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Last modified: 2024-09-22 04:10:54 PM

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Obscure with Michael Ian Black

It's a book club, but funny!

Comedian Michael Ian Black is tackling a great work of literature: Wuthering Heights.

Join Michael's weekly book club as he reads aloud from a classic and asks people like Jen Kirkman, Mike Birbiglia, Michael Showalter, and even his teenage kids to weigh in with their perspectives. 

Season 1: Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure. The book is bleak, but Michael does a lot of accent work.

Season 2: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It's alive, and it's just a big buddy. Also, more accent work.

Season 3: Wuthering Heights. It's a love story? Who knows

Season 4: American Tragedy. Also a potential title of this podcast

Support this show and access bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/michaelianblack


Latest Episodes

S4 Episode 62 - All the Kinky Stuff

1 day ago Tue, Oct 15th 2024

Roberta and Clyde have given themselves over to their most lascivious desires. While Dreiser does not spell out the exact nature of these desires, it's safe to assume they are of the most disgusting, immoral, and degrading activities imaginable. Meanwhile, your humble host indulges in his own disgusting, immoral, and degrading activities up in the wilds of Connecticut. A debased chapter of "An American Tragedy" on today's Obscure.

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

S4 Episode 61 - Into the Obscurniverse

8 days ago Tue, Oct 8th 2024

It seems like sin is in the wind as Clyde and Roberta have commenced their intimacies. Both parties find themselves conflicted over this new turn of events. The kids are doing the nasty at night and brooding over it during the day. Is it paradise... or HELL?!?

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

S4 Episode 60 - A Room of Their Own

15 days ago Tue, Oct 1st 2024

Danger abounds as Clyde and Roberta dance along a pinhead! How do they navigate this treacherous impasse at which they've found themselves? It's well-nigh impossible. Impossible! Desire is the streetcar upon which they find themselves riding, and you know what happens when Tennessee Williams writes a play about it. These two poor kids want each other in the wurst (purposeful misspelling) way.

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S4 Episode 59 - Why Must We Endure This Agony?

22 days ago Tue, Sep 24th 2024

A true American tragedy occurred right before the taping of this episode of Obscure. How wilI your host continue in light of such awfulness of the dungarees variety? Clyde and Roberta are on the precipice of a break-up as they try to navigate the uncertain boundary waters of sexual adventuring? We know not! Yet they, like your humble host, endure.

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S4 Episode 58 - Guac Tualk

29 days ago Tue, Sep 17th 2024

A little too much guacamole on today's episode of "Obscure." Sometimes even delicious things can leave one feeling overstuffed: guacamole and, yes, even YOUNG LOVE! Clyde and Roberta are at a real crossroads. How are they possibly going to keep their trysting without a new location in which to tryst? Roberta is movin' out!

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S4 Episode 57 - Big Boys and Little Guys

1 month ago Tue, Sep 10th 2024

Some terrific snack talk at the start of today's episode, in which your host expounds on one of the finest confections, the traditional ice cream sandwich. Plus, ice cream makes a cameo in the story itself, as Clyde and Roberta plot their lies and deception. They are as cold-hearted as the desserts they consume!

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S4 Episode 56 - 30% Sold Out, 70% Empty!

1 month ago Tue, Sep 3rd 2024

The love between Clyde and Roberta continues to grow by leaps and bounds, but problems arise as the two lovebirds find themselves struggling to steal away a little time together. How to tryst!?! Such struggles, such raw emotion, such horniness! Plus, your humble host finds himself in a mediocre hotel in Columbus, OH for the purposes of performing a single comedic performance that is 30% sold out!

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S4 Episode 55 - Water, Water Everywhere

1 month ago Tue, Aug 27th 2024

As Tropical Storm Debby lashes the Jill Schwartz Memorial Library, Clyde and Roberta are drowning... in love! Plus, many references to the Rubicon, whirlpools, splashing around, and the dangers of getting in over your hand. A tryst is in the offing! It's a soaking wet episode of Obscure.

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

S4 Episode 54 - Running for the Border

1 month ago Tue, Aug 20th 2024

Clyde is desperately trying to escape the borders of his own social strictures as he connives to engage Roberta in conversation and possibly even... CANOODLING! Plus, your host finally reveals his current Taco Bell order! ALSO: He reveals his new job, but says this with all humility: please do not post this information because - to his surprise - it is NOT yet public. Also his explanation about part of the show turns out to have been incorrect. Fun!

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

S4 Episode 53 - Canoodling Canoe

2 months ago Tue, Aug 13th 2024

Clyde and Roberta are about to do the deed (share a canoe). After months of distant lustery, the two have found themselves in the same place at the same time, out on the water of a public park. Plus, a memory of the comedian Kevin Meany, as well as a explanation of the military term "pink mist." This episode has it all!

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.