The historian of modern comedy speaks with the stand-up and WTF host about his expansive new history of showbiz and the culture wars.

In-person registration for this event has sold out, but livestream tickets are still available. A limited number of standby tickets will be available on the night of the event.

In his new book, Outrageous, Kliph Nesteroff chronicles the controversies of American show business and the ongoing attempts to change what we watch, read, and hear. He challenges the common perception that we live in unprecedented times of sensitivity and backlash to what public figures say and do and argues that Americans have been objecting to entertainment for nearly two hundred years—sometimes rationally, often irrationally. He also examines the powerful political interests that have sought to circumvent the arts using censorship, legal harassment, and outright propaganda.

Nesteroff speaks with stand-up comedian and host of WTF, Marc Maron, about America’s neverending story of culture in conflict.

To join the event in person | Doors will open 45 minutes before the program begins. For LIVE from NYPL events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment; we will do our best to accommodate everyone. Booked seats that have not been claimed will be released shortly before start time, and seats may become available then. A standby line will form 45 minutes before the program.

To join the livestream | A livestream of this event will be available on the NYPL event page. To receive an email reminder shortly in advance of the event, please be sure to register! If you encounter any issues, please join us on NYPL's YouTube channel.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Kliph Nesteroff has been called the “premier popular historian of comedy,” by The New York Times. He is the author of two previous books, The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels, and the History of American Comedy and We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans and Comedy. His work has been praised by comedy legends from Gilbert Gottfried to Mel Brooks, Fred Willard to Norm Macdonald. OUTRAGEOUS: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars is his third book.

Marc Maron starred in the Netflix series Glow and his scripted series, Maron, aired for four seasons on IFC. He’s had recent roles in the films Joker, Spencer Confidential, Sword of Trust, Stardust, the 2021 Aretha Franklin biopic Respect alongside Jennifer Hudson, and Dreamworks animated feature The Bad Guys co-starring Sam Rockwell. Marc’s stand-up special More Later (2015) aired on Epix and his specials Thinky Pain (2013), Too Real (2017) and 2020’s End Times Fun, which was nominated for a 2021 Critics’ Choice Award, are currently streaming on Netflix. Marc is the author of The Jerusalem Syndrome: My Life as a Reluctant Messiah and Attempting Normal.

READ THE BOOK:

• Borrow: NYPL Catalog


• E-Book app: SimplyE, available on iOS and Android


• Purchase: The Library Shop — proceeds benefit The New York Public Library

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ACCESSIBILITY

In-Person | Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue. You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template. This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs. 

Livestream | Captions and a transcript will be provided. Media used over the course of the conversation will be accompanied by alt text and/or audio description. You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.

CONNECT

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Kliph Nesteroff by Drew Friedman
Marc Maron by Drew Friedman