Obscure with Michael Ian Black

Some comparing and contrasting on the natures and characters of our respective heroines, Bob and Sondy F from the perspective of our hero, the cad. Can a hero also be a cad? Sure. What was Han Solo if not both? Meanwhile, your host rhapsodizes on his new homeland, the sap. Can a hero also be a sap? Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Mi...

A remembrance of a summer past begins today's episode as your host recalls a trip to his grandmother's apartment, a trip which involved watching the rock star Prince have more sex than was comfortable. Meanwhile, our resident Hamlet, Master Clyde Griffiths, continues to inch closer and closer to his ultimate destination. One of... MURDER!!! Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Foll...

Your host begins with tales of glamor and intrigue and film festivals, but such tales are short-lived, are they not? And, truth be told, very little intrigue at hand and almost as little glamor. Meanwhile, intrigue builds in the fetid little brain of our troubled teen, Clyde Griffiths. Will such intrigue lead to... MURDER?!? Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael...

An honest-to-goodness "Price is Right" challenge! Plus, tales of Las Vegas decadence and Lycurgus debauchery! In addition, a comedic definition of the word "Myrtle." All this and more on today's scintillating episode of "Obscure"!!! Oh, and we read the book a little, too. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael on Instagram See Priv...

Your host has created for himself a little working vay-cay out in the wilds of the Nevada desert for a debauched week of poker-playing and podcast recording. Most of the episode is devoted to Bert's whinging about this, that, and the other. Is it boring? It is. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy...

While Ol' Bert suffers in Biltz, Clyde and Sondra are canoodling over at Twelfth Lake, their kisses turning into warm embraces in the moonlight. And yes, there's baby talk. I'm so sorry. 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...

We start today's episode with some hot show biz goss about Colman Domingo, the show biz industry in general, and the Met Gala. Then we delve into the subject of MURDER!!!! 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.com/privacy#do...

As the number of listeners continues to dwindle (and, honestly, why it hasn't disappeared altogether is a mystery to me), your host recounts a visit to Los Angeles, relays some VERY strong opinions on Taco Bell, and reads a bit of a work of classic literature while commenting on it as he goes. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael...

Reporting this episode from a haunted condominium in Hollywood, California! Ok, it's not haunted and, strictly speaking it isn't in Hollywood. But here within, your host relates a VERY JUICY Colman Domingo story (it's not that juicy, or that interesting). And Clyde continues to f things up. No surprise there. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Foll...

For the umpteenth episode, Clyde is torn between his former flame and the current inferno warming him from the direction of Twelfth Lake. A gravid Bob is at a critical junction, the time of decision-making is at hand. Clyde must marry her or find some other solution to the problem. The obvious solution? MURDER!!! Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter...

Some real moments of irritation from your host this week as he loses patience with both Bob AND Ted Dreiser. Now maybe it's on account of your host's sore back or maybe it's because your host thinks he knows better than one of the nation's great writers. Who can say. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael on Instagram See Privacy P...

A couple of Bobs on the podcast this time around, one the familiar Bob of episodes past, the knocked-up one. Then there's another Bob, only mentioned once and as an aside from your narrator. But what is the nature of this second, mysterious Bob? Only a careful listen will reveal the answer!!!! Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael...

A sleepy host, a pregnant Bob, and a potential lover who, in the mind of your host, looks like a comic book character. Clyde and Roberta remain in their pregnancy pickle while Sondra Finchley, in the shadows, seeks out young Master Griffiths. All is both well and deeply unwell on the dark streets of Lycurgus, New York. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Tw...

The episode begins with a reflection on St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, which - your host is told - is the nation's 3rd largest St. Patty's Day celebration. So while revelers drink themselves into a stupor down south, up north in Lycurgus, NY, our friends Clyde and Roberta struggle with the continually growing problem of Bob's pregnancy. But now, with the addition of the threat of marriage, blackma...

When you think about it, isn't all art about horny young people? Sure it is. And where does it all lead? No place good. Which is how you end up with a couple poor saps out there in Lycurgus, NY trying to extract themselves from a situation in which they placed themselves by virtue of their own damned horniness. And that's where we pick up this week's episode. Support  Obscure! Read  Mich...

As your host's moderate smartness is slowly replaced with moderate dumbness, he contemplates the obvious etymology of a certain, common phrase in the English language as well as expresses some antipathy for the toaster. As for Clyde and Roberta, their best-laid plans also appear to be toast. What shall become of these two star (and Sondra) crossed lovers?!? Support  Obscure! Read  Michae...

Recounting two apple-themed cities in my travels this episode. You might even learn some trivia about one of our foremost planters of apple trees. New York state, too, home of Lycurgus, is also an apple-growing state. In fact, according to the New York Apple Association (real), NY grows more apple varieties than any other state! Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Mic...

Timely as always, your host contemplates the difference between two war movies, neither of which came out in the last 10 years. Plus, some culinary conversation AND our protagonist/antagonist Clyde Griffiths might have a bead on an abortionist. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19....

Now ensconced back on American soil, your mansplainer-in-chief processes his return to his native land as he contemplates ice cream sandwiches, the troubled political landscape, and the fortunes of a certain young creep named Clyde who would have voted Trump. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy at...

The audio, as promised, is terrible again. And yes, it's entirely my fault. Good audio resumes next episode. As for this episode, you know, it's just more problems. Roberta's knocked-up and Clyde is doing his level best to make everything worse. Will he continue to succeed? I think you can all guess the answer. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Fo...

The sound is bad this week, and it's your host's fault. A further warning: the sound will be next week as well, but after that - SMOOTH SAILING!!! So I apologize for the annoyance and assume it will further erode my subscriber base. The only question remaining: which will last longer - the subscribers or the book? Hard to say, but the goal of Obscure has always been to remain obscure. And so we sh...

Your host reports today from the fabulous French city of Toulouse, where the second leg of his grand Tour de France continues. Over in the decidedly less glamorous city of Lycurgus, Roberta breaks the bad news to Clyde. How will he react? What will do? Will these star-crossed lovers patch things up and make good? Not bloody likely. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  ...

The nascent jazz age is upon Roberta Alden and the "blues," as we commonly know it today, was probably a word just coming into the vernacular. Even so, Roberta is suffering from this new malady as Clyde continues to let her down. Speaking of jazz... you know who loves this unique American art form? The FRENCH! This episode recorded in Bordeaux, France with a quiet cameo by your host's dear wife. S...

Recounting New Year's Eve and a heated argument with a cop. Clyde, too, is in heat. For the comely Sondra Finchley. Increasingly, it seems as though the comely Sondra Finchley is heated for Clyde. Warmth is breaking out all over on an another episode of Obscure. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy...

A fabulous synchronicity as Christmas arrives for both Clyde Griffiths and your humble host, joined this week by his daughter, Ruthie, who has returned to the family manse in Savannah for the holiday season. I catch her up to date on the book and read a bit, as well. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael on Instagram See Privacy P...