WTF with Marc Marron (Comedian Interview Podcast)

Cafe Society
1

I remembered Maron as a comedian from back in the 80’s but hadn’t heard anything about him since.

I don’t know from where, but I discovered that he has this podcast in which he interviews (mostly) comedians. I have found it to be some gripping listening. His long-format interviews dig so much deeper than just about any other show. And I don’t know if it’s just a thing with comedians, but it seems like the people talking are open to baring way more personal shit than they do on the late night TV circuit.

Some of the most fascinating episodes so far are:
[ul]
[li]Ira Glass[/li][li]Sarah Silverman[/li][li]Louis CK (Parts 1 & 2)[/li][li]Judd Apatow (Parts 1 & 2)[/li][li]Mike Birbiglia[/li][li]Carlos Mencia (and the followup counterpoint episode)[/li][li]Maria Bamford[/li][li]Robin Williams[/li][/ul]

If you’re interested in either comedians, interviewing or both, this is worth a listen. It was also written up in the NYT recently.

2

Is there a way to listen if you don’t have an Ipod?

3

Yup.

4

I agree, he does a great podcast.

On the flipside, Maron was just on The Nerdist podcast last week. I appreciate him a heck of a lot more after that interview.

5

Wow, a chance to tell my Marc Maron story. Beware, this belongs more in MPISMS than here, but I never get a chance to tell my brush with exceedingly minor fame.

In November 1994, Maron hosted Short Attention Span Theater on Comedy Central. I was a fan, but more of a passing fan than anything. Well, we were at the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC(it was newer then). Everywhere I kept going, I kept seeing Marc Maron wandering around, looking at the exhibits. I told my friend, who agreed it was him. I mean, we were positive. He’s fairly distinctive looking and we were sure.

Anyway, we entered into a great debate. Do you go up to a celebrity to tell them you admire them at the Holocaust museum? Obviously not. At the same time, we were 16 years old, not from any place you ever see celebrities, and we wanted to say something. We thought about waiting until he left, but we figured we’d lose track of him.

In the end, I just looked at a display that he was at, looked over and said, “Wow, this is terrible.” He just looked at me and said, “Yeah,” and walked away.

A few months later, we saw him on stand-up show(VH1 I think) and he was talking about people that come up to you at inopportune times to talk to you. His over the top example was people coming up to chit chat with you at a Holocaust memorial.

We figure it was a coincidence, of course, but we wondered about it.

Yes, we were lame. Yes, we were probably a bit rude. But there is my Marc Maron anecdote.

I’ve heard good things about his podcast, too. I should check it out.

6

His current interview was with Gallagher. Who knew a guy who defined his career off smashing watermelons was also batshit crazy?

Anyway, it was a great podcast until Gallagher left the room in a huff.

Seriously, he does some really great interviews.

7

Mahaloth, that’s a great story. Reminds me of the time I asked Henny Youngman about his wife.

:wink:

8

He was a radio talk show host on Air America for a while and was always the best part of whatever gang of people he was paired up with. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

9

Yeah, I heard that too. Wow! It’s worth reading the Onion AV Club and Stranger articles on Gallagher too. The dude needs medication.

10

Ira Glass is a comedian?!? :eek:

Seriously, I don’t mean this in a snarky way like I do with Carlos Mencia being on that list- I just can’t imagine…I mean…Ira Glass?

11

I heard Marron interviewed last week on one of the satellite radio comedy channels - maybe RawDog? They talked a bit about these podcasts and they sounded great; I’ve been meaning to check them out.

12

Someone recommended his show on this board after I mentioned The Nerdist Podcast. I listened to his Kevin Smith and Sarah Silverman shows but just didn’t really get into them. I guess the interviews were interesting enough but it wasn’t really what I was looking for. It’s almost the same format as The Nerdist but without the random jokes. Podcasts have to make me laugh or else I get bored. Even the tech related ones I’ve listened to and liked have made me laugh.

His show did turn me on to Jay and Silent Bob Get Old though. That’s what I’m currently listening to right now.

13

No he’s not. The common ground is that they’re both interviewers. And the point of these interviews is not that they’re “funny,” it’s that they dig deeper into real shit that you typically don’t get from most mainstream interviews. Marc does a good job at getting people to open up.

But if you’re looking for am hour of laffs, this isn’t the show you’re looking for.

14

Saw him on Conan not long ago. He said he’s running that podcast out of his garage.

15

Yep, at his ‘cat ranch’.

16

Wow. Condescending much?

I could not imagine Ira Glass as a comedian. Thank you for answering my question.

17

Nope. Sorry it came across that way though.

18

Yes, in retrospect I think my being pissed at my boss came out on you.

Sorry about that.

19

:smiley: No worries — I’ve been there.

20

Thanks for posting this, B. Serum.

I remember liking Marc Marron back when Comedy Central used to run stand-up all day long, and it’s been very interesting listen to him in this format. I’ve only heard about 5 so far, but I think it’s great hearing people like Bob Odenkirk and Robin Williams get introspective about the nature of their work, and what matters about one’s career and self-image, and the fleeting nature of fame, etc. And listening to Thomas Lennon talk about the nature of writing movies in Hollywood, and how no one really knows how it’s done because the movies that Hollywood puts out about how to become an overnight sensation in Hollywood are not true to life. Very strange, that.