Marc Maron tells Forbes entertainment writer Scott King why he thinks his interview with Jerry Seinfeld in June of 2020 got contentious.
Marc’s comedy special ‘From Bleak to Dark’ premieres on HBO Feb. 11.
Scott King’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScottKingMedia
Scott King’s Forbes page: https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottking
30 Comments
It’s become pretty obvious over the years that Seinfeld is hard to get at emotionally and isn’t very expressive. I obviously don’t know him but he himself has said that he had considered whether he had autistic tendencies. I don’t make any definitive claim that he is but I do have some of those traits and I recognise that in Jerry.
Seinfeld just doesn’t care to get too deep on stuff. He likes to stay in a carefree kind of zone, which seems to be an enjoyable life, from what I can tell.
Seinfeld is without a doubt an extremely successful comedian, (thanks in large part to Larry David, I believe.) But in no way do I consider him a great comedian.
30 seconds of intro on a clip hahahaha
So this is an interview about an interview. I'm going to do an interview about this interview about an interview!🙄
I always thought Jerry had undiagnosed Aspergers? “Not that there is anything wrong with that.”
Maron is certainly good at what he does, and one can understand the reason for his success as a podcaster (many years in the business on both coasts, terrific memory, understands the comedy circuit infrastructure–agents, managers, booking agents, club owners),, which people find fascinating. But, he's also political and opinionated, and likes to project his values as an entertainer on others, which is a real turn-off.
Guess he views himself in the Lenny Bruce mold shouting truth to power and wanting to change the political landscape, Some comedians just want to entertain, and he takes issue with that (but only sometimes).
He couldn't get Jerry to argue with him, or share Marc's comic philosophy, so he puts him down. Plus, there's probably a bit of jealously going on as well. Marc hasn't been nearly as successful as many of his contemporaries.
We gotta stop trying to make severely mentally ill people be normal. I’m a lot like Seinfeld as far as how I live my life later in age. He’s so clearly got autism or more. Leave the guy alone. Stop trying to change him. Love Marc still.
There’s no question Jerry Seinfeld is an incredibly successful comedian. That being said, I don’t think he’s even in the conversation with the all time greats. He’s just a formulaic standup comedian with a large demographic audience due to his fame. This isn’t meant to disparage his show, which was brilliant. I put that more on Larry David than Jerry.
No one would bother breaking down mark maren, it's just not worth it.
If comedy had anything close to a corporate structure it would be Seinfeld.
You look like your head is swollen by bee stings.
Seinfeld’s hate for Maron and Goldthwait makes his relationship with Larry David even more puzzling.
Who asked for honesty? We want a comedian that can make us LAUGH!
Wow, people have nothing to do if they’re calling Marc Maron for comments on his Jerry Seinfeld interview. Maron is not a comedian. He is a lightweight Bill Hicks rip-off imitator.
Marc takes a defensive and presumptuous POV here. How does any guest owe him — or the public — a deep-dive into their psyche? If one wants to do that, fine; but Jerry opens up a little on a situational basis, with people with whom he seems to feel comfortable: Letterman, for example. He didn’t know Marc, and being on Marc’s podcast really isn’t a guarantee to deliver some psychological insight. In fact, I’ve heard Jerry elsewhere talk more analytically about comedy and comedians, when he’s into it. I think Marc had high expectations, and it’s pretty nervy to accuse Jerry of being disingenuous because Marc, frankly, did a bad job as a host. Marc is uneven as an interviewer: sometimes careful and thoughtful, sometimes too aggressive with constant interruptions. It’s possible that when Jerry sensed Marc’s need for him to deliver soul-searching and deep insights, it made him uncomfortable. That means that Marc didn’t do his job. He didn’t listen and sense deeply where to meet his guest on their territory. To blame Jerry for that is lame. Marc should take responsibility and learn from his mistakes. Bad form.
Intro is way too long for a 3 min video
Pretty sure I've actually heard Seinfeld say he doesn't know HOW to write political comedy or 'other' types of comedy. And thats fair, thats largely why I've never really been a 'fan'. Hell Steven Wright is more 'politcal' or at least 'social'. When Mitch Hedberg says "I used to do drugs…..I still do drugs, but used to too". Thats an almost political statement in america.
As for Jerry's feelings about Marc, Marc admits to mostly doing drugs and booze all through life, and thats kind of the opposite of Jerry. Frankly, I've seen old clips of Marc Maron and he's just never been remotely funny. So I suspect Jerry is just puzzled at why this guy is getting psychotherapy by yelling at audiences and thinking thats comedy.
It took Marc a LONG time, something he admits. His second standup show on Netflix is right up there with the best of Louis CK. I always find most comedianas are like rock bands, they really only have one good album in them. The REALLY remarkable ones have a couple, Louis had a few years, and then somebody like Richard Pryor is just like Pink Floyd, just so rare. Ironically Marc can interview some really funny people and be the funny one in the interview.
Jerry seems to be the guy next door you find out kills neighbourhood animals and puts them in the freezer. A guy that seems SO normal that in their head you figure they must be crazy. Jerry says he could never be with somebody 'remotely normal', and the fact that he met his wife right after her engagement or something like that, is just way out there. At least you know its 'love', because its just so crazy. But for a guy to be in his late thirties and go out with a teenager, thats just weird. The guy is weird, but as they say, comedians start at weird and then go to psychotic. At least used to, because now half the population is a comedian, hell the President was funnier than anybody.
But Mr. Maron definitely has his roadhouse. Its pretty clear he likes the comedians that do his kind of comedy. As Tracy Ullman said, he seems uncomfortable with women, but its not becaues they are women, but becaues they are usually not 'his taste in funny'. Y ou can tell he really doesn't like comedians who 'have a character' they play on stage. Thats also seemingly 'dishonest'.
But at least he's honest about that usually, and with Jerry he was pretty friendly. THe podcast was big enough that I think Jerry thought he couldnt' really avoid it without seeming like a douchebag, and with covid he figured at least this way he can just talk into the camera without actualy having to be in the room with marc-who is 'unpredictable'.
Love Marc but I get weirded out when ppl say they weren't huge fans of the Seinfeld show. Which he basically just said
I felt like Jerry was being remarkably gracious by doing the interview so soon after Marc's loss. I think Jerry did it to help support Marc.
It’s not that Marc makes Jerry uncomfortable _ it’s that Marc CAN’T do his bully thing to make Jerry uncomfortable and that makes Marc uncomfortable. Also, Jerry is old school and respectful of structure. Marc isn’t.
I like political comedy, but I don't recall any comedian changing my mind.
Seinfeld is just an entertaining clown. No one should expect a clown to have a point of view.
Marc has always played in a different league.
I've never found Marc Maron to be funny. He has this fetish for wanting to talk about politics or feelings, but Seinfeld to me is a really personal human being. So what? Honestly in a lot of long form interviews he comes off as very philosophical about comedy and comedians.He talks about the craft often and remember the documentary he released about standup?
'small minds talk about people'…Omski
I love Mark, he truly doesn’t give a shit, & does whatever he wants. He’s one of my heroes for sure.
loud!
Marc Maron is irrelevant
Seinfeld be like “what’s the deal with ppl buying Ferrari Romas and not Porsche 911s”
He just does the same greatest hits jokes for the last 25 years It’s he’s far removed from relatable comedy.
I am sure there is another side to Seinfeld, ofc there is. But the very fact that he is willing to keep that to himself and not share it with the world, I think it's part of his success