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WTF with Marc Maron

post #1 of 147
9/1/10 at 8:51am
Thread Starter 
I'm sure there are others out there who are listening to this podcast (in fact, I know for a fact Greg David does), so I thought it was high time it got its own discussion thread.

I've listened to the vast majority of episodes so far (still have about 25 to get through before I've heard them all), and I just love it. It's amazing how much it feels like Maron is giving voice to my own thoughts and neuroses. Greg David mentioned to me on Facebook that it's like a therapy session, and I don't think he's too far off. The show is often times hilarious, but more often than not Maron and the guests have very substantive discussions that shine a light on everything from drug addiction to pornography. It may not always be funny, but it's usually quite fascinating.

So other than Greg David and myself, are there any other fans of this podcast lurking around the CHUD boards?
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post #2 of 147
9/1/10 at 9:31am
Here.

I loved the way he smashed Carlos Mencia. Twice, and kept it classy.
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post #3 of 147
9/1/10 at 9:49am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin S View Post
Here.

I loved the way he smashed Carlos Mencia. Twice, and kept it classy.
Yeah, the Mencia episodes were really interesting, especially as Maron engaged in some actual journalism over the course of the two installments. I'm not at all a fan of Mencia, and he really came off like a twat in those interviews (how many more times could the guy say "literally?"), but Maron was totally fair and even-handed. He just sort of let Mencia hang himself.
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post #4 of 147
9/1/10 at 10:04am
It's kind of my favorite bit of media right now. I've listened to them all, and look forward to it every week. "Therapy session" is so apt. Listening to the way Marc finally - finally! - begins to accept, over several episodes, that just maybe he's got a real talent for interviewing, that his show is compelling, that he's building a real fanbase, that people do actually like him...well, it's kind of touching, really.

If you're a new initiate, I recommend the following order:

Robin Williams episode
Carlos Mencia episodes
Dane Cook episode

Then go back to the beginning. The first 8-10 episodes are Marc finding his voice, and after that, it's just compelling stuff. Funny, painful, real, confessional, and true insights into Marc, and great, loose interviews. If you're interested in stand-up beyond the surface, as both an art form and neurosis, it's just the best thing ever.
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post #5 of 147
9/1/10 at 10:22am
Thread Starter 
The other thing I love is when Maron has authors on his show, as that points me to new books I might not have even heard of otherwise. My "To Read" list has grown significantly, and a lot of that is due to Maron recommending books like I, Fatty: A Novel, The Ask, and his own The Jerusalem Syndrome.
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post #6 of 147
9/1/10 at 11:50am
The Andy Richter one was great too.
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post #7 of 147
9/2/10 at 12:51am
Part one of the two part Judd Apatow interview was so great. People other than the three of us really ought to be listening to this stuff....
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post #8 of 147
9/2/10 at 1:16am
My Ipod is busted so I'm seriously behind, but I love this show and totally agree with what you guys are saying about his style. it's a unique voice in podcasting, for sure.

I love the episode with Kyle Kinane, partly because he's my favorite standup and partly because it's two comics talking comic stuff. But I kinda hated that pretend reunion with the awkward schoolchum.
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post #9 of 147
9/3/10 at 5:25pm
I started listening right at his first episode and after half a dozen I didn't think he was doing a good enough job so I dropped it. But I like him a lot so I went back to give the podcast another try when he'd got up to about episode 30 and it was a huge improvement. I think he does a great job.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Olson View Post
He just sort of let Mencia hang himself.
That's exactly what he did. With both Mencia and Dane Cook, and also with Robin Williams, he broached the joke-thief accusations and let the comics come with their defences. Cook did a halfway decent job but Mencia totally fucked himself.
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post #10 of 147
9/4/10 at 5:57pm
If you have a high tolerance for crudity, the Jim Norton one is really interesting.
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post #11 of 147
9/4/10 at 7:07pm
The recent interview with Patrice Oneal was a major standout. I certainly can't agree with everything he has to say, but he clearly is a guy who's put a lot of thought into his opinions. He's a fascinating son of a bitch.

What really fascinates me about this show (and I've mentioned this to Chris before) is that everybody who comes on seems completely prepared to go into confessional mode from the moment the mikes are on. Maybe Maron is so famously open about his life that it inspires that in others. And he certainly does bring on guests also known for their personal comedic styles. The road trip with Maria Bamford was one of my favorites; it really was like listening in on a personal conversation.
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post #12 of 147
9/4/10 at 7:11pm
Speaking of WTF moments, I just realized that despite the existence of hundreds of free podcasts, I only listen to three, and I'm paying money for all of them.
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post #13 of 147
9/4/10 at 8:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David View Post
What really fascinates me about this show (and I've mentioned this to Chris before) is that everybody who comes on seems completely prepared to go into confessional mode from the moment the mikes are on. Maybe Maron is so famously open about his life that it inspires that in others. And he certainly does bring on guests also known for their personal comedic styles. The road trip with Maria Bamford was one of my favorites; it really was like listening in on a personal conversation.
I really dug the Bamford episode too. And I think you're dead right pinpointing Marc's openness with his own failings and vulnerabilities as being why his guests feel open talking to him (and the whole internet).

