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Tuesday, November 01, 2005

The Betrayal of Marc Maron
Posted by Jill | 12:53 PM

Apologies to Scott at Poetic Leanings for treading on his turf, and to Ernest L. Thayer, author of Casey at the Bat:

The outlook wasn't brilliant for progressives on that day,
The score stood 266/252 with just Ohio left to play.

And then when people left the polls and gave up their place in line,
And others had theirs taken away when they just ran out of time.

The listeners woke up the next day in a state of deep despair.
Each and every one of us rending garments and pulling hair.

They thought, "if only Maron can manage to get us somehow psyched,
We just might be able to get out of bed this morning, with Maron at the mike."

So upon the stricken multitude, grim melancholy sat;
for it seemed not even Marc Maron would be able to get us off the mat.

But right out of the gate at 6 AM, Marc Maron started in.
To try to somehow convince us that now the real work could begin.

There was ease in Maron's manner as he stepped into his place,
although we knew that our grief was also etched in his face.

And when, responding to the need, he started with a joke,
no stranger listening that day could take the time to mope. [ouch]

Ten thousand and more ears were listening as he exhorted progressives to war.
against the very Republicans with whom he then proceeded to wipe the floor.

And while the wingnuts grabbed their money in a characteristically tight grip,
defiance could be heard in Maron's voice, a sneer curled Maron's lip.

Marc, Mark, Dan, and Brendan were heroes that day as they helped us muddle through,
with dark humor, ranting, and even some jokes about poo.

Since then the show has only grown, with fans both far and near
And those who saw the live shows wanted to buy the whole staff a beer.

But then a management change occurred and we were all afraid.
Because when a new suit comes aboard, bad changes are often made.

And so it was with Danny G, who decided he didn't like Marc,
perhaps worrying that Marc was just too "Jewy" to play outside Rego Park.

Marc hinted of late that something was wrong, that he was on borrowed time.
And I am having a hell of a time making this damn thing rhyme.

In recent days he's broken the rule and told us of his plight,
It seems Morning Sedition hasn't achieved sufficient might.

Danny Goldberg doesn't care about the web and podcasts too,
He only looks at broadcast numbers, and when he did he'd rue.

For even though the show is growing, he said, it's not growing fast enough,
And Maron is such a pain in the ass, is he really worth his stuff?

But still we hoped, the snarky and the brave; the intrepid invisible crew
who relied on Morning Sedition every day in order to get us through,

That by some miracle Danny G. would see the light.
And give Marc Maron that contract that we all know would be right.

We all sent mail and faxed and called and nagged and begged and pleaded.
But Danny G thinks he knows just what was needed.

And that is a network just so bland as to not offend,
And so this means that Marc and Morning Sedition is coming to an end.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And, somewhere men are laughing, and people now have what they lacked,

But there is no joy in Progressive America,
Marc Maron has been sacked.


A good article on Marc Maron, his contributions to AAR, how absolutely fucking stupid Danny Goldberg is to let him go, and how you can perhaps help keep the unheralded jewel in the Air America Radio crown on the air, can be found at the WFMU blog.
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