WTF with Marc Maron

[K.C.]

I find myself listening to this a lot more than actually R&F lately. On days when he puts out a new episode, I'm not even really checking out 202.

It's great. Maron does some fantastic interviews, they're almost all comedy/entertainment related, and he gets something out of most of his subjects that doesn't show through in other interviews (he even kind of got substantive stuff out of Bob Saget, which is almost impossible).

Case and point. He did an episode with Sarah Silverman a week or two ago and I've never been a big fan of her act, but the way he approached it made her come across as incredibly likable.

All in all, gotta say I'm a big fan and the show deserves a thread. The eps are free on iTunes, or you can buy his iPhone app for a couple bucks and get the eps.

[K.C.]

He's also done interviews with most of the O&A regulars -- Bill Burr, Jim Norton, Patrice O'Neal, Jim Jeffries, a really personal and somewhat uncomfortable interview with Louis C.K...

[Dan 'Hampton]

He's fantastic, he's on the must listen list.

[IamFogHat]

It's really great. Plus you get twice a week which is great for a podcast. He even makes the people you've never heard of fascinating.

[benjamin]

I really like it too.
Second only to Joe Rogan in the podcast department.
His interviews with Mencia are epic - listen to them right away if you haven't already.

[Space Edge]

Have you checked out the premium episodes he does a few of them every once in a while and will charge like $2.99 per episode. It's usually the live shows he tapes. Definitely worth the couple of bucks. You can get them here http://wtfpodshop.com

[Melk]

I have been a subscriber since episode 1 and recommended it in the Recommended Podcasts thread. It is brilliant, funny, and genuinely interesting. I think his interviews of Patrice, Louis and, especially, Mencia are far better than Ronnie B's already awesome Unmasked interviews.

I think Maron has a natural self-hatred and paranoia that gets that extra openness from his guests.

This week's interview with Ira Glass was really good.

[KnoxHarrington]

His show on Air America was actually pretty good, but that network was pretty much fucked from the start by shitty management, so it never really had a chance.

Definitely throwing this into my podcasts.

[K.C.]

Have you checked out the premium episodes he does a few of them every once in a while and will charge like $2.99 per episode. It's usually the live shows he tapes. Definitely worth the couple of bucks. You can get them here http://wtfpodshop.com

I coughed up the $8-9 for the one year membership when he came out with the iPhone app. That's actually worth it, because he does a great job so he deserves a little kickback, and you get the entire library of shows and updates when a new one is posted, plus the premium eps.

I wonder how well he's doing in terms of the finances with it. He's got a decent number of sponsors, and probably has a decent subscriber base for a podcast, but then you hear things like Adam Carrola (who has one of the more popular ones), barely breaks even and it kind of makes me wonder.

I've been going back listening to older ones because I only jumped on it like 20 episodes ago or so, and in one of the first episodes, he talks about how he basically pitched a television version of it to Comedy Central and E!....Comedy Central passed, and E! basically told him the network wouldn't fit him (which he admitted was true...he basically goes on a 10 minute rant about the evil that is the E! network and said he only went in because he was that desperate).

In hindsight, this would have been a phenomenal TV show. Especially for Comedy Central. The podcast is really like a Comedians' actor's studio in a lot of episodes. They screwed that one up.

I don't think it's a coincidence that Norton started doing the show he's doing on the SiriusXM comedy channel right around the same time he did his episode of Maron's show...I think he jumped at the idea of doing a similarly concepted show (although Maron's is WAY better).

[danner1515]

It's a great podcast. Even when he's interviewing someone I normally wouldn't care about, he usually manages to make it interesting. My only complaint is that the show is borderline unlistenable for me when it's just him whining about his life. Thankfully, that's usually just the first few minutes of his podcast.

[WhatsInTheBoxx]

I remember Marc on the Short Attention Span Theather on Comedy Central - DAMN time flies by! His WTF show is a must-listen, and his detailed/honest take is refreshing.

Also, he's been around for a while, so he has a ton of stories. Cheers to WTF!

