Marc Maron (FULL EPISODE) | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

Hi, I'm Mark Marin and I feel happy. about being Conan O'Brien's friend. Jesus. Said like a true hostage. Said. like a true hostage with a gun at his. back. >> All right, Mark Marin, I got to talk to. you about something. This isn't. happening because I'm here at uh. SiriusXM in New York. >> and look down the hall and I see uh. there's Mark Marin and I bully you into. talking to me because I have some things. to say to you. >> Well, that I I appreciate that. I I did. feel bullied, but we have a long.

history. We do. >> And I thought, well, you know, this is. not different than it's ever been. No. >> So, I'll do whatever Conan needs me to. do. >> Yes. You'll do as you are told. >> Yes, I will. Um, couple things. First of. all, uh, the other day, uh, it pops up. on every screen I have that Mark Marin. is saying goodbye to his podcast. And I thought, Jesus, he invented this. So, I need to talk to him about it.

because. >> I'm an empty neester now. All you guys. have gone on to do great things and you. don't need me anymore. >> Uh, well, you invented this. You were. doing a podcast when no one knew what a. podcast was. And I remembered when. Barack Obama, a sitting US president, went to your house to do your podcast. And I thought, you've broken through. some barrier. Um, and we had a history. before that, which is when I was first. doing the late night show at Dark Times. 9. I mean, I was loving doing it, but we.

were going to get cancelled any minute. And you, it was, you know, >> Yeah. >> a lot of people, the word was out, don't. do that show. It won't be on long. >> Were they? Not comics. We were all. ready. >> Well, there were plenty of people, including NBC, that were willing to uh. write my death certificate. And you. would consistently come on and you would. panel. You would just sit with me. >> and it was always the same pattern. You. would come out and I don't think people,

you know, it's not that people knew who. you were then. I say, "No, they didn't.". >> They didn't. Okay. They still don't. >> And guess what? They don't know. They. didn't know who I was. They were coming. to see late night with Conor O'Brien and. they weren't sure who this kid was. But. I would say my next guest, Mark Marin, you would come out and so the crowd. doesn't know who you are. You'd sit down. and it was fascinating to me. You would. dig a hole. Mark Mering would dig a. hole. Crowd, not like not they started. out neutral. You would dig a hole where. they're like, I don't like this. I I. don't know what he's who is this man.

What is he talking about? And you would. comment on how you would dug a hole, which is a rule that. >> you know, the great artists, I think, break the rules. The classic rule is. never tell people this isn't working. >> I know Freddy Roman once said to me, never admit you're bombing. >> Yeah. And so you were out there talking. about on on my panel. >> Uh this isn't working. I shouldn't have. come. I don't know why I'm here. And and. and telling the audience that and then. I'd hear a laughter, more laughter, more. laughter, and you would kill. So you.

always did this thing where you would. dig yourself into a hole and then come. out of it and shoot out of it like this. geyser. And it was a rocket. It was a. roller coaster ride. >> That was the architecture of my life. >> Yes. I would say for the first 30 years I dug. a pretty good hole. >> Yeah. >> And then just by cosmic timing and. coincidental uh talent uh you know it. worked out. But I was talking about this. to somebody recently about doing the. appearances on your show. >> Yeah. >> In that you know that was the p I was.

talking to RTOR because I did his. podcast last week. >> Yeah. >> And I said that was the pattern that you. and I established. But what people don't. know is that I was really trying in that. first minute. I didn't I didn't go out. there saying every time that like, "Oh, good. I'm going to do that thing I do. where I alienate the audience completely. right when I get out there to try to get. them back." I went out there wanting. that first joke to work every time. It. just did not. And then it became a. thing. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think I I generally come.

in hot and you know and I and I I always. knew that they didn't really know me and. I always wanted to just the reason I. always wanted to do panel with you is. because when I watched Letterman coming. up as a kid, >> I always liked the I liked Richard Lewis. and I liked the guy Jay Leno that the. guys that did panel to me was more. interesting. >> Yes. So very quickly I tried to, you. know, get into that relationship with. you and then it happened, you know, I. think because we had a good rapport, but. also because. >> I was very easy to book on a short. notice. >> Oh, we would, you know, we would get you.

