We're good, right? We're good?
July 29, 2011 12:09 PM Subscribe
25 years in and I had nothing. I was sitting alone in my garage in a house I was about to lose because of that bitch -- lets not get into that now -- and I realized. Fuck, you can build a clown, and they might not come. I was thinking, "It’s over. It’s fucking over."Marc Maron, consummate comedy insider enjoying a career resurgence as a consummate comedy outsider, delivers the keynote address at the 2011 Just For Laughs Comedy Conference.
Maron, whose WTF podcast has transformed him into something of an elder statesman of comedy since it debuted in 2009, speaks about the fall and rise of his career, the deaths over the past year of his colleagues Greg Giraldo, Mike DeStefano, and Robert Schimmel, and the voluptuous horror of the comedy business, with a helping of advice to aspiring comics.
So good. What an articulate, insightful, funny dude. I have everything crossed that he comes back to the UK so I can catch him live.
posted by RokkitNite at 12:27 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by RokkitNite at 12:27 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Am I missing something? Is there an audio or video link that isn't showing up in Chrome? Because reading something written for somebody as stellar at delivery as Maron is -- well, I like the words and all, but this link felt like being invited to a wine tasting and then being given a leaflet that rapturously describes the booze.
posted by Shepherd at 12:30 PM on July 29, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by Shepherd at 12:30 PM on July 29, 2011 [8 favorites]
Yeah, I was really hoping to listen to this. Hrm.
posted by koeselitz at 12:30 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by koeselitz at 12:30 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, me too -- someone did post part of it on YouTube. I'm hoping Maron will make the audio available on his show.
posted by Pants McCracky at 12:35 PM on July 29, 2011
posted by Pants McCracky at 12:35 PM on July 29, 2011
This is more of an observation than a critique...but...
Lately I have been hearing a lot of...well, whining/reflecting, about comedy and being a comedian. It seems like its in the air...a gestalt or something. As though comedians are this underserved embattled people who toil away thanklessly to bring mirth. 'Comedians are fucked up beautiful people' Couldn't you say that about anyone?
posted by ian1977 at 12:35 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Lately I have been hearing a lot of...well, whining/reflecting, about comedy and being a comedian. It seems like its in the air...a gestalt or something. As though comedians are this underserved embattled people who toil away thanklessly to bring mirth. 'Comedians are fucked up beautiful people' Couldn't you say that about anyone?
posted by ian1977 at 12:35 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
'Comedians are fucked up beautiful people' Couldn't you say that about anyone?
Sure, but it wouldn't be funny.
posted by Floydd at 12:41 PM on July 29, 2011 [10 favorites]
Sure, but it wouldn't be funny.
posted by Floydd at 12:41 PM on July 29, 2011 [10 favorites]
I am grateful for written transcriptions. I'm currently on the road, using a crummy Netbook which barely tolerates video and an Internet connection which barely tolerates packet transfers. I am very happy that someone took the time to transcribe Marc's speech and put it out there, and that Pants McCracky took the time to bring it here.
posted by Spatch at 12:44 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Spatch at 12:44 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've been listening to his podcasts for a while now, and while they've generally been good, interesting, and funny, lately they've been downright captivating. Todd Hanson's frank talk about his depression and suicide attempt, Rob Riggle's talk about his military career, Dave Foley's talk about his divorce and money situations... there's just been more and more fascinating, interesting, and heavy stuff as more and more comics open up to him. It's really evolved into a lot of personal discussions instead of just fun but semi-generic interviews. I'm glad the podcast is getting the attention it deserves. I hope to god it never gets turned into a reality show.
posted by notmydesk at 12:59 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by notmydesk at 12:59 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
I really love WTF, and one of the things I love is how almost all his interviews begin with some variation of "What's wrong with you? Seriously."
This was a good lecture, I'm glad you pointed me here.
posted by lumpenprole at 12:59 PM on July 29, 2011
This was a good lecture, I'm glad you pointed me here.
posted by lumpenprole at 12:59 PM on July 29, 2011
almost all his interviews begin with some variation of "What's wrong with you? Seriously."
And just as often, "You know, I was a real dick to you back then..."
posted by notmydesk at 1:04 PM on July 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
And just as often, "You know, I was a real dick to you back then..."
posted by notmydesk at 1:04 PM on July 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
I hope to god it never gets turned into a reality show.
A few episodes back, he said he just got done filming a sitcom pilot. He plays himself, Ed Asner plays his dad, and each episode would have a guest for the podcast-within-a-show. Ken Jeong was the guest for the pilot.
