Anyone else like Marc Maron?

[mwb970]

He's on Air America's early morning show with Mark Riley. These guys are a riot! And they really know their stuff too. The show (Morning Sedition) is so good I put up with the daggone commercials.

Maron in particular is almost like he's playing this fascinating character, except that apparently he actually is that character, and you listen each day just to explore his amazing mental universe. A tremendously appealing personality. Recommended.

They have a website at http://morningsedition.com/.

[Goldom]

1. I love him!

And they just cancelled their show on the local station! Bah... (well, not cancelled, just cut off an hour, and moved it 2 hours earlier... but I don't love it enough to wake up at 5 am for)

[n2mark]

2. Morning Sedition

is the greatest. I crack up when they have confession. They give an uplift to a new day.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. not impressed

too much of the comedy skits too little actual news and they don't do their homework.

Maron fell into the trap of calling a suicide bomber a homicide bomber the other day. He got corrected and to his credit on air he noted that this was 'right wing framing', but its his job to be on top of things. Listeners shouldn't be emailing in clues.

Also the show suffers from its namesake's tendency to do 20 minute radio essays on indiginous tea cozy production in somalia.

Every morning the Right Wing Media Propaganda Machine has its talking points all lined up and ready to go. From Imus to Morning Edition, on network morning shows across the dial, tv and radio from the machine are talking the same line o'shit. Other than MS the only other independent voice on the radio is Howard Stern, and he refuses to get serious about whats going on, even when he has been the target of the fascists.

Morning Sedition, if it were really Seditious, would have counterpoint to the talking points ready to go starting at 6am. Instead we get an Imus-clone with a leftwing slant.

I keep listening though, I keep hoping that they will get better.

[n2mark]

4. Well,

when I wake up the first thing in the morning, I don't want heavy news. I want to be able to laugh or at least smile at a little Morning Sedition helps me to begin my day on a happy and light note.

[iconoclastNYC]

25. AMEN brother!

Excellent point n2mark.

This show is well positioned to be uplifting in the AM.

[Todd B]

6. I love MS!

I, personally don't have a problem with the comedy skits - I perfer them before I settle down in to the more news oriented shows like Hartmann, Rhodes, and Malloy.

It's nice to have something on in the morning while I'm getting ready for work that is light hearted and not politically motivated in nature for all three hours.

But that's just my opinion, I hope I didn't sound argumentative :)

[Warren Stupidity]

8. WTF is wrong with an argument?

Isn't that the point of engaging in these discussions? Or are we all supposed to step in line with some assumed correct thought pattern.

I'm glad MS is on, I wish it were better.

If you want a good laugh Howard Stern is way more entertaining.

[Todd B]

19. Nothing.

Nope, nothing is wrong with and argument - I just didn't feel like it was warrented in this case since everyone was expressing their opinions, that's all.

I've actually never really been into Howard Stern - to much "shock radio" for me. I guess I'm just getting old - but to each his own.

[kimpossible]

5. I love Morning Sedition!

Marc Maron is the best. I really like the way that he mixes a lot of humor in with the politics.

I usually catch the last hour of the show live from 8-9 am, then download the rest from the archives later (at air america place

[n2mark]

7. There is no way I could wake up to

Randi or Mike early in the morning. Morning Sedition is aired here at 4am, that is about the time I wake up. I lay in bed for a while, laugh with them and rise happy. That is all I want early in the morning, just a laugh or smile.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. that's fine but

This is Serious Business.

We are confronted with a sophisticated and disciplined Right Wing Media Machine. They set out every morning to set the frame, to define the issues, to control the language. We have ONE OUTLET that competes with the meme pollution of the Right Wing Media.


This is Serious Business. The morning commute is a captive audience. We are stuck in our cars going nuts from boredom. We will listen to anything and what we get is TVRADIONEWZ with the Right Wing Bullshit coming out of every corner. Morning Sedition needs to be more serious about what they are about. That doesn't mean that they have to be UNFUNNY. It doesn't meant that they can't entertain. It measn that while they are bing funny and entertaining they have to go right after the meme-setting bullshit spewing from the rest of the dial.

[n2mark]

21. But, they do that

[Warren Stupidity]

33. not in my opinion

They do not seem to have thought much about what is today's rightwing spin on the news. They do not, in my opinion, seem prepared to counter what I have referred to as the 'meme pollution' that the rest of the dial is lock-step spewing. They instead appear to have prepared various daily themes that are frequently irrelevant - in the 'indiginous tea cozy production in somalia' category.

I was hoping for something quite different from a show named 'Morning Sedition'. I was hoping that they would actually be seditious, not some left wing 'zoo' format talk show.

[kimpossible]

35. You need to get people to listen before you can teach them

And humor is often a much more effective way to change the prevailing public atmosphere than lecturing. A joke will stick in the memory, and be repeated to friends, much more readily than a flat statement of fact will.

