Closure, after all these years, for Bill Hicks

UPDATE 2: I've added video of all three segments.

UPDATE/SPOILER ALERT: The third comment below is from an audience member from the taping. Based on what another source told TVB, I believe the comment is authentic. On a semi-related note, B&C is reporting that Dave has begun talks to stay at CBS past 2010. -- AB

Here is how long it's been since David Letterman and his then-producer, Robert Morton, decided to cut Bill Hicks' controversial monologue out of a "Late Show" broadcast -- in one of the very first editions of Late Show News that I wrote, 15 years ago, I was already referring to the Hicks incident as old news.

Since then it's gone on to become one of the most fabled TV moments of all time, probably because it never aired. Until now. Actually, it's possible it aired in 2003. Trio -- remember Trio?, the network Lauren Zalaznick ran before she became Queen of All Cable? -- did a documentary on Hicks called "Outlaw Comic," of which the Letterman excision was the central moment. (It was subtitled, "The Censoring of Bill Hicks," which Virginia Heffernan, citing Stanley Fish, high-handedly asserted was not censoring according to the First Amendment ... although I would point out that according to the original Latin, it actually is.)

Anyway, I searched through reviews, including my own, of the Hicks docu and couldn't find confirmation that the excised Letterman routine actually aired. But it doesn't matter, since only about five million homes, at most, ever saw the Trio channel. For all practical purposes, what Dave will be showing America on Friday night is something America has never seen: the routine that he, Dave Letterman, kept off his show 15-1/2 years ago. Joining him will be Mary Hicks, the late comedian's mom. Details at TVS.

Several in-depth pieces have been written about the incident over the years; here's one that includes a portion of the original New Yorker piece that effectively blew the whistle on Dave. And here's an interview Hicks gave about the incident to a Texas cable access show:

The explanation given over the years was that Letterman was new at CBS, was riding high in the ratings, and didn't want any trouble, so in an impulse act fed by his own anxieties, he agreed to cut the Hicks routine. I assume that explanation will be repeated on Friday ... and while I know what Bill said, I can't wait to see and hear how he actually said it.

The video

Here's how Dave introduced the segment in the previous act ... notice that the audience has not been prepped at all and laughs inappropriately at first:

Part two with Mary Hicks:

Part three ...at long last:

I especially like the part where he trolled for anti-gay audience members. But nothing here justified Dave's overreaction -- and I'm glad he's acknowledged that, too. Rest in peace, Bill.

Comments

[Don]

The Trio documentary showed Bill's re-enactment of the routine at a comedy club later in October 1993, not the actual Letterman performance, so this will indeed be the first time anyone outside the show or Bill's family has seen it.

[Ned]

The Trio docu made a point of mentioning that Letterman's people had destroyed the master and sent the only copy to Hicks' mother after his death. Trio asked permission to show the segment, but they were denied. Instead, they showed footage from his last videotaped performance, where he performed the same Letterman set verbatim.

[Rich]

Having been at the upcoming show's taping and seeing Letterman's authentic and truly heartfelt apology to Mrs. Hicks, it would have been nice for the grudge holding Mom to have thanked Dave for having her son on the show the 11 other times Bill's bits weren't cut -- obviously, Mrs. Hicks is alone in her belief that her son being on the best late night program (then & now) had no impact whatsoever on the promotion of Bill's comedy career. btw: the episode, as is the case with the Hick's routine, are a must watch!

[Randy]

Bill Hicks was such an underestimated, underappreciated talent. I remember seeing him on some cheesy young comedians show in the late 80s. The audience, well-numbed after five or six rounds of bad hair day and diaper pail humor, didn’t know how to digest Bill. He was like a curry-based dish at an American buffet. Too foreign for their tastes. He was one of the first comedians to really dig into the fetid layers of American sociopolitical abominations like the pro-life movement. Heck, even Carlin was a latecomer here.

[kayce.]

hmm... sounds very john-kennedy-toole-confederacy-of-dunces to me (wiki it).

[Mastr]

I was elated to see this on TV. Wow what an epic moment. I don't think Rich realizes the pain which the censoring caused her. Bill was on his death bed at 32 and it was his final performance on a national stage. Letterman cut it for his own expedience. Do you even realize the significance? A wise man once said judge a person by the content of their character... TBH it sickens me to see you call her a "grudge holding mom," and then speak of how the show is "a must watch," not everything is done for your entertainment, I think you've lost the humanity inside you...

