Worthy cause alert: WFMU Best Show With Tom Scharpling pledge drive prize package promises almost inconceivable awesomeness
Over here at The A.V Club we're huge fans of the mirth and merriment of WFMU's The Best Show With Tom Scharpling, the home of the brilliant duo Scharpling & Wurster. WFMU is listener-supported, which means that unless fine folks such as yourselves donate money the station will go off the air and everyone associated with it will die and WFMU will immediately switch over to a half smooth jazz/half shock jock format. We're not sure exactly why, but that's apparently how listener-supported radio works.
So we urge you to pledge seventy-five dollars to WFMU tonight, TUESDAY MARCH 2nd between 8-11 PM EST and pick up the CHUMP Steamroller Prize Pack. But don't just take our word for it. Here's a press release with more details:
TONIGHT, 8 PM EST to 11 PM EST: EPIC BEST SHOW PLEDGE DRIVE, FEATURING TED LEO AND JON WURSTER LIVE IN THE STUDIO, PLUS BEST SHOW DVD FEAT. PATTON OSWALT, PAUL F. TOMPKINS, AIMEE MANN, FUCKED UP AND MORE.
If you aren't yet a devotee of The Best Show On WFMU, which has been, hands down, the most genius long-form radio comedy show on the dial for eleven years running, I highly suggest that you read a brief synopsis HERE and start digging through the archives HERE. Either way, I mightily urge you to use your writerly powers for good and spread the word on the internets about tonight's Best Show Pledge Drive, which'll feature the tremendous musical stylings of our pal Ted Leo and the hilarious hilarity of the unstoppable Jon Wurster. WFMU is one of the best free-form radio stations in the universe, and it's funded year after year by people like you, me and the folks who read what you write about.
Here's a little about tonight's show:
THE BEST SHOW ON WFMU PLEDGE DRIVE: TUESDAY, MARCH 2nd, 8 PM EST TO 11 PM EST: Three hours of mirth, music and mayhem hosted, as always, by the People's Host, Tom Scharpling. Ted Leo and Jon Wurster will be live in the studio; they reportedly both are in possession of sleeves with tricks inside.
THE BEST SHOW ON WFMU DVD, TRADING CARDS, AND MORE!
LISTENERS CAN PLEDGE TO WIN THE FIRST EVER BEST SHOW ON WFMU DVD! It's a full-length DVD called FANTASIA IN BEST SHOW MINOR, and it's going to be amazing. Tom says that "It features stuff you're never going to believe." The DVD features PATTON OSWALT, TED LEO, PAUL F. TOMPKINS, ZACH GALIFIANAKIS, FUCKED UP, TIM AND ERIC, JOHN HODGMAN, AIMEE MANN, SCHARPLING AND WURSTER, YO LA TENGO, KURT VILE, MATT FRACTION, TODD BARRY, JASON WOLINER…and, says Tom, there are are "many more. There's going to be puppets. Animation. Scharpling and Wurster stuff like you've never seen before. Travelogues from callers like Fredericks from New Port Richie, Julie from Cincinnati, AP Mike and more! Seriously – there are so many people working so hard on this thing. It's gonna be legendary." And when the marathon is over, this thing is COMPLETELY UNAVAILABLE.
The second part of the Chump Steamroller Fun Pack is a set of BEST SHOW TRADING CARDS, which depict your favorite callers and characters from the show. They are being designed by Chris Moses and Joe Allen – two guys who have done amazing jobs with previous Best Show projects – and they are outdoing themselves on this! Artists Michael Kupperman and Brian Musikoff are on board, among others, and again, these cards will be GONE FOREVER if you don't pledge DURING THE BEST SHOW!
Last but not least, pledging will get folks the first ever BEST SHOW BUMPER STICKER. Also awesome and also available ONLY BY PLEDGING DURING THE BEST SHOW. Once the marathon is over, THEY ARE GONE FOREVER.
And as an added bonus, anyone who pledges $1000 gets something special just from Tom. It's a secret. He says, "I am not trying to be vague here but trust me on this one. I've got something JUST FOR YOU. I'll make you happy with it – I PROMISE." Furthermore, IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CALL OR PLEDGE ONLINE DURING THE BEST SHOW, Tom will gladly write the pledge up himself. You can email him your information – name, address and pledge amount – and he will fill it out himself. All addresses and information is completely confidential and is not sold or distributed in any way shape or form, so don't worry about your privacy. Write tom at toms (at) wfmu.org, and he’ll take care of it.
A pledge of $75 or more automatically earns you the Best Show 2010 CHUMP STEAMROLLER FUN PACK. You need to pledge DURING THE BEST SHOW to get it.