[fezident]

I wanted to listen to WTF after hearing Ron praise it (and Maron) so highly.

But... I got quite a way into Maron Unmasked and I was terribly distracted by Marc's nervous, uncomfortable energy. His stutter (studder?) is RELENTLESS and distracting. Perhaps reading a transcript would be more enlightening but.... I don't think he went more than 5 words before a stammer.

[spoon]

The guy is bright but all over the place. For some reason, I like his crazy style and can see where people might open up to the guy. His show on Air America really wasn't that bad at all. I think with time it could have had that daily show flair with some insane anger and confusion that Marc always added. He's a mile a minute but there are some really poignant thoughts in there if you pay attention.

[Melk]

This probably belongs in the confession section of the site, but if it weren't for his specifically saying he is abnormal, I would assume he was normal. I don't think Maron is strange. He is funny, though.

[Melk]

I just listened to his Marc Maron's Gallagher interview. It is pretty interesting. I had never heard of Gallagher touring around doing anti-black/anti-gay humor. The examples Gallagher cites about his gay humor seemed pretty tame, then after reading a few articles about the material he was doing, I could see why someone would call him out on it.

Be that as it may, whether Marc agreed with his reason for doing anti-gay/anti-black material, Gallagher stated his point and Marc wasn't willing to let him drop the subject with the excuse that "I am just crafting my sets for the audiences I perform for." I could see why Mr. Sledge-o-matic would get irritated by the line of questioning and would leave (And I think Gallagher is totally out of line with his material. It is just hack-racial material).

I remember Gallagher bringing up the idea of him having his own TV show on Unmasked. He also brought it up during his WTF interview. I don't see how Gallagher would be useful as a talk show host or a sitcom star. What do you think?

[Space Edge]

I just finished listening to it also, can you post the links you read about his material I can't find any of these articles. Listening to it he just sounded crazy like he did when he was on O&A. I think it was Patrice who called him racist and he flipped out also.

[Melk]

http://www.google.co.jp/m/url?ei=KT5HTfCzKIm3kAWrt-lL&q=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/gallagher-is-a-paranoid-right-wing-watermelon-smashing-maniac/Content?oid%3D4357855&ved=0CBMQFjAB&usg=AFQjCNHLrHh3pEaZfOC6pp7C6SxWZ1Vk3Q

[Space Edge]

http://www.google.co.jp/m/url?ei=KT5HTfCzKIm3kAWrt-lL&q=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/gallagher-is-a-paranoid-right-wing-watermelon-smashing-maniac/Content?oid%3D4357855&ved=0CBMQFjAB&usg=AFQjCNHLrHh3pEaZfOC6pp7C6SxWZ1Vk3Q

thanks I'll check that out

If you want to read a mental breakdown check this out

http://twitter.com/RealGallagher

Start from the bottom and work your way up.

[KnoxHarrington]

http://www.google.co.jp/m/url?ei=KT5HTfCzKIm3kAWrt-lL&q=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/gallagher-is-a-paranoid-right-wing-watermelon-smashing-maniac/Content?oid%3D4357855&ved=0CBMQFjAB&usg=AFQjCNHLrHh3pEaZfOC6pp7C6SxWZ1Vk3Q

Holy shit, if the quotes in this article are accurate, Gallagher's crossing the line into real hate speech.

[Melk]

thanks I'll check that out

If you want to read a mental breakdown check this out

http://twitter.com/RealGallagher

Start from the bottom and work your way up.
From his Twitter Feed:
Tracy Morgan? What a no-talent hack. Had him onstage once and he wouldn't smash a watermelon. I thought those guys LOVED 'em!
Christ, what an asshole!

Edit: After reading the feed, I don't believe it is his. Why would he Re-Tweet a @ comment suggesting he team with Ray Stephens?

[Space Edge]

From his Twitter Feed:
Tracy Morgan? What a no-talent hack. Had him onstage once and he wouldn't smash a watermelon. I thought those guys LOVED 'em!
Christ, what an asshole!

