Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark

Maron was early to the podcast space and lauded by many I trust, but those just did not connect with me.

And that's sort of how this special felt, a bit of a disconnection.

One thing I cannot quite tell if it's coming from me or Maron, is a sort of George Carlin replacement wish. Carlin as he got older definitely leaned hard into the Bleak and Dark. His observations for outrage and set-ups for human failure just resonated more with me. Oh well, all "art" (and Dave Chappelle is right, stand up is an art) is going to be subjective.

That said, boosting my review up from 5 to 6 based on some of the negative reviewers here wearing their preconceptions on their sleeves. Instead of reacting when he pushes your obvious button, maybe explore why you have that button. I definitely have a button both for a) alzheimers - ouch isn't aging enough of an indignity b) people who "still" blame their parents

He addresses these and I get where he's coming from. His takes didn't move me much from my positions, but I liked being challenge on my presuppositions.

Ultimately, this special made me appreciate not just Carlin (the lengthy Apatow documentary on George is worth it for fellow fans of his), but also Kate Berlant's recent stand-up special "Cinnamon in the Wind" which sort of nails the confessional/therapy/teachable formula for many such specials.

Maron's quick one-man show vignettes were pretty funny, and the discussion of grief over his wife's death was definitely moving, and uniquely him.

In the end, I felt like the neighbor across the Covid street.

Marc Maron is a stand up comedian, podcaster, and actor. His prior specials are very dark and very good. This one is his best. It is tight and well paced. Maron takes us on a personal look at his relationship with his parents, the state of the people, and the loss of his girlfriend during COVID. Maron is angry and curt, but also sharp and intelligent. If you never saw him before it is good, but if you are a podcast fan it is even better. The Direction and set are visually appealing. The length was perfect. This is well played by Maron and he seems more comfortable than any other show. I recommend it.

Marc Maron is not a yuck-yuck comedian. He is not an icing-on-the-cake comedian. He's not there to bring light to the end of your tunnel. Not in the way you'd expect. Ever had some darkness inside and bottled it with distractions and denials, but really wanted to own it for a while? Maron is the father and godfather of that. He covers heavy topics in a way that allows you to think and talk about them yourself, without having that grip on your throat. Darkness becomes easy. It becomes light. There is room to think and speak and laugh, even through the most heavy and difficult topics.

Maron is known as the person behind introspective podcasting, be-real-about-your-world podcasting. This is also his style of comedy and way of being. The new norm where men can be open about their fear, their broken childhoods, and irreparable hearts. Where you can be shameless about your mistakes. Admit to them openly, often, learn how to say sorry. Get over your own broken self. That started with Maron.

That cultural wave began over a decade ago when a lone man, sitting inside a studio he just got fired from, decided to make that space a confessional, and those that listened became an audience of followers and forgivers. It was his style of comedy, journalism, and way of being that opened doors to the inner-self for so many. If you've had a tough journey and want to make sense of it, laugh at the absurdity that is this life, and learn how to speak like an adult instead of a broken meme, Maron is the human for you.

This special takes a walk with you down some broken bends in the road, like parents getting older, and losing your partner in the midst of a world losing its mind. He manages to ask the hard questions and come up with answers that are both harder and lighter, and tinted with love. In true Maron-form, when he comes to another fork in the road, he does not say, where do we go from here, but affirms, he will see you at the next one. He does, and will, see You.

Simply put, this stand-up special makes some people who are conformists uncomfortable, and that's too bad for them. Those of us who appreciate thoughtful, sardonic wit have nothing but admiration for everything Marc Maron's been through and come out the other side with honesty about the state of today's world. He hasn't changed his style so much as honed it to ridicule people who try to tell him how to live his life. Watching this again after knowing what to expect only made me appreciate it more. If you've got a thin skin or are narrow-minded comedically, you might not enjoy it. I laughed so hard it hurt, in a good way.

Maybe because I have a soft spot for a cute couple that meets each other through their creative work; another soft spot for couples that have distinct but similarly vibing film and performing arts talents; was already a strong supporter of him; and I was definitely, am for sure, undoubtedly will forever be, a Lynn Shelton fan, this is my favorite Marc Maron!

This is pretty well known because anyone new to him will figure it out with the first few minutes listening to our watching any of his work, but Maron has a sui generis style that is consistent and maximized. There are other "conversation" style comedians, but none as dependably or as natural feeling as Maron. One truly believes it when he tells us that his philosophy is to not rehearse. He isn't ashamed when you catch him momentarily losing his place, pausing- not to try to remember a script, but to decide which of his many anecdotes to bring up next, or trailing away when he registers that he might have said something differently than he might have wanted to or went on for longer than would have been ideal.

It is like having an intimate conversation with a dynamic, extremely open, always charismatic friend where although, like everyone, he has some mundane parts (let us be honest, we even tune out our best friends here and there), even those are told with some engaging sprinkles, and are inevitably outweighed by all the riveting ones.

Tagline for his next special?

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