Too Real

Marc Maron begins his 2017 hour with a backstage shot of himself using the restroom before walking onto a stage that he immediately uses to vent. He addresses the early days of the Trump presidency by likening the daily news cycle to an abusive stepfather kicking down a bedroom door just to yell that he is burning the house down. It is a quick, venting introductory sequence designed to get the political dread out of the way so he can focus on his favorite subject: his own neurotic mortality. Pacing the stage at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, Maron presents an anxious, twitching examination of what it means to grow old and completely lose the ability to have fun. Directed by Lynn Shelton, the set catches Maron at a career high point, fresh off his debut in the Netflix series GLOW and the massive global growth of his podcast WTF. This stability is reflected on stage; he is far more physical than in previous specials, most notably during an extended segment where he mimics the stage movements of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The bit details the self-inflicted misery of receiving free, premium tickets to a Rolling Stones stadium concert, only to spend the entire evening worrying about parking before ultimately leaving early to beat the traffic. He also riffs on his mother’s baffling use of emojis, a breakdown of his relationship with his cats, and an apocalyptic final routine about the end of days. Critics praised the hour for its tighter structure, noting how the comedian’s success on television seemed to translate into a more confident stage presence.