when Al Roker dropped out. >> That's right. And um. >> Paula would call me and be like, "Look, uh, what are you doing tomorrow?" No, she would say, "What are you doing in an. hour?" And um and you would come by and. and it worked. And this is what. happened. People started watching the. show. Show uh our show started to. gradually find itself and you had been. there all along. And then what we said. to all comics is you know short of it. being a Jerry Seinfeld or some I you.

know iconic comic you have to come out. and you have to you do your set. >> Yeah. >> And then maybe you get you come over for. some quick panel. >> You didn't do that from the beginning. you only came out really and sat with. me. And so comics started to say, "I. don't want to do a set. I just want to. come out and sit there with Conan." And. we'd say, "Yeah, no, you have to do a. set." And they'd say, "But what about. Mark Marin?" And I would say, "That's. different.". >> That's Mark Marin. He and I have a.

thing. >> We're trying to help Mark. >> Yeah. >> You're you're. doing fine. >> It was a program. And we got we got. federal funding uh which is no longer. available. But um you uh. >> so it's then you go off uh you do the. podcast you kind of I mean you're the. you're the George Washington figure. >> But that what was funny about that. though was like when I started doing. this podcast my podcast a lot of the. guys I'd known for years when no one.

knew what a podcast was. So the general. idea was I'm like I'm going to do this. podcast. And I think most people were. like well that's that's sad. I guess. he's just going to set up a mic in his. garage, but at least he's doing. something. You know, like the the. opinion of it was it was not it didn't. exist on the media landscape. People. would come out to my house and a lot of. them would be like, I don't even know. what neighborhood this is, >> right? >> You know, and and people would come like. I remember Cranston came out early on. and he's like, where am I? And I'm like, well, it it's going to be fine. And John.

Ham was on. He's like, oh, Ham did it? Okay. like nobody uh it was just we were. there and the business sort of built up. around us and now it's like. >> uh it's it's like cancer. [Laughter]. >> rapidly spreading. >> and destroying the organism around it. I. think you're right. The cancer analogy. is a good one. Uh and I think I'm a fast. growing cancer. Um. >> which is good. You know, content is. good. You know, malignant content. better. Well, I owe all of us owe you a. debt of gratitude because I have found.

especially in this stage of my career, I. loved all the other stuff I did and. because of you, this forum exists where. I can do something that I find. incredibly satisfying. Totally. Because. >> um I can have these conversations with. people that are very different from. >> the world that we were working together. in in the in the early 90s was What's. up, Mark? And I know that I've got.

>> uh five minutes. Yeah. >> And we've got five minutes for you to. for the whole arc to happen. >> And I spent an hour and a half on the. phone with Frank Smiley. >> Frank Smiley. Shout out to Frank. >> saying uh Yeah. Yeah. What else you got? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. What else? That's good. >> Frank Smiley, a single producer who uh. who still works with me and he's I'm. going to say this, one of the all-time. greats, >> the greatest. He is knows he knows. comedy back and forth and he is he he.

was such a part of the DNA of the early. late night show. >> What was crazy about it was like the way. it worked was you know he do he. pre-produced a segment like you know. what am I going to talk about? So I'd. get on the phone with him and I'd just. be pacing around around my apartment in. New York sweating you know telling him. ideas telling him bits that were kind of. working. A lot of times I'd go on with a. funny enough thing that became a bigger. thing lately. But I would spend an hour. and a half and all I would just rant and. and just deliver and then you just hear. Frank go uh.

>> yeah what else you got? Yeah. >> And then like you know after spending an. hour and a half he goes all right I'll. put something together. So I didn't even. know by the time I got to the show he'd. have me like this is what I got and he. transcribed the conversation. I'm like. this is too much you know and it was all. very exciting. Well, he um Frank early. on and to this day has no problem. saying, "What are you doing to me?" And. uh no, no, no, that's not right. You. know, and um he gets worked up, but he's right.

often. And uh I'm going to say most 98%. of the time he's right. And when he's. wrong, it's spectacular. >> We used his his dad on a bit when I did. that talk show on the street bit. Yes. Yeah. his dad like it was so sad because. like uh Frank was just setting his dad. up. It was me on the street. I said I. want to be a talk show host. So we set. it up on the street and we're just. interviewing people coming by and Frank. had brought his dad in and you know his. dad didn't know what he was doing. So. his dad goes, "What do you want me to. do?" And Frank says, "Tell that story. that you tell just so I could look.

