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Artwork for The Best Show

The Best Show with Tom Scharpling

Forever Dog
Comedy
The Best Show
Music
Saturday Night Live
Chicago
New Jersey
Grateful Dead
Thanksgiving
Mental Health
Los Angeles
WFMU
Christmas
Music Industry
Podcasting
Extreme Sports
311
Philadelphia
Fast Food
Therapy
New Bridge

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1021Founded12 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 series of calls from one of the most unique personalities in the show's history.... the one and only SPIKE! (Originally aired on June 17th, July 12th, and September 2nd, 2008)

New to the Best Show?... more

Friend of the show (and occasional villain) NATHAN GELGUD returns to the Best Show. Tom and Nathan catch up and discuss the upcoming new collection No Concessions, from his ongoing series Reel Politik (published by Drawn and Quarterly), Nathan's Zoom... more

BEST SHOW BESTS! In this classic clip, Tom gets a call from the ROBIN HOOD OF THE HARDWOOD! (Originally aired on November 30, 2004)

New to the Best Show? Check out Best Show Bests, the greatest hits of The Best Show! Available every Friday on your p... more

Tonight's show... almost doesn't happen... The Best Show Studio is beset by unforeseen technical issues affecting calls. But thankfully, friends of the show CHAKI (The Funk Wizard) and CHRIS SLUSARENKO (Eyelids, Revolutions Per Movie) show up and sav... 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

Nathan Gelgud
Cartoonist, author of Reel Politik and No Concessions; creator of How To Think Like A Cartoonist workshop
Los Angeles Review of Books (workshop host)
Episode: NATHAN GELGUD! TOM VS. THE TROLL! TOM'S PLAN TO TAKE OVER SMASH MOUTH! OPEN PHONES!
John Green
The caller's description of a controversial figure who allegedly threw a beer at a basketball game and became the focal point of a media firestorm.
Unknown/depicted as celebrity figure in episode
Episode: The Robin Hood of the Hardwood
Rick Higgins
Author of For Everybody and Twittering While Main Street Burns
Author
Episode: Author Rick Higgins
Ted Leo
Musician and guest on the episode
The Brushbox / Brushman arc guest
Episode: The Brushman Saga
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!

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 States5 months ago
  • Tom is King

    Creator of podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ncllnn
    United States5 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.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

PATREON PREVIEW: S&W / Q&A #19: Poison Idea, Billy Joel documentary, Liam or Noel?
Q: Did you watch the Billy Joel documentary? Have you found a way to love Billy?
The hosts admit they haven't watched it yet but acknowledge its appeal and interesting angles, noting its portrayal of Billy Joel's ascent and the involvement of his then-wife as a significant part of the story.
PATREON PREVIEW: S&W / Q&A #19: Poison Idea, Billy Joel documentary, Liam or Noel?
Q: Liam or Noel?
The hosts express ambivalence but acknowledge both brothers as entertaining celebrities; they discuss how Liam's on-stage stillness can be as compelling as Noel's more outward energy, highlighting how each brings a different dynamic to their collaboration.
Author Rick Higgins
Q: Well, if you had to tell people what the book is about, what would you say?
The book aims to widen people's horizons by examining how a society obsessed with news and conformity can miss bigger pictures, and it presents an educator's stance on informing the public about important issues through provocative, sometimes challenging, cultural experiments.
The Brushman Saga
Q: Why did the Brushman choose the Brush as his weapon?
He explains it as a natural extension of his identity and villainous persona, turning everyday objects into instruments of mischief.
The Brushman Saga
Q: What is the Brushman's plan and who is his rival?
The Brushman declares his rivalry with the host, naming himself as the Brusher and outlining a future in-person duel in the studio, complete with a superhero alter ego.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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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. Office Hours Live with Tim Heidecker
3. Hollywood Handbook
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 1021 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.

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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. Nathan Gelgud
2. John Green
3. Rick Higgins
4. Ted Leo
5. Mike Lisk
6. Philly Boy Roy
7. Butch Daffodil
8. Jamel Johnson

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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