I think he's great at playing off of whoever he's sharing mics with on other people's shows too, like when he went on with Adam Carolla a few months ago. And last year he was on with Jordan Jesse Go, a couple of improv goofballs who have a far different comedic sensibility than Marc's, but Marc stepped up and played goofball with them brilliantly.
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post #14 of 147
9/5/10 at 4:03am
Thread Starter 
I'm really hoping that some of the MST3K crew show upon WTF sometime (I know Frank Conniff knows Eddie Pepitone from this series of web shorts they did together, so it's not too much of a stretch). I'm a big fan of the show, so I'd love to hear what Joel Hodgson or Michael J. Nelson had to say in a conversation with Maron.

Oh, and speaking of Eddie Pepitone, I will be forever grateful to WTF for introducing me to this guy's comedy. He is the MVP of every live show they've done so far, and just an incredibly hilarious guy all around. His Twitter feed is hysterical.

ETA: I almost forgot to post this, but the AV Club had a pretty great interview with Marc Maron a few weeks back. If you missed it, you should really check it out.
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post #15 of 147
9/5/10 at 4:53am
The Robin Williams episode was brilliant. One of the best interviews I've ever heard. I've never been a big Williams fan but, after that, I have A LOT more respect for him. Seems like a really decent dude.

Another episode I loved was the one with Mike Birbiglia. Maron and Birbiglia has an uncomfortable past and their ability to put it behind them and air their grievances was really interesting.

I'm always impressed by how much Maron (and everyone he brings on) really, truly love comedy. It's refreshing.
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post #16 of 147
9/5/10 at 5:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bucho View Post
That's exactly what he did. With both Mencia and Dane Cook, and also with Robin Williams, he broached the joke-thief accusations and let the comics come with their defences. Cook did a halfway decent job but Mencia totally fucked himself.
The problem for Mencia is he can't speak without sounding like a bombastic douche. Cook came off a lot more calm and in control of his persona. But it's also obvious when he's being disingenuous. He kind of reminded me of Tom Cruise in the interview. Also kind of sad when he says he started Tourgasm because he wanted a group of comedians to belong to. Jeez...
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post #17 of 147
9/5/10 at 6:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Olson View Post
ETA: I almost forgot to post this, but the AV Club had a pretty great interview with Marc Maron a few weeks back. If you missed it, you should really check it out.
Thanks for that Chris.

Speaking of "if you missed it" I don't know if any of you guys listen to KATG but Maron's two appearances on that show are worth listening to as well, especially given that Keith Malley had said on the show for years before ever meeting Marc that Marc was one of his top five comics, so it's interesting to hear the chemistry when these two comedy nerds talk business.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/shitecom/KATG-2009-08-10.mp3
http://traffic.libsyn.com/shitecom/KATG-2009-09-15.mp3
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post #18 of 147
9/5/10 at 7:31am
Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Chris. This is really great.
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post #19 of 147
9/13/10 at 6:58pm
That Thomas Lennon interview was a great change of pace. They were just having a great time riffing off of each other, and it was hilarious. I guess this is what happens when Marc doesn't have a history with his guest.
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post #20 of 147
9/13/10 at 7:07pm
Yeah, I've been listening to these off and on for the past week (more off than on, but still, they're good), and they're just all around awesome, especially for someone getting into comedy.
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post #21 of 147
9/15/10 at 8:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David View Post
The recent interview with Patrice Oneal was a major standout. I certainly can't agree with everything he has to say, but he clearly is a guy who's put a lot of thought into his opinions. He's a fascinating son of a bitch.
I had to turn it off after ten minutes. Patrice's blatant misogyny really bugged me. Does it get better after all that great white shark/queen bullshit?
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post #22 of 147
9/16/10 at 1:18am
If you couldn't handle that, you're probably better off not hearing the rest. It isn't all that controversial, but there's some pretty out there stuff. Like I said, I can't agree with everything he has to say, but I find it interesting.
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post #23 of 147
9/16/10 at 4:13am
This podcast is greatness. I started off listening to some of the more serious, semi-awkward but incredibly fascinating and informative ones (namely Carlos Mencia, Dane Cook, and Robin Williams), then moved on to the straight up fascinating and informative (Judd Apatow, a bunch of others), and now due to a lot of free time on my hands over the course of the last week, have caught up with a majority of the existing episodes. Essential listening for anyone who's interested in comedy (or even showbiz in general) as a career/hobby, but also for any fans.

