Obscure With Michael Ian Black

The episode begins with a reflection on St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, which - your host is told - is the nation's 3rd largest St. Patty's Day celebration. So while revelers drink themselves into a stupor down south, up north in Lycurgus, NY, our friends Clyde and Roberta struggle with the continually growing problem of Bob's pregnancy. But now, with the addition of the threat of marriage, blackmail, and, perhaps, extortion. Things are churning in a bad direction on an exciting new episode of Obscure.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When you think about it, isn't all art about horny young people? Sure it is. And where does it all lead? No place good. Which is how you end up with a couple poor saps out there in Lycurgus, NY trying to extract themselves from a situation in which they placed themselves by virtue of their own damned horniness. And that's where we pick up this week's episode.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As your host's moderate smartness is slowly replaced with moderate dumbness, he contemplates the obvious etymology of a certain, common phrase in the English language as well as expresses some antipathy for the toaster. As for Clyde and Roberta, their best-laid plans also appear to be toast. What shall become of these two star (and Sondra) crossed lovers?!?Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recounting two apple-themed cities in my travels this episode. You might even learn some trivia about one of our foremost planters of apple trees. New York state, too, home of Lycurgus, is also an apple-growing state. In fact, according to the New York Apple Association (real), NY grows more apple varieties than any other state!Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Timely as always, your host contemplates the difference between two war movies, neither of which came out in the last 10 years. Plus, some culinary conversation AND our protagonist/antagonist Clyde Griffiths might have a bead on an abortionist.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Now ensconced back on American soil, your mansplainer-in-chief processes his return to his native land as he contemplates ice cream sandwiches, the troubled political landscape, and the fortunes of a certain young creep named Clyde who would have voted Trump.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The audio, as promised, is terrible again. And yes, it's entirely my fault. Good audio resumes next episode. As for this episode, you know, it's just more problems. Roberta's knocked-up and Clyde is doing his level best to make everything worse. Will he continue to succeed? I think you can all guess the answer.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The sound is bad this week, and it's your host's fault. A further warning: the sound will be next week as well, but after that - SMOOTH SAILING!!! So I apologize for the annoyance and assume it will further erode my subscriber base. The only question remaining: which will last longer - the subscribers or the book? Hard to say, but the goal of Obscure has always been to remain obscure. And so we shall!Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Your host reports today from the fabulous French city of Toulouse, where the second leg of his grand Tour de France continues. Over in the decidedly less glamorous city of Lycurgus, Roberta breaks the bad news to Clyde. How will he react? What will do? Will these star-crossed lovers patch things up and make good? Not bloody likely.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The nascent jazz age is upon Roberta Alden and the "blues," as we commonly know it today, was probably a word just coming into the vernacular. Even so, Roberta is suffering from this new malady as Clyde continues to let her down. Speaking of jazz... you know who loves this unique American art form? The FRENCH! This episode recorded in Bordeaux, France with a quiet cameo by your host's dear wife.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recounting New Year's Eve and a heated argument with a cop. Clyde, too, is in heat. For the comely Sondra Finchley. Increasingly, it seems as though the comely Sondra Finchley is heated for Clyde. Warmth is breaking out all over on an another episode of Obscure.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A fabulous synchronicity as Christmas arrives for both Clyde Griffiths and your humble host, joined this week by his daughter, Ruthie, who has returned to the family manse in Savannah for the holiday season. I catch her up to date on the book and read a bit, as well.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nobody was expecting hijinks from Dreiser but here we are, enjoying an episode which is little more than a comedy of errors. Clyde has maneuvered the entire Lycurgus social scene to his benefit. It's got the entire Griffiths clan in a tizzy!Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some Thanksgiving reminiscences commingled with A Christmas Memory on this episode of Obscure, along with some desperate pining and misery on the part of one Roberta Alden.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Roberta Alden is back in Biltz to visit the Alden clan for the holidays, and what a drab holiday it 'tis. But is it really Biltz homestead that troubles young Roberta's heart or is it the fading romance between herself and that scamp Clyde Griffiths? Impossible for her to say at the moment, but we listeners certainly know that her heart is right to worry.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After chapters of chronicling Clyde's gaiety in the arms of Sondra Finchley, we're returning to Roberta Alden's parochial world. Much depression and anxiety as she attempts to figure out the cause of Clyde's new frostiness. Yes, life is a sad affair but at least we have a murder/suicide to look forward to?Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're taking some time off for Thanksgiving. In the meantime enjoy the ENTIRE theme to Obscure, composed by the great Craig Wedren. You have always wanted to hear it in full, now is your chance.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As your host anticipates the US election, he acknowledges the Harris/Walz campaign for their excellence. Of course, your host had no idea at the time of this recording what the results of the election were going to be and so careful listeners will probably sense some optimism, which will soon be punished. As for Clyde, who cares?Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As your host contemplates his upcoming dinner, one might detect a misbegotten lightness of being. Misbegotten because he does not what's about to happen in the US elections. NO SPOILERS, PLEASE!!! In Lycurgus, Clyde and Sondra are arm-in-arm as they make their way into the dinner portion of the upper-crust dinner party to which he has been invited. Meanwhile, Roberta Alden is at home, eating a single bean from a can.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Clyde is out there living it up while Roberta sits at home and cries. Well, we don't know that Roberta is home crying while Clyde is out among the Lycurgus jet set (despite the fact that jets have not yet been invented) because Dreiser doesn't even care enough about Roberta to check in with her on this, the moment of her greatest betrayal. Even so, your host would be lying if he didn't admit that he wishes Sondra would develop a lil' crush on him, too.Support Obscure!Read Michael's substackFollow Michael on TwitterFollow Michael on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.