Alright, I can admit it.
I'm tapped.
Completely spent. Long, long weekend full of stuff that had to be done, moving bleary eyed through work today, came home to another fantastic dinner my better half had (bless her heart) made before I even set foot in the door. I was washing up and realized in a panic "Oh no, no post!" So here I am, typing through the exhaustion, wondering what I could muster any love for that would propel me through this. Then I realized I knew just the thing - something I have been enjoying immensely, as of late.
WTF with Marc Maron.
Maron has been a gigging, hardworking and above all honest comic for over 20 years. His accomplishments, while too numerous to catalog in their entirety, include over 40 performances on Conan O'Brien's first talk show, hosting his own Air America radio show, three amazing albums and even a book. In short (which would no doubt irk him to be succinctly summarized) he is the definition of the long-standing stand-up, a man whose drive and work ethic has lead him to where he is today, riding high on his critical success and killing it every week in the incredible podcast he produces.
The show itself is, for comedy aficionados, a gold mine. Maron opens each installment by examining his own life a bit, maybe riffing on his travel experiences or just venting about feeling bad about things he knows he shouldn't. It's an interesting look into his headspace from one episode to the next. He can be both brutally honest and refreshingly charming when seemingly riffing on his own life. After the intro, and the obligatory plugs for a sponsor, Maron plays the segment that comprises the meat of his show - engaging, insightful interviews or discussions with other comics. Some are old friends (like the amazing 2-episode installment in which he and the prolific Louis C.K. reconnect after a falling out), some are strangers (like the hysterical Dr. Ken Jeong) while some are controversial. It seems some of his best known episodes are the ones where he starts to take the kid gloves off to really volley back and forth with the guests. His bull sessions with known joke thieves Carlos Mencia and Dane Cook are fascinating glimpses into the much maligned comics and how they justify what they do. Maron insists he wasn't meeting with them just for that reason but the notion is one that is constantly reminded, and he shouldn't shy away from it. He displays a real finesse for handling people and coaxing truth out of them. His discussion with one of my favorites, Jackie Kashian, blew me away with her frank recollection of childhood experiences and tales of parental drama. It made me appreciate the both of them so much more. His recent episode featuring Dave Foley was both cringe-inducing and revelatory, as the Newsradio and Kids In The Hall alum talked about heartbreak and divorce at great length, and how it had lead him to a new phase in his life.
I can say all this dramatic business about WTF and Maron's conversations, but it's not as though it's all doom and gloom. Quite the contrary, he actually makes it very easy and engrossing to hear. What is at times awkward or difficult is fascinating and you don't want to have to stop, like his recent interview with the notoriously temperamental Gallagher. I don't want to rehash what's been said since it happened, but its absolutely worth it to hear Maron hold the aging act storm off when confronted with the reality of his offensive material. Who knew Gallagher could be so crotchety and difficult? All right, I'll admit, it was pretty funny.
Not only is Maron working tirelessly as a regular performer, but he has an amazing relationship with his audience and fans, keeping an amazingly consistent presence online, whether it be the WTF site, his own page archiving his career, or through his as-it-happens twitter feed. To boot, he has been known to barter with fans after shows for his merchandise, accepting (until recently) homemade baked goods, knitted things and other miscellanea in lieu of payment for his content through both Android and IOS apps. The guy is up on the tech, as well.
Seriously, look at how much I just wrote about how great this podcast is, even after that miserable intro about how tired I was. That's how amazing the show is, that it pushed me right through the fatigue and off to the far end of this page. If you're still reading this, go download an episode, starting with someone you're familiar with. It's a great way to get started with this excellent podcast. I"m glad I did.
