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The Best Show with Tom Scharpling

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The Best Show
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Mirth, Music, and Mayhem Every Tuesday Night hosted by Tom Scharpling. Get the Full Experience on Patreon patreon.com/thebestshow

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1015Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ComedyMusic

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Artwork for The Best Show

Latest Episodes

BEST SHOW BESTS! In these classic clips, Tom gets a call from the BRUSHMAN... and then gets a surprise the following week! (Originally aired on June 16th, 2009 and June 24th, 2009)

New to the Best Show? Check out Best Show Bests, the greatest hits o... more

This week, while Tom is away, we are sharing a bonus episode of our Patreon Exclusive Show, S&W/Q&A! This show is a chance for all Patreon subscribers to ask Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster about the things they've always wanted to know! If you like t... more

BEST SHOW BESTS! In these classic clips, we revisit some more of Gary The Squirrel's & Vance's first appearances on the Best Show! Including such classics as the table read for Midnight In Times Square and the premiere of The Vance & Gary Show! (Orig... more

No new Best Show this week. In lieu of a new show, we are previewing an episode of our newest Patreon exclusive show: THE MIKE & JOEL VANITY PROJECT! This episode, Mike introduces Joel to the Robert Altman Classic MCCABE & MRS. MILLER! While Joel int... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Mike Lisk
Associate Producer of The Best Show on WFMU
The Best Show on WFMU
Episode: Gary The Squirrel & Vance Early Appearances
Philly Boy Roy
Caller and character on the show
Episode: Philly Boy Roy (El Chapo, Trump and Open Heart Surgery)
Butch Daffodil
A character introduced as a godfather figure in the bit
The Best Show (fictional character)
Episode: Tom's Godfather Butch Daffodil
Jamel Johnson
Comedian
Stand-up comedian; guest on show
Episode: JAMEL JOHNSON! KNICKS WIN! KNICKS COLLAGE! KNICKS CALLS!
Rachel Coster
Comedian and performer featured on the show
Independent entertainer
Episode: RACHEL COSTER! TOP 50 DOPES FROM EACH STATE CONTINUED! DOG ADOPTIONS! FRANK COMENTZ IN SYNTHBRIDGE!
Kelvin Juniper
Psychic and horoscope reader
Episode: Psychic Kelvin Juniper
Rick Spangler
Recording engineer with a public studio in Newbridge; discussed careers and controversial projects
Self/Studio in Newbridge
Episode: Recording Engineer Rick Spangler Thinks a Lot of Things Suck
Jake Tempest
Front man of Blue Savage, solo artist
Blue Savage / Solo Artist
Episode: Blue Savage Singer Jake Tempest
Nick Thorburn
Musician, member of Islands and Unicorns, part of The Creem
Nick Thorburn (musician)
Episode: NICK THORBURN! LIVE MUSIC FROM DANIEL ROMANO'S OUTFIT! TOM SAW MICHAEL!

Host

Tom Scharpling
Host of The Best Show; improvisational comedian and writer with deep roots in alternative/cult entertainment; engages guests with humor and rapid-fire banter.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • Love the show

    Beyond words love the show. Is there a patreon where JW bits are searchable or separated from the rest of the show? Or have they released a best of? Love Tom’s guests and topics but I can’t get enough of that JW.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Teddy Brogan
    United States4 months ago
  • Incredible

    Love love love this podcast. There’s not many like it. It’s the best. Hence, the name. Obviously.

    There’s not many podcasts that give you Tom Scharpling, the amazing guest, incredible music acts, the live chat, weird calls from John Wurster, and Mushroom Mike… also much love to AP Mike, Bayonne NJ’s answer to Joey Swole. So many in jokes, so many rants… the Best.

    Give yourself a few eps to get in the rhythm. You’ll love it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KLG = Hi
    United States4 months ago
  • Tom is King

    Creator of podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ncllnn
    United States4 months ago
  • Eat out

    Maron

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    LessCouchOn
    United States5 months ago
  • !!!

    Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in !!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    unassumingerin
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans praise the host's quick wit and deep knowledge of music and pop culture.
Community sentiment highlights the show's chaotic energy and entertaining guests, with some criticism of pacing during transitions.
Listeners appreciate long-form conversations with artists and filmmakers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#122
Argentina/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#216
Brazil/Comedy

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Gary The Squirrel & Vance Early Appearances
Q: What inspired the new show concept that Gary and Vance discuss?
They frame it as roommates launching a talk show with the caveat that Tom and AP Mike would be involved, using it as a vehicle for rapid-fire humor and character-driven sketches.
Chet from The Newbridge Estates
Q: Hey, what's your name again? Chet. Chet, can I ask you a question?
Sure—are you a little buzzed, a little drunk, and how do you feel about the ad-buddy dinner plan that may involve cannibalism.
Psychic Kelvin Juniper
Q: What do you know about the Zune?
Kelvin is uncertain but curious, giving a brief, comic explanation and then the conversation moves on to other topics.
Recording Engineer Rick Spangler Thinks a Lot of Things Suck
Q: What is the recording engineer's oath?
The oath commits the engineer to aid the artist in transferring the sound they hear to the media format, without judging the artistic quality or lyrical content.
Sheldon Jennings Calls In for Wonderkid Toby Jennings
Q: Have there been any opportunities in television or other media since Minds of Steel
Toby indicates that he has been approached by networks like History Channel and Learning Channel for hosting roles, suggesting a positive trajectory in media opportunities while staying grounded.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Show

What is The Best Show about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show blends interview-style conversations with a rotating ensemble of callers, musicians, filmmakers, writers, and comedians, anchored by a sharp, improvisational host. Episodes frequently center on music history, indie and alternative scenes, film-making craft, and pop culture riffs, often mixing musical performances, humorous banter, and promotional segments into a fast-paced, collaborative atmosphere. Notable strengths include long-form conversations that reveal backstage processes, a loyal community vibe, and a willingness to push boundaries with entertaining, offbeat narratives. Potential listeners may value candid storytelling, deep dives into creative process, and the playful tension between serious craft and irreverent comedy.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Best Show?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Best Show. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Best Show and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Best Show get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Best Show?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Best Show, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Best Show have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Best Show has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Best Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Best Show:

1. Double Threat with Julie Klausner & Tom Scharpling
2. Hollywood Handbook
3. Office Hours Live with Tim Heidecker
4. Guys: With Bryan Quinby
5. Doughboys

How many episodes of The Best Show are there?

The Best Show launched 12 years ago and published 1015 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Best Show?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Best Show?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Best Show from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Best Show?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Best Show. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Best Show?

Recent guests on The Best Show include:

1. Mike Lisk
2. Philly Boy Roy
3. Butch Daffodil
4. Jamel Johnson
5. Rachel Coster
6. Kelvin Juniper
7. Rick Spangler
8. Jake Tempest

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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