What makes it even better is that some of the conversations offer interesting thoughts and insight about an even broader range of topics, life and love and sex and family and neurosis and judaism and much more. Even outside of my interest in the central topics I connect with and relate to a lot of what's discussed. Also, it's often hilarious, especially the live episodes, or when he has another comedian come on as a character and do a Scharpling & Wurster style bit with him.
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post #24 of 147
9/16/10 at 8:32am
Thread Starter 
Nick Kroll as El Chupacabra is one of the flat out funniest things ever. Of all time. Knocks me on my ass every time.

In regards to the Patrice O'Neal interview, I was actually kind of shocked by the things he was saying, and I disagreed with pretty much everything he said. At the same time, though, it was a completely absorbing and compelling interview, and I felt like I was eavesdropping on a really fascinating, weird conversation. O'Neal has a lot of issues with women, that much is obvious, but at the same time, he seems to be a pretty thoughtful guy.

Greg is right, though...if the first few minutes put you off, you're probably better off skipping the rest.
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post #25 of 147
9/16/10 at 10:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Olson View Post
Nick Kroll as El Chupacabra is one of the flat out funniest things ever. Of all time. Knocks me on my ass every time.
[derail]If you haven't already, you need to download this week's Comedy Death-Ray Radio podcast (episode 71). There are extended El Chupacabra bits that are just tremendous. My favorite Nick Kroll character is actually Bobby Bottleservice, but Chupacabra is a close second.

When is Nick Kroll going to break out? The guy is just ridiculously talented.[/derail]

On Patrice: it was an uncomfortable episode, but compelling for all the same reasons it was uncomfortable.

My wife hasn't listened to WTF before. I have this irrational fear that she'll get curious and start with the Patrice or Jim Norton episodes by sheer chance. That would lead to an...interesting...conversation.
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post #26 of 147
9/16/10 at 11:21am
Thread Starter 
He popped up on the latest WTF live podcast, and absolutely killed. Completely stole the show right out from under Patton Oswalt, Doug Benson, AND Donald Glover. His bit about the lesson of 9/11 is to be late for work destroyed me. Just amazing stuff.

And again, Maron will always have my gratitude for giving Eddie Pepitone a forum. I love that guy.
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post #27 of 147
9/16/10 at 11:26am
If you want more of the Bitter Buddah that is Eddie Peppitone, listen to The Long Shot podcast. He's one of the co-hosts. The other hosts range from passable to annoying though.
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post #28 of 147
9/16/10 at 11:49am
I still have a crush on Maria Bamford, and the WTF episode with her did nothing to help that. I will protect you and treat you like a queen, Maria. Call me.
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post #29 of 147
9/16/10 at 12:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyeball Kid View Post
If you want more of the Bitter Buddah that is Eddie Peppitone, listen to The Long Shot podcast. He's one of the co-hosts. The other hosts range from passable to annoying though.
Which is exactly what Pepitone's schtick is. Except the "passable" part.
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post #30 of 147
9/16/10 at 5:39pm
Is there anyway to access the first 50 episodes? It starts with episode 51 on iTunes.
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post #31 of 147
9/16/10 at 5:44pm
If you subscribe to it in the iTunes store, when you go to the window where all your subscribed podcasts go you'll see the newest episode and then all the rest of them in grey, and a little button next to the show heading that says "get all." Click that.

I'm listening to the W. Kamau Bell and Dwayne Kennedy ep as I type this. Great discussion of race and comedy.
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post #32 of 147
9/16/10 at 5:50pm
Has anyone paid for the premium episodes? Worth it?
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post #33 of 147
9/16/10 at 5:55pm
I did. If you like the live episodes, it's worth it. $3 each seems a bit steep I guess but it's also worth it knowing you're contributing to the show's continued existence in some small way.
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post #34 of 147
9/16/10 at 5:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Benenson View Post
If you subscribe to it in the iTunes store, when you go to the window where all your subscribed podcasts go you'll see the newest episode and then all the rest of them in grey, and a little button next to the show heading that says "get all." Click that.

I'm listening to the W. Kamau Bell and Dwayne Kennedy ep as I type this. Great discussion of race and comedy.
It's only downloading episodes 51 through 108.
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post #35 of 147
9/16/10 at 5:56pm
That's weird, I don't know what to tell you then. The first 50 literally don't show up at all, anywhere?
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post #36 of 147
9/16/10 at 6:04pm
Nope. Not in the iTunes store, not on my podcast page, not on my iPod.

I thought maybe the first 50 were only available through his site, like a "Season 1" purchase, but even on his site there's only episodes 51 through 108.
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post #37 of 147
9/16/10 at 6:10pm
That's really strange, the whole kit and kaboodle was available just a week ago
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post #38 of 147
9/17/10 at 3:41am
God dammit, that Bumbershoot episode made me wish I could have gone. Really badly. There was bad family news that week, and a comedy show wasn't on my priority list.

