Review of Bill Hicks Live: Satirist, Social Critic, Stand-up Comedian (2004) by Jim H — 09 Nov 2010

It's my fault. I've often wondered if/wished I could see George Carlin for the first time now. And I thought that this would be my chance. I placed Hicks on the pedestal that only belongs to Carlin, and as I sat down to watch this compilation of this finest performances, I expected too much, more than any man could rightfully be expected to deliver. Though Hicks really needs to pick up the pace and some of his antics got too loud and drawn-out, the stand-up was not devoid of good lines. He tells the story of non-smokers who cough to indicate their displeasure with his smoking, to whom he replies, "It's a good thing you don't smoke; imagine how bad your cough would be then. That's a cruel thing to do: cough at a smoker. What else do you do? Go up to cripples and dance?" And the ejecting of a child out of a moving airplane was classic.

But overall, I was disappointed, and it's my fault.