Anyone who’s heard Marc Maron’s stand-up comedy or his WTF podcast, or read his new book, Attempting Normal, should understand all too well that the guy is a pathological over-sharer. Expect more of that in his new series, Maron, which debuted May 3 at 10 eastern on IFC. In anticipation of it, we looked into some of our favorite over-sharing moments in pop culture.
George Costanza does the opposite, Seinfeld (1994)
Unemployed, living at home, and generally miserable, George Costanza (Jason Alexander) has come to realize that every instinct he’s ever had has been wrong. At his nadir, he decides to go against his natural tendencies, and in the process turns his life around.
Chunk spills his guts, The Goonies (1985)
Captured by the Fratellis and held against his will, Chunk (Jeff Cohen) has only one way to survive: confess. “Tell us everything,” says Joe Pantoliano in his best threatening voice. “Everything.” In a classic comedy trope, Chunk interprets this as an order to cite every bad thing he’s ever done, not simply tell his captors where his friends are hiding.
Tommy explains why he sucks at sales, Tommy Boy (1995)
After yet another humiliating sales meeting finds Tommy (Chris Farley) and Richard (David Spade) no closer to their goal of saving their company (and, by extension, their town), Tommy has a meltdown in a diner. As he explains to an unsympathetic waitress, he has a problem with sabotaging himself.
Sam drops her survey, Sixteen Candles (1984)
Filling out a delightfully low-tech sex survey on a sheet of loose-leaf paper, Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) answers the questions a little too candidly—then accidentally gives it to the last person who should see it.
Ron has a special announcement, Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Although Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) have agreed to keep their romantic relationship a secret at their workplace, he barely waits a moment after assenting to announce it to his friends and, later, all of San Diego.
Homer answers an interview question too truthfully, The Simpsons (1991)
Homer Simpson already faces some stiff competition for a job at the new nuclear plant in Springfield—an old fraternity brother of interviewer Waylon Smithers, and a brother from a different chapter—but when Smithers drops that old job-interview cliché, “What would you say is your worst quality?”, Homer admits too much.
Leslie’s sad romantic history, Parks And Recreation (2011)
When Ann (Rashida Jones) confronts Chris (Rob Lowe) about her suspicions that he’s cheating, she’s humiliated to learn that Chris had actually broken up with her before but she didn’t realize it. In an attempt to help her best friend feel better, Leslie (Amy Poehler) spells out the many, many humiliating ways she’s been dumped over the years.
Hank’s Thoughts, The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
While dictating his “Hank’s Thoughts” column for his newsletter to his assistant—“If Princess Di were here, I’d tell her, ‘Hang in there!’ Maybe it’s me, but Sharon Gless should be on TV every night,” etc.—late-night sidekick Hank Kingsley (Jeffrey Tambor) gets distracted by some staff members having sex in the parking lot. Darlene (Linda Doucett) keeps writing down what he’s saying, even when it’s R-rated commentary on what he’s seeing through his window. It gets printed in the newsletter, leading to one of Tambor’s best scenes: “Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittt!”
Dr. Evil’s bizarre childhood, Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997)
When Austin Powers’ nemesis Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) isn’t plotting world domination, he’s trying to mend the rift with his sullen teenage son Scott Evil (Seth Green). However, a father/son trip to group therapy reveals that the elder Evil is dealing with something far more severe than a typically dysfunctional upbringing.
James Gandolfini explains his prostitute preferences, Killing Them Softly (2012)
Washed-up hitman James Gandolfini gets to town for a job a little early, and spends his days in a nice hotel enjoying every hooker in town. When Brad Pitt shows up to try to get Gandolfini sober and ready for the job, the big man gets maudlin about his appetite for sex, and for one particular prostitute that clearly captured his heart. It’s the tiniest bit sweet, but way too much information.