Obscure with Michael Ian Black cover art

Obscure with Michael Ian Black

Obscure with Michael Ian Black

By: Misfit Toys
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About this listen

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


© 2021 Michael Ian Black Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • S4 Episode 106 - Desire Under the Elms

    S4 Episode 106 - Desire Under the Elms
    Sep 23 2025

    Is the name of the opera your host was trying to recall during this week's episode. And it's desire, is it not, that has driven Clyde Griffiths to his murderous fate? Desire for love, money, social status, desire for a new pair of spats and a fancy cravat. And now he's on the run for his very life. Desire has destroyed better people than ol' Clyde and it's desire that will, eventually, do him in.

    Support Obscure!

    Read Michael's substack

    Follow Michael on Twitter

    Follow Michael on Instagram

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    34 mins
  • S4 Episode 105 - An Enormous Personal Hate for the Man

    S4 Episode 105 - An Enormous Personal Hate for the Man
    Sep 16 2025

    Haven't we all felt hatred for The Man at some point? In Orville Mason's case, the man in question is the murderer of Roberta Alden. Is that Clyde Griffiths? It sure looks like it, and DA Mason is practically seething at the whichever rich wastrel did Ms. Alden in.

    Support Obscure!

    Read Michael's substack

    Follow Michael on Twitter

    Follow Michael on Instagram

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • S4 Episode 104 - A Fabulous Time Out There on the River

    S4 Episode 104 - A Fabulous Time Out There on the River
    Sep 9 2025

    The episode begins with a delightful recounting of a water adventure, which segues PERFECTLY into the horror show unfolding over there on Big Bittern. Highs and low on another cromulent episode of Obscure.

    Support Obscure!

    Read Michael's substack

    Follow Michael on Twitter

    Follow Michael on Instagram

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
All stars
Most relevant
Michael Ian Black is just SO GOOD! I loved his How To Be Amazing podcast and ended up here afterwards, and his reactions to the text are just excellent. I think he's very underrated, and he shouldn't be. Listen to this, you'll love it.

Hilarious and heartbreaking and heartwarming

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