WTF with Marc Maron (it's a podcast)

I didn't really get an unstable vibe from him, but then I gave up less than halfway through, it just felt to me like he had an axe to grind with the entire world. Like bitching about how he was "only" the second ranked scrabble player in the world and how no one ever gave him his due by moving him to #1 or w/e.

(xpost)

he talked about how he had a serious, deep relationship with his cat, that basically ruled out doing lots of other things in his life.

totally unstable, bi-polar, paranoid, whatever. and there's that self-aware moment where he says he knows maron is basically using him for out-there content, and he's giving it up in exchange for exposure that he can leverage into...something. the 2nd half of the interview takes a turn, it was done on a different day iirc and is less manic and more honest-seeming (but still pretty crazy).

that interview make me hate both Maron and Graham--Maron a little more

I liked the Graham interview, even though I kind of hate the guy. I found interesting how sexist he was but it also revealed itself to be this deeply misplaced self-resentment. It seemed especially clear when he was talking about how he was good friends with Janeane Garofalo and he likes to go over his set with her before he takes it further and then out of nowhere he starts saying this hateful shit.

Honestly, some of my favorite WTF's are the ones with people that I don't personally find likable.

You'd have to pay me to listen to that Cera one though.

the Molly Shannon one was the best in quite awhile

the cera one is good, drags a little at the end and cera's not quite as forthcoming as you might like but they get along really well

^otm. i forgot how young he still is. hes p smart & poised. he sorta seemed willing to "go there" abt more personal things but im fine w/ it mostly being abt his career

haha the tambor one is amazing. he's such a dick (in a funny/likable way), and it helps that he has no idea who maron is or how the shows usually go.

him and Maron seem of the same type, it's like they're both slightly different versions of each other, and their humor works so well together.

i'm only halfway through but I love it.

I am sick of Maron's irrational and paranoid hatred of the British and British comedy.

honestly, there are plenty of rational & straight-forward reasons to hate it

maybe, but his is just a kneejerk dismissal that clearly comes from some weird inferiority complex. He said he felt "intimidated" by Ricky Gervais (WTF indeed) and he asked John Oliver why British people think they are better than everyone. It's clearly a theme and I think he should get over it and watch Garth Marenghi's Darkplace like Michael Cera told him to.

And of all British comedians to big up, he then picks...Stewart Lee?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnob1BOf7Y0&feature=related

Actually watching that does make me realize we ARE better than everyone. I guess Mark has a point there.

Tambor's shtick of responding in a dickish way followed immediately by something disarming grated on me a little after awhile. I think he literally did it every time he responded.

Oh I think he's delightful. I like that Maron cracked him up a couple of times.

maybe, but his is just a kneejerk dismissal that clearly comes from some weird inferiority complex. He said he felt "intimidated" by Ricky Gervais (WTF indeed) and he asked John Oliver why British people think they are better than everyone. It's clearly a theme and I think he should get over it and watch Garth Marenghi's Darkplace like Michael Cera told him to.

Maron is either intimidated by or resentful of all comedians who didn't come before him or who he didn't do coke with at some comedy club back in the 90s.

Maron should watch Peep Show instead. I think he'd like it more since it deals so heavily in self-loathing.

but they talk funny like fancy people

kinda bummed that they did the Tambor one as a live episode, as those are usually my least favorite.

I'd like to listen just to hear some Larry Sanders show stories, though.

def agree that tambor 1 wouldve been better not live & in front of a crowd

Yeah, it seems like people are scared to be genuine/serious when there's an audience there.

I was gonna say, is it just me, or are Maron's live podcasts far less funny/engaging than the ones at the "cat ranch"?

Oh, I think they're plenty funny. But I feel like the Tambor one could've gone in an interesting direction had he not been as self-conscious about entertaining the audience.

jaymc otm

It's weird, I think I'm not necessarily looking for Das Funny in Maron's podcasts, but rather an investigation into how the craft is constructed. Obviously, the live ones aren't conducive to this, which is probably why they throw me off.

I agree with that. I also notice that a lot of people seem annoyed by Maron's tics, including his self-involvement, his occasional pandering, his pettyness, etc, but because he's self-aware about all these things I find him much more engaging and entertaining then someone more well-adjusted like Chris Hardwick.

I think the fact that he is self-aware of them and brings them up a million times make the tics way less engaging after a few hundred episodes. Like how many times, as a supposedly intelligent adult, can you talk about having a problem with Asians or British comics or whatever, not do anything to change yourself, and still expect your audience to be interested in your journey toward healthy-headedness? After awhile you just sound like a dick.

didn't expect that guitar story to end at a Jane Dark reading

I always feel bad for Marc when he starts talking about music with a musician (Carrie Brownstein, in this case). His references are so superficial and limited, but he at least seems to know a thing or two about guitars.

yeah I kind of assumed awkwardfest when I saw who the guest was, I haven't listened yet.

It was okay except for that he kept mispronouncing Sleater-Kinney.

tbf that's how everyone who isn't from Olympia pronounces it.

It was fine at the beginning but not as fine after she said it. A minor grievance.

wkiw Carrie Brownstein btw

oh no doubt

also ws carrie brownstein :D

I'm not crass, but yes.

She does the rock guitar player high kick better than just about anyone.

I always feel bad for Marc when he starts talking about music with a musician (Carrie Brownstein, in this case). His references are so superficial and limited, but he at least seems to know a thing or two about guitars.

OTM.

I loved the episode with Brendon Smalls of Metalocalypse, where they played together and he told that great story about playing on stage for the first time. But yeah when he tries to talk general music, he's a bit too eager, along with the limited references.

<3 Carrie 4life

Maron was a bit of his depth about her career but he is like that for half the guests. The stuff about post-SK was really interesting.

What I found more crazy-making than the music stuff was Maron talking about Portland and SF like they were these weird puzzle palaces he needed to find the secret keys to. Does he walk around Whole Foods shouting "What are you people all about? What is the organizing principle of this place? Why are you shopping at me like that?"

funny that he mostly wanted to nerd out about guitar gear and had no interest in any history she might have had with comedy

Ha, he's chatted with my brother over email about guitar shit

Ugh, Cross.

Cross is Cross. So, exactly what I expected.

Chris Elliott was more interesting than anticipated, though.

I was really glad Maron and Elliott talked about Bob so much. It was nice to hear "I grew up playing with the sound-effects machine in my radio-pioneer dad's studio!" instead of the usual "I grew up watching Carson!"