I really hope this gets made.
posted by roll truck roll at 1:10 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
A few episodes back, he said he just got done filming a sitcom pilot. He plays himself, Ed Asner plays his dad, and each episode would have a guest for the podcast-within-a-show. Ken Jeong was the guest for the pilot.
I really hope this gets made.
posted by roll truck roll at 1:10 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Lately I have been hearing a lot of...well, whining/reflecting, about comedy and being a comedian.
Mostly on WTF and mostly by Maron. I love the guy's work, but I wish he would let his guests talk about themselves, occasionally. It would be nice, wouldn't it?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:18 PM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Mostly on WTF and mostly by Maron. I love the guy's work, but I wish he would let his guests talk about themselves, occasionally. It would be nice, wouldn't it?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:18 PM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
I really hope this gets made.
Yeah, I'm interested to see that. I'm just hoping they don't throw a lot of money at him and try bringing his podcast format into a TV studio and turn it into a standard talk show, because I somehow don't think it would work.
I wish he would let his guests talk about themselves, occasionally.
He does. Especially recently. He always does have a lot to say himself, of course: he's a chatty guy and admittedly self-absorbed, and this is clearly therapy for him as well as his visitors. But I feel like most of the recent podcasts have been almost entirely the voice of his guests.
posted by notmydesk at 1:23 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Yeah, I'm interested to see that. I'm just hoping they don't throw a lot of money at him and try bringing his podcast format into a TV studio and turn it into a standard talk show, because I somehow don't think it would work.
I wish he would let his guests talk about themselves, occasionally.
He does. Especially recently. He always does have a lot to say himself, of course: he's a chatty guy and admittedly self-absorbed, and this is clearly therapy for him as well as his visitors. But I feel like most of the recent podcasts have been almost entirely the voice of his guests.
posted by notmydesk at 1:23 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Pretty sure he mentioned that he'd try put this up on the podcast. Much rather hear him say it out of his word-hole.
posted by wowbobwow at 1:28 PM on July 29, 2011
posted by wowbobwow at 1:28 PM on July 29, 2011
If you haven't heard his interview with the recently deceased Mike DeStefano, listen now. So effing great. I heard it when I was driving solo to the other side of the continent, and well, it made concentrating on the road difficult, in parts. As in, crying like a baby then laughing like a crazy person. Don't WTF and drive, folks.
posted by wowbobwow at 1:33 PM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by wowbobwow at 1:33 PM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
His WTF with Steven Tobolowski was an incredible listen. Possibly because Tobolowski doesn't seem to share any of Maron's negativity, and is grounded enough in his own positive worldview that he even - momentarily - got Maron to see the other side. Miracles!
posted by Mchelly at 1:43 PM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 1:43 PM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
I didn't know Robert Schimmel had died. Brutally tragic.
.
posted by JLovebomb at 1:53 PM on July 29, 2011
.
posted by JLovebomb at 1:53 PM on July 29, 2011
So weird, all I saw was 25 years in and I had nothing and I knew this was about Marc Maron.
posted by sweetkid at 2:14 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by sweetkid at 2:14 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
The second paragraph is one of his bits, obviously, and here's a video of him performing it on Craig Ferguson's show.
posted by Errant at 2:21 PM on July 29, 2011
posted by Errant at 2:21 PM on July 29, 2011
I'm hoping Maron will make the audio available on his show.
He said he brought recording equipment and would be releasing it eventually (hopefully?).
posted by Think_Long at 2:22 PM on July 29, 2011
He said he brought recording equipment and would be releasing it eventually (hopefully?).
posted by Think_Long at 2:22 PM on July 29, 2011
Yay, a transcript!
Textalyser Results from http://textalyser.net
Total word count : 2420
Number of different words : 1070
Complexity factor (Lexical Density) : 44.2%
Readability (Gunning-Fog Index) : (6-easy 20-hard) 5.7
Word frequencies
"i" 133 5.5%
"you" 72 3%
"my" 39 1.6%
"me" 27 1.1%
"comedy" 26 1.1%
Top two-word phrases: some of, of you, i am, i have, we are
Top three-word phrases: some of you, are out there, we are out, would like to, i would like
Top four-word phrases: we are out there, i would like to, some of you will, some of you may, looking at my hair
posted by tapesonthefloor at 2:26 PM on July 29, 2011 [10 favorites]
Textalyser Results from http://textalyser.net
Total word count : 2420
Number of different words : 1070
Complexity factor (Lexical Density) : 44.2%
Readability (Gunning-Fog Index) : (6-easy 20-hard) 5.7
Word frequencies
"i" 133 5.5%
"you" 72 3%
"my" 39 1.6%
"me" 27 1.1%
"comedy" 26 1.1%
Top two-word phrases: some of, of you, i am, i have, we are
Top three-word phrases: some of you, are out there, we are out, would like to, i would like
Top four-word phrases: we are out there, i would like to, some of you will, some of you may, looking at my hair
posted by tapesonthefloor at 2:26 PM on July 29, 2011 [10 favorites]
And thanks, Errant, for that video. This is the first time I've ever seen him perform, and I've stopped it at 1:31 to pop over here and mention how much I like his style already. He shares that take a step back for a second and get some perspective thing with Louis CK, and I appreciate anyone in comedy who takes time to teach us about the world we take for granted.
