Cover image: Abrams Books. Photos by Cindy Ord/Getty Images. Jason Kempin/Getty Images Graphic. Karl GustafsonThe radio show and podcast The Best Show have made Tom Scharpling a comedy legend for nearly two decades. The idea is that many weirdos dial in to the radio program. However, not all of them are rock fans or critics. Jon Wurster, comedian/drummer/also-legend, is the one who plays the character. Scharpling is an amused cranky avatar, who spends three hours per week on-air, arguing with anyone and everything that happens. The first step in becoming a member of the Best Show cult was to learn that Wursters frequent caller Philly Boy Roy was a put-on. The second step was realizing that the deadpan and confident man behind the mic each week is as much an invention.AdvertisementIn It Never Ends! A Memoir with Nice Memories! Scharpling's new memoir, some of that illusion is stripped away. This includes the creation of the surname Scharpling, a portmanteau of Al Sharpton, Garry Shandling, and the usual discussions about The Best Show's origins, Scharpling's genesis, and whether Scharpling truly hates the music of Tom Waits or Billy Joel. Yes and no. Scharpling is an excellent storyteller with an eye for the absurd. He brings these talents to the written word as well as on the radio.Reviews and Reviews It Never Ends - A Memoir with Nice Memories B+B+ It Never Ends : A Memoir with Nice Memories Author Tom Scharpling Publisher Abrams PressIt Never Ends is not just about comedy. Scharpling also tries to provide an account of his childhood, both for his own sake and the benefit of the readers. The host and writer share many details about their lives, including the struggles with depression and suicidal impulses. They also discuss the harsh psychiatric treatment he received in his teens. Scharpling's nervousness about sharing these experiences is both palpable, and endearing. He writes with bracing clarity about some of the most difficult chapters in his life. Scharpling's intense self-examination has a downside. His discomfort with the subject matter and the feeling that he is trying to sort out all of his darkest moments on the page also imposes some distance on his naturally funny voice. Although his wit is never lost, it's hard to forget that the chapters are written for the author and not the reader.It is paradoxical that the reader sometimes feels like he learns more about Tom Scharpling by reading a chapter where he describes his obsession with the Wizard Of Oz arcade machine at the Jersey Shore, than from his meditations on his mental state. Scharplings writing is not dull, but the way he embraces and enjoys the silly side of coin-pushing gives us a glimpse into his joy. The Best Show was always based on clever, charming play. Scharpling's memoir shines because it embraces that spirit and not the telling.G/O Media could be eligible for a World of Warcraft 60 Day Time Card at Eneba. Use the promo code: 20210704It Never Ends is best as a tour through Scharplings humorously irascible worldview. This is infused with a heady mix of self-promotion and honest self-deprecation. People looking for stories that will burn bridges about Scharplings entertainment career, including his work as a writer for Monk and as a voice actor for Steven Universe, might be disappointed. (Tony Shalhoub, Rebecca Sugar, and both are, apparently, very nice. For a deeper understanding of Tom Scharpling, you will need to be there for him. The perfect platform for those who want to get lost in Scharpling's voice, one that has been so distinctive over the past 20 years of comedy, is now available. You get top-notch stories about The New Monkees and Sex And The City, as well as the basketball expertise of Papa Roach. This is a great deal.Joel Fox, author photo
