posted on Dec, 29 2005 @ 09:49 AM
I agree that Bill Hicks is a genius, and it's nice to see him so appreciated worldwide now. I grew up in the Deep South like Hicks and I've always
felt such a connection to his humor, and I'm glad to see it translates beyond geography.
I think Jon Stewart is hands down the most influential comedian right now, but he does tend to go easy on the guests and pull a few punches here and
there. If Bill Hicks hosted the Daily Show it wouldn't be on the air more than a week so maybe Jon's genuis is in knowing how far he can go within
the framework of the show he's been given.
What I don't see nowadays is a Lenny Bruce or a Bill Hicks. I see comedians competing on rigged reality shows rather than railing against the
government or the war. Oddly enough the best anti-war statement I've seen on TV lately was the Doctor Who Christmas Special where the UK Prime
Minister told the US President "You're not my boss and you're not turning this into a war!"
I do think there is a huge hole out there ready to be filled by a comedian like Chappelle. A comedian that has Chapelle's no-holds-barred attitude
toward what's "appropriate" but rather than focusing it on just race relations broadens it to the state of the world.
One of my favorite Bill Hicks bits is about the first Gulf War. He starts out by saying he's "for the war, but agains the troops"... which is
hilarious as a flip on what every liberal was saying about that war, and this one. He then goes on to say the reason he's against the troops is
they're having so much fun over there and he acts out an exchange between two soldiers:
"What's G-13 do?"
"I dunno, but it says here it destroys everything except the fillings in their teeth. Helps pay for the war effort."
"Hell, bring that one up!"
VOOOOSH! KABOOOOM!
(pause)
"Cool. What's G-14 do?"
I just don't hear that kind of funny today.