bored.". >> Yeah. >> So his dad's just doing this story that. he's been telling for years and I'm just. sitting there like this. And his dad. didn't know what was going on. It was a. complete setup. It was pretty funny. I. think uh to this day huge stars I'll run. into them and they did the show over the. years and the first thing they say to me. is yeah that Frank Smiley is he still. with you because he made an impression. sometimes. I mean, they all give him. credit for making uh him look funny, him. or her make look look funny, but they.

will invariably say, "That guy. drove me crazy.". >> And he is a guy who to this day if like. if Seinfeld had been on the show was. going to be on the show, he would have. said, >> "What else he got?" You're like, "That's. Jerry Seinfeld that's going to kill." I. don't think he can do better. I remember. one time I was on your show and I was. the second guest after Trump. >> and uh. >> who I by the way early early on knew was. a great comic. >> Yeah, totally great. Good comedic. choice. But the funny thing was is I.

remember it because I was in the. hallway. I was at 30 Rock in my dressing. room and Frank came in. He goes, "You. want to meet Trump?" And I'm like, "Nah, I'm good.". >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> And then I took a shot at him when he. went out because it was an appearance. where for some reason he was playing. with a condom. >> No, no. What happened was he was sitting. next to me and we were talking and I. just said, "Uh, this is like he's. promoting The Apprentice, I think, and. and it's an NBC show. So, here comes. Trump." And I remembered saying to him, >> "So, you're a billionaire. How much. money do you carry on you at any one.

time?" And he went, "I don't know. I. don't know. I don't know. Come on. How. much money do you have on your pocket. right now?" And then I reached over into. his blazer pocket and felt something and. he put his hand over my hand really. quickly like, "Don't pull that out.". Yeah. And I we had like a quick tug of. war and I pulled it out and it was a. condom and he said, "Safe sex. everybody.". >> And um it was a real moment. >> And then we go to commercial. I go, "Okay, Donald Trump, everybody." Uh a. reality show host. And uh he'll never go.

onto anything else after that. And um. >> you're always very precient. >> Yeah. Very precient. Yeah. And uh he he. was mad. He was like, "I'm not. coming on this show again. Goddamn. I. don't you and he told my producer, you. know, reach into a guy's pocket and. stuff like that. But then, you know, literally, I don't know, it was a cut to. three months later. >> Should have been Donald Trump. >> Well, I remember I came out and I said, "Why is Donald Trump carrying his own. condoms? Don't prostitutes usually have. them with them?". >> And then I said, "I'll probably end up. dead in the East River.".

>> Yeah. Still could actually. >> Yeah. Just saying it now. I I brought it. back up and he'll be like, "Oh, yeah. I. can remember that." Why are we. rekindling this now of all you know. we're both going to be. >> cuz you want we want a little heat. >> We'll shot by we'll be shot by snipers. Uh but um I love our arc, our. intertwined arc together going back to. 93 all through the years and then um you. know it's now one of the wonderful. things about just lasting or sticking.

around long enough is that I've had the. experience of oh at the last minute Mark. Mar will will fit in and then I'm. watching you in an amazing movie doing. scenes with Robert Dairo. And I'm like, this is the wonderful thing about life. if you take the time to appreciate. the wonderful, you know, little curly. cues that happen. And you see people. that persevere and stay true to. themselves. And I've I know that you had.

years of I don't think this is working. I don't think anybody's buying into. this. Certainly, I had moments like. that. >> Appearances on your show, I think, was. the the arc of those years. >> Yeah. But it was. >> you guys were keeping me afloat. I mean, it was kind of crazy. I just could not. Yeah. But and I know what you're saying. and and I think that there is a bit of. goodwill for me like because I I I. imagine there people aren't always. thinking about me, but I imagine there. was a period there when when my name. would come up and then be like, "Yeah, I.

uh I hope I hope it works out.". >> Yeah. >> Well, I think the nice thing is uh I. have a lot of appreciation now. It's nice to see, you know, I guess I'll. say this in a shorter way. There's getting older is treated. negatively by a lot of people. They. don't want to get older. They hate And. I'm as I I think not only am I chilling. out just a little bit, >> but when you can see the whole picture. >> Yeah. >> Or twothirds I hope of the picture. It's.

really great because you can appreciate, you know, we just had Bob Odenkirk on. and I was with Bob in the trenches in. 1988. Yeah. and we were very lowest. lowest, you know, rung on the totem pole. at Sarnet Live. And now, you know, he's. beating people up in action movies and. I'm like crazy, >> you know, and and and I think this is. the same thing, which is it's really. >> I so enjoy watching people that I. connected with who I like.