I agree that there's a need for serious talk about the issues. And there are other shows that spend most of their time doing just that. I for one don't see AAR as the be-all and end-all of liberal media culture. There are other progressive radio shows cropping up, only a few now, but increasing in number and range.

Morning Sedition makes me feel good in the morning, and that's nothing to sneeze at. It's entertaining enough that my husband will listen to it, when he gets tired of the more serious shows very quickly. If you don't like it, that's a shame - but no show can be all things to all people.

I mean, really, where else are you going to hear about the "faux Christian blow-monkey puppet of the Cheney regime's neocon death cult"?

[PA Democrat]

9. I love Morning Sedition

Why not allow yourself a few laughs interspersed with all the depressing news?

I love the RW guy (is it Larson?) who calls in spouting all the right wing talking points, only to be verbally tortured by Mark Maron until at the end of the skit he's weeping.

[buddysmellgood]

11. That is great.

[ObaMania]

16. I love MS too...

.. and you're right, that guy they speak to is great. Like when Maron is talking he keeps interjecting short subliminal phrases.

It's hilarious and that is exactly how I picture fundie right-wing kool-aid drinkers!

Anyway, Maron is great but I wish they would get a little more serious politically by nailing the previous day/night's events before the spinmeisters are released on CSPAN et al, and I think Reilly would play a little more of a role instead of a "Robin Quivers" to Maron's "Stern".

MS adds good AM variety to AAR. Great choice for a morning show.

[ObaMania]

38. MS = Morning Sedition...

.. that's what the thread is about and MS should not be interpreted any other way by the PC police.

:)

[Dawgs]

12. It's all comedy...

No wonder they are being replaced by other shows on some stations. I'm back to listening to sports talk in the morning. That really sucks, because I want to hear liberal talk radio. Unfortunately, it's anything but political. This morning when they were talking about food I couldn't take it anymore.

[Warren Stupidity]

14. thank you

somtimes I think I must be listening to some other lame-ass leftwing imus clone.

[DancingBear]

13. NO!!!!

If there is a more imbecilic, sophomoric and incredibly UNFUNNY human being on this planet I do not want to meet him.

Please, somebody give him a third rate sitcom and get him off the air.

(well, you asked...) :)

[sellitman]

18. Now that you mention it

I agree. Not the best show in my XM Left station...that's for sure.

[BlueEyedSon]

15. I uset to think Winstead was funnier, but maybe not.

Those 2 are my favorite personalities on AAR (Liz and Marc)

[Enraged_Ape]

17. MS makes me laugh out loud every morning

I like Marc Maron, but the skits that really kill me are that fundie nut Freeper from Bush Country, the "War on Brains", and the "Apocalyptic Preacher" sermon. Those last two skits usually have me laughing so hard, I can barely drive straight.

[Liberal_Dog]

20. I Haven't Heard Him That Much

Morning Sedition is on a bit early for me. :)

I have heard the Morning Sedition crew filling in for Randi and I like them.

I may start getting up earlier.

[n2mark]

22. I don't think you are getting their point

Morning Sedition is pure irony.

[iconoclastNYC]

23. The Most Entertaining Show on AAR by far.

I love Morning Sedition and Mark Maron. He's neurotic and lovable in a Seinfeld sort of way. Him and his partner have a great straight male buddy comrade that i think sounds very genuine and calming.

The comedy sketches are a the most consistently funny of the entire Air America line up.

And the whole show just reeks cool.

I listen to a lot of Air America radio and Morning Sedition I think is the best show in terms of being a commercial product. The most mass market. This show is the weakest as far as education or being informative but I think it is the most marketable. Of the whole line up, this is the show you could most easily get someone in my Gen X/Gen Y demographic to listen to habitually.

Its the entree into political talk, hopefully you get people interested enuf in the liberal point of view you can move them up to Unfiltered or Al for more hard core progressive indoctrination.

Morning Sedition is the liberal point of view soft sell.

[mandyky]

24. I wish MM would dial back his personal dilemnas a bit

I think Mark Riley knows the issues better. They blend well together, but I am seriously wondering about the "worth" of comics as talk show hosts. Yes, some humor and entertainment is necessary to be interesting and entertaining to a degree.

I think Marc Maron would be a great guy to have coffee with, but his ego and his "recovery" seem to make him more _personally_ interesting than valueable as a radio personality on a progressive station with the job we have ahead of us in the next few years.

I agree with another poster who said we need to get our talking points out there, and I think Marc and Mark could do that well and with good humor. I am a bit torn about STRICT talking points, I like them served up a tad differently but along the same lines. Like I hate when shrub is "on message" and just repeats things over and over. I hope we Democrats are a bit more imaginative...

[checks-n-balances]

26. I LOVE the show and I LOVE Mark & Marc

I hadn't thought about how they need to do their homework - that may be true. I'm probably just that much behind in the news that I don't notice it. Riley seems to be a little more up-to-date with his facts, but I've still learned from Maron's discussions on things, too.

