Another booking coup for our favorite podcast: this week on WTF with Marc Maron, the comedian turned podcast king interviews writer/director Judd Apatow. In this special two-part interview, the second of which just went live online, Marc and Judd cover a range of topics, including the deep-seated love of stand-up that took hold of each of them at a young age.
Part 1 includes a major bonus: audio of interviews that Apatow conducted with comedians in 1983 for his high school radio station. This Inception-esque interview within an interview portion features a teen-aged Apatow talking to Jay Leno, Gary Shandling and Jerry Seinfeld, all of whom were working comedians who had yet to become huge stars.
Part 2 is more standard WTF fare, with Marc and Judd talking movies and whether Judd was happy with how Funny People turned out. All in all, it’s just fun to hear two guys who know a lot about comedy talk about comedy. Get the episode of wtfpod.com or download it directly from iTunes.
Shortly after I started doing stand-up, I was talking shit about Dane Cook. It seemed, at the time, a rite of passage for new comics. It seemed that people, who, when they were 14 or 15 had seen his 30-minute Comedy Central special and loved it, had to – with the coming of adulthood – distinguish themselves as having matured, having moved past the high-energy style-over-substance salesmanship epitomized by Dane Cook.
Basically I was taking potshots at a silver-back because a critical part of the development of new authority is the challenging of the old guard. I also talked shit about him because I didn’t know who I was on stage, and it helped me carve out a sense of who I wanted to be, by making clear about who I wasn’t.
Dane was at the forefront when or the early aughts comedy boom. Along with Carlos Mencia, Larry The Cable Guy, and Jeff Dunham, Dane was one of the four horsemen of “Big Comedy,” people who had corporate sponsorships and fanatical devotees, and could fill stadiums.
Mass appeal is a tricky thing. Of course there’s always The Beatles or Steve Martin (one of Cook’s comedy heroes), artists who simultaneously appeal to both committed enthusiasts and the casual consumer. But more often than not, mass appeal equates to Britney Spears or Two and a Half Men—artistic representations that are so broad it’s deemed offensive by so-called artist snobs.
In the last few months, Marc Maron’s podcast WTF has blown the hell up, thanks, in part to high profile — not to mention, expertly crafted — interviews with Robin Willians and Carlos Mencia, the latter of which got mentions on Entertainment Weekly and Huffington Post and started nothing short of an online debate on the ethics of comedy.
Today, Maron posted his latest episode, this one with Ben Stiller– a guy who, since birth, was raised by and around professional comedians. Check it out now!
And check this out, podcast fans: Maron recently announced that in addition to his two weekly episodes, he’ll release at least one additional episode each month.
This month’s special episode will be a recording from the Live from WTF show at Comix last month. This show featured comedians John Mulaney, Janeane Garofalo, Morgan Murphy, Todd Barry, Greg Giraldo, and Tom Shillue. The special, available for just $2.99, is promised to be worth the time and money (complete with awkward moments from Maron and Morgan Murphy).
You can purchase these special episodes by going to wtfpodshop.com to create a free profile. You’ll be notified any time episodes becomes available, allowing you to keep up with all the newest material from WTF.
On Friday, we posted some previews of Marc Maron’s interview with Robin Williams. Now, comedy fans, the entire episode of WTF, Maron’s popular podcast wherein the interview is housed, is up. And you should get there immediately. But if you missed the previews on Friday or just wanted to get a quick taste of the interview before you head on over, there’s a trio of clips below. If not, listen to the interview in full right here.
Maron and Williams talk heart attacks:
Maron and Willams talk Robert De Niro
Maron and Williams talk blackouts
“I had about one degree of separation with Robin Williams,” Maron tells Punchline Magazine. “We’d hung out a couple of times but we weren’t tight. I was taking a trip up to his neck of the woods. I thought I would try to track him down. So I did and he agreed to an interview.”
Maron continues: “No matter what your opinions may be of him he was, and might still be, one of the biggest comedy stars in the world. I was nervous because I didn’t want to get caught up in the Williams riff cyclone and be blown out without getting a real interview– a genuine conversation with him. We sat down for about an hour and he stayed still and focused and open. This is a rare chat with a huge star.”
First off, before we tell you what you already know from reading the headline on this here post, let us say this: If you haven’t yet listened to last week’s WTF with Marc Maron, wherein Marc interviews Mr. Show legend Bob Odenkirk, do yourself a favor and check it out here.
It perfectly embodies what this podcast is all about– getting deep inside the minds of the people that truly shape the world of comedy, not just by talking about their art but also by drawing out the artists’ life-related fears and their emotional disconnects. As someone who’s respected by his peers and who has been around these comedians for his entire career (but who isn’t necessarily friends with those people), Maron is in the perfect position to do this; and he rarely disappoints. And this time, he’s topped himself.
