WTF with Marc Maron Podcast: Episode 162

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Mar 31, 2011 24

Micheal Showalter is a founding member of The State, a writer, a director and now a university professor. He talks to Marc about his successes, his failures, his failures that he sees as successes, why he doesn't see himself as an L.A. guy, and why he doesn't see himself as a comedian. Plus, Marc divulges the details of his involvement in a major project.

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24 Comments

seven and a half months ago

Elliot

Showalter: total cock. Worst interviewee ever.
over a year ago

ian

so i am a huge fan of showalter, with credits like the state, stella, wet hot american summer, and the baxter, how can you guys not be fans.
His stand up, well, it has its up and downs, he killed it a a few years back and the past few years has been so so, but he has that sarcastic attitude on stage, these are stage acts, i doubt if he is like that in real life people
almost two years ago

James J

I have met Showalter in person and I can verify, from my own experience and hearing firsthand from others at the same show who met him (this was in 2007), that he is a snotty fucking jerk, especially for someone who at the time was barely on the radar of comedy. He oozed disdain for anyone who dare approach him as he wandered around the room. I would love to have given him the most crushing handshake possible and slapped the shit out of him. He was really an asshole; he regarded audience members like we were dogshit.
over two years ago

James

Showalter is really funny. Don't let them get to you Michael.
over two years ago

BF

Showalter: a dud. And a little bit of a douchebag. But mostly just a dud.
over two years ago

Kathlene

"Two things: how ironic that the episode after you brazenly attempt to belittle Joe Rogan for selling out, you take the most ephemeral, exploitative, low-minded, cash grab possible by working with Charlie Sheen."
"LOL. Looks like Sheen's Detroit show BOMBED. Marc has to be embarrassed about this. Sold out worse than Joe Rogan on FF!"

The main difference being that Joe Rogan got a regular paycheck from FF whereas Marc's 2 meetings with Sheen weren't... a tv show.
over two years ago

Max

Germ/Amy/Schad = dicks. Don't let them get you down, Marc.

Speaking of which, a voting system where we could vote comments up or down might help deal with people who come here just to hate.
over two years ago

ziggy

Marc didn't make a dime off meeting Charlie, did he? Sounds like he went out of curiosity. So how exactly did he sell out? (Apparently Charlie didn't have a vision at all though, as Marc somehow thought. Serves the idiots right for buying all those tickets in advance.) I do agree he went on far too long about Rogan's hosting of a show no more inane than Charlie Sheen.

Oh, yeah, Showalter... Meh.
over two years ago

Pessoa's Clerk

I'm pretty disappointed that Marc agreed to consult a known abuser of women. Or, at the very least, I'm disappointed that he didn't address this part of the Charlie Sheen story. It seems like a major oversight for someone who so clearly cares about the ethics of artists. I also wanted to say that I'm a fan of Maron, his comedy and his podcast. I wouldn't post this if I wasn't shocked that this wasn't addressed in his Sheen monologue.
over two years ago

Schad

LOL. Looks like Sheen's Detroit show BOMBED. Marc has to be embarrassed about this.
Sold out worse than Joe Rogan on FF!
over two years ago

Amy

Oh, that's your ANGLE on why you talked to Charlie Sheen. You want to help him. You see where your holier-than-thou attitude bites you right in the ass when you want to make money or be a star-f*cker. Also, see Germ's post. Exactly.
over two years ago

jk

I'll be thinking about this interview for a while. As someone who's emotionally constipated and profoundly inhibited myself, it was cool to see someone like me represented on the show and know that person has also done comedy.

It's interesting to see this side of Marc position himself the ornery "L'Enfant Terrible" against intellectuals, trying to keep the conversation grounded. I'm more used to seeing him play the intellectual trying to elevate the base. It'll be interesting to see him with Conan and see which way the interview goes.

As for "Sheen's Inferno" -- it sounds compelling -- but does Maron want to be Virgil? Does Sheen/Dante even want a guide? What's the best that could happen?
over two years ago

Renaud

Yep Germ, don't want to beat a dead horse here, but the line about how going to NYU was a letdown for poor Showalter 'cause being the smartest in the class is actually not cool was beyond pathetic.
I too grew up among academics, and I'm afraid there's quite a difference between the pseudo-intellectual social sciences/philosophy/whatever types and the maths/physics or economics types. I'll never forget the unbearable arrogance of philosophers and litt teachers (my mother's friends basically), and the amazing brilliance and humility of physicists (my father's buddies). Anyway, another interesting podcast, thanks Maron (also stay away from that Sheen dude plesase).
over two years ago

Pobrien

I wanted to say that I never heard of Marc Maron until he went on Conan kinda recently, which I watch quite religiously ever since he had his first show. So to me, Marc did indeed seem just like a struggling comic in his garage interviewing some big names. Although, the more I listen to his podcasts and see other stuff with him, I realize he's actually a decently big name. So there you go Michael Showalter.
over two years ago

RB

It's interesting that Marc worked with Charlie, and I think that Marc might be able to connect with and understand him. I wouldn't underestimate Sheen; but there is a chance that this thing bombs. Like Marc, I hope it does well.
over two years ago

Germ

Two things: how ironic that the episode after you brazenly attempt to belittle Joe Rogan for selling out, you take the most ephemeral, exploitative, low-minded, cash grab possible by working with Charlie Sheen. I love you Marc but you set yourself up for this one, we're all hypocrites at one point or another. Second, wow is Showalter a delusional douchebag. Anyone with a triple digit IQ could hear the hollowness behind his superficial treatment of a few intellectual concepts and terms. You were "too smart for everyone" in your classes? Try taking a math class next time.
over two years ago

Joe Tily

Interesting intelligent conversation. Never heard of Micheal Showalter but that didn't stop me enjoying the episode. As for Sheen, i couldn't care less. If Marc wants to get involved with the dude, good luck to him . . . .
over two years ago

AEJ

As an archaeological semiotician specializing in valuative aspects of the Peirceian semeiotic (he spelled it that way) in cast bronzework of the earlier first millennium BC, I can confirm that Marc has not only defined correctly but absolutely nailed his interpretation of the cultural hermeneutics of contemporary comic performance. Sorry, shitty night for jargon--got it right, Marc, that's the point. I'll echo Jack on opinions, as long as I'm posting.
over two years ago

Boxy Mouse

Wow. 15 minutes on Charlie Sheen, eh? How disappointing.
over two years ago

akokaz

After recently hearing the Mencia episodes for the fist time I would have to conclude that Sheen is the sane one. I'm not sure that really says that much but I don't hear any indications of pathology when Marc talks about his time w/ Sheen. Dare I say envy on Maron's part? Healthy drinks, goddesses, video production crew. . . I predict Marc will get more involved with Sheen. It will help Marc's career as well as Sheen's. Marc is just now becoming aware of how influential WTF? has become. Good things ahead for him.
over two years ago

DMtShooter

Jeez, Marc... didn't you get enough of this with Kinison?

(Dangerfield voice on) Hey, get a load of Nero...
over two years ago

admin

Play nice, everybody.
over two years ago

Josh

Shut up Joe, no one cares about your opinion...

Keep up the good work Marc.
over two years ago

Joe

I'm pretty disappointed that you got involved with this Charlie Sheen nonsense. It's gross, exploitative, and tedious. I thought you had better taste than that.

2012.