I can’t think of any stand up that has grown more on so many levels than Marc Maron has in these last few years. It’s pretty amazing. His last special FROM BLEAK TO DARK is easily one of the best pieces of work that’s come out this past decade. I put it in the rare air of Chappelle’s Sticks and Stones, Bo Burham’s Inside, Jerod Carmichaels Rothaniel, Chris Rock’s Selective Outrage and Bill Burr’s Paper Tiger, and I have to say, I think I would put it at the top of the list. It’s an amazing snapshot of life and loss, walking along with a dour but funny man that isn’t buying into anything that’s being served by anyone in the world. He doesn’t sell the depth he’s had to grow into and wear, but he’s proud enough of it that he’ll use it as the bass line in his work.

‘Life is hard. I’m not so sure I’m into it.’ Yet, at the same time, there’s a sense that he’s got an acceptance that feels like some version of ease. A stance that it’s all out of his hands so the best he can do is forge some humor, maybe some music, do some solid acting roles, interview some folks, feed his cats (he’s obviously gay) hike, and try to have a little fun.

The point is, to me, he was never really working at this level. He was always good. Really good. A professional brooder. A pioneer podcaster. The last few years, between the fantastic acting turns he’s put out there, and I mean, really fantastic. In another era, he’d have been a Dustin Hoffman, Elliott Gould, George Segal level, movie star / actor. The deep loss of his girlfriend also played so much into ‘Bleak to Dark’, but it isn’t the best stuff. Some of it is the straight stand up routines like the gun routine at the end of the special. The thing about it is it’s all really, really, unique because it’s all so Maron, and so organically of that time in his life. And from what I’ve heard, the new hour is even better, even more down this road.

It’s exactly what stand up needs to be right now.

I mean, I’m not in synch with the guy politically. I piss him off sometimes, (a lot of times) and sometimes he’s just knee jerk whiny, but I happen to really love him. Love his take on the world, his love for stand up. Love him as an artist.

This is a great interview he did with Sam Dingman, a Phoenix radio guy. It’s really worth listening to.

https://www.kjzz.org/the-show/2024-09-19/painfully-myself-marc-maron-hits-a-new-level-of-vulnerability-in-stand-up

And if you haven’t seen Bleak to Dark you’re in ijiot. Watch it now.