Bill Hicks' Mom Watches His Censored Stand-Up Appearance | Letterman
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- Опубліковано 15 гру 2022
- Dave apologizes to Mary Hicks for his decision to remove Bill's appearance from a 1993 show.
(From "Late Show," air date: 1/30/09)
#billhicks #comedian #letterman
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Wow, Just wow. This is NOT a celebrity, not a person TRAINED on how to give an interview, this is a Mom from Mississippi. She rocked the mic and stole the show. Comfortable, intelligent, confident and informative. I may wonder where Bill got his graces from... Great job Mom.
Yeah she did very well with that demon next to her.
Dave forgot to ask her about how CIA. agent Dad got Bill a job in a tv pilot called Bulba. He was a consultant .
Bill Hicks was a native of Georgia.
@@chrisstevens-xq2vbDemon? Why you say that?? Lmfao seems quite random and out of left field…
She and her other son, Steven, are both very kind and funny.
'I left in love, in laughter, and in truth, and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit.' William Melvin Hicks God bless you
Today would have been Bill Hicks 61st birthday. The greatness he achieved in 32 years is amazing. RIP Bill.
He's alive, he changed his name to Alex Jones
Bill would be Bryan Cranston age. I always wondered what he would have been like now. So ******* young to die. 12 years younger than me.
@@TeleCaster66 what are you talking about, you drug-addled maniac? You never saw the waco video with bill hicks and alex jones standing right next to each other? You really believe a monster like alex jones is anything close to bill? Public school really damages kids, it looks like. ..
Jeez if Bill was Alex Jones he'd have killed himself in an act of community service.
@@TeleCaster66 how do they do it? I mean there’s a lot of similarities. Also it is strange Alex Jones is good friends with Bills childhood friend. I never used to believe it it? But who knows? Not saying it’s true but there’s a lot of oddities to the whole conspiracy theory.
This was so good of Dave to right a wrong. Good on Ms. Hicks to keep the memory of her son alive. Bill Hicks is a legend.
He did that shortly after his last Justin Bieber interview, making fun of his tattoos and lack of knowledge when it came to geography. He realized he was only 19, and did not have the most normal upbringing, so wasn't able to laugh at himself, how an adult would. He later called him to apologize.
It was a very touching gesture to bring her in and celebrate Bill’s legacy. It was a very memorable interview.
He is still alive he just call himself Alex Jones now...
@@stonkmark941 Only in your head
Greatest comic ever. Can you imagine how he would have dealt with 9/11, Iraq, Covid and the rest of the BS heaped upon us since his extremely untimely passing.
I was in the audience this night of Bill’s appearance. He was pointed and hilarious. Imagine my surprise when I got home and watched the recording when Bill was cut and replaced with a bit from the comedian who warmed up the audience. Good for Dave for making this right. Bill was a genius in the way of Carlin. Miss Johnny Carson and David Letterman. Bill’s mom is gold. RIP Bill Hicks.
what a privilege to have seen Bill live!
It took a big man to invite Bill's mom and admit he was wrong. Good for him.
It
took
guilt.
Nope, this is gross.
@@bobobandy9382yeah Letterman is a tool, always will be
Even more so was it was not Letterman who cut it it was the producer of the show who initially lied and said CBS did it which they denied
It was only after all that the producer admitted he had made the decision and cut it
But Letterman did what a good leader does it was his show and so when he puts it on himself what an employee did
Tip: Try being informed instead of just being opinionated. And if you choose not to then don’t voice them cause its like excrement - it stinks to everyone but you
What a brave woman. It broke ME up seeing her composure while discussing her enormously talented son. He was and will remain on a tier that includes very few of our social commentarians.
You can certainly see from his mom where he got some of that wit. RIP Bill, forever missed.
Mother Hicks is such a strong, beautiful woman. Nothing but love and respect from my humble family to hers.
I like how Dave says he doesn't "personally know" but now that he "has a son" .. that was a very precious and thoughtful way of putting it. I hope the Hicks family got some form of closure from this.
I love that Dave did this. Such a class move.
Thank you for putting this up. A heartbreaking moment in so many ways, comedy history to say he least. Hicks was brilliant.
