Legend!

thanx for finding this..:D

THE KING of comedy.

That was funny. Gotta love that joke about the cross.

Some funny bits, but not hilarious by any means. Regardless of why Letterman decided not to air it, I don't think he owed anyone an apology. I understand that it might've been difficult for the family given what they knew at the time, but their anger at Letterman was, I think, misplaced.

For more information: http://www.videosift.com/video/Outlaw-Comic-The-Censoring-Of-Bill-Hicks-documentary-77mins

Xax, I'm thinking the reason why it was such a problem was because being on Letterman is a pretty big deal, and the Hicks family knew Bill had cancer and wasn't going to last much longer. So it was pretty much going to be his last aired routine.

Of course, Letterman didn't know about the cancer, and had to make a professional decision. I can understand why now, looking back, he can feel bad about it. But really, it's not like he knew Bill was going to die.

I can understand why Dave pulled the set in 93, by today's standards it's fairly tame, but 15 years ago a lot of what he said there could have had the FCC on their asses.

>> ^HollywoodBob:
I can understand why Dave pulled the set in 93, by today's standards it's fairly tame, but 15 years ago a lot of what he said there could have had the FCC on their asses.


You're right that what he said isn't as controversial now as it was 15 years ago...but the FCC wouldn't have had any say over it...it would have been the religious right groups that would've made a stink over it with his comments about "pro-life" people and the second coming of Christ and mocking outrage at the Sarah Has Two Mommies book that was a big deal at the time.

That was pretty big of David to reair that and have Bill's mom on the show.

Hicks was ahead of his time in one sense; in another sense all he did was tell the truth.

Damn, if only he'd lived long enough to put on his show. We'd never have had Miley Cyrus...

Kudos to Dave for finally showing this.

I don't know, I think I agree with Dave's original decision. As much as I dislike cyruses and all that they stand for. I couldn't help but think he was describing a hate crime against gays, with the fruity pony tail and shotgun in mouth comment.

Yes I know it's a joke, but with the dry delivery, obvious hatred, and overly detailed description of violence, he just comes off as an ass. You can call a guy an ass after he's dead, right?

This one gets me right in the cockles.. Thanks Dave.

Rougy said it (above). It is about truth. For thousands of years comedy has been one of the few things we've had to find truth. When we don't censor it we sometimes will get the lame & stupid BS. But we also get Aristophanes, Sarah Silverman, Pyror & Bill Hicks. Comedy is cool when it helps us escape the world & laugh. But it scares the powerful & the devious (not always the same thing, right?) when it vivisects the sacred cow, and brutalizes the tyrant. And if you have a comment about censorship, wait until you find out about its history. Read about Socrates, Lenny Bruce & George Carlin. For a start, check out what Bill Hicks said on the website 'Konformist' (I'm not connected to it, just found it looking for the above video). He tells how the next Letterman show had a commercial paid for by 'pro-lifers'. This is how the world goes round. Then on rare occasion the power shifts when someone has the brains & the guts to laugh at the intellectually-naked emperor. Oh, and one thing Bill always reminds me of is that TV has always referred to their products as 'programming'. I am proud to dedicate my first-ever posting to the great Bill Hicks. Peas & Luv. Kevin S.

Knowing he was about to die, Hicks could have raised the parade even higher regarding delivery, subjects and attitude. His cinical approach is remarkable and nowadays standup has to be that outrageous or else it'll look like a "there-he-goes-again-thinkin-he's-funny" hotshot imitating his sinatra-enthusiast daddy. I guess this is why Hicks fitted on this airing at this particular present time (2009). I bet Hicks' coke period will be the biggest thing 15 years from now, when "standing up" will be possible only with a neat rockstar from the XX century attitude, while being a rockstar at that future time will mean to be a old sack of biliar snorts. Or maybe rock bands will consist of guys like Hicks on stage that don't bother anymore about singing with juvenile distinction (think Axl Rose) so they simply burst their lines with hatred and defeat while throbbing drums and guitars make people go wild and absorb the moment. Now that's standup.

I feel like Paul Giamatti channels this guy.

Upvote for the great comedy and for Letterman realizing his mistake, taking responsibility and making amends.

Holy shit, the Gaslight Anthem was on Letterman? Sick!

Upvoting for the re-airing of this... however I've never quite 'got' the whole Bill Hicks idolizing thing. He has some pretty darn good bits, but I've never, ever found him to be 'hilarious'. And more often there was far too much anger towards people who thought differently to him that made me just not like him at all.

Each to their own, obviously, and many comedians cite him as a huge influence... but me, I think a little too much of his popularity these days is due to the ever effective 'cut down in his prime' effect.

given the crowd's positive reaction to the routine, dave should definitely feel pretty ashamed about censoring it.

>> ^spoco2:
He has some pretty darn good bits, but I've never, ever found him to be 'hilarious'. And more often there was far too much anger towards people who thought differently to him that made me just not like him at all.

It was because he spoke the truth and the truth was tragic and funny at the same time.

Why are you all going on about how good this is? It's... not funny. Sorry dead guy.

>> ^Farhad2000:
>> ^spoco2:
He has some pretty darn good bits, but I've never, ever found him to be 'hilarious'. And more often there was far too much anger towards people who thought differently to him that made me just not like him at all.
It was because he spoke the truth and the truth was tragic and funny at the same time.


No, see, people keep using this with him.. 'He spoke the truth'.

ANY good comedian speaks the truth, they observe things we don't necessarily see before they point them out as funny. But Hicks... Hicks had routines where he would just spit venom at whole groups of people just because they thought differently to him, or annoyed him... there's being funny and then there's just being downright angry... he was angry.

But that's not to take away from some of the great stuff he did (the whole wearing a crucifix thing he used to do was gold)... but yeah, not my favourite by a long shot.

Hicks never took it easy on people or groups that he thought were ignorant and/or hypocrites. Especially if those people or groups try to control what the rest of us can and cannot do based on that ignorance. He used logic and truth to point out their ignorance and hypocrisy in a humorous way.

So if by "spit venom" you mean he didn't hold bacj when it came to the ignorance and intolerance of others you are correct.

>> ^spoco2:
No, see, people keep using this with him.. 'He spoke the truth'.
ANY good comedian speaks the truth, they observe things we don't necessarily see before they point them out as funny. But Hicks... Hicks had routines where he would just spit venom at whole groups of people just because they thought differently to him, or annoyed him... there's being funny and then there's just being downright angry... he was angry.


Most comedians observe things that most of us can relate to and then exaggerate their observations in a comedic way. Some of it true, some of it's an exaggeration of the truth. But there's a huge difference between the "truth" in a bit about how bad airplane food is and a bit using truth to point out the ignorance and hypocracy of people who try to control our lives.

He has some pretty darn good bits, but I've never, ever found him to be 'hilarious'.

Keep in mind he was censoring himself here. This was edgy by network standards, but this was much gentler than his stage show.

I saw him in '91. I was crying, I was laughing so hard. I never do that.

This was totally edgy by the standards of the time, for network tv. Especially when you compare it with other sets he did on Letterman, where he toned it right down.

I wish I had seen him.

*Censored

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