>> having these I mean, you've did it. yourself. You willed it to happen. Um, we all know some luck's involved. I've. benefited from crazy amounts of luck, >> but to just to watch all that happen for. you and is is a beautiful thing. >> Well, thank you. >> And that's why I said like I grab Mark. against his will. I know he's got a lot. going on today, but make him talk to me. so I can just tell him how much I. appreciate you invented this form. You. did such a lovely thing for all of us.

It's a mitzvah, as the Irish say. Um, and uh, I I thank you for it and I thank. you for being out there with me in the. early days of late night. >> when it was rough sledding and I knew. >> this is going to be a roller coaster. ride, but Mark Merin's going to make it. happen and you always did. >> Thank you so much. It means a lot uh to. hear that and it and you know certainly. you were definitely part of my a big. part of my life for a lot of years, you. know, doing that show, you know, three.

or four times a year. >> Three or four times a week. >> Yeah. But it made a big. >> once again. Mark Marin, wait, he was on. earlier in the show. >> Um, >> no, but it was like I didn't have a lot. going on then. >> I know. I just talked to you in the. hallway and I said, "Can I talk to you. for just a second?" He went, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's a documentary about. me. There's also a Broadway show about. my life and then I have to go get an. international peace prize." I'm like, "Okay, I will not stop you.". >> Yeah. But yeah, they canled my Mark. Twain thing. So,

>> I want to I want to. >> He's going to a ventriloquist next year. I wanted to share this with you with Bob. Odenkirk. >> Yeah. >> Because um he uh you know he had a heart. attack in Albuquerque which is where I. grew up. >> and um I uh I texted him. uh you know afterwards and we actually. had lunch when he was out there when he. was shooting Better Call Saul and cuz he. he went to the hospital where my dad. used to work but I was texting with him. and he said so he was so funny. I I.

said, "Glad you're okay. It's scary. It's Marin." And this is after he had. the heart attack. And he texted back, "Super scary, Mark. I basically died for. a little while." And I have to say, "I. saw nothing.". But this crew with the But this great. crew with some amazing people kept me. going. And then the hospital did a great. job with some challenging surgery. I. hope you're doing great. I'm feeling. good. Take care. And then I said, "Glad. my hometown hospital was there for you. Welcome back from the nothing." And then. he says again, this is why he's so. funny. He goes, "Big time, excellent docs and nurses at. Presbyterian on the ball. I'm doing.

great. By the way, I saw exactly no. light when I was. >> when I let me repeat, no light when I. was dead. It's the the whole heaven. thing is a hoax. Follow the money. Follow the money. That's fantastic. >> It's the best. >> Well, that's a great I mean, people need. to hear this. We need to get this word. out there. >> It was so funny. Um, funny guys are the. best.

>> Funny people are the best. Especially if. you text them. Oh my god. You ever get. in a group text with other funny people. and you're like I I'm not going to be. able to keep up with this. >> Oh, you're trying like what can I say. that's funny and there's already three. texts have gone by and you're like damn. it missed my window. >> Oh, it's and it starts to feel pressure. and. >> total pressure. I'm on a like. occasionally I'm in one with like Melany. and Croll, Dan Levy and Jezelnik and. Chelsea Peretti. I'm like I I'm I just. want to be out of this. It's too much.

pressure. >> I'm in one that has all these people in. it and I watch all these fireworks go by. and and they'll also their references. They'll be talking about some really. incredibly obscure commercial that Telly. Savalis was in in 1978 for a mochaccino. drink. And they're all doing they all. know exactly all the references. And I. feel my feeling is that it's. >> when a blade is turning very slowly, I. can get my I can put my hand on the.

blade and kind of get into the motion of. it. >> But if it's spinning Oh, yeah. on puree. and I put my hand in, I'm going to get. chopped to pieces. And that's what it. looks like. And I just I just watch. >> Your your text gets no hahas. You know, no exclamation points. >> You know what I've learned? You can put. your own haha on your text. >> You do that. David, what do I do? What. do I do? Tell them. >> Always laughs to his own text. >> No. And I do it on purpose to be a dick. >> But I'll write something with to Sona or. to you and then I'll write after and. then I'll put on my thing. Haha. And you.