What a sweet, genuine person and a mom she is
Feisty as hell, I'll tell you that. When I wrote a feature on finally getting Bill's posthumous work out on DVD she was convinced that I was out to get "the nitty gritty", whatever that means. As a result, I was afraid to say hi when the family attended the Bill biodoc at SXSW. I have our conversations on tape though, unlike my plone chat with Bill about this night, since I had no idea that he would be handed the phone when I called his manager. Now it all makes sense of course...
She is quite fit actually. Would have a go 😂
from wikipedia: On October 1, 1993, Hicks was scheduled to appear on Late Show with David Letterman on CBS, where Letterman had recently moved. It was his 12th appearance on a Letterman late-night show, but his entire performance was removed from the broadcast: at that point the only occasion where a comedian's entire routine was cut after taping.[28] Hicks's stand-up routine was removed from the show, Hicks said, because Letterman's producers believed the material, which included jokes involving religion and the anti-abortion movement, was unsuitable for broadcast.[28] Producer Robert Morton initially blamed CBS, which denied responsibility; Morton later conceded it was his decision.[28] Although Letterman later expressed regret at the way Hicks had been handled, Hicks did not appear on the show again.[28] Hicks was undergoing chemotherapy at the time of his final Late Show appearance, unbeknownst to Letterman, and most others outside of Hicks's family, and died less than four months later.[29]
Letterman finally aired the censored routine in its entirety on January 30, 2009. Hicks's mother, Mary, was present in the studio and appeared on-camera as a guest. Letterman took responsibility for the original decision to remove Hicks's set from the 1993 show. "It says more about me as a guy than it says about Bill," he said, after the set aired, "because there was absolutely nothing wrong with that".[30][31]
Thanks for sharing that! Hope the execs got what they deserved.
@@Venomonomonom Did, you read or watch the clip. Letterman says multiple times, he was responsible for the decision.
At least Letterman acknowledged that he was wrong and it really wasn't that bad 😂 compared to some of Bill's material, the man was one of the most fearless comedians to ever grace a stage. Rest in peace Bill, your sorely missed
@@dufung3980 For a long time Letterman claimed the decision was made by the producers and the network. Later he admitted that it was his call and he regretted it.
I just love the delivery of the "It's pretty self-explanatory. Each week we let the hounds of hell loose.." Never fails to crack me up! I would put this interview up there with Letterman's best, like Zevon's last. It's not only an unusual interview, but I think unique and done with such class. Mary was great and by the end you could tell she felt right at home with Dave.
Enjoy every sandwich bro.👍🥃💪🥃
@@BillMcGirrķķƙv vkki hi I look I was introduced yo Bill Hucks by my older btbtother , some tears sgo he knew indyincuivtly he'd d b tughtip my s! Kklk loved him ftom 1st munute u aaw/ heard hjm. Cxx
Breaks my heart to see Bill looking and sounding amazing. So bitter sweet. Just the best.
He had a lot to say and we'll miss him. ❤
Not all martyrs see divinity, but at least he tried.
That song is a slight to L. Ron Hubbard... it has nothing to do with Hicks.
Also, many people don't realize, but acccording to the American Scream autobiography, he started smoking again after his cancer diagnosis because he was already informed his pancreatic cancer was terminal. To this day, Pancreatic Cancer is basically a death sentence, due to how late it is detectable.
Up to 10 percent of patients who receive an early diagnosis become disease-free after treatment. For patients who are diagnosed before the tumor grows much or spreads, the average pancreatic cancer survival time is 3 to 3.5 years.
I was lucky enough to See Bill in Birmingham UK with my ex wife. There were two young unknown (to me) women on my left who couldn't straighten up throughout the concert with laughter. They laughed to the point of drooling. A great comedian and his mom seems like a lovely lady.
I had a friend who was a stand up comedian and a comedy writer in L.A. We've since lost touch. In the late 90's I asked him who his favorite comedian was and he said Bill Hicks. I had never heard of Bill until then. I was always sad I didn't know about him when he was alive.
Adore Bill Hicks. Him getting cut that night from Letterman is the only time that I've ever been mad at Dave
Dave did his best to rectify that
@@michaelparks6120 yeah, but Dave failed. Dave was looking after Dave at that point in time. He is looking for forgiveness after the fact. Knowing at the time he was cheating an artist. He is just mad because he didn't know Bill was dying at the time. He doesn't regret the act, he regrets the timing.
@@Clasped003 who cares?
