I like all of these new trends a lot.
I really hate it when Tom gets down on himself/the show though. He's probably ambivalent about doing the show, but his hand wringing is kind of lame.
I dig how purposeless the Charley Morgan calls are. They're just him wandering around, thinking out loud. I imagine him calling from a dark room, three Scotches in, just rambling.
― a (waterface), Friday, 10 July 2015 14:14 (eight years ago) link
oh and the AP Mike blood story was amazing
― a (waterface), Friday, 10 July 2015 14:16 (eight years ago) link
I hear you on this but he's been doing it as long as I've been listening to the show, it's just part of the deal. Like how after his dad died he said he might do the show less frequently, then I think he took one week off and has done every single week since then.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Friday, 10 July 2015 14:40 (eight years ago) link
That stretch in 2010 before he took his long break was the only time that it was seriously overwhelming. Like, he was clearly pretty much hating the show and the fun ground to a dead stop.
― Ooo! Ooo! Whattayado? (Old Lunch), Friday, 10 July 2015 14:42 (eight years ago) link
I like this show best when it moves rapidly between the smart and the stupid, and the last few episodes have been great for that. Charley Morgan is maybe a good example of that -- he's not got a lot to say and says it and is kind of a joke of a non-celebrity, except that the tiny handful of roles he's had have been solid bits in amazing projects. I thought Scharpling and LJP brought out the best in Patton Oswalt, too.
― Three Word Username, Friday, 10 July 2015 14:49 (eight years ago) link
Oh also the Half Hour of Power is killer
― a (waterface), Friday, 10 July 2015 15:06 (eight years ago) link
Definitely.
― Three Word Username, Friday, 10 July 2015 15:11 (eight years ago) link
I lost it a few times during this half hour of power. mike is straight fire right now.
― Bouncy Castlevania (Will M.), Friday, 10 July 2015 15:14 (eight years ago) link
he might need to get a promotion to p mike.
I would buy a Free AP Mike t shirt
― a (waterface), Friday, 10 July 2015 15:28 (eight years ago) link
So, I wrote this:
http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Best-Show-comes-to-S-F-with-song-born-in-6469137.php
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 August 2015 23:12 (eight years ago) link
Tom's two interviews with Marc Maron are great. He talks a lot about the "theater" of radio. Makes me think the show's not doing too bad, which I was worried about.
― shaane, Saturday, 29 August 2015 23:08 (eight years ago) link
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aZL6lcmUpnYhttp://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HJIA_uo7AwI
― shaane, Saturday, 29 August 2015 23:10 (eight years ago) link
I'm on Zing, but if those are videos from the Seattle show, someone screengrab & MSPaint circles & arrows round the back of my & Mackro's heads
― let no-one live rent free in your butt (sic), Sunday, 30 August 2015 06:52 (eight years ago) link
Those are years-old interviews with Marc Maron.
― Three Word Username, Sunday, 30 August 2015 08:45 (eight years ago) link
1/2 Hour of Power rather low energy doing it before rather than after the main show...also, not to pander and it's end of summer, but good to have at least one woman in there in the future
― Iago Galdston, Sunday, 30 August 2015 16:51 (eight years ago) link
Mrs. Dudio has been on board pretty consistently. Would love to hear more Terre T., but I suspect she has scheduling issues.
― Three Word Username, Sunday, 30 August 2015 17:11 (eight years ago) link
Mrs. Dudio has been on board pretty consistently. Would love to hear more Terre T., but I suspect she has scheduling issues. --Three Word Username
― Iago Galdston, Sunday, 30 August 2015 17:40 (eight years ago) link
She is, and she is very funny indeed. The show always gets better when smart funny women are involved, and it's clear that Scharpling knows that.
― Three Word Username, Sunday, 30 August 2015 18:29 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8MiF7m_v8U
― Three Word Username, Sunday, 30 August 2015 18:31 (eight years ago) link
I saw their show dead dad's club in mtl after I called the show and Tom told me I have to and my god, they are just two of the most talented, funny, touching performers and also are insanely kind and gracious and they're the best.
― Bouncy Castlevania (Will M.), Monday, 31 August 2015 03:54 (eight years ago) link
Therese is the only talk show/call-in host that has never made me scream at the radio.
― tokyo rosemary, Tuesday, 1 September 2015 00:25 (eight years ago) link
Therese has such a great on-air personality--totally winning.
― Iago Galdston, Tuesday, 1 September 2015 01:36 (eight years ago) link
Therese is a great off-air personality as well.
― tokyo rosemary, Thursday, 3 September 2015 19:59 (eight years ago) link
This is a little esoteric, but I just discovered through work-related means that the Society For Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing of America (S.E.B.S.Q.S.A. for "short"), which was mentioned in one of the first Zachary Brimstead calls and which I always assumed was a Wursterism, is an actual organization. I felt like the walls of reality were dissolving when I read that.
― The Featureless Mash That Was Once My Face (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 2 December 2015 13:44 (eight years ago) link
I feel bad that the show hasn't taken off more. I hope he is able to keep it going.
