From Jesse Thorn of The Sound of Young America and PRX
WTF is the name of the popular podcast from comedian and provocateur Marc Maron. Each interview on WTF is a journey into the depths of a comic's psyche. To say it is a hit is an understatement (The New York Times called it the must-hear podcast for comedians).
We've cherrypicked the best-known comics (like Conan O'Brien and Robin Williams) and the most amazing stories (like Mike DeStefano, a heroin addict whose comedy transformed his life) for a special short-run series. Every episode brims with humor, emotion and humanity.
WTF — perfect for this summer, for late-night listening, or just to shake things up. Come to the dark side of comedy.
"People say stuff to him that you can't imagine them saying to anyone else." -Ira Glass
Episodes
The WTF series has ten episodes, each featuring different comedians.
Judd Apatow is one of the most prolific and successful creators of comedy in Hollywood. But at age 16, Judd was already doing his own radio show not unlike the one Marc does today. Hear rare clips of Judd in 1983 talking to Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno and Garry Shandling, well before the breaks that launched them all to superfame.
Marc and Conan O'Brien discuss Conan's personal insecurities, the people who leave him starstruck, how he's still processing what happened to him at NBC and how the recent events in his professional life helped him relax.
Marc sits down with Bob Odenkirk, one half of the influential '90s HBO sketch program Mr. Show. They'll talk about the discipline it takes to get creative projects made. Plus, a conversation in the car with the delightfully bizarre comic Maria Bamford.
A conversation with comic, director and writer Louis CK. Louis is at the top of his game today, but he and Marc recall the days when they were both struggling young comics in Boston, when Louis was getting rejected by SNL, and when his movie was being taken away from him by a Hollywood studio.
Ben Stiller may be one of the biggest movie stars in the world, but he is not above sitting in the garage for a chat with Marc about show biz, parents, rivalries, Apatow, anxieties and, of course, Heat Vision & Jack. Plus, Tig Notaro talks about why she hates people who take pity on female comics.
Yeah, Marc's sitting down with Robin Williams for an hour. No big deal. So what do you talk about with an international comedy superstar? How about alcoholism, cocaine, divorce, joke stealing, heart surgery, fame, Richard Pryor, jealousy, and Twitter?
In one of the late comic's final interviews, Mike DeStefano discusses the extraordinary circumstances that led to him becoming a comedian. Then Marc admits to being intimidated by Margaret Cho and then asks her to sit and talk with him.
Carlos Mencia is a major name in comedy. He's also one of the most reviled characters in the business among other comics. So, naturally, Marc wants to find out what makes him tick, what it feels like to be so controversial, and what he says in his own defense.
Tom Lennon talks about going from niche television acting like The State and Reno 911! to writing for films like Night at the Museum; Dave Attell talks stand-up while poolside; and Andy Richter discusses the move from late-night sidekick, to sitcom star and back again.
How can you sell out 20,000-seat arenas, star in several Hollywood films, record the biggest selling comedy album in 30 years, and still be called "polarizing?" Dane Cook stops by the garage to talk about being Dane Cook and whether that might be more complicated than it seems. Plus, Janeane Garofalo describes the transition from political commentary back into comedy.
About the Host and Producers
Host Marc Maron
You want to know who Marc Maron is? Listen to WTF — the 10 shows here or his podcast. He lets it all out there.
For over fifteen years, Marc Maron has been writing and performing raw, honest, and thought-provoking comedy for print, stage, radio, and television. A legend in the stand-up community, he has appeared on HBO, Conan, Letterman, his two Comedy Central Presents specials and almost every show that allows comics to perform. His book based on his solo show, The Jerusalem Syndrome: My Life as a Reluctant Messiah, is available on Amazon.com. His three CDs, Not Sold Out, Tickets Still Available and Final Engagement are comedy cult classics and are available on iTunes. His forthcoming album will be available on Comedy Central Records in 2011.
This year, Marc headlined an episode of Comedy Central's John Oliver's NY Stand-Up Show and was ranked #7 in Comedy Central's annual Stand-up Showdown. His podcast WTF with Marc Maron premiered in September 2009 and now averages 230,000 listeners per week. The show hits #1 on the iTunes comedy charts regularly and has been downloaded by 17 million people since its debut.
Producer Jesse Thorn
Jesse is the host and producer of the radio show and podcast The Sound of Young America from Public Radio International. It airs on to dozens of public radio stations and weekly on the XM Public Radio channel.
Jesse hosts the podcasts Judge John Hodgman and Jordan, Jesse, Go! and the television program The Grid, which airs on IFC. Jesse made the WTF public radio shows possible and is the only guy at public radio conferences who bothers to clean up and look good in a suit.
His production company, Maximum Fun, lives up to its name. As proof, he does most of his work from his home in LA.
Producer Nick White
Nick White is a radio and podcast producer based in Chicago. He produced and edited WTF for public radio.
Nick edits The Sound of Young America from Public Radio International. He also works as a producer for WBEZ 91.5FM and is a volunteer for the Chicago Independent Radio Project.
Airing WTF
Clock
WTF is presented in two format versions:
- A 59-minute version with NO newscast hole and two floating one-minute cutaways. WTF prefers that you use this version unless you need a newshole, in which case...
- A 54-minute version with a newscast hole and two floating one-minute cutaways is provided with each episode.
Fees
There are 10 hours of content for the WTF limited series. WTF is being offered for broadcast at the default PRX point rate. Just look in the upper right corner of the piece page for the point fee.
Not sure how many points left in your station account? Check your station's My PRX page.
Need more points to get WTF? Contact John Barth at prxmembership at prx dot org.
Content Advisory
Episodes of WTF contain some adult language and adult themes. Offensive words are bleeped out, but sensitive listeners should be advised.
All programmers should preview episodes before license and air.
Episodes
About the Host and Producers
Airing WTF: Fees, Clocks, Advisories
A Letter to PDs from Ira Glass
FREE WTF Promos from Ira Glass
In the News
Get the WTF Podcast
Marc's Shows & Tour Dates
Look Who Likes WTF!
"As a comedy nerd, this show is my nirvana." -Judd Apatow
"Marc Maron is a thinker and talker who is somehow boisterous and vulnerable at the same time. His rollicking interviews are wonderfully unpredictable, candid, thought-provoking and real." -Sarah Vowell
"I'm addicted to Marc Maron's interview style. He operates so close to the bone that everyone he interviews goes there too. His show is neurotic and truthful, crazy and utterly clear-minded, and he creates these moments that are really sad and really funny at the same time. Try doing that; it's not easy. But it's amazing to hear. We'll start airing his show on our public radio station as soon as they bleep it." -Jay Allison, Peabody-winning pubradio producer
"They're special shows, and they deserve a place on the radio. I say this as a fan. I have no financial interest in this and I'm not sleeping with anyone on the show." -Ira Glass