guys are like, you can't do. that. And then I'll get I'll say yes, I. can. And then put a haha on that. What's. stopping you? Why not? >> What? We're We live through it all. That. the the other. >> laugh at your own text, people. Haha. yourself. >> You only go around once. Follow the. money. >> There is no light. There's no light. >> But the thing you're saying about aging. is is is true. And I think what's a. great thing for you is that to to be. able to loosen up and to be able to just. have these conversations on your own.

terms and and be engaged and and enjoy. people in that way is is a great thing. about life. And I think so many of us. were in such a wheel of not just. success, but like being funny, doing a. great thing, doing a great show that you. don't have any time for this. And then. as you get older, all of a sudden, you. know, you give less of a. >> Yes. and and and it's not even on. purpose. You just are able to look back. at your life and not with regret, but. but really realizing just how crazy you.

made yourself for so long. >> I think about this a lot. my 20s, my. 30s, my 40s, and into my 50s. I would say it. start but started to peter out and I was. and then um I just started to think but. but during those years I was so intense. so hard on myself. constantly constantly. >> uh working real hard nar tunnel vision. >> and then um.

>> you know I I credit. >> my wife for helping me a lot and I. credit just going through life and. meeting really good people. But I but I. I thought that I had just found wisdom. And I was telling this to my uh to to my. mother-in-law, Pam, who's a very smart. woman. >> And um and I was talking to her and I. said, you know, as I get older, I really. think I found this wisdom. And she said, "Uh, your testosterone levels dropped.". Uh that's what happened. And I went,

"Oh, >> really? I thought it was humility." I. thought it was humility and that I had I. thought that I had found like the the. true face of like spirituality and I got. into the flow and she said, "No, no, testosterone levels plummet in men." And. so you're now you have very little. testosterone left. Um your penis is uh. just just a little nub now. And um and. so you're just. >> enjoy your downtime. >> Enjoy. >> enjoy your life as an asexual being. and. uh and and whatever it is I uh.

>> I don't think I would have appreciated. this format 20s30s 40s and I think I'm. so lucky that it exists now because I. have um I like to have these. conversations. I couldn't have them if. you hadn't invented this thing. It would. not have happened. So I'm very. appreciative. Thank you. But um for. years I realized the trick in late night. is to try and took me a long time to. figure out how do I appear relaxed and.

casual in a completely insane. environment. This is an this is a sane environment. You and I are sitting with each other. We're talking. Uh there's going to be a. weird desk with a microphone. What am I? >> And also like 80% of your energy goes. into pretending you're not terrified. >> Yeah. And that eventually you you you're. not afraid anymore and you're like, "Well, that's that's done.". >> Also, who ends a conversation and says, "Hey, Mark, it was great catching up.

with you. That was a terrific 4 and 1/2. minutes. We'll take a break, you know, Cab Callaway is when we get back. and I lean over and you say, "How was. that?" And I went, "I think you really. killed it." And um people say, "What do. you guys talk about in the break?". Really not much. Uh, but that's an. insane who walks out and addresses a. crowd and talks about the day news. It's. such a kooky thing to do and the only. way to be good at it is to metabolize it. as something normal.

>> and then start acting like this is all. normal. >> Well, it's a job. One time when I I the. first time I did stand up on Letterman. and I sat I didn't even get any desk. time, but I did walk over there and he. goes to break and he leans in and goes, "You can make that stuff work on the. road.". I do have to go. I got to go to Tribeca. >> Yeah, you got to go try and You know. what? You've always had to go to. Tribeca. Mark Marin, thank you. Thank. you. >> Uh this was lovely. And uh whatever you. do, I'm I'm in your corner, you know. >> I appreciate that. Well, I will say. this. I do have a uh I'm on this show.

Stick. >> Yep. >> With Owen. And uh I got Yeah. I got an. HBO special coming out later in the. summer on H on HBO that I can't, you. know, tell the title of yet. I know what. it is, but but look for that. And uh. yeah, that's what's going on. >> All right. And uh I can never have you. back. You understand that? >> I knew that. I I'm surprised this. happened. >> This isn't going to air. >> And when I say air, >> but I appreciate all the nice things you. said. >> Yeah, I I meant all of it. And I'll see. you again. We'll do this again. And uh.

congratulations. >> Thanks, buddy.