Edit: After reading the feed, I don't believe it is his. Why would he Re-Tweet a @ comment suggesting he team with Ray Stephens?

I just saw Marc Maron's tweet saying that isn't him it's a fake

RT @punchlinemag had a long chat with Gallagher's mgr. @RealGallagher is a fake account. more info to come...//Oh, shit, say it aint so!

http://twitter.com/#!/marcmaron/status/32222492147847168

Marc Maron reacts to Gallagher’s WTF storm-off, Gallagher’s rep responds
(http://punchlinemagazine.com/blog/2011/01/marc-maron-reacts-to-gallaghers-wtf-storm-off-gallaghers-rep-responds)

[danner1515]

At last, after two hours of his tedious, hacky, right-wing manifesto, Gallagher gets to the part his (willing) hostages have been waiting for. It's time to smash some shit. There are the watermelons, there is some cottage cheese ("It's got the curds that blow up, just like on the news!"), there is sauerkraut and syrup and honey. Then Gallagher gets a tin pie plate. He opens a giant can of fruit cocktail and pours it in. He opens a can of some Asian vegetable—water chestnuts, maybe—and pours that in, too. "This is the China people and queers!!!" he screams and takes his sledgehammer to the thing with a fury that is no fun at all. Wet chunks of China people and queers fly everywhere. The hateful, bitter old man laughs. I cannot believe Bill Hicks is dead and this motherfucker is still touring.

Wow. Just... wow.

[Melk]

Wow. Just... wow.
The sad thing is that as bad as the journalist's account is, I cannot imagine him giving Gallagher anything but heaps of sarcastic shit. The guy seems to be one of those hipsters who had "ironic love" for Gallagher.It reminds me of one of my co-workers buying tickets to Justin Beeber and chuckling and laughing about how hilarious it is going to be, because Beeber is lame and the tickets were 90 bucks. Hilarous.... dorks.

From Punchline Magazine:
Finally, the Twitter account @RealGallagher that’s been causing a bit of a stir today, is totally fake, according to Marquardo, who explained that Gallagher has been on a plane to Japan and couldn’t have possibly written those tweets.
Gallagher is going to tour Japan? WHAT!?

[underdog]

The sad thing is that as bad as the journalist's account is, I cannot imagine him giving Gallagher anything but heaps of sarcastic shit. The guy seems to be one of those hipsters who had "ironic love" for Gallagher.It reminds me of one of my co-workers buying tickets to Justin Beeber and chuckling and laughing about how hilarious it is going to be, because Beeber is lame and the tickets were 90 bucks. Hilarous.... dorks.

From Punchline Magazine:
Finally, the Twitter account @RealGallagher that’s been causing a bit of a stir today, is totally fake, according to Marquardo, who explained that Gallagher has been on a plane to Japan and couldn’t have possibly written those tweets.
Gallagher is going to tour Japan? WHAT!?

Jap jokes go over huge there.

[Melk]

Jap jokes go over huge there.
I figured he would just talk about the Chinese. There are a lot of nationalistic people here who still dislike the Chinese.

[tbagnu]

Just saw him perform live in Portland. A night filled with laughter I must say!!

[Space Edge]

Good episode today with Carl LaBove

[Space Edge]

The WTF Android and iPhone app is now free (still have to pay for the premium content)

[BustahMyTool]

Marc Maron is the way to go. I listen to him rather than R&F. Podcasts will be the death of 202

[Contra]

Marc Maron is the way to go. I listen to him rather than R&F. Podcasts will be the death of 202

Ron and fez will always be heard you chip eating bitch

I am really digging the WTF podcasts, and they download super quick onto my droid, love it.

[jonyrotn]

From his Twitter Feed:
Tracy Morgan? What a no-talent hack. Had him onstage once and he wouldn't smash a watermelon. I thought those guys LOVED 'em!
Christ, what an asshole!

