Fifteen years ago, Bill Hicks’ twelfth stand-up appearance recorded for David Letterman’s show was completely removed from the broadcast. Never before had a comedian’s entire routine been cut after taping. It was a frustrating ordeal for Hicks and his family, made all the more regrettable upon Hicks’ death roughly four months later.
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Last night, in an unusual broadcast, David Letterman had Bill Hicks’ Mother Mary on the show. Letterman took full responsibility for the censorship, and Bill’s appearance was aired in unedited entirety.
Way to go, Dave.
You stayed up late enough to watch Letterman?!
oh hell no. i’ve got the internet.
I watched it last nite, it was actually kind of touching. Dave seemed extremely regretful about what he’d done.
Good performance by Hicks, though you could see him getting visibly annoyed trying to censor himself for TV
Do they always put “The Pretender” at the end of the show, or was it just irony?
You’re right Mike, he definitely seemed remorseful – enough to sit through Hicks’ mom’s rambling go-nowhere stories without interrupting her. It’s really pretty awesome that he put this show together. It’s probably something that’s weighed on him pretty heavily over the years, being a censor of exactly the kind of dangerous, cutting-edge comedy that’s pushed the art forward over the years.
Spinett: this is a total guess, but Paul Schaffer seems to get a song in his head and plays it to death. Happened with several Pearl Jam songs over the years, a few examples being Hail Hail, Rearviewmirror, Black and Even Flow.
Yeah, Hicks mom was definitely a little mean, and short on interesting stories, but Dave played along. She seems to have come to respect her sons craft a lot more in his death than she ever did in life. I know I’ve seen old interviews in which she seemed to think he was just nuts, but last night she had more of a respectful tone herself, almost as if she finally understands what he was so pissed off about.
Anyways, glad it aired for more people to see.
I know it’s illegal to criticize Bill Hicks because he was on a Tool record and stuff, but did anyone actually laugh out loud at that appearance? I didn’t find it to be anything special. Maybe it was cut for being dull rather than offensive.
Yeah, that was painfully mediocre footage. Unless you’re a diehard Hicks fan that wasn’t worth mining.
well all us hicks fans saw these bits with curse words intact ten years ago. no, they’re not going to crack us up now. but i for one remember laughing then at least. the crosses around christians’ necks bit is classic.
I think what Joseph said is interesting. I think he was very angry about censoring himself. I don’t know if it was that, or the cancer, but that was not his normal delivery. I think he was usually much funnier, his timing was more fluid, and he always had this amazing twinkle in his eye. This performance may have been constrained to the point where he was too inhibited to be his usual hilarious self.
I once saw some club footage of him repeating this performance without any censorship, and it was much funnier. I wish I could remember where I saw it – because it would be so interesting to compare the two.
You’ve got an awesome blog here. Excellent stuff.
Bill Hicks rocks, man… great stuff comin’ outta his mouth, goddamn!
Get some of his dvds and records. Worth it.
It’s easy to look back at 15 year old comedy and act like it wasn’t funny. If you were actually a thinking, somewhat grown up person then (and not 3-4 years old as I suspect these commenters were) you can remember those times and put it all into context– and see that it was very funny and irreverent at the time.
That said, I think that Robin Williams’ and George Carlin’s old stuff is really unfunny, but then again maybe i’m just being a Joseph Rose myself.
Hicks was great, and yes I did laugh and smile several times during that bit. The way christians celebrate easter was classic.
Liked the spot but it’s weird seeing Bill Hicks dressed like an insurance salesman. Guess you couldn’t criticize vanilla ice/marky mark, make pretty mild gay jokes or talk about smoking in the 80s. sounds like hell
Thank you David and thank you bill
This really gave me hope that the world works
Marijn Mens
(the Netherlands)
I don’t think censorship had anything to do with it. I think Dave realized he was in the presence of a better comic! That is why he chose not to air the clip!
Maybe I’m missing something.I didn’t find it that funny and some comedians all they have to do is laugh and I laugh.