Maron

A few years back, when I have seen/heard Marc Maron speak outside of his comedic persona, I have found him to be whiny. Honestly, a bit boring, a real tattered mess of a person, riddled with issues and an unbearable underlying narcissism. Me this, me that, explicit or implicit. Unfunny as getting a prostate exam and a root canal all on the same day, maybe even at the same time. So when I got around to seeing his comedy, I expected it to be boring AF. But that's not at all the case!!! Don't get me wrong, when I see him do comedy, I see the exact same person, but he's really, really, funny. Marc weaves it all into his rambling, meandering flow that seems so effortless, so off the cuff, it puts me in a thrall. I half can't believe this is the same guy. It's really something to see. I was talking with a latina friend of mine about Pablo Neruda one day and a bit later in our conversation we got to talking about Marc, because his name came up when I was saying something I'd heard in one of his specials. She said, "I've never seen his comedy, what's he like?" I said, "He's not like anyone who's hot in comedy today, so comparison is hard. He's not easy to describe, he just starts talking and the thread goes every which way, but he keeps you laughing if you just hang in there with him." Then I said, "He's kind like Neruda, in a sense. You know how Neruda can just look in a room and focus on anything, a cutting board, some onions, a pair of slippers, and ta-da, reel off a poem that is captivating even if deceptively simple and with no apparent effort. Marc's comedy is something like that. Pablo finds poetry practically anywhere and Marc finds laughs." She goes, "Wow. He should get to write a review or something for him."

Marc Maron is brave in this series about his own flaws, and I found the early episodes a good combination of funny and thoughtful.

But the character Marc annoys his friends and resists changing into a good guy... At some point that becomes annoying to the viewers. Marc becomes unlikable. I get it that I think to keep up viewer interest in a character like that you need a lot of variety. The first couple of seasons have that variety, then the show seems to stall on new ideas.

Then unfortunately the drug addict and rehab stuff is darker and less comedic. I think there's a self-indulgence in this. The show could just as easily have shown Mark taking off to celebrity, but I suspect that he just wanted to share his struggles more than to make a compelling show.

Viewers like to root for a character who has confidence and makes bold and smart decisions. Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm is also acomplaining weirdo, but it's balanced with acts of friendship and the jokes aren't bitter. There's more a sense of fun, which seems lacking in Maron. I'm sorry.

I only watched the first episode of Maron, not because I didn't like it, but because I didn't like it *enough* to commit. It follows the Louis C.K. approach of a shambling storyline, a fictionalized version of the protagonist comic, and a generally downbeat sensibility.

There are so many series of this sort nowadays that I'm beginning to think Louis C.K. is a comedy subgenre, and honestly, it's one I don't quite connect with. I like my comedy a bit more polished - I prefer the detailed stories and rat-a-tat jokes of 30 Rock or Arrested Development to the bitter musings approach of something like Maron.

That's not to say the series isn't funny, because at times it is. The first episode begins with a funny, painful scene of Maron hitting on a mortified veterinarian, and Dave Foley's guest turn as himself is quite amusing. But it's a wandering show about an unlikable guy, and ultimately that's a subgenre I cannot fully appreciate.

To be honest, I never heard of Marc Maron before this show, so the reason I watched it was to figure out who the hell he is! I'm quite happy that I did, as both my wife and I have enjoyed this 1st season and are hoping they will continue with it.

Maron is obviously all about Marc Maron, who plays himself on the show. It's a smart dramatization of Maron's daily life, with the people that surround him and his sharp pod-cast.

I wish the guy below me would stop comparing this to Louis..I don't see the connection. the acting is different, the way the show is written is also different and the whole plot/message is also different.

I felt that Maron is very honest straight comedy, very original from all the other shows these days and although both Louis and Maron rank first and second on my list i feel they are very different. I hope this goes on for more seasons!

It's hard to separate my fandom from WTF and this show to give an honest review, but I'll give it a shot. My initial reaction was to stop after the first episode. Frankly, Marc's acting was a bit hard to watch at times. But knowing his ungodly knack for comfort on the radio, my guess was that he would get better. My patience paid off. You see a mostly steady increase in his confidence as each episode progresses, though I'm not convinced they were all shot in order.

Marc has the ability to both draw you in and annoy you in the same sentence. Gregory House couldn't do this any better. But that is his real life. What might seem like a tense moment for some, as Marc often confronts those friends (and enemies) he has on his podcast, is simply his bread and butter. He operates in a world of bitterness, jealousy, and chaos. He openly admits his frustrations with life and the decisions he makes, yet recognizes his unhealthy habits.

Much of this comes through on the show but in a far less depressing manor. What some may consider as "Hollywooding" (odd thing to say about IFC) Marc's life, I would say is a necessity to making this story watchable.

The cameos (especially for fans of comedians) are another part of the show that lifts what could have been dark and depressing sitcom, into a competent story of a neurotic entertainer. And while this fictional world parallels Marc's life in some ways, it manages to keep it's distance at times.

This is no Louie. It does not try to be. Both shows are very different. Surprisingly, Maron would seem to me more appealing to a broader audience than Louie, though I hate to compare them. Louie's show reaches a level of dark that I think most people will not appreciate, though it obviously has a large following (and yes, I am a fan).

For now, this show belongs on IFC. If Marc's acting continues to improve, Maron could really benefit from a network change. I would encourage everyone to give it a shot (It's on Netflix!), to see if it's right for you.