I had a premonition when she told the story about her son inviting her and her husband to attend the concert of the musician and she said "what was Ericʻs last name..." Eric Johnson. One of the best guitarists youʻve never heard of. It blew my mind that Paul Shaffer had not known of him. "World of Trouble" live for Eric Johnson blues. Bill HIcksʻ comedy was top tier social commentary. Iʻm glad the network came around to right the wrong they did to the whole family.
Yeah, how the hell does Paul not know who Eric Johnson is???
Same here, I thought Shaffer was joking when he asked her if he was a surfer, strange indeed!
Paul Shaffer is not well liked or respected in the musician community, seen more as a shill and corperate puppet than a legitimate artist. Check out what Eric Clapton had to say about him and their interaction.
Bill definitely was ahead of his time.
Eric Johnson is mostly known for "Cliffs of Dover." That's a lovely song.
one of the greatest to ever do it. ill put him on top of Hendrix technique wise
Thank you!!
How did Paul not know who Eric Johnson was? Cliffs of Dover
He must have known, surely, but maybe forgot in the moment. Paul knows a lot!
Wasn't cliffs of dover a regional hit back in the day?
Yes! A great guitarist
Yes! Cliffs of Dover is a terrific guitar instrumental.
@@WTC7National hit. Everybody has heard Cliffs of Dover. But name another song by him.
I miss Bill Hicks so so much. He was THE Jimi Hendrix of comedy. Pure heart. You’ve shown me what great stand-up is about. God bless you, my hero.
Much respect to Dave for being man enough to correct an error in judgment. And Mrs Hicks was awesome. Loved it!
Dave followed the old rule, is all: better to ask for an apology than for permission. This incident took place during the Late Night Wars. He knw Bill's material was controversial and that's why he cut it. Now that is he is old and having to face his demons from life, he believes this meeting with Bill's mother would somehow make things ok with how he cheated a dying man out of a chance to present his art to the world. Letterman doesn't actually care about Bill, this is him trying to save hia own ass once the reaper comes calling.
@@Clasped003 or maybe just a human being who regretted a mistake
@@Clasped003 In fairness, Letterman didn't know Hicks was dying as he told nobody outside of his innermost circle of family and friends. I'm here because I saw the documentary on Bill earlier today and they mentioned that and his being cut from Letterman, so I wanted to see the segment.
Leno once said in an interview that Dave had not decided that himself, it was the network. I guess that’s true, he just says „I have cut the segment“ because he rather rakes responsibility than to point fingers.
One of THE GREATS ! We miss and love you Bill
That was a good set. And a nice visit by Bill’s mom.
Somehow, I’m almost 4 years older than Bill Hicks was when he died. I didn’t think I’d live this long, and life is a gift we take for granted, let me tell you. It’s like he says, about how “It’s just a ride.” The ups, the downs, which can be horrible- and I am going through that ebb and flow now. It’s hard. But we can’t give up! If I’m not mistaken, Bill knew he had cancer with a bad prognosis and kept booking and performing shows. The courage and strength of will that requires is otherworldly. Many would give up. But Bill did not- he kept spreading his message, which resonates to the day, loudly.
He was 32, and I’m approaching 36 this month. I’m 1/1,000,000th of the comedian he is, though I like to be silly and try to make people smile/laugh, usually failing. But to have a narrative and rhetorical toolbox like his comedy, it blows my mind and still inspires me since I first was introduced to his art back in high school. All that to say- I wish he were 61, and was here to guide us with his
voice, his message. Him, Carlin, Pryor…we need their courage now- in a world where truth is fiction and vice versa, people like Mr. Bill Hicks are the stuff of legend, and their contribution to our discourse is necessary. Comedians are real, that’s their job. To say the things he did, when he did, is staggering.
I wonder how exactly he’d annihilate the alt-right of today. So it’s up to us to remember his legacy and remember his message, as we wad through the muck.
The St. Peter at the gates of heaven “Got a light?”
…
“…Hendrix is on harp tonight.”
Truly a genius who will always be missed. Thanks fam. Keep pressing on and let comedy in.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 the alt right.
Let’s remember… Letterman a leftist canceled him all those years ago.
And leftist would cancel him today.
At least Dave had the balls to admit his mistake 14 years too late.
Let’s not forget that the pro life movement was allowed to buy airtime for a paid commercial ON THE SAME NIGHT Hicks was canceled.
It wasn’t the alt right that censored Hicks.
It was hypocritical money grubbing leftists.