posted by tapesonthefloor at 2:32 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by tapesonthefloor at 2:32 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh man, are you in for a treat. His website has basically all of his talk show TV appearances collected, which is a lot. Here you go.
posted by Errant at 2:39 PM on July 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Errant at 2:39 PM on July 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
yeah I like WTF as an idea and he's a great interviewers but it's just waaaay too much a pipeline into my own Internal Horrible Thoughts to be at all entertaining.
posted by The Whelk at 2:40 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 2:40 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Interesting. I recently saw Maron doing standup. To each their own, to be sure, but while the show and the start of his speech struck me as too much one-note, I'm-fucked-up-and-angry schtick (?), the bulk of the speech had a lot of thought and heart.
posted by ambient2 at 2:45 PM on July 29, 2011
posted by ambient2 at 2:45 PM on July 29, 2011
MetaFilter: some of the most thoughtful, philosophical, open minded, sensitive, insightful, talented, self centered, neurotic, compulsive, angry, fucked up, sweet, creative people in the world.
posted by The Bellman at 2:49 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by The Bellman at 2:49 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Do not underestimate the power of a lobby waffle to change your outlook."
I will be subscribing to this fellow's podcast. He had had some amazing guests on, looks like.
posted by artlung at 5:05 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I will be subscribing to this fellow's podcast. He had had some amazing guests on, looks like.
posted by artlung at 5:05 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, this post finally got me interested enough to give it a listen, and it's great. He has moments of real brilliance ad an interviewer.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:32 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by middleclasstool at 5:32 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
The beautiful thing about WTF is how self involved Marc Maron is. This isn't because he's so interesting. By being so open about himself Marc gets other people to be incredibly open about themselves too. It makes the interview seem more consequence free than it is because whoever is listening must not mind Marc so how could they mind you. I don't think I would know how many normal seeming comics sadly jerked off multiple times a day grimly knowing that that last time there was no hope of climaxing if it wasn't for Marc leading with laying all of his extensive bullshit out there first.
posted by I Foody at 5:43 PM on July 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by I Foody at 5:43 PM on July 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
I've been listening to WTF for a while, and I really like the way the show has evolved. The early episodes were pretty much about listening to Maron violently self destruct live on air, and was a fascinating and cathartic little trip. As its gone on though, he really has become a really interesting interviewer. Yes, the interviews are as much about him as the other person, but usually because he tends to interview people that he has some kind of connection or history with, and the interplay is always fun.
posted by Aversion Therapy at 6:03 PM on July 29, 2011
posted by Aversion Therapy at 6:03 PM on July 29, 2011
Don't WTF and drive, folks.
I recently spent several weeks on the road for work, driving seven hours each Sunday heading out, then another seven or eight heading home. WTF kept me sane during those drives.
One of the things that occurred to me during those long hours is that, at least compared to what I would expect from a comedy podcast, I spent a lot of time with tears in my eyes. His interview with Sally Wade (George Carlin's widow) was incredibly sweet, funny and moving. The conversation with Carl LaBove (a very close friend of Sam Kinison) was very poignant and scary and depressing. Louis CK went into some pretty dark stuff, although it was also funny as hell. Dave Foley (as mentioned earlier) was incredibly interesting, and just as incredibly sad.
I know Maron uses his self- absorption as a big part of his schtick, but in many of the interviews in this series of podcasts, it's really more of an inside joke than it is a reality. I have a hard time believing that someone who is truly that focused on himself would be able to be part of such wonderful, insightful, unpredictable conversations.
posted by deadcowdan at 6:18 PM on July 29, 2011
I recently spent several weeks on the road for work, driving seven hours each Sunday heading out, then another seven or eight heading home. WTF kept me sane during those drives.