― Iago Galdston, Wednesday, 2 December 2015 13:52 (eight years ago) link
has it really taken off that little? or does he play that up for comedy? i mean, he's also not reaaaallllly monetizing it either.
― nerd shit (Will M.), Wednesday, 2 December 2015 16:02 (eight years ago) link
he really needs to start charging
― a (waterface), Wednesday, 2 December 2015 16:16 (eight years ago) link
the uhh yeah dude guys got like $10,000 a month when they started their patreon, kind of a good model maybe?
― nerd shit (Will M.), Wednesday, 2 December 2015 16:33 (eight years ago) link
I think the "3 listeners" thing is a little bit schtick, but long-time listeners know Tom struggles with depression when the days get shorter, and I also think he's writing on a sitcom and just overworked in general, so every little indignity feels huge. So he uses it.
― Three Word Username, Wednesday, 9 December 2015 07:57 (eight years ago) link
https://twitter.com/scharpling/status/706385459065315328
I have never called but maybe I should keep my 5-year-old up late to call in tonight.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Tuesday, 8 March 2016 18:51 (eight years ago) link
It happens so infrequently but I love when kids call in. Particularly the one kid (who I presume Tom knew) who called in as Molly Molesworth and a dying old man.
I have never called in either, because I'm already pretty good at the self-administered variety of masochism.
― Telephone Meatballs (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 8 March 2016 18:54 (eight years ago) link
I've only ever listened live once or twice but yeah I would need a really good on-topic story before I'd even think about calling.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Tuesday, 8 March 2016 18:56 (eight years ago) link
feel like you can call without an agenda/story tonight with a baby or Grammy
― a (waterface), Tuesday, 8 March 2016 19:00 (eight years ago) link
Reminder: Tom and Jon on The Simpsons tonight.
― Chris L, Sunday, 13 March 2016 15:12 (eight years ago) link
Thank you for reminding!
― Going To Town On Aunt May's Mezze Platter (Old Lunch), Sunday, 13 March 2016 15:29 (eight years ago) link
I've been trying to find a particular Wurster call for a while now but haven't been able to manage (even searching through the detailed recaps): guy calls and says he's taking Oldzonareveren to prematurely age to get back at his dad? Feel like he called himself a Yearlie maybe? Think the call was from the last few years of the show (think the call ended with either a bomb or someone falling asleep after some Blue). Does this ring a bell for anyone?
― ヽ(´ー`)┌ (CompuPost), Sunday, 13 March 2016 19:45 (eight years ago) link
Tom is co-hosting Prove it All Night's WFMU marathon show on Saturday. PLEDGE!!!!
― tokyo rosemary, Friday, 18 March 2016 15:17 (eight years ago) link
great ep this week, julie klausner always seems to bring out the best in Tom. best musical performance of the new version of the show. the woody allen riffing at the end was the obvious highlight but I also loved Tom's imitation of Barack Obama reading Dilbert to the American people.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Friday, 15 July 2016 17:43 (seven years ago) link
hey i've been out of the loop on this
is wurster still phoning in?
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Friday, 15 July 2016 20:43 (seven years ago) link
Yes. He does take a couple shows off when touring requires.
― Three Word Username, Friday, 15 July 2016 20:46 (seven years ago) link
wish there was still a 'best show gems' podcast :/
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Friday, 15 July 2016 20:48 (seven years ago) link
There is! It's part of the Best Show podcast feed, not a separate podcast, but it's called Best Show Bests.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Friday, 15 July 2016 20:50 (seven years ago) link
YEEEEEE HAWW!!!
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Friday, 15 July 2016 21:06 (seven years ago) link
Saw from Tom's feed that Alan Vega died; would kill to have a supercut of all Frankie Teardrop Challenge talk.
― ヽ(´ー`)┌ (CompuPost), Sunday, 17 July 2016 03:40 (seven years ago) link
good god the woody allen/pokemon riffing at the end of this week's. woody allen watching soon-yi playing pokemon go on a pop tart was all-time hilarious.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Monday, 18 July 2016 03:32 (seven years ago) link
glad to hear tom advocate the same "barb from stranger things is overrated" perspective I was pushing on ILX a couple of weeks ago. i feel vindicated.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Thursday, 1 September 2016 19:15 (seven years ago) link
also it's been nice seeing pretty much every Half Hour of Power regular show up on Difficult People this season
― Immediate Follower (NA), Thursday, 1 September 2016 19:18 (seven years ago) link
I died at his riff on "that Belle and Sebastian song, 'Rooty Tooty Fresh 'n Fruity'" during the Scottish guy's call in the most recent ep
― VC, Friday, 2 September 2016 02:59 (seven years ago) link
Last couple of weeks have been great. The Beach Boys flashbacks are hilarious, Sal from Impractical Jokers was a good sport last week, and there were some hilarious "duh" calls this week.
― Immediate Follower (NA), Thursday, 29 September 2016 14:54 (seven years ago) link