While a good many of our fun little Q+A stints have been with media gossips, we thought it was about time to chat with a fellow blogger who could care less about anyone in media. (Unless they’re talking about him or offering some book deal or something, of course.)
You’ve probably heard of Michael Malice — but just in case you sort of live outside the blogger bubble, here’s a brief rundown. The former Overheard in New York editor is now running a snappy little site called Overheard at College, has had a book written about him (well, a picture book, but still) and when he’s not plotting his takeover of the world, can be found hiding out downtown with random New Yorker cartoonists or holed up in his apartment IMing Elizabeth Spiers.
Even if we aren’t his ideal dinner company, we still find this quirky fellow somewhat fascinating — though it is mostly out of fear for the life of our editor (he lives right down the street!) that we are finally (after about a month of it sitting on it) running this interview. The inner psyche of the genius boy who actually reads Drudge for political news and spends his days making other people (including his own mother) look stupid, after the jump.
What is the focus behind Overheard at college? What do you think will the greatest challenge in differentiating the site from College Humor?
Good question. I have no idea how Overheard at College is going to evolve. I have some plans and suspicions, but for now I’m just going to focus on building the audience. Things will get fun when classes resume in September, I expect. College Humor is a huge juggernaut, and I can’t possibly hope to produce anything near the quantity of output that they do. Their focus is so broad, and mine is very very narrow.
How do you approach blogging? Who is your main audience?
A good blog has to work on several levels, and have several different audiences. For College, the audience is going to be a bit narrower: it’s the kids and probably the people who work at colleges. As the site takes off it’ll be a good resource for people looking to market to college students, recent grads, and teenagers trying to find out to
expect at different schools.
You’ve always been attracted to humorous and quirky topics — what other sites influence you or engage your interest?
I’m very bad about going to sites regularly. I love it when people have great ideas and “work” those ideas over extended periods of time, but I try not to read to many sites so I don’t become derivative.
Harvey Pekar wrote a book about your life. What makes you important enough to have a biography written about you and why should people read it?
I am certainly not important enough to have a biography published before I’m 30. I can’t recommend it to people on a purely objective level. I think people should read it to get a sense of a truly unique character. A lot of the reviews kept referring to me as despicable but fascinating, and I’m fine with that. As an entertainer, I need you to notice me more than I need you to like me. Plus, it’s the first biography of a blogger written.
The focus of your blogs have never been news related, but do you follow news and current events? What forms of media you tend to follow?
This is going to sound stupid, but blogs are my main means of following news. Not just main, but my only means. I don’t really read magazines and I can’t abide TV news. So I just follow Dlisted, Jossip and Gawker for entertainment and PoliticalWire and Drudge for politics.
How did you get started as a blogger?
Though I am certain she regrets it on some level, the first person who introduced me to blogging was super-Christian Dawn Eden. I thought a blog would be a great idea so I could keep down my thoughts for when my biography would get published. When I told people that they laughed in my face. Less than a year later I met Harvey Pekar and my prophesy was realized.
As a native New Yorker, what are your favorite areas of the city? Do you think growing up here has affected your uber satirical view on, well, everything?
I absolutely love social tourism, going to places where you’re the odd man out. But I don’t know if I have favorite areas per se so much as favorite imagery. I am a sucker for urban decay and industry. I did quite a bit of urban exploring with Jinx. So whenever I see an abandoned building, or a street that’s deserted, I’m
in Heaven.
You seem to associate with quite a gaggle of writers and bloggers — if you had to fill a table with 8 (living) dinner guests, who would be there?
I recently introduced Harvey — who doesn’t know how to check email — to Jesse & Jessica from Gawker; Scott Nybakken from DC Comics; novelist Shari Goldhagen; Will Leitch & Aileen Gallagher from the sorely missed Black Table; Jessica “the Washingtonienne” Cutler and the Voice’s Rachel Kramer Bussel. It was so much fun. I think people don’t realize how friendly the blog scene is in NY. Or maybe I’m just lucky to be friends with all these people.
Why is it interesting to read conversations that were overheard at various college campuses?
Is there anyone as totally naive and stupid, yet as convinced of his sophistication and intelligence, as the modern liberal arts student? Yes: the modern liberal arts professor.
What does the leader of his own evil empire eat for breakfast?
Whatever he wants. (Though for me, it’s Pillsbury Cinnamon Bites. Or Dunkaroos.)
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