[RStringfield]

Why is the focus all on the pro-life material as the reason for alleged censorship? There were several other topics that might offend those that are too politically sensitive. For instance, homosexuality, religion, rabid anti-smokers and making light of violence.

The depiction of rabid anti smokers (who typically tend to lean left) was identical to pro-lifers.

BTW, I am a libertarian and agreed with everything he said.

And it is certainly not censorship according to the first amendment. Letterman's own speech rights insure that he can not be forced to air views he finds repugnant or might do him damage. It's really ironic, since your own site states...

Comments are moderated, and will not appear on this weblog until the author has approved them.

...
Just as Letterman did to Hicks, you can cut me or anyone else.

The only real criticism of Letterman is that he lacked courage, which kind of fits what is claimed as his motivation for editing.

[Mister E]

Never heard of Bill Hicks before tonight. Sad to hear he died young. Sad to see that his "censored" routine was in really poor taste - and worse, not the least bit funny. Much ado about nothing...

[alwaysadak]

I watched Letterman and have to say, Bill Hicks performance was pathetic and not remotely funny. The audience barely even laughed. Letterman's gushing afterward seemed forced, as it probably was.

A big deal over absolutely nothing.

[zlh67]

Bill stated quite often that he felt his appearances on Letterman (or any tv) didn't really help his career, so his mom was of the same opinion i would imagine. And look at the facts: yes, maybe he made a little more money from clubs, and perhaps sold a few more cd's, but for the most part, Bill remained an anonymous figure in U.S. comedy right up until his death. Over in the UK though, where full length concerts were aired without censor and actual THOUGHT and IDEAS are appreciated, Bill became a big star. Basically, Bill had to water down what he did too much for tv for it to really have an impact on his career.

[mary]

I thought he really was very funny...except for the first minute or so of rounding up and shooting Billy Ray Cyrus and Michael Bolton in the head. Shooting people (even Cyrus and Bolton) in the head...not funny...everything else entertaining. I can see why Letterman pulled it because of that first minute.
I don't understand how it was the 12th appearance, but also a debut?? Maybe it's me.

[Dane Henas]

I'm a big Hicks fan, and was surprised to turn on Letterman last night and see this. Although, it wasn't Hicks at his best--he was obviously not healthy--it was still funnier to me than most comics I see today--and as usual, Bill was pointing out our social hypocrisies...I think it took a lot of courage for Letterman to acknowledge Bill and his mistake for cutting the bit. R Springfield and Mister E--you should rent the DVD Bill Hicks Live--then maybe you'll see that it really was something...

[Icky Mettle]

Comedy ages the fastest. Of course this isn't quite as potent or relevant as it would've been if you had accidentally tuned into it on your TV in 1993. Considering these facts you'll have to forgive me if I find the opinions of those whose first Hicks exposure was here, today, with this video clip, to be all but worthless.

Besides, it's about the ideas at play. Bill was a funny philosopher. He was not a comedian with some philosophical ideas. You think he's not funny? Who cares. That's not even the point.

Although, I have to admit that I am delighted at least one of you were genuinely offended. Good lord, may someone please squeegee your third eye open so that you may see.

[Mike]

I used to watch Dave when he first came on, until I realized that for all of his supposed hipness, and mockery and contempt for modern media, he was more than willing to sell his soul to the network to take over for Carson. Then they pulled the rug out from under him. He got what he deserved. Bill's remarks on that cable access show were prescient.

Now Dave's the old man that makes jokes about gays that in the not too distant future will be seen to be as offensive as minstrel shows and performing in blackface.

Sad.

[Brian Scott]

Not funny, not inventive, not creative. I'm sorry the guy died, but I'm MORE sorry that Dave dripped all over himself apologizing for what clearly was a smart move on his part, not allowing this crap on his show back in 1993.

Tasteless, and by no stretch of the imagination funny.

Should've left it on the shelf.

[woid]

Thanks for posting the videos!

And no thanks to the idiots who watched the short clip of one performance, and thought that was enough for them to condemn Bill Hicks and his entire career.

TVB... The New Yorker piece you mention, by John Lahr, is online at http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1993/11/01/1993_11_01_113_TNY_CARDS_000365503?currentPage=all