Michael Ian Black on Flirting With Disaster

·1 hr 9 min·5 clips

Comedian Michael Ian Black describes his unexpected solo camping trip on the Appalachian Trail during the pandemic.

Chuck Bryant hosts Michael Ian Black on Movie Crush to discuss the 1996 David O. Russell comedy 'Flirting with Disaster'. The episode begins with Black sharing a personal anecdote about his unexpected solo camping and hiking trip on the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut during the pandemic. The conversation then shifts to Black's early life and movie-going experiences, which he describes as shallow and not particularly thoughtful. A significant portion of the interview focuses on Black's time with the influential sketch comedy group The State, which launched on MTV when he was around 20 years old. Black details the group's dynamics, including its 11 members, lack of a leader, decision-making by vote, and the internal competitiveness and ego. He explains how the group formed organically from NYU and the challenges of its unwieldy size. The discussion covers subsequent projects like 'Stella', which Black describes as a pure, deliberate expression he is proud of, and 'Wet Hot American Summer', for which he had modest expectations. Black talks about the post-State period, including the creation of 'Viva Variety' and the hurt feelings it caused among group members. He also discusses his recent book, 'A Better Man: A (Mostly) Serious Letter to My Son', revealing his apprehension about being a comedian writing a serious work. Listener questions are addressed, with Black naming the crew from the NBC sitcom 'Ed' as his favorite to work with and citing a missed role in 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and the 'Late Late Show' host job as significant near-misses. The movie analysis portion delves into 'Flirting with Disaster', praising its cast, David O. Russell's direction, and specific scenes and performances. The episode concludes with Black recommending his book and Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'.

As heard by us

A comedy conversation about moving forward when the group that made you has stalled.

Movie Crush is strongest when it sits with the uneasy aftermath of making a career move before everyone else is ready. The guest traces Viva Variety back to a sketch Tom wrote for The State, while also acknowledging that the new show left people feeling shut out and hurt.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a Movie Crush conversation that drifts into an honest reckoning with comedy, ambition, and The State.

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