People!
What’s up? Are we living it? Yes. What is it?
First off, the release of ‘Waiting for the Punch’ is one month away - October 10th. So, go preorder your copy now at wtfpod.com or marcmaronbook.com, and upload your receipt on the preorder page to get a bookplate signed by me. I’m signing bookplates all day long. I don’t want any remainders. The book is great. I’m not just saying that.
Also, thanks again for all the positive feedback for my Netflix special ‘Too Real.’ Again, I’m real proud of it and I’m glad people are digging it. I’m happy so much of the feedback is about the structure and attention to the craft of standup. I’ve been doing this a long, long time. I’m happy that it shows, finally. Kept it tight.
Okay, a cool thing happened. I’m wary to share things sometimes because I don’t want you to get the impression that I’m too happy. I am not. Unfortunately, happiness doesn’t seem to be contingent on good things happening or things working out or accomplishments. It is elusive when your brain sees it as the opposition. That said I had a cool thing happen.
If you are a regular around here you know that I’m a big Randy Newman fan and I had an amazing talk with him on the show. As I said on the show, I kind of wanted to hang out with him more. Well, his manager reached out and invited me to a benefit show that he was performing on for the Silverlake Music Conservatory. Then it turns out that me and Sarah would be sitting at his table too. I knew nothing about it. All I knew was I was going to see Randy perform. The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Anderson Paak were on the show as well. Had to look up Anderson.
The day before the show event I get a call from Flea. It’s his event. He started the conservatory and his host, Magic Johnson, bailed. So, naturally the first call would be me. Makes perfect sense. Oddly, he had no idea that I was going to be there anyway. I didn’t really want to work because that would mean dread would sink in and I have to host the thing. But I did it for the kids AND I would get to bring Randy up. I did okay. Got some laughs. I was probably a little too dark for the event but fuck it I was there to help out.
Long story shorter here—the Peppers were great. They sang with kids from the school. I had never seen them. PowerfuI. I brought Randy up after them. It was just him at a piano doing some of his classics. It was amazing. The weird combination of the biting wit and beauty of the songs mixed with his natural vulnerability of just being up there alone and his age and gravitas was just perfect to me. Then, he played ‘Guilty’ because I had requested it and it was mind blowing. A few tears came out. They do any time I listen to that song. It’s like my favorite song ever.
Ken Burns is a genius filmmaker. His new doc is The Vietnam War and it is devastating, eye-opening and brain changing. It is its own event for sure. It should be a requirement for all Americans to watch it. In many ways, we are still living in the America that specific war unleashed. Today I talk to Ken and his co-director Lynn Novick about making the massive ten-part masterpiece. On Thursday, the amazing Kathy Bates talks to me about her life and career. Intense person. Great talks.
Enjoy!
Boomer lives!
Love,
Maron