Edit: After reading the feed, I don't believe it is his. Why would he Re-Tweet a @ comment suggesting he team with Ray Stephens?
Come on dude..I think the guy's as unfunny as they come but he is a professional comedian making as joke..I laugh my ass off when Chris Rock makes fun of white people..It's all love bro.I've never seen racial comedy as racist, even on SNL when Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor did that skit, it's just a subject to make jokes about..Don't read too much into it..

[Melk]

Come on dude..I think the guy's as unfunny as they come but he is a professional comedian making as joke..I laugh my ass off when Chris Rock makes fun of white people..It's all love bro.I've never seen racial comedy as racist, even on SNL when Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor did that skit, it's just a subject to make jokes about..Don't read too much into it..
I find "black men liking watermelon jokes" to be as hack as any Polish or dumb blond joke.
They are played out and tired.
They are only considered funny because of the taboo surrounding black humor not because of the quality of the jokes themselves.

And, again, that is not Gallagher

[jonyrotn]

I find "black men liking watermelon jokes" to be as hack as any Polish or dumb blond joke.
They are played out and tired.
They are only considered funny because of the taboo surrounding black humor not because of the quality of the jokes themselves.

And, again, that is not Gallagher
I think you missed my point..I don't think anything about thee joke is funny or relevant but I wouldn't call ANY comedian a racist for making a racial joke..It's observational humor, the way we might receive it is what makes it racist..However; if he was talking about lynchings and burning little girls i'd agree wholeheartedly..

[Space Edge]

Conan O'Brien was on mondays WTF, it's worth listening to. Here is a direct link if you don't subscribe

http://wtfpod.libsyn.com/webpage/episode-163-conan-o-brien

[Recyclerz]

I just heard on the (terrestrial) radio that WTF is now syndicated on the NPR network, I guess with a bit of editing.

WTF on WNYC (http://www.wnyc.org/shows/wtf/)

[fezident]

He's just too wounded for me. I keep trying to listen because I enjoy his guests... but HE is the worst thing on his own show.

There's a lot of therapy going on there. And also a lot of venting. He's not done healing himself, that's for sure. And I'm also reeeally tired of him grading his own performance after every single interview. "Well... I think that went well...". Snore.

I did like his interview with Jimmy Fallon though. It sounded like they were having a bona fide good time.

[KnoxHarrington]

He's just too wounded for me. I keep trying to listen because I enjoy his guests... but HE is the worst thing on his own show.

There's a lot of therapy going on there. And also a lot of venting. He's not done healing himself, that's for sure. And I'm also reeeally tired of him grading his own performance after every single interview. "Well... I think that went well...". Snore.

I did like his interview with Jimmy Fallon though. It sounded like they were having a bona fide good time.

I do agree that it's a little frustrating how many episodes seem to end up being Maron working out some difficulty he had with the show's guest, which, often, seems to only be on his side.

[CruelCircus]

WTF is being recorded live at The Bell House in Brooklyn next month.

Pretty cool venue, if you can make it.

[fezident]

Any good guests gonna be at that Brooklyn gig? Last time... it was Will Arnett! Great fuckin' interview too. Arnett confirmed the Arrested Development movie. They discussed it at length.

[Crispy123]

Todd Glass Comes Out As Gay On 'WTF With Marc Maron' (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/16/todd-glass-comes-out-as-gay-on-wtf-with-marc-maron_n_1209291.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HP%2FEntertainment+(Entertain ment+on+The+Huffington+Post))

Just heard it. He was living with a secret for 20 some years (but he had acted on it).

Some interesting points- He decided that people thinking he was asexual and never be able to find happiness was worse than them knowing he was gay.

Todd Glass is a great comic and interesting speaker so listening to his coming out process in almost real time, was fascinating. Most people I know who are gay, were introduced to me that way or I found out shortly after but I've never really heard a "coming out" before.

I disagree that people should just stop using the term gay or fag etc. By all means if someone you care about tells you that what you are saying hurts their feelings or offends them and you keep doing it, then you are an asshole. People should be free to express themselves but at the same time freedom of speech means hearing things you don't agree with. And if you are offended by a word it is probably because of some baggage that you are harboring and not always because of the person saying the words.