IT NEVER ENDS by Tom Scharpling book review

It Never Ends. Tom Scharpling. Abrams Press. 2021. 288pp. $17.

I have been writing and reading since forever, especially a lot of stuff that falls within pop culture, as many if not everyone who reads my posts, also does on some level. So, I’m sure you relate to finding another comrade, someone who has a similar acumen for sharing insights and exciting a general audience. Welcome to the world of pop culture enthusiast Tom Scharpling. What I love about Tom’s book is that he does not hold back and sets the tone right from the start. From the opening pages, I feel like I’ve just caught up with a good friend and I’m briskly heading out on some adventure. Tom has perfected a conversational style that welcomes everybody with a Let’s Get Lost and Explore attitude. A few pages in and there’s no going back. You’re in Tom’s world and, bit by bit, a life unfolds. I’ll add here that I’m also a cartoonist and this post carries over from my recent review and interview of fellow cartoonist Nathan Gelgud. As you’ll soon see, Nathan did some work for Tom’s book.

From “An Evening with the Piano Man,” a comic adaptation by Nathan Gelgud.

There are some essential facts to know. Tom is a comedy writer along with being a comedian and everything that entails. There are certain life callings that allow for branching out. In this case, Tom knew at an early age that he has a sly sense of humor and, with that, a keen sense of observation and a natural ability to write it down. Fast forward some years and this skill set led Tom to be one of the writers for the hit television series, Monk (2002-2009), a favorite of mine. Tom wrote for the show for its entire eight-season run. It was shortly after this career milestone, that Tom, and his comedy partner, Jon Wurster, began to collaborate on a radio show. The Best Show with Tom Scharpling has been on the air in various forms for 25 years, having launched on October 10, 2000. The Best Show with Tom Scharpling is widely recognized as a highly influential, long-running cult comedy podcast with a loyal niche audience.

From “An Evening with the Piano Man,” a comic adaptation by Nathan Gelgud.

The stories in Tom’s memoir are, as I’ve suggested, steady and well-paced, a similar vibe to a stand-up comic monologue to a certain extent: vivid and direct. In fact, for the 2022 paperback edition, one of Tom’s stories, “An Evening with the Piano Man,” was adapted by cartoonist Nathan Gelgud and it packs a punch as some added bonus content. I guess Billy Joel is one of these pop culture icons who has managed to permeate the fabric of people’s lives to the point of triggering great loyalty as well as great disdain. Clearly, Tom is none too impressed with Joel and his antics. But there’s far more going on that just witty jabs at a pop star. Every great comedy has its inner core of tragedy. And, to this, Tom has much to say. Like a great storyteller, he reveals his childhood trauma in parts so, in his view, not to overwhelm the reader. His is a story we can readily understand, especially the agony and struggle of finding one’s way. Tom battled with depression as a child to the point of great despair. As he writes, it just became unbearable and confusing. A counselor asks him if he has had suicidal thoughts and, once he says yes, it opens the door to being forced into a psych ward. It’s the ’80s and treatment for mental illness leaves much to be desired. Tom undergoes electroshock treatments, barbaric by today’s standards; and, while it may have brought him back from the brink, it all but erased vast memory banks of his childhood. So, yeah, some of the best comics and storytellers often turn out to be battling demons while they make us laugh. This is part of Tom’s reality. His fans get it. His fans love him.

Here’s the thing about what Tom is up to: he’s very good at what he does which, when you sum it all up, is reaching people. He’s a walking encyclopedia of pop culture, knows how to make you laugh and does it all authentically as hell. If you are new to Best Show, just go over to their YouTube channel or wherever you get your podcasts. You can catch the show live on YouTube on Tuesdays, 6pm EST/3pm PST.