Maron Keeping it Real in “Too Real”
September 12, 2017
The loud and neurotic comic Marc Maron returns to Netflix with an all-new special, “Too Real.” A follow up to his previous hit special “Thinky Pain,” Maron returns in “Too Real” with material that hits hilariously close to home. With Maron’s fame rising as of late, it’s only natural to expect a steady decline into the comfort of success. However, Maron delivers a level of self-loathing and humor that only he can.
“I don’t know how to have fun. How are you supposed have fun? Like, I don’t think I would have come to this show,” Maron anxiously admitted to the crowd.
Maron started his show by embellishing about the pessimistic American political landscape and the implications of Donald Trump’s ridiculous statements. Apparently living in fear of your phone is no way to live our lives now. The 53-year-old comic went as far as to compare it to an abusive step father barging into your room to tell you he’s burning the house down. Dumbfounded and staring at your phone, you rhetorically ask yourself, “I should leave, right?”
The ridiculous has become the norm for this administration. Explaining that outlandish things said to one another whether they are true or not are suddenly believable. The example of turning half the Grand Canyon into a landfill was a highlight.
What kind of Maron special would it be if he didn’t delve into his fear of his own mortality and now his willingness to do things he doesn’t do in his perception of evaporating time left? His capacity for Netflix recommendations is particularly hilarious, telling his friends that what they’re recommending sounds interesting, but he doesn’t know how much time he has left. In fact, he’s not so sure a movie that his girlfriend picked out is worth watching. Maron’s ability to liken the crowd to tougher topics is one of the many unique niches he brings to this show.
The icing on the cake of it all was Maron talking about his time at the Rolling Stone stadium tour in San Diego, where he couldn’t seem to pinpoint why he didn’t want to go. Then it hit him. He didn’t want to go simply because he didn’t want the performance to be sad. Maron goes from the joking of Mick Jagger being tolerated by “true” Stone fans to having an appreciation for them to be able to perform at their age. Although the highlight of Maron’s night was being able to beat the traffic out of the concert.
Overall, Maron brings his insight and knowledge on a variety of different topics from the realization of his father’s idiocy to the complexities of middle-aged men buying hats they simply don’t need. The avid podcaster has finally found a nice place in the media landscape after years of not knowing his next step. Perhaps this is Maron’s cementing of an unbelievable run and, ultimately, his legacy.