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 126 - An Uphill Climb... Both Ways!

    S4 Episode 126 - An Uphill Climb... Both Ways!
    Feb 24 2026

    Your host is snowbound following a winter blizzard, with nothing to do at all but read a classic work of literature out loud and comment on it as he goes. Dudley Sheerline makes an appearance. Who's Dudley Sheerline - who cares? Some Dickensian humor pops its head up and blows us all a delicious raspberry.

    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
    31 mins
  • S4 Episode 125 - Like Flying Birds

    S4 Episode 125 - Like Flying Birds
    Feb 17 2026

    Your host recounts his week of travel to and from distant points on the continent. Las Vegas, San Francisco, and back to the East Coast for a new season of "Have I Got News For You." Flying to Bridgeburg, NY, are various reporters and correspondents and townsfolk hoping to get a view of the murderer, Clyde Griffiths. Some thoughts on winter and holiday and death follow.

    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
    33 mins
  • S4 Episode 124 - From the Master Boudoir...

    S4 Episode 124 - From the Master Boudoir...
    Feb 10 2026

    A sultry beginning to this week's episode of "Obscure," as your host describes his new locale, the primary bedroom of his midcentury masterpiece in the wilds of Connecticut. In Denver, the Asa Griffiths family has now been appraised of their eldest boy's troubles. Will they abscond to Bridgeburg, as your host absconded to his master boudoir? Or will they remain, per instructions, where they are?

    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
    33 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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