One of the things that occurred to me during those long hours is that, at least compared to what I would expect from a comedy podcast, I spent a lot of time with tears in my eyes. His interview with Sally Wade (George Carlin's widow) was incredibly sweet, funny and moving. The conversation with Carl LaBove (a very close friend of Sam Kinison) was very poignant and scary and depressing. Louis CK went into some pretty dark stuff, although it was also funny as hell. Dave Foley (as mentioned earlier) was incredibly interesting, and just as incredibly sad.
I know Maron uses his self- absorption as a big part of his schtick, but in many of the interviews in this series of podcasts, it's really more of an inside joke than it is a reality. I have a hard time believing that someone who is truly that focused on himself would be able to be part of such wonderful, insightful, unpredictable conversations.
posted by deadcowdan at 6:18 PM on July 29, 2011
Interesting. I recently saw Maron doing standup. To each their own, to be sure, but while the show and the start of his speech struck me as too much one-note, I'm-fucked-up-and-angry schtick (?), the bulk of the speech had a lot of thought and heart.
posted by ambient2 at 2:45 PM on July 29 [+] [!]
Yeah, I really really don't like Marc's stand up, and I really really love Marc's radio and podcast work.
I used to wake up at 3:00 am on the west coast just to catch AAR's Morning Sedition live durring the darkest of the Bush years when that show, when it (and later the Marc Maron Show) provided a kind of mental life preserver in a country gone nuts. When I listen to him on-air or on WTF, it feels like being with such a good, funny, smart, anxious, self-aware, self-tortured friend, and in a good way, it feels like it has some of the best elements of being in a therapy session even though its all one way (as Marc says, listening to him talk into your ears feels like thinking). Sometimes, Maron will talk about people coming to his show who know him only from his radio work and asking about the cats, or parts of his life that they knew more about than his friends because of his on-air talks and I can totally relate, because he does "feel" like a good friend (at least to me). But I really don't like his public performance persona or his stand-up, where he comes off too aggressive, too "on", and too clearly performing to an audience, and while he will talk about the anxieties and vulnerabilities that consume him, the vulnerabilities and emotional openness and kind of tenderness that he shows in his radio monologues and interviews are gone. He was in this mode the other day when he was on Bill Maher and I also noticed it during a set this year on Craig Ferguson's show, and I just don't like it. (Also, calling Mishna "that bitch" reminds me of all his awful behavior during and after his divorce regarding her).
posted by Auden at 6:19 PM on July 29, 2011
posted by ambient2 at 2:45 PM on July 29 [+] [!]
Yeah, I really really don't like Marc's stand up, and I really really love Marc's radio and podcast work.
I used to wake up at 3:00 am on the west coast just to catch AAR's Morning Sedition live durring the darkest of the Bush years when that show, when it (and later the Marc Maron Show) provided a kind of mental life preserver in a country gone nuts. When I listen to him on-air or on WTF, it feels like being with such a good, funny, smart, anxious, self-aware, self-tortured friend, and in a good way, it feels like it has some of the best elements of being in a therapy session even though its all one way (as Marc says, listening to him talk into your ears feels like thinking). Sometimes, Maron will talk about people coming to his show who know him only from his radio work and asking about the cats, or parts of his life that they knew more about than his friends because of his on-air talks and I can totally relate, because he does "feel" like a good friend (at least to me). But I really don't like his public performance persona or his stand-up, where he comes off too aggressive, too "on", and too clearly performing to an audience, and while he will talk about the anxieties and vulnerabilities that consume him, the vulnerabilities and emotional openness and kind of tenderness that he shows in his radio monologues and interviews are gone. He was in this mode the other day when he was on Bill Maher and I also noticed it during a set this year on Craig Ferguson's show, and I just don't like it. (Also, calling Mishna "that bitch" reminds me of all his awful behavior during and after his divorce regarding her).
posted by Auden at 6:19 PM on July 29, 2011
When I played an early episode for my now former manager in his office thinking that I was turning a career corner and we finally had something he listened for 3 minutes and said, “I don’t get it.”
I don’t blame him. Why would he? It wasn’t on his radar or in his wheel house. There’s no package deal, no episode commitment, no theaters to sell out. He had no idea what it was or how to extract money from it AND I did it from my garage. Perfect. It took me 25 years to do the best thing I had ever done and there was no clear way monetize it.
I’m ahead of the game.
Brilliance.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 8:41 PM on July 29, 2011
I don’t blame him. Why would he? It wasn’t on his radar or in his wheel house. There’s no package deal, no episode commitment, no theaters to sell out. He had no idea what it was or how to extract money from it AND I did it from my garage. Perfect. It took me 25 years to do the best thing I had ever done and there was no clear way monetize it.
