Vanity Fair
Marc of Success

I was very happy to see the Times profile of that Dostevskyan cut-up and prodigious podcast host Marc Maron, even though I thought it overaccented the negativity aspect of Marc’s personality and performing persona, the self-lacerating neuroses. WTF wouldn’t have the durable appeal it has if it were that coffee-black and bristling, which is not to say Marc goes in for Ellen Degeneres candy pastels. Although the article rightly highlights the headliner comics Marc has interviewed (Robin Williams, Carlos Mencia), my favorite shows have been the ones featuring comics I was unaware of or road warriors plugging along whose shot at big fame has receded because they’ve been around too long or had a shot already that didn’t pan out. They’ve often got the best stories because they’ve got less of a career and image to protect.