Never Not Funny did a live show there the day before, too.
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post #39 of 147
9/17/10 at 4:11am
I tried listening to Never Not Funny three or four times, especially because Jesse Thorn (the dude who helped Marc get set up in podcasting) regularly talks about how he loves it, but it doesn't hit for me at all. I feel like there are no original thoughts going on on that show, which is the complete opposite of Marc's show, which feels endlessly fresh to me.
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post #40 of 147
9/17/10 at 4:24am
I love NNF, partly because it is the opposite of WTF. There are few big discussions of any depth, just funny people sitting down and riffing. I love hearing comedians go off without prepared material. It separates the wheat from the chaff. Definitely wheat: Conan O'Brien. That guy is quick.
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post #41 of 147
9/17/10 at 9:48pm
I agree in theory, but the riffing on NNF has always been really unfunny to me. Plus the free show is half commercials and other non-content, so it's not even really worth it, and I don't like it enough to pay for the full shows.
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post #42 of 147
9/17/10 at 9:57pm
I started listening to the show this week thanks to this thread.
It helps at work. So, thanks.

Listened to 5 or 6 episodes. The latest live episode. The Robin Williams, both Mencia's, the 100th episode and the Cummings episode. All great!
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post #43 of 147
9/19/10 at 4:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David View Post
I love NNF, partly because it is the opposite of WTF. There are few big discussions of any depth, just funny people sitting down and riffing. I love hearing comedians go off without prepared material. It separates the wheat from the chaff. Definitely wheat: Conan O'Brien. That guy is quick.
I don't get it. I find Jimmy Pardo more interesting than funny. I liked his appearance on WTF. But I find your funny posts funnier than I find NNF. And I enjoy Jesse Thorn's humour more than NNF, which he is also a big enough fan of to pay for like you do.

So I think you're funny, and you're a fan of WTF, so I know we have things in common, but you're also a fan of NNF, which I don't get. Which makes me even more curious what the third leg of your podcast tripod is.
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post #44 of 147
9/19/10 at 5:00pm
It's not a comedy podcast at all; it's the On The Page screenwriting podcast.

I have picked up on a couple of free ones now too, so I feel better.
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post #45 of 147
9/19/10 at 5:43pm
I gotta check that one out. You don't listen to the Creative Screenwriting Podcast or The Treatment?

To re-rail a little bit, Maron is on a plane with Ken Mehlman and it's worth checking out his tweets (especially the pics) regarding the matter for anyone who's not already following him. Next WTF should have a nice story to tell.

http://twitter.com/marcmaron
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post #46 of 147
9/19/10 at 5:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bucho View Post
I gotta check that one out. You don't listen to the Creative Screenwriting Podcast or The Treatment?
I had to stop listening to Creative Screenwriting. I couldn't take Jeff Goldsmith anymore.

I hadn't heard of The Treatment. I may have to try that one.
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post #47 of 147
9/19/10 at 6:03pm
Heh, yeah Jeff Goldsmith isn't for everyone. I always have to fast forward through his opening preamble. (Is it redundant to say "opening preamble"? Is a preamble opening by nature?). The Treatment has some great interviews with big names and a sizeable archive too. And Elvis Mitchell's style is the opposite of Jeff Goldsmith's. He's all class and understatement and he's seen every movie known to man.
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post #48 of 147
9/19/10 at 6:45pm
Thread Starter 
Just in case you guys missed it, Maron spent the last hour or so live-tweeting about his encounter with former GOP head Ken Mehlman on a plane. It's pretty great stuff, and a fascinating peek into a world few of us will ever have access to. If you're interested, you can check it out here.
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post #49 of 147
9/19/10 at 7:08pm
Yeah, that's some good stuff. I particularly liked his bit about hating it when villains become human.
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post #50 of 147
9/20/10 at 3:02am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David View Post
Yeah, that's some good stuff. I particularly liked his bit about hating it when villains become human.
Yeah, that bit was great, but I will admit that my favorite tweet was this one:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Maron
Ken Mehlman looks so vulnerable sleeping. I wonder if he dreams about being part of the cock that fucked the country.
That had me laughing pretty hard. However, it doesn't look like the conservative media found it all that funny.

Quote:
Being the manager of George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign? Totally homophobic. Using gay jokes to mock a Republican leader who just came out of the closet? Totally hilarious.

At least that's the message liberal comedian and former Air America shock jock Marc Maron sent on Twitter, after he was unexpectedly seated next to former GOP National Committee Chairman and head of Bush's 2004 re-election campaign Ken Mehlman on a flight.
How long before Hannity, Beck, O'Reilly, and the rest of the usual gang of blowhards starts freaking out about this? I think Maron may have just achieved a new level of fame, folks.
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