I’m ahead of the game.
Brilliance.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 8:41 PM on July 29, 2011
I was sitting alone in my garage in a house I was about to lose because of that bitch--lets not get into that now-
I wish he'd stopped before referring to her in that manner.
I was glad to see the mention of Greg Giraldo- the guy lit up a stage, and describing him as a 'comedic force of nature' is more apt than anything I can think of just now.
posted by variella at 8:58 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
I wish he'd stopped before referring to her in that manner.
I was glad to see the mention of Greg Giraldo- the guy lit up a stage, and describing him as a 'comedic force of nature' is more apt than anything I can think of just now.
posted by variella at 8:58 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Looks like the URL changed. Here's the new link to the audio on his site
http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/marcs_keynote_address_at_just_for_laughs
posted by blueberry at 11:13 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/marcs_keynote_address_at_just_for_laughs
posted by blueberry at 11:13 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Mostly on WTF and mostly by Maron (re: whining/reflecting about being a comedian)
Maron does an excellent job humanizing his interview subjects. He discovered a talent for talking to people and getting them to open up that he probably didn't know he had. Of course, he's not the only person getting people to open up.
Quite a few stand-ups are basically interviewing one another about how crazy they are and what a bitch it is to entertain. Paul Gilmartin has a new show about creative people battling various forms of mental illness. Greg Behrendt and Dave Anthony have one that's a little more inside baseball (joke, don't hit me.) Dave and Greg have had some of their friends and colleagues in the closet with them to bitch about how hard it is to be a comedian. As Maron often says, it is hard. You're battling yourself, the crowd who may or may not want to see you, and even your fans sometimes.
Ironically, Maron made me want to get into comedy as a kid. Listening to him today, I'm glad I made other choices. However, I still wish I was brave enough (or just craved the attention enough) to get on stage. I'm still interested in stand-up. Even my ex wanted me to work to get on stage, but I'm too chicken. Listening to podcasts by comedians about comedy pretty much fills the gap for the moment, though. I'm glad that Maron is finding new success with his podcast, because he's really, really good at it.
posted by crataegus at 12:41 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Maron does an excellent job humanizing his interview subjects. He discovered a talent for talking to people and getting them to open up that he probably didn't know he had. Of course, he's not the only person getting people to open up.
Quite a few stand-ups are basically interviewing one another about how crazy they are and what a bitch it is to entertain. Paul Gilmartin has a new show about creative people battling various forms of mental illness. Greg Behrendt and Dave Anthony have one that's a little more inside baseball (joke, don't hit me.) Dave and Greg have had some of their friends and colleagues in the closet with them to bitch about how hard it is to be a comedian. As Maron often says, it is hard. You're battling yourself, the crowd who may or may not want to see you, and even your fans sometimes.
Ironically, Maron made me want to get into comedy as a kid. Listening to him today, I'm glad I made other choices. However, I still wish I was brave enough (or just craved the attention enough) to get on stage. I'm still interested in stand-up. Even my ex wanted me to work to get on stage, but I'm too chicken. Listening to podcasts by comedians about comedy pretty much fills the gap for the moment, though. I'm glad that Maron is finding new success with his podcast, because he's really, really good at it.
posted by crataegus at 12:41 AM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh man. I really want to like Marc Maron, and I thoroughly enjoy the interview portions of the podcast... but I am really, really turned off by the way he talks about his ex-wife.
It's especially hard to stomach because I just read her book about a month ago and saw that she very graciously thanked him in the acknowledgements... and when I looked up more info about their divorce all I really found was this forum, which I would recommend staying way the hell away from if you're bothered by people using general epithets and specifically racial slurs against a woman and advocating for her violent murder (i.e., "I hope this ends OJ style").
Since that's basically the only "informative" source I can find about their divorce, hearing Maron keep referring to her as a bitch just makes me shake my head in dismay. Way to keep fueling the misogynist fires, pal.
posted by palomar at 10:59 AM on July 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
It's especially hard to stomach because I just read her book about a month ago and saw that she very graciously thanked him in the acknowledgements... and when I looked up more info about their divorce all I really found was this forum, which I would recommend staying way the hell away from if you're bothered by people using general epithets and specifically racial slurs against a woman and advocating for her violent murder (i.e., "I hope this ends OJ style").
Since that's basically the only "informative" source I can find about their divorce, hearing Maron keep referring to her as a bitch just makes me shake my head in dismay. Way to keep fueling the misogynist fires, pal.
posted by palomar at 10:59 AM on July 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
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posted by Duffington at 12:18 PM on July 29, 2011 [5 favorites]