AAR isn't perfect, but I think they've done a pretty good job of finding some good talk show hosts with different talents. Maron & Winstead obviously lean on the humor side and others have their niches too.

If MS hosts need to brush up on their homework for the sake of the cause, then so be it. If Maron won't/can't, I think Riley will.

On edit: I was misspelling Riley's name - oops, it looked too much like (O')Reilly!

[OneMoreDemocrat]

27. I think he (Maron) and Seder have come a really long way........

more than anyone else on AAR over the last year and have really found their groove as radio personalities.

Then again, anything is better than the gobbling turkeys that follow Morning Sedition.

[Starlight]

28. I like them both.

Some of their regular features are getting tedious, though. The call-in-your-dream thing, for instance.

[n2mark]

29. I like the call-in-your dream

They brighten my day, that is all I have to say. At 4 or 5 in the morning I really want something uplifting, they do this.

[phusion]

30. Marc rocks!

Apparently he is from my hometown of Albuquerque, too...

I like his dream description skit and the "Radio Halliburton" skit is hilarious too...

[rucky]

31. Hated him at first, but now I LOVE the show.

maybe it's because they got rid of that British gal.

maybe I just got used to the scripted stuff, but he is very funny and witty on his feet as well.

There is this one bit he does with some other comedian, where this RW Jesus Freak supposedly calls in and gives outlandish reason for all of Bush's misdoings.

"God loves ya....deal with it!"

Brilliant stuff.

[iconoclastNYC]

41. What british gal?

Laura flanders? i didn't know she was on the show ever?

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. I love him

and I love his show.

The daily Liberal Agenda from the Streisand camp is always hilarious. Here is today's:

Liberal Agenda 2-28

1. Urge Clint Eastwood to issue this press release: "If Bush's Social Security plan goes into effect, a "Million Dollar Baby" born today will only be worth $100,000 at retirement age."
2. Don't forget: Just because Jamie Foxx and Morgan Freeman won last night, that doesn't make everything "OK." The Man is still winning.
3. During the relentless post Oscar coverage, encourage entertainment shows to ask Hillary Swank at least one question about the Kyoto Treaty.
4. Remind everyone you meet today of how many tsunami victims could be fed for the price of Cate Blanchett's dress.
5. Today's phrase, just slip this into conversation. "Hope you enjoyed the Oscars, man. It's the last one you'll ever see.  Next year Hollywood will be under martial law so good bye Oscar.  And the winner isâ€?. fascism!!!  Wake up sheeple, they're already building media free camps in Arizona!"

[Dawgs]

34. Does anyone else find this thread suspicious?

Maybe the new CEO doing a little free polling... or maybe Mark himself looking for approval.

Just asking?

[movie_girl99]

36. i enjoy the show

i listen to it on the way to work and then log on and stream it. The guy is funny but knows his stuff!

[kimpossible]

37. Listen to comedy snippets online at AAR

The AAR home page keeps a selection of recent audio snippets online at http://airamericaradio.com .

Marc and Mark's Iraq War Montage is great stuff, although not exactly funny.

[MamaBear]

39. He took some getting used to.

I was really uncomfortable with Morning Sedition in its early days; now I even listen to the "best of" on Saturday morning. Went to see Marc's show at Symphony Space last month, and I laughed until I hurt.

No show on AAR is going to do it for everybody. I'm impressed at how much improvement I've heard in Marc and Mark (although I understand Mark (Riley) is a veteran radio man), Rachel and even Sam Seder. I think Rachel and Sam could easily do a 3-hour show on their own now.

I really like Marc. Marc, if somebody sends you this thread, I love the cat stories. It makes me feel connected to a human being in the midst of all this madness. Keep up the good work.

MamaBear
(A Brian Wilson Fan, also)

[Batgirl]

40. love-love-love 'em

"Lawton Smalls" the fundie caller is just plain hilarious.
And it's not easy to make me laugh in the car on the way to work during a sleet storm.

[Jane Austin]

42. I LOVE Marc Maron

and I'm old enough to be his mother!

Mark Riley is just right, too, as the (well-informed) straight man who keeps Maron's schtick from becoming too much.

Their hours are way too early for me, so I download the program every day to my iPod (Hi, Marc!) at www.AirAmericaPlace.com and listen to it as I go about my chores.

My favorite bits are the Morning Remembrance, the iNews 5000 Headline Translator and the daily Palm Pilot.

But most of all, I love when Marc gets on a rant. :)

I never miss the show.

[rbnyc]

43. Love them both. Was so close to getting on the other morning.

I called in on my cell phone with a dream. I had talked to the screener and was just waiting to get on the air, but I had to hang up and go down to the subway or I would have been late for work, and I was going to be the only one with the alarm code that morning.

I'd actually had a dream about Marc and Mark. I was back in school and they were celebrity guest professors.

;-)