The Best Show with Tom Scharpling
The Best Show with Tom Scharpling | |
| Genre | Talk, Comedy, Music |
|---|---|
| Running time | 2 hours (2000–2001) 3 hours (2001–2013, 2014–) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Starring | Tom Scharpling Jon Wurster Mike Lisk (2005–) Pat Byrne (2014-) Jason Gore (2014-2025) |
| Produced by | Forever Dog Productions |
| Recording studio | Los Angeles |
| Other studios | Jersey City |
| Original release | On WFMU: October 10, 2000 – December 17, 2013 Independent revival: December 16, 2014–present |
| Opening theme | "Best Show Theme" by Islands |
| Other themes | "Best Show Theme" by Themeweavers "Best Show Theme" by Mr. and Mrs. Paycheck |
| Website | thebestshow |
| Podcast | thebestshow.libsyn.com/rss |
The Best Show with Tom Scharpling (formerly The Best Show on WFMU) is a combination music, call-in, and comedy Internet radio show and podcast hosted independently by Tom Scharpling since 2014, which previously aired on New Jersey–based radio station WFMU from 2000 to 2013. The show's slogan is "three hours of mirth, music, and mayhem."
The Best Show on WFMU first aired on October 10, 2000, occupying the 9 to 11 p.m. time slot. The current incarnation of The Best Show continues to air on Tuesday evenings on YouTube from the studios of Forever Dog in Los Angeles.
On December 27, 2016, the show began accepting donations through Patreon, providing ancillary content and spin-off shows. The show has also spawned an Adult Swim special and several album releases on Scharpling & Wurster's Stereolaffs label, Third Man Records and a 16-disc Numero Group box set.
The show is known for its deeply dedicated, card-carrying fanbase, who call themselves "Friends of Tom" with listeners and callers from the United States, Canada, the U.K., Sweden, Japan, New Zealand, and Tasmania.