Hicks enjoyed the irony before he passed.👍🥃
What a cute, adorable senior lady. She got my full attention.
This REALLY shows what a class man Letterman is. He made this happen to right a wrong.
He should do the same with Leno. It's a shame.
Very touching and humble by Dave.
Mary was lovely.
Very cool video.💪👍🥃
I had very little time for Letterman after what he did, but him inviting Bill's mother on after all these years was good of him. He had very little to gain in doing so in my opinion, so the fact that he did tells me that he actually is sorry. It's a pity that Letterman didn't make it up to Bill before he died, but at least he's continuing to make up for it now.
Imagine Bill Hicks trying to do that stand up routine on TV today.
"Hendrix is on harp tonight." Such a terrific throw away one liner.
This is such a lovely, truly human interaction.
Whoa. Hey I didn't ask to be made to cry with a comedy segment this early in the morning.
That's so sad about Bill, may he RIP, and David Letterman was the best late night show there was and I wish he was still there instead of Jimmy Fallon. Miss you David Letterman! This was great that you made things right.
fallon took leno's place - steven colbert took letterman's place
Bill hicks is alex jones.
@@ComedyConspiracyChannel hicks had a brain, jones got nothing
This is lovely. Thanks
Kind of sad that I at, 27 years old, was audibly oooing when she said Eric Johnson and David didn’t even know who he was. Eric is an incredible guitarist and it’s cool to know Bill had good taste 😎
Well, I think it’s even more sad that Paul didn‘t know who he was and actually mistook him for Jack Johnson, the „surfer“, who was probably a toddler when Bill took his parents to the Eric Johnson concert.
@@joachimb5721 So that's what the 'surfer' reference was, I couldn't figure out what Paul was thinking and thought he was joking, but he wasn't, strange!
I remember seeing this. Very touching
Very glad to see this Bill Hicks segment and Dave's interview with his Mom, missed this in 2009. I can see why Dave's/CBS staff nixed it. Maybe the content would have passed on the NBC Late Night Show, but the earlier CBS Late Show had a more conservative audience and had just begun with a lot to prove. Dave being really gracious about how it wasn't necessary to scrap it is for Bill's Mom's benefit, but there would have been blowback for sure from the content in 1993.
I don't know that he would have let it be on his NBC show either. Dave liked to play the part of of being against "the man", etc, but bottom line is his show depended on getting celebrity guests. So it's not an overreaction on Dave's part to not include a routine that names 5 celebrities and laughs about killing them. Doing that on a standup stage - no harm, no foul. But if Dave was seen as sanctioning it, he could have had some major issues from agents who potentially represented a lot of other stars.
@@tomflorio3639 I think Dave would have just fine without the people that Bill mentioned.
@@RyanConnell5150 Agents represent more than just one celebrity. I'm talking about if, for instance, the agent who rep'd Marky Mark also rep'd some other more "important" stars, that agent could have given Dave grief when it came to Dave wanting to book those other stars. Just speculation on my part.
She is a gem
Bill Hicks was not just "a comedian", sure that was a part of what he did, but that was not all it was. He was a social critic, a FIERCE critic of capitalism, of empire, he was an activist, a prophet, through comedy. He laid the ground for those today like Lee Camp who is possibly the most censored comedian in US history, much like Bill would have ended up being had he have lived long enough to see the state of todays world and American capitalism's primary part in bringing us here.
As for his mother, what a wonderful mom to have, you can see where he got the dry sense of humour from. :)
Ah Rest easy Bill, I just wish you were here, as God in heaven knows you are needed today more than ever.
We miss you Bill 🖤
Respect to David making it right.
If someone tells me they loved bill then i know i like that person. It always made me proud of myself for loving and getting bill hicks. GOAT
So sad to think if was thirty years ago today that Bill Hicks passed away.
Imagine what he would be talking about today.
Letterman knew why he cut Bill that night. He wants to toss it off, but the reality was that it was in the middle of the Late Night Wars and he didn't want to rock the boat. He brought Mary Hicks on because now he wants to try to clear his conscience. But the damage has been done.
It was certainly not his decision, he takes the responsibility, but it was definitely a network decision.
6:00 - I really thought she was about to say Eric Clapton... then I would've been like WOAH lol
Eric Johnson is a maestro, Im surprised Paul didnt know about him in 2009.
I agree!
