4 Dead Comics You Should Check Out Right Now - Pt. 1
So, you’re tired of seeing clips of the same comics that the algorithms keep showing you. And you’re feeling some stand-up FOMO. Sure, you know Bergatze, Buress and Cummings – but maybe comedy existed before 2020? Good news – it did! And this list will help you expand your comedic horizons to the bygone pre-pandemic days.
For purists – this is not a dissertation. Milton Berle, George Burns and Moms Mabley are worthy of attention, but that’s not what we’re doing here. Instead, we’re focusing on great comics from the past generation (or two) who died too soon and so may not be on your radar.
Part 1 presents four top-notch comedians who didn’t get the recognition they deserved. Not everyone will be to your taste, and some would probably have gotten cancelled if they had survived to the present day (looking at you, Patrice) – but they are all excellent writers and performers.
If you want to differentiate yourself from the “I-like-clips-of-Matt-Rife-sexually-harassing-his-fans” crowd, start here.
Bill Hicks
The heavy metal band Tool was heavily influenced by Bill Hicks. That’s fitting, since Hicks is like the comedic version of heavy metal: loud, angry, and definitely not for everyone. Quick test: if the image of former First Lady Barbara Bush’s labia dangling to her knees as she takes part in a Republican orgy is offensive to you, he’s probably not gonna be your jam.
Regardless, some of his mainstream-friendly stuff, like Easter (“…commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus by telling our children a giant bunny rabbit left chocolate eggs in the night”) or Drugs Have Done Good Things, is top notch.
In fact, if he’d toned down his anger, and sacrificed his integrity, he would have had an amazing career. That’s not a thought experiment: thanks to Dennis Leary stealing Hicks’ act and making it more commercial, we don’t have to wonder what’d be like if Hicks had sold out. Noble of Leary, wasn’t it?
Cause of death: pancreatic cancer, age 32.
Similar to: Lewis Black, Ricky Gervais, Patton Oswalt
Recommended special: Arizona Bay (or his Best Of album, Philosophy)
Trivia: produced and acted in a movie called Ninja Bachelor Party
Mitch Hedberg
I once saw someone go up and do a “Mitch Hedberg tribute” – like a tribute band, except for a dead comic. I realized a couple things: first, comics turn over their material frequently because people generally want new jokes rather than, you know, greatest hits.
Second, and more importantly, doing Mitch Hedberg’s shtick is not easy. Actually, check that: doing it well is not easy. In fact, it’s said it took Hedberg years before he perfected it, and he bombed plenty before he got to that point (young stand-ups, take note).
But his shtick – like a stoned Christopher Walken doing Steven Wright jokes – worked great once he nailed it down. Hordes of college students a generation ago would try imitating him at parties, and some of his jokes still get a ton of play on Reddit (“I used to do a lot of drugs. I still do – but I used to, too”), but there’s no one who can do Hedberg’s jokes like he could.
Cause of death: Drug overdose, age 37
Similar to: Richard Acaster, Maria Bamford, Steven Wright
Recommended special: Comedy Central Presents
Trivia: Has a cameo in Almost Famous as the road manager of The Eagles
Patrice O’Neal
Patrice O’Neal has some thoughts he could just as easily have kept to himself – but then, he’s a male stand-up, so misogyny doesn’t exactly set him apart. But give the first few minutes of Elephant in the Room a listen (long enough to get past him talking about the tits on the women in the audience) and you’ll find what does.
About two minutes in, he starts a bit about missing people, and it’s as solid a piece of comedy writing as you’ll find anywhere.
His ability to justify an outlandish premise in a funny and surprising way is up there with the best. Making the audience discover something they knew without realizing they did is the it of comedy, and O’Neal did it as well as anyone. Combine it with his onstage charisma to pull off lines like “Inappropriate is a vaginal word” and it’s clear why he’s pointed to as one of the most underrated comics.
Cause of death: Health complications from diabetes, age 41.
Similar to: Bill Burr, Louis CK, Chris Rock
Recommended special: Elephant in the Room
Trivia: Played Lonnie, one of the warehouse guys, in the first few seasons of the American version of The Office
Norm Macdonald
Growing up during the 80s “comedy boom,” I saw a ton of stand-up – most of it forgettable routines about women’s spending habits and how annoying rush hour is. But I still remember some of the jokes from the first time I saw Norm Macdonald (“You ever lie for absolutely no reason?”). His delivery – as dry as Anza Borrego – and writing both set him apart.
He loved unexpected punchlines for seemingly obvious set-ups (on Michael Jackson’s divorce: “I could tell it wasn’t going to work out. She was the daughter of the King of Rock n Roll, and he…was a homosexual pedophile.”).
Not everyone loved his anti-humor approach – his repeated “jokes” about OJ Simpson being a murderer led to him being fired from SNL. But Macdonald could – and sometimes did – spend 3 minutes on a set up just to get to a dumb punchline (look up his improvised moth joke on Conan), and that’s why other comedians loved him.
Cause of death: Leukemia, age 61.
Similar to: Hannibal Buress, Jim Gaffigan, Tig Notaro
Recommended special: Nothing Special
Trivia: He was the last person to do stand-up on Late Night with David Letterman, destroying with his routine about being afraid of Germany
Other comics who could have been included in the list but weren’t: Phyllis Diller, Greg Giraldo, Bernie Mac, Garry Shandling.
Coming up in part 2: comics who had a huge influence on stand-up but may still not be known to younger comedy fans. Stay tuned, and don't forget to subscribe to the SD Comedy Scene newsletter to be updated of new articles.
