by If you haven't listened to Marc Maron's interview with Carlos Mencia that went online on Monday on Maron's WTF podcast, then you can just skip ahead to today's second part, because it's much more revealing. Maron himself felt that his first chat with Mencia hadn't really uncovered much, so he reached out to Willie Barcena and Steve Trevino, then texted Mencia and said he needed a follow-up discussion. That happened quickly.
Their conversation goes for a while, and Mencia's emotional state veers between defensive and contrite. At one point, he even acknowledges that comedians and the comedy world would love nothing more than to hear him apologize. And then much later, at the end of their chat, Mencia indeed apologizes, and tells Maron that he had "never been confronted like this about why I go onstage like this for so long."
Mencia said: "I don't want to be that person anymore."
He's talking specifically about bumping headliners at comedy clubs. But then he's also talking about being the comedian that everyone thinks is a lying, cheating asshole. It's become a "ridiculous" situation, Mencia said. So his message to people who think he's taking a joke of theirs that they think will take them to the next level? "Call me, and I'll drop it."
"I guess I really do want to be perceived as a nice guy."
To that end, Mencia even has been acknowledging the @replies heading his way on Twitter @carlosmencia and offering replies of his own. And he promoted the first part of his WTF podcast interview on Monday, knowing full well that the second part would be hitting the Internet now.
I don't know how it will affect your perception of Carlos Mencia, or Ned Holness for that matter, as a comedian or as a person. For me, it's refreshing to hear him finally confront the situation and attempt to address it in an honest fashion. Hopefully moving forward, Mencia can find peace not only offstage with other comedians, but also onstage with himself.
The first part of the chat was interesting, but it did seem guarded. I’m looking forward to the second half.
I just listened to the first part and have to commend Marc Maron. I didn’t think I even wanted to listen to this, but the conversation on AST convinced me that it was worth it – and boy was it.
I found myself vacillating between finding Mencia despicable and sympathetic. Who’d have thunk it? I’ll never be a fan of his, but this interview was illuminating to say the least.
Can’t wait for part 2.
It was a great pod cast. I haven’t been listening to Marc for long but I’m starting to go through his interviews. Being new to the stand up community it’s interesting to hear about these kinds of pit falls before you get in too deep.
I don’t know any of these people personally but for Carlos Mencia to say he never saw Himself is kind of hard to believe. He’s roughly my age and if he had cable it was on all the time when we were young. Unlike today we didn’t have 20 HBO feeds, so I can’t say it feels honest for a comic of our age to say he’s never seen Himself.
Marc has great interviews and I love the show for what I can gleen from it in regards to the profession. Sure I feel a little insulted when he rips on the audience but I suspect he’s paying too much attention to the e-mail from angry 14 year old suburbanites before Mom and Dad get home from work.
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