Misfit Toys

Obscure with Michael Ian Black

Comedy EN ↓ 350 episodes

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...

Author

Misfit Toys

Episodes

Episode 49 - Two Dissatisfied Ones. 24.05.2019 44:01

Will these two ever figure it out? See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 48 - A Town Divided. 17.05.2019 31:57

The town of Shaston is split over Phillotson’s controversial dismissal from school, which causes the teacher to become ill and receive a surprise visit. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Not...

Episode 47 - The Friend Zone. 10.05.2019 47:00

When Jude and Sue run away together, they have different ideas of the state of their relationship. And Michael checks in with writer Nell Scovell about her thoughts on the romance and Hardy's writing. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at http...

Episode 46 - The Last Breakfast. 03.05.2019 35:42

After receiving advice from a friend, Phillotson makes a surprising decision which leads Sue back to Jude. This episode is sponsored by Roman (www.roman.com/OBSCURE). See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californ...

Episode 45 - Stepping Blindly into the Quagmire. 26.04.2019 49:17

Phillotson puzzles over how he should respond to the news that Sue wants out of their marriage, and Michael talks to Mike Birbiglia about wanting out of a La Quinta. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi...

Episode 44 - Coming Out of the Closet. 19.04.2019 36:47

Sue and Michael both make confessions of the heart. This episode is sponsored by ButcherBox (www.butcherbox.com/OBSCURE code: OBSCURE). See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://ar...

Episode 43 - The Steel Trap of Belief. 05.04.2019 39:06

Jude, Sue & Jack Jack all struggle to break free of the ties that bind them. This episode is sponsored by Roman (www.getroman.com/OBSCURE). See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:...

Episode 42 - Just Do It Already. 29.03.2019 36:07

A death in the family brings Sue and Jude together, once again providing Michael with another 'will they or won’t they' moment to pick apart. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at http...

Episode 41 - The Piano Is Like a Heart. 22.03.2019 39:29

Jude & Sue finally meet for tea, and Michael is joined by special guest reader, RISK! host Kevin Allison. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my...

Episode 40 - No Country for Obscure Men. 15.03.2019 37:06

Jude distracts himself from women by joining the church choir. And Michael distracts himself from life with episodes of Fargo. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 39 - You Have My Good Wishes, Mrs. Phillotson. 08.03.2019 37:04

Jude and Arabella meet for the first time since her marriage. The emotional S&M ensues. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 38 - Three's Company. 01.03.2019 38:32

Natasha Leggero joins Michael for a special live reading of Jude at Sketchfest in San Francisco. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 37 - The Business of Giving Her Away. 22.02.2019 34:11

Jude experiences pangs of regret, and Michael finds himself falling in love with Hardy all over again. This episode is sponsored by The Harold Ramis Film School (www.ramisfilmschool.com or call 312-883-1241). See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Polic...

Episode 36 - Runaround Sue. 15.02.2019 39:48

Sue asks Jude to play an important role in a big event, and Michael checks in with his wife Martha to get answers to some burning questions. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https...

Episode 35 - Leave the Door Open a Crack. 08.02.2019 28:42

Jude confesses his romantic past to Sue. And Michael confesses his romantic past to you. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 34 - She's Just Not That Into You. 01.02.2019 33:54

The plot thickens as we catch up with Phillotson, out in search of the truth about Sue. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 33 - Going Through the Spanking Machine. 25.01.2019 38:09

Michael contemplates throwing the book into the fire in frustration while Jude and Sue go round and round. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-m...

Episode 32 - Don’t Be Such a Wet Noodle. 18.01.2019 33:31

Sue finally admits she sees love in Jude's eyes, and Michael sees himself in Jude. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 31 - I’m a Negation of Civilization. 11.01.2019 45:19

Sue reveals her true self to Jude, and Michael has an epiphany about why this book is considered a classic. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 30 - Take Off Those Wet Clothes. 04.01.2019 41:11

Michael is joined by Another Period co-star Paget Brewster to read an intimate scene between the notorious cousins following an incident with Sue’s gossipy classmates. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-...

Episode 29 - Anything Can Happen Here. 28.12.2018 30:13

Jude the Obscure is getting hot, and Michael is all aflutter! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 28 - Now Don't Be Such A Silly Boy. 21.12.2018 39:31

Jude goes to Melchester where a lonely Sue makes a startling confession. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 27 - There's Nothing Wrong With Community Theater. 14.12.2018 34:32

Jude heads back to Marygreen with his tail between his legs. And we learn that Michael's just a human too. This episode is sponsored by RXBAR (www. RXBAR.com/OBSCURE code: OBSCURE). See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priva...

Episode 26 - Jude the Hack. 07.12.2018 49:22

Michael turns to fellow comedian Guy Branum to help break down Jude’s Latin performance at the local tavern. This episode is sponsored by Away (www.awaytravel.com/obscure code: OBSCURE). Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com...

Episode 25 - Jude Is No Jack Reacher. 30.11.2018 40:42

Jude realizes he may never get the higher education he has always wanted, and Michael talks to his old friend David Wain about handling disappointment. This episode is sponsored by Man of the People with Pat Tomasulo (www.wgntv.com/LIVE). See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...