Obscure with Michael Ian Black

A little bit of present account taking, an audio sorbet. A check-in from a mid-priced hotel in Rochester, NY. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Haven't we all known some troublemaker kid who's always finding themselves on the wrong side of adult rules? Well, that's our Heathcliff. Poor, maladjusted, orphaned Heathcliff. All he did is smash a tureen of hot apple sauce on some kid's face and all of the sudden he's locked in the garrett and beaten. For shame. Well, Cathy's not having it. And neither is Michael. AND NEITHER IS MICHAEL! See Pr...

Oh, what mischief comes from dirty and petulant boys. Heck Michael wrote a whole book about it. Well, trouble is afoot on the moors and elsewhere in our own times. Beware the too-clean kitchen, I say.  Support the show 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 .

Michael's boy Elijah turned 21 this week, and he celebrated him with fine Southern dining and a peachy cocktail. On the American estate of Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff is, yet again, an object of abuse and scorn, just as we like him.  Get yer bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19...

Tension continues to grow at Wuthering Heights when Hindley Earnshaw returns to mourn his father with a "half silly" wife in tow.  Where did she come from? What the hell even is her name? Michael's and his own half silly wife return to their own haunted mansion, having just ventured into the Blue Ridge Mountains for a short vay-cay.  Join us for book club at https://www.patreon.com/micha...

Mrs. Dean, now with a subtler funny voice, continues to tell the tale of the Earnshaw children and their ward, Heathcliff. Plus, an update on Michael's tooth and tales of woe and carnage on the poker floor.  Michael Ian Black reads Wuthering Heights. Book club membership and more at https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

A pot roast disaster and a sauna mishap in today's episode. PLUS, Michael continues to unspool the origin of our beloved Heathcliff, AND Chapter Four concludes with a hint of mayhem and deception yet to come! Catch all the mayhem with early episodes and bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://...

Lockwood perks up (coffee pun), as he begins to tease out the complicated family history of Heathcliff and his kin. Trouble brews (coffee pun)! Do you have the beans to listen (coffee pun)? Sanka (name of old coffee brand)! No puns allowed 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-sel...

Michael got a Hitlerian haircut and nearly broke his finger. Over in the American town of Thrushcross Grange, Lockwood continues to chip away at the icy exterior of Heathcliff. Life at the Heights is a tangled mess.  Michael Ian Black reads Wuthering Heights. Get episodes early and ad free at https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi...

A plea to authors: never include dreams in your books. They're boring, overtly symbolic, never advance the plot, and take us out of the story. Somebody describing a dream in a book is equivalent to somebody describing a dream in life - boring. SPOILER ALERT: this episode continues a dream.  Michael Ian Black reads Wuthering Heights. More fun stuff + access to the book club at https://www.patr...

Michael Ian Black reads Wuthering Heights, and the mystery deepens as Lockwood, stranded by storm, finds himself a little sleeping pod. Inside, evidence of a former resident. Also, Michael saw some dolphins! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Recorded at Christmas, and Michael's not a fan. He doesn't like anything about it, save the Christmas goose. Not the ritualized gift giving or the hauling in of trees or the decorating of said tree or the various holiday obligations. And, as always Michael Ian Black reads Wuthering Heights. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#d...

Michael Ian Black reads Wuthering Heights. In this episode, Lockwood is making himself a real bother at Wuthering Heights. We've got, NEW CHARACTERS! FUNNY ACCENTS! ANNOYING DOGS! It's got everything! Plus, the phrase "corrugated forehead," which Michael rather enjoyed. Kudos to Emily Bronte. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy...

We're off and funning! It's a brand new season of Obscure. New book, new author, no Samantha!  Michael Ian Black mansplains literature. "Episode 0" and other great bonus content can be found 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 .

Michael's back: new book, new location, new ways to mansplain literature. Obscure Season 3 releases 1/11/21. Don't miss the new book announcement! Subscribe and follow in your favorite podcast app. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Michael Ian Black finishes Mary Shelley's Frankenstein! It's been a long - perhaps too long - tale spanning continents, but it now ends. What will come of Big Buddy? Walton? What about Mrs. Saville sitting there in Londontown reading her brother's lengthy letters? And, ultimately, what will become of each of us and our creations? To what do we owe that which we have made and what do our creations...

Michael Ian Black reads Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. And we're almost there! The boat is surrounded by ice, Frankenstein is near death, mutiny is at hand, and Michael has a canker sore.  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 .

Death approaches. But whose? When? What? The spirits of the dead are speaking to Victor Frankenstein, and Walton is speaking to Margaret, and Michael speaking to you from the Haunted Mansion, and soon all will be complete. Michael Ian Black reads Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. More at https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notic...

Michael bought himself a mighty sword and spent the last few days unleashing total destruction. Plus he complains more about his dogs. And of course, continues to read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. 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 .

Suddenly this book turns into something of an action/thriller, which is great! Victor is not HELLBENT on hunting down on the cursed Big Buddy.  Michael Ian Black continues to read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. 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 .

Poor Elizabeth is dead, and Victor must decide his course of action. Will it be vengeance? Or will it be more emo shoe scuffing and whining? Michael Ian Black continues to read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. 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 .

At long last, poor Elizabeth meets her end. Michael continues to whine about everything and read's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. 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 .

It's the first truly Georgian episode of Obscure and things are not going well. The air is thick, the Haunted Mansion is in chaos, and Michael's copy of Frankenstein has gone missing. An inauspicious start for this new chapter of life.  For the first time we cannot say Michael Ian Black reads Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. But if you crave more Obscure, visit https://www.patreon.com/michaelianb...

As the Jill Schwartz Memorial Library gets packed away, Victor contemplates his future married life with his sister/cousin and vows to protect her at all costs.  As always, Michael Ian Black reads Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. There's bonus content at patreon.com/michaelianblack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-se...

So much bloviating you won't believe it! So much grasping at thematic straws! So much gnashing of teeth!  Michael Ian Black reads Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. There's so much more at 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 .