.  What's the first podcast I should listen to so I'm not completely confused as to what's going on?

[m welch]

Okay, you've convinced me to give it a try.  What's the first podcast I should listen to so I'm not completely confused as to what's going on?

Oh boy.  You might as well jump right in.  This stuff has been going on for years, but you start picking things up, recognizing the fake from the real (Spike = real, Bryce = fake).  So really anywhere.  The past 2 weeks have been all right, but for the year before that, it's been amazing.  Anything with Philly Boy Roy, Bryce, Trent L Strauss or Marky Ramone is gold. 

Admittedly, you really have to stick it out because Tom's rhythm is hard to get into right away.  But after that, it's glorious. 

Subscribe and wait for next week, and maybe pillage the archives a bit.  Definitely listen to this past week's.  New episode airs live tomorrow night, 8 pm Eastern (with music.  The music is edited out of the podcasts).

m welch

[JoeIII]

I think I said it before, but if you like Cometbus, especially reading people's letters from it, you'll enjoy this.

This morning I was listening to Tom Sharpling do an unfair record review of the new Bob Dylan record, and said that it sounded like the Mr. Belvedere theme song, only that was actually a good song, and then managed to find it, and was playing both next to each other, and I was laughing histerically.

M Welch, did you mean for this just to try to get more people into it, or can we just use this every week after a new episode?  (Though I should mention, since I'm often out on Tuesday's, I'm assuming I'm going to keep listening to it via Podcast at work/on the train).

Patrick; When I subscribed, I only got about the past months worth of episodes, listening to the latest first, and the from the earliest forward.  They have tons of archives on the WFMU site too.  You start to get into it fairly quickly.

[SockhopShindig]

The music is edited out of the podcasts

Oh that's awesome.  Someone tell Jon and hope he follows suit.

[JoeIII]

Oh boy.  You might as well jump right in.  This stuff has been going on for years, but you start picking things up, recognizing the fake from the real (Spike = real, Bryce = fake).  So really anywhere.  The past 2 weeks have been all right, but for the year before that, it's been amazing.  Anything with Philly Boy Roy, Bryce, Trent L Strauss or Marky Ramone is gold. 

Admittedly, you really have to stick it out because Tom's rhythm is hard to get into right away.  But after that, it's glorious. 

Subscribe and wait for next week, and maybe pillage the archives a bit.  Definitely listen to this past week's.  New episode airs live tomorrow night, 8 pm Eastern (with music.  The music is edited out of the podcasts).

m welch

Oh SHIT - Spike is REAL??

Also, Patrick - Tom eventually declares each show either a "W", or "L", for Win or Loss, depending on if he thinks they had a funny show or not.  He started talking about that right off the bat on the first episode I listened to, and was a little confused, but it's still pretty easy to figure it all out.

[m welch]

M Welch, did you mean for this just to try to get more people into it, or can we just use this every week after a new episode?  (Though I should mention, since I'm often out on Tuesday's, I'm assuming I'm going to keep listening to it via Podcast at work/on the train).

Both, I figured we could talk about it and if people wanted in, then great!

I only listen to the podcasts since I forget to listen live (I prefer the podcasts because I can start and stop at will).  It airs at 5pm here.  The podcasts post on Thursdays, so I spend the weekend/first of the week listening. 

m welch

[m welch]

Oh SHIT - Spike is REAL??

Also, Patrick - Tom eventually declares each show either a "W", or "L", for Win or Loss, depending on if he thinks they had a funny show or not.  He started talking about that right off the bat on the first episode I listened to, and was a little confused, but it's still pretty easy to figure it all out.

Oh yes, Spike is real.  So is MC Steinberg, which, if you haven't heard him, it's essential.

The W or L isn't an all the time thing.   He seems to go in waves.  He used to go on incessantly about how it was a "Top Shelf Show" and how it was a "Tent pole show.  You can have a tent without a tent pole!

m welch

[Shotzi]

It's Jon Wurster, Mike, which you know. You wrote Tom Wurster though in the first post.

The first episode that really made me laugh to the point of crying no longer has an archive! That sucks. It was from 2005 when Andy from Lake Newbridge called it. Holy shit, that was amazing.

I don't think Spike is actually a dominatrix, but he's not an act that Tom has worked out with someone to do. I guess he could be, but I don't buy it.

Some of Scag Winesack's calls from last year are golden. Also, the guy who claims the character Fonzy was based on him and claims to have beaten up a little league team with a chain - he's one of the best callers ever.

[m welch]

It's Jon Wurster, Mike, which you know. You wrote Tom Wurster though in the first post.

The first episode that really made me laugh to the point of crying no longer has an archive! That sucks. It was from 2005 when Andy from Lake Newbridge called it. Holy shit, that was amazing.

I don't think Spike is actually a dominatrix, but he's not an act that Tom has worked out with someone to do. I guess he could be, but I don't buy it.

Some of Scag Winesack's calls from last year are golden. Also, the guy who claims the character Fonzy was based on him and claims to have beaten up a little league team with a chain - he's one of the best callers ever.

Fixed.  What was I thinking?  I believe that is twice now. 

I don't think I've heard the Fonzie guy. 

I had terrible night prowls and I nearly murdered a rock concert.

m welch

[Shotzi]

Oh SHIT - Spike is REAL??

Also, Patrick - Tom eventually declares each show either a "W", or "L", for Win or Loss, depending on if he thinks they had a funny show or not.  He started talking about that right off the bat on the first episode I listened to, and was a little confused, but it's still pretty easy to figure it all out.

2005 was considered a loss by Tom. Just in general. Things that went on in his personal life, with the show, and in the world in general all added up to too many crappy things happening making the year a victory for the bad guys. Since the beginning of 2006 he pledged, with the help of his listeners, that Good Guys Win and Bad Guys Die in 2006. I think I run a Myspace group with a name similar to that in honor of the goal.

So far, we are winning.

Also, MC Steinberg isn't actually real, he's a guy doing a character that Tom has nothing to do with. For the record.

[JoeIII]

Both, I figured we could talk about it and if people wanted in, then great!

I only listen to the podcasts since I forget to listen live (I prefer the podcasts because I can start and stop at will).  It airs at 5pm here.  The podcasts post on Thursdays, so I spend the weekend/first of the week listening. 

m welch

Awesome - I like that because that'll probably mean that I can usually get it Thursday night, and listen to it sometime over the weekend.  Also, that gives me time to finish off the episode and a half or so I have left.

I also actually really like this show's theme songs!

All of this makes me wish I didn't live in the one town around here that somehow DOESN'T get WFMU, especially that I've heard people call in from places right around me, which boggles my mind (Paramus, Hawthorne, and Garfield).

[Shotzi]

Fixed.  What was I thinking?  I believe that is twice now. 

I don't think I've heard the Fonzie guy. 

I had terrible night prowls and I nearly murdered a rock concert.

m welch

I just remembered, it's The Gorch.

[m welch]

I just remembered, it's The Gorch.

I once beat up a baseball game.

m welch

[JoeIII]

2005 was considered a loss by Tom. Just in general. Things that went on in his personal life, with the show, and in the world in general all added up to too many crappy things happening making the year a victory for the bad guys. Since the beginning of 2006 he pledged, with the help of his listeners, that Good Guys Win and Bad Guys Die in 2006. I think I run a Myspace group with a name similar to that in honor of the goal.

So far, we are winning.

Also, MC Steinberg isn't actually real, he's a guy doing a character that Tom has nothing to do with. For the record.

Shotzi, can you post the link to that group?

I had terrible night prowls and I nearly murdered a rock concert.

m welch

I didn't tell you I had a machete.

Can I borrow your car?

[m welch]

Shotzi, can you post the link to that group?

I didn't tell you I had a machete.

Can I borrow your car?

Joe, if you are really a fan now, you have to become a Friend of Tom.  You get an official card and everything. 

I have to go to a place called The Wet Zone.

m welch

[Shotzi]

Shotzi, can you post the link to that group?

Nobody really posts on it, but here it is:

http://groups.myspace.com/goodguyswinin2006

[JoeIII]

Joe, if you are really a fan now, you have to become a Friend of Tom.  You get an official card and everything. 

I have to go to a place called The Wet Zone.

m welch

I saw that - I was a bit nervous, in a "I'd be afraid if I were to call, Tom would just get annoyed and pissed" kind of way.

I really regret missing the record fair now, and I'm intrigued by these "Best Show Get-Togethers" i've heard about...

[m welch]

I saw that - I was a bit nervous, in a "I'd be afraid if I were to call, Tom would just get annoyed and pissed" kind of way.

I really regret missing the record fair now, and I'm intrigued by these "Best Show Get-Togethers" i've heard about...

If you go to one, you are my hero.

I'm afraid to call, but I'd like to. 

m welch

[Shotzi]

Not only am I a card carrying Friend of Tom, I'm a Friend of Bruce.

[JoeIII]

If you go to one, you are my hero.

I'm afraid to call, but I'd like to. 

m welch

I can't promise, but I'll look into it.

Not only am I a card carrying Friend of Tom, I'm a Friend of Bruce.

YES!!!!!!!

[m welch]

Yeah boyeee!

m welch

[Shotzi]

Yeah boyeee!

m welch

I have no scanner, but that's what mine looks like, too! It says David Shotwell, Jr. instead.

[SockhopShindig]

I have no scanner, but that's what mine looks like, too! It says David Shotwell, Jr. instead.

Why'd you pick that name to be on your card?

[m welch]

Why'd you pick that name to be on your card?

That's his name.

m welch