Obscure with Michael Ian Black
It's a book club, but funny! Comedian Michael Ian Black is tackling a great work of literature: Wuthering Heights. Join Michael's weekly book club as he reads aloud from a classic and asks people like Jen Kirkman, Mike Birbiglia, Michael Showalter, and even his teenage kids to weigh in with their perspectives. Season 1: Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure. The book is bleak, but Michael does a lot of accent work. Season 2: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It's alive, and it's just a big buddy. Also, more accent work. Season 3: Wuthering Heights. It's a love story? Who knows Season 4: American Tragedy. Also a potential title of this podcast Support this show and access bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack
Episodes
Your host waxes pedantic as he begins today's episode from Bigfoot Country. Time away spurs reflection, and your host is both away and reflecting. A quick and dirty definition of "wealth" accompanies a dissection of the difference between the free and the not-so-free, such as one Clyde Griffiths. Yes, it's a contemplative episode of Obscure this week.
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Your host has decamped to Bigfoot Country for the next few episodes as he seeks the mighty Sasquatch, along with Chris Elliott and the lovely Sarah Tomko. Yes, moviemaking is afoot (BIG foot), and while I go gallivanting all over the deep woods, poor Clyde is confined to a lousy cell in a terrible prison and it's all he can do to keep his spirits up. Can Mama Bear help? Or will she, too, fall prey to the ultimate mythical creature ...
As a rash plagues your very successful actor host, Clyde's poor mother has arrived in Bridgeburg to comfort her not very successful son. What will become of the two poor Griffiths, mama and son? Can a simple pious woman rescue her condemned boy from the clutches of death? Let's be honest: probably not.
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Your host opines on the nature of the tension between the American branches of the sacred and the profane in a quarter-backed notion that the book "An American Tragedy" can be viewed as a metaphor for the nation itself. Too much? Perhaps. Meanwhile Clyde waits to die.
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Your host opines on pathogen-bearing animals, Tony Danza, and the acting profession before delving into a brand new chapter! Clyde Griffiths is waiting to be fried up like a basket of shrimp but, hopefully, not before seeing his mama one more time.
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Maybe people suck. Hard to say, exactly, but as we plow forward from testimony to closing arguments, here we are: the same human vices that have plagued the species for millennia are on full display both in Clyde Griffith's time and our own. Such a terrible state of affairs plagues the human condition! But what're we gonna do? Cry about it? Of course not! A new chapter is at hand.
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Your host reflects on his occasional love for athletic prowess, little of which he possesses. Plus, a sneeze or two might erupt on the podcast owing to allergy season, as we FINALLY end Clyde's testimony. Lo these many pages have come and gone and still no sense of whether the fella's going fry or not! I mean, the trial has done nothing but convince me that he ought to, but will they convict?
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Mighty questions abound during this week's episode of Obscure, including Clyde's true nature, sexual hypocrisy, and whether or not the ice box is properly titled a "refrigerator." Meanwhile, we're still on the stand with our defendant. Word of warning: if you think this is the last episode of testimony from our Cylde, you are incorrect. Even so, things look increasingly dire for our young lad. Can the hangman's noose be far behind?
From the shores of Lake Como, your host recounts his time in Italy and then spends too much time extolling the virtues of a recent purchase. As for Clyde, well it's more of the same. Mason continues to hammer away at him and Clyde continues to duck and weave for all he's worth. Will Mason finally break the young murderer? Find out on today's scintillating episode!!!
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A symphony of bells accompanies the beginning of this episode, which comes to you from the shores of Lake Como, Italia. The bambini are about to join your host for a few days of Roman holiday and such. A far better location than a stuffy courtroom, where Clyde continues his back-and-forth with DA Mason. And ol' Mason appears to have Kid Griffiths on the ropes. But will it be enough to convict?
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As your host completes Week 1 of his Italian sabbatical, he shares some banal observations about the Old World because his provincial and foolish brain cannot do otherwise. But "provincial and foolish" can also describe one Clyde Griffiths, now testifying for his darned life, first attempting to establish his truthiness by means of the relatively friendly interrogation of his own lawyer, Jephson. Now, however, he must face DA Mason...
Clyde continues his testimony to judge, jury, and the Lord God above. As our favorite defendant continues his lies - damnable lies - upon the witness stand, your host continues to express his displeasure with Clyde's defense strategy. And what happens when Mason gets his turn to interrogate this least reliable of narrators?
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As your host gets ready to depart for a month-long "Talented Mr. Ripley" style vacation in Italy, Clyde Griffiths is attempting to play his own long con. The boy is on the witness stand lying through his teeth about the events that led to the death of one Roberta Alden. Will a jury of farmers see through the obfuscations, half-truths, and outright mendacity???
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At long last, we've learned the defense strategy to extricate young Master Griffiths - a claim of physical and moral cowardice. What?! Seems dumb as hell to your host, but who can say?
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As Clyde's trial continues apace, Clyde takes the stand to speak on behalf of his own self. It's a terrible gamble for the defense, as DA Mason must surely be licking his lupine lips at the prospect of chomping down on Clyde's obvious lies and prevarications. Before that cross-examination can occur, however, we're going to be treated to tale cooked up by Belknap and Jephson. Will it succeed?!?
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Torment begins today's episode. A discussion of soft foods leads off today's episode before we pick up Belknap's opening argument on the trial of one Clyde Griffiths, late of Lycurgus, NY, whose very life hangs in the balance. We are yet to hear the crux of the defense; how will they endeavor to spare this young murderer's life?
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Your rambling host details, for no discernible reason, his weeklong schedule (pronounced: sh-edule). He then moves on to using the word "nadir," which is pretentious. Just a terrible waste of time from your host before we get back to the matter at hand, the trial of one Clyde Griffiths.
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The trial continues with much desolation accruing on the part of one Clyde Griffiths, as witness after witness corroborates the accusations of DA Orville B. Mason. A veritable parade of witnesses - one after the other - condemning Clyde to his forthcoming date with Ol' Sparky. Mr. Griffith's hopes are now flagging by the moment, which leads your host to conclude that we're in for some kind of twist.
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Witness after witness condemning Clyde to Ol' Sparky. Dots are being connected, red yarn tied to thumbtacks, evidence uncovered! They even found the druggist to whom Clyde applied for abortifacient! They found everybody! How the heck does Clyde have any hope of walking after this litany of concerned citizens putting the screws to the young Mr. Griffiths.
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The case is underway! Jury selection complete. Opening argument argued. And now, at long last, witnesses are taking the stand. What will they say? Will they sink Clyde's case? PLUS a lesson in antiquity. AND a new nickname for Robert is REVEALED!!!
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