Obscure with Michael Ian Black

Clyde is assigned to the dregs of the Griffiths Collar Manufacturing Concern. After a somewhat terse exchange with his cousin, Gilbert, Clyde is escorted through the manufactury, where he witnesses all the sights and sounds of a great collar concern. Fascinating stuff. Support  Obscure! Read  Michael's substack Follow  Michael on Twitter Follow  Michael on Instagram See Privacy...

Clyde is making his way through Lygurgus, NY in seek of his fortune. We're getting a tour of the Griffiths Collar Making Factory as young Master Clyde of the Asa Griffiths clan presents himself at the office of his cousin Gilbert. A little cousin-on-cousin action on this episode of OBSCURE. Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagram See Privacy P...

Those who know of my work no doubt also know the work of one of my besties, David Wain. His dad, Norman Wain, gave some business advice years ago that I remember in this episode of Obscure. Business is also very much on the mind of Clyde Griffiths and his uncle, the collar entrepreneur, Sam. Did Clyde just secure his future? Listen and find out! Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Mich...

Clyde is about to meet his uncle, Samuel Griffith, who has come to Chicago and is staying at the very club in which Clyde's employ is now secured. But how to approach the Great Man? Would his uncle find him nothing more than an aged bellhop in laughable circumstances? Listen on and find out!  Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagram See Pr...

Your humble host is laid up with a blown-out back as he endeavors to feed your literary hunger. A surprise awaits Clyde in Chicago, which provides our young hero with a new opportunity... and new danger?!?  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://art1...

It's been three years since the tragic events of Clyde's Kansas City days. What has he been doing in the ensuing years? How did he make his way to Chicago? What about his poor, pious parents? Did the rest of the gang end up in the pokey? Find out on this informative episode of Obscure! Check out Michael's column in the Daily Beast Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter...

My God, yet another episode with Bella talking about the goddamned boat lunch the Finchleys are building up at Greenwood Lake. Like the rest of the Griffiths clan, Michael doesn't care. Rich people and their rich people gossip. Not for him, thanks.  Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy an...

No, it's not Welsh but it certainly is fun to say. This week, we're dealing with fancy ladies and chaps, in particular a certain Bella Griffiths angling for a summer at Greenwood Lake! Plus, a facile comparison of Clyde Griffiths, Sammy Glick, and Jay Gatsby.  Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com...

There's mooks aplenty on another tantalizing episode of Obscure. One from contemporary times, and several from the book. Plus: we fail to find a good definition for "macerating wheel"!  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-not-...

Those meddlesome kids are causing mayhem - absolute mayhem - out there in Kansas City, MO. They're running over girls and crashing cars and engaging in high-speed car chases. It's madness with these kids!  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...

"Gee, but you're mean." The fact is, these two young people are exhausting. Clyde and Hortense continue their back-and-forth and we're forced to endure their irritating  pas de deux . More bickering, more dilly-dallying. And maybe Hortense is on her period. Not sure. Plus, a book recommendation!  Support Obscure! Read Michael's substack Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on Instagr...

All kinds of curves: whips and curves in the river bend and the curves of one Hortense Briggs: hippy curves, booby curves, butty curves. And skirts hiked above the knees! It's sin, sin, and more sin on a positively scandalous episode of Obscure. Lust! Jealousy! Covetousness! Prepare your delicate minds!!!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:...

Horny teens speeding along a snowy road in a stolen car. What could possibly go wrong? Perhaps the tragedy will be vehicular or perhaps something involving the human heart. Clyde and Hortense seem to be heading towards their own collision as a rival emerges.  Support the show & get more Obscure https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal...

Well, Clyde has promised 50 dollars to Hortense and Hortense has promised her whole self to Clyde and Clyde's mama needs 50 bucks for Hester also known as Esta. Everybody needs 50 bucks! Will he choose his sister or his penis? Frankly, Michael is distraught. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

As we barrel through the holiday season, your curmudgeonly host grouches about all things consumerist. It is, after all, the corrosive acid of consumerism eating up our hero Clyde Griffiths as he weighs the request by his beloved to acquire for her a little fur coat. If only she were the only one making financial demands upon him...  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor...

Clyde Griffiths doesn't seem to mind receiving a little abuse, and Hortense Briggs doesn't seem to mind dishing it out. Just a little Freudian nonsense to focus one's mind during a little pas de deux between boy and girl. The object of lust at the center of today's episode: an adorable fur coat.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.co...

It's all about sex for Clyde Griffiths as he contemplates the sensual life. Hortense Briggs is playing her little reindeer games with Clyde's heart with little regard for the pain she's causing him. Plus, your host is about to play some high-stakes Las Vegas poker. And, we learn the correct pronunciation of "gewgaw."  More high stakes activity: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See Priv...

In addition to the international tragedy of wars breaking out across the globe, your host is experiencing his own American tragedy of insomnia and fatigue. Not to compare one tragedy to the other, but my American tragedy is worse. As for the book by the same title, Clyde has discovered his poor, knocked-up sister. They meet and converse and Clyde feels both resentful and conflicted regarding...

A strange incident at the Taco Bell leads your humble host to reflect on the importance of being aware of one's surroundings. Back in Kansas City, Clyde Griffiths, too, is studying his own surroundings, leading him to discover a secret in a seedy neighborhood. Lives are going off the rails on this episode of "Obscure." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice a...

As your humble, exhausted host tours New York City, where everything is up to date, Clyde Griffiths is at the center of the world, Kansas City, MO where he continues to entertain the enchanting Hortense. Will she one day favor Clyde above all others? It doesn't look promising. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-...

As another war breaks out in the Holy Land, your befuddled host offers his less-than-half-baked thoughts on the situation in Israel. Forget about the world's troubles for a few moments, will you not, as we follow Clyde's romantic misadventures.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Michael's in Chicago and Clyde's in heat. More at https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Celebrating young love today on Obscure. T-Swift has got herself a new beau. Dane Cook has a new child bride. And Clyde Griffiths is out there in KC with a bevy of young beauties on his arm. Plus there's some mystical talk as well as some good old-fashioned story-reading. Side note: He knows that Taylor Swift's new boyfriend isn't the quarterback.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priv...

Clyde visits one of Kansas City's finest brothels with his fellow bell hops for a night of frivolity. What will this poor, penitent boy think of such doings? Plus, your host recounts a bad appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman  More bad appearances at https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art...

The bell hops are getting ready for their big night out at Frissell's and trade stories of life at the hotel. Plus we meet Davis Higby who says, "That's right." Drinks will be drunk and chops chopped!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .