Obscure with Michael Ian Black

It appears that Clyde has finally met his end as we begin today's episode of "Obscure." When we began "An American Tragedy," it was, I admit, with some trepidation. I purchased it at a bookshop in London, where we were living for a few months a couple years and change ago. The trepidation was about the size of the damned thing. A veritable tome! I knew then that it would be a yearslong project, an...

Kind of a sweet and salty episode as your host recounts a trip to Lake Geneva, WI and the county fair. That's the sweet. The salty is that Clyde Griffiths is about to die. Which is, of course, a touch sad. But you know what cheers up sad people? Candy Corn. The circle of life continues. Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagram See Privacy Polic...

Title suggestion by dear producer Robin who seems ready to be done with Clyde and the whole mess. It's hard to argue with such a conclusion following 700 pages of Dreiser, but we're not going to walk Clyde down that long corridor just yet. There's still a governor's commutation available. Perhaps that will save his skin. But, to be honest, probably not. Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Fol...

As your host departs for a brief beach getaway, he revels in his own freedom contrasted with that of a young convicted murderer on death row. The Blue Devil has sunk his teeth into poor Clyde Griffiths and as he awaits his turn on Old Sparky, his new friend the Reverend Duncan McMillan is hard at work trying to save his soul. Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follo...

Your host recounts his INTENSE work schedule to kick off today's episode. It's a sleepy August afternoon for ol' Michael as he unspools his thoughts on the impending demise of one Clyde Griffiths whose very soul hangs in the balance. His new friend, the good Reverend Duncan McMillan, is beseeching him to confess his sins. Can young Clyde bring himself to admit a full accounting of his many wrongdo...

Times is tough but your host is facing this challenging world in a chipper mood. Why? Listeners will have to tune in to find out, but if the word "buttermilk" doesn't pique your interest, who knows what will? Thank goodness for your host's good mood since our poor friend Clyde Griffiths is at his lowest point. Perhaps all of us can cheer him up as he awaits his death. Support Obscure! Read Michael...

Reverend Duncan McMillan and Clyde Griffiths are now spending some time together as they await the final judgment of our hero. There's been some preaching and having themselves some literary discussion and psalming all the psalms. Your host also has been interrogating the whole Jesus question with a recent book borrowin'. Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Mi...

Your host begins with a congratulatory message towards himself for being a real trooper. Trouper? Some thoughts on trooping follow. As for Clyde, a man has died over at Auburn and our sad hero is feeling pretty low about it. How soon until our own dear Clyde meets his own end? Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy at https...

Your host has returned from the wilds of Oregon to the wilds of Connecticut. We begin with complaints about the local church rummage sale and continues on to various observations about this and that before revisiting the death house where Clyde awaits his fate. Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pri...

Well, the fundraising for Clyde's appeal does not seem to be going very well. Mama Griffiths has vowed to raise the necessary cash to free her boy from the jaws of death. Alas, the good people of Albany and Buffalo and parts nearby, have no patience for the young Clyde. And, frankly, nor does your host. NOR DOES YOUR HOST!!! Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow...

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. Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follo...

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...

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. Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagram S...

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. Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19....

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. Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cali...

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. Support Obscure!...

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? Supp...

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...

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!!! Support  Obscure! Read &nb...

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? Sup...

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....

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? Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael...

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??? Support  Obscure! Read  Mic...

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? Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.c...

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?!? Sup...