Cliffs of Dover!!!!!
Even more surprising, Paul was thinking of Jack Johnson, the surfer / singer-songwriter, who maybe wasn’t even born when that concert took place.
Pancreatic cancer is almost always a death sentence, but rarely to you hear it happening to a person in their early 30s.
Reading these comments make me realise people outside of America values Bill's comedy more than actual americans. Mainly because he heavily criticized modern America's culture at the time and a lot of his material battled everthing the U.S.A represented. So i imagine the patriots wouldn't like it. As a foreigner i sympathize with a lot of his ideas.
He was ahead of his time that way. The mockery of the culture started to be mainstream in the 2000s.
It came off a bit dark at the start. I don’t blame Dave for cutting it. Bill had a very particular style but I love it.
That and religious part probably.
All is forgiven Dave. Thanks
His material is provocative, but I never found him offensive. His comedy makes you think, not just for shock value. (although some people suffer shock when they are asked to think)
He does appear a little tired, compared to his old energy.
Could be you didn’t find it offensive because you aren’t gay. Bigots aren’t funny. They weren’t back then either.
Literally, Eric Johnson's 1.5 seconds of fame 😂
I still have his set on VHS Cassette from my childhood, one of the funniest, and made me aware of politics at that age, I never saw this set though, but how spot on was he about pro-lifers, up there with George Carlin for me, who I only got to know after him as I am from Europe
Wonderful interview. Bill Hicks American genius.
Yep, you made a bad call Dave.
Thank you Mary - great interview
What a lovely lady!
😢Ohhhh Sadly a Blessing Momma ❤
Eric Johnson is an incredible guitarist.
2:34 - Now we know where he got it from. Your Mom is a gem, Bill!!!! RIP. We miss you as much as we miss Carlin.
The Best Ever!!
Eric Johnson, cliffs of Dover!!! Cmon Paul!!
Wonderful.
Bill Hicks and Carlin were the goats. Shame the media blacklisted Bill Hicks.
Watch the public access show with Bill Hicks on YT. It’s great!
Bill Hicks was/is so much better than most comedians....Dave is the best...
I love so much that she absolutely killed! 😁😍
I suspect that Bill got some of his talent from her. She clearly has a sharp mind and was not afraid to go toe-to-toe with Dave. It was beautiful.
6:00 eric johnson's cliffs of dover is a progressively timeless composition from 1990 that was indeed entirely under any radar for some reason in 2009.
Powerful.
She’s a doll!
How the hell have david letterman and paul Schaefer not ever heard of Eric Johnson. He had a couple of guitar compositions that were mainstream hits in the 90's
Damn...Letterman's one classy dude.
Only Dave would think of doing something so tender. He deserves more credit for his skills as an interviewer. most especially after his heart attack. I miss him terribly.
Wow... love that Bill dug Eric Johnson & had his folks go see him. 5:52.. a little hard to believe Paul & the band didn't know who he was, though!
I've never seen Bill Hicks before, very funny.
so you have some work to do
Eric Johnson is an amazing guitarist!
I love Bill’s mom
I miss Letterman. He would do these interviews and they were always more interesting somtimes than celebrities boring lives
Clips like this is what made Dave great. Like Carson, he could interview anyone. Unlike Carson he could admit he was, and try to right, a wrong.
So cool that Hicks had his parents go see Eric Johnson.
I'm surprised Paul had never heard of him. I thought he was kinda well known amongst musicians
Incredible piece of tv.
sounds exactly like Bill imitated her, however BILL IS A LEGEND, thx
I loved the show, I love Mary, and I was in love with Bill :)
The goat
In Dave's defense $14 million is no joke.
bet he regrets if he has a pulse
It’s surprising that not even Paul knows of Eric Johnson. One of the top guitarists in the world.
The dark poet is too sinister for Letterman anyways...
How in deefaq did Paul not know who Eric Johnson is?? Hahaha Cliffs of Dover? Duuuude lol
Conservative thinking ruins everything. Thank god we have the recordings of Bill Hicks, so we can laugh a little (lot) while he is rocking to Henrix in heaven.
Marky mark? Haha. That’s why I guess we don’t kill people bc he went on to make some great films. It’s funny to think about the time when he was just marky mark.
That was cool
❤Good Girl Mom...Folks on the Road are exposed to the Wild 😜 Side! ❤
great
Wow this guy was ahead of his time lol