And that’s why Punchline Magazine is a proud sponsor of WTF with Marc Maron.
Ok, so you’re going to want to check out the episodes that posted this week as well, featuring comedians Dave Hill and Myq Kaplan, who Punchline Magazine had named one of the comics to watch in 2010. Of course, the eps are on iTunes, but as always you can stream those puppies at the official podcast site at WTFpod.com, where you can also donate some bucks and pick up some sick merchandise. You should also sign up for Marc’s email list which will give you info not just on WTF but also on Marc’s stand-up dates throughout the country. Enjoy!
Marc Maron continues to outdo himself every week. This week on WTF, his twice-a-week podcast, he welcomes legendary sketch master, writer and half of Bob and Dave [Cross] Bob Odenkirk.
Top that off with veteran road horse comedian Robert Hawkins — who performed at Punchline Magazine’s anniversary show in October — and another one of our favorite comics Ryan Singer (check out our review of his album here), and you have yourself a well-rounded group of comedic minds in podcast form.
Make sure you check out the official WTF site at WTFpod.com where you’ll find every past episode as well as some pretty sweet merchandise: we’re talking high quality t-shirts and handsome WTF accessories.
Marc Maron has returned from performing at the Glasgow Comedy Festival and is back online streaming at WTFpod.com and iTunes (not that there was a break in programming anyway).
This week on WTF, Maron welcomes comedian Rob Delaney, who shares some pretty dark and heavy shit – a must listen – and Marc’s therapist “almost” Dr. Steve talks about addiction. That episode is up now. Tomorrow, Dov Davidoff chats with Maron about Scotland.
You should also know that Maron’s got a bunch of live dates coming up. In the next few weeks you can catch him at the Grog Shop in Cleveland (March 21), the Black Cat in Washington DC (March 22) and the Funny Bone in in Bloomington, IN (March 25 – 27). All of Marc’s dates are at marcmaron.com.
Dearest, fans of comedy and the podcasts that make comedy even more exciting. Our favorite caster of the pod Marc Maron welcomes Vanity Fair columnist James Wolcott to WTF this week. In addition Marc talks with writer Sam Lipsyte about his new novel The Ask as well as comedian Glen Wool.
If you’re already a fan of the podcast, might we suggest you donate a few bucks here. Marc has also made available some stellar merchandise, including T-Shirts and mugs and other fun stuff. Check out the podcast on iTunes or stream that sucker at the official site WTFpod.com.
This week on our favorite podcast WTF, Marc Maron welcomes sketch comedy trailblazer and Upright Citizens Brigade co-founder Matt Walsh.
You know him from The Daily Show and the now defunct UCB sketch show on Comedy Central.
He also created and will be starring in a new series for Spike called Players. Premiering March 2, the show follows two brothers who run a sports bar.
Also this week, comedians W. Kamau Bell and Dwayne Kennedy visit Marc to “talk about Black things,” says Marc. And Marc has a session with he therapist “Almost” Dr. Steve. As always, you can check out all things WTF at WTFpod.com and at iTunes. And if you’re in the giving mood, donate a few bucks to Maron’s cause– producing a high quality, entertaining and intelligent podcast.
Check out some video of Matt Walsh and W. Kamau Bell after the jump.
It’s the time of the week where we tell you, Punchline Magazine readers, who will be guesting on our favorite podcast – one that we proudly sponsor — WTF with Marc Maron.
Comedian and Sarah Silverman Program scribe Chelsea Peretti stops by on Monday to talk Monty Python and Joan Rivers, among other things. And then later in the week, Dave Attell — a dude that seemingly every respected comedian lists when asked who’s the best out there — chats poolside with Marc about the USO Tour and fathers.
Also, you should know this, especially if you live in the LA area. Marc and Chelsea are filming a WTF-inspired television pilot for Comedy Central. It’s going down Jan. 28 at 7 pm at Comedy Central stage at the Hudson Theater. You’ll need to call 323-960-5519 to make reservations. We highly recommend you go down and show your support.
And as always, you can get every episode of WTF at WTFpod.com or on iTunes. And there’s plenty of swell merchandise here and here. Also, be sure to join the WTF mailing list so you know when Marc will be in your town, bringing his sad, funny, angry cathartic stand-up power.
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Another booking coup for our favorite podcast: this week on WTF with Marc Maron, the comedian turned podcast king interviews writer/director Judd Apatow. In this special two-part interview, the second of which just went live online, Marc and Judd cover a range of topics, including the deep-seated love of stand-up that took hold of each of them at a young age.
It’s the time of the week where we tell you, Punchline Magazine readers, who will be guesting on our favorite podcast – one that we proudly sponsor — 
