WTF with Marc Maron (podcast)

[PunditFight]

Ben Stiller! The greatest hits keep coming. The last time I saw Stiller in an awkward, illuminating interview was via Ruby Wax.

As for Garofalo. She is indeed a great instigator. We've seen her in action with Seder and with Seder/Maron (when Maron was a weekly guest on the Majority Report). But outside of their comedy gigs together I'm curious about how they would go as a radio duo.

Maron and Garofalo go on tangent rants but Maron's chaos is more organised which makes for good radio I find. Do it!

[RayJax]

Maron keeps getting better and better.

[fggrhjkhdeu]

The interview was very good, Marc was good and Ben was funny and honest.
I like Ben Stiller, and its seems like he is trying to go back to the "altern***** (cant say it) comedy crowd.
He did CDR radio, was on Tim and Eric finale, and now WTF.

[Jawa]

I sat down and chatted with Marc on Friday, the results of which are up on Third Beat.

Part 1 is a more general overview of putting the podcast together.

Part 2 covers the Mencia fallout, and is what will interest folks here the most. He talks more about what he mentioned in the final minutes of his last episode, about how these things should stay between comics and not be ruled by the internet. He also has a very strong opinion on how Patton handled the recent thievery.

What he says makes absolute sense, and it's hard to disagree with him (particularly when sitting 3 feet away and yelling). But part of me also wants to be defensive because I DO cheer on the calling-out of this stuff. I don't see it as being on a particular person's side, though - I'm on comedy's side, which doesn't seem all that wrong.

I have to say, I'd only met Marc previously via brief fits of schmoozing at JFL Montreal last year, so I didn't have a strong sense of what he'd be like one-on-one. But between the interview and our subsequent conversations about just plain whatever, I can say that he's the real deal and a just plain awesome dude. What you hear on WTF is absolutely what you get with him.

Very nice. I thought his perspective on Patton was very reasonable and common-sense.

I have always eagerly read any joke-thievery stories, listened to/watched the joke comparison YouTube clips, etc. I don't think I ever called for anyone's head, but I could still be considered one of the faceless mob, I suppose.

I know Louis CK has been polite/respectful speaking about comedians who some people claim have stolen jokes from him, but it was great seeing Maron talk about things head-on.

Thanks a lot for posting this, Sharilyn.

[sharilyn]

Thanks Jawa!

I'm honestly still torn on the issue of nerd intrusion. I agree with Maron's stance on the subject, and certainly can't argue with a guy who's on that side of the fence. But at the same time, here I am gleefully taking a cheap shot at Dane Cook in the Laugh Factory thread. I guess the only difference is that I do so with more guilt than I did before.

[rutabega]

I agree with scamboogah that Moshe Kasher should get his own episode. I love his stand up but that was the first time I have heard his life story and it was fascinating.

The Dylan Brody episode was such an amazingly deep conversation. I always enjoy people talking about the ins and outs of making the decision on whether or not to and how to follow your dreams.

Ben Stiller was great as well. I never expected Marc to be such a Stiller fan, but it was pretty cool hearing him talk about his love for Tropic Thunder and Greenberg. I was also very pleased that Marc led the interview off with his neurosis about whose house they were going to meet at. There’s something about the way he starts an interview off that I think makes them so special.

[PunditFight]

Part 2 of the ThirdBeat interview was awesome Sharilyn.
Did you start a new thread just to promote it. I totally think you should. I give you permission, or you have my meaningless endorsement at least.

It's a great interview. Not only cause it puts Patton Oswalt and to some extent AST on the spot. Maron has some strong opinions about the negative aspects of comedy nerd-dom which is probably worth reflecting on. Lets get this out there I say.

Props Sharilyn.

[sharilyn]

Thanks, man! And thanks for commenting over there.

I do have my own thread for promoting Third Beat, somewhere. I've been meaning to dig it out and update it, after I got the Simon Rich thing up. Which I did yesterday. So I suppose I have no excuse for sitting on my ass right now.

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

Edit: Registration is working fine!

[angryrobot]

That Des Bishop interview was great. I know the big stars are now lining up to be interviewed by Marc but I hope that doesn't mean that his talks with the lesser known comics will become more infrequent because that's where WTF really shines. Marc has a gift of getting people to talk about their passion and the raw intensity comes out the most in the comics who don't have the rote responses due to being interviewed hundreds of times.

[oldude82]

listening to marc inspired me to do open mic night last night and i bombed... it only makes me want to write better jokes.

[beccaBeccaBECCA]

Just listened to the bonus episode. The stuff with Morgan Murphy was great. And Greg Giraldo had some interesting takes on his new gig at Last Comic Standing. Definitely worth ordering. It was super funny the whole way through. Just wish each guest had more time.

[stephenhicks]

Dear God in heaven let the Aspen WTF? be free.
That line-up is way too good.

[perdothegit]

Maron keeps getting better and better.

Really like your avatar RayJax! One of my favorite shows.

Maron is indeed getting better and better. I really liked the Ireland episode a lot despite not knowing any of the comedians. Loved all the talk about the cultural differences.

Just remembered I never finished listening to my premium episode. I don't mind paying at all (though I think $1.99 per episode might be a better price point over the long run) but I don't like that I can't download the episode directly to my iPhone. It doesn't work like the normal podcast at all. It's a small complaint though.

I also should point out that WTF is consistently one of the best sounding podcasts that I listen to. People were complaining in the Carolla thread how crappy Adam's show sounds (and it does sound horrible) but the audio quality on WTF is consistently top notch (even when he does shows outside of the garage) and his mp3 file sizes are nowhere among the largest of the podcasts I download. I guess The Sound of Young America dude really set him right.

Keep it up Marc!

[Siggers]

listening to marc inspired me to do open mic night last night and i bombed... it only makes me want to write better jokes.

That's Funny bombing makes me want to Kill.

[JustinGoff]

I know the last thing podcasters of Marc's mettle want are suggestions for guests, but I think Mike Schmidt would be about as good as it gets on WTF. Those two can tell a story with the best of 'em and both seem willing to discuss their personal foibles and how every day is a struggle to be a better person. Makes for a damn fine show on paper.

[davidlidsky]

Dear God in heaven let the Aspen WTF? be free.
That line-up is way too good.

Gary Gulman got stuck in Denver because of bad weather, but Shane Mauss took his place and was great! Marc and Michael Ian Black is epic. Maybe not Morgan Murphy epic but close. Hard not to see this being a premium ep given how great it was. I will buy it even though I saw it live.

[Adamonius]

The Ireland episode was put together very well, like a little radio documentary. (I guess Maron wasn't foolin' with that Ira Glass impression a few episodes back.)

Kudos to Messrs. Maron and McDonald.

[TomBolton]

Just listened to the Tig episode today and I'm watching Ferguson now and just saw on AST that she's on tonight! What a pleasant surprise.

I saw her at Go Bananas in Cincinnati, without really knowing much of her work previously, last year and she was great. I was impressed.

-Tom

[TomBolton]

Guess its actually tomorrow. Forgot about the LA thing.

-Tom