Literary Seance?

October 25, 2004 10:39 AM

Whay Would Bill Hicks Say? An essay contest that is attempting to channel a dead comedian. On the bright side, there are prizes and they encourage you to rant.
posted by metameme (7 comments total)

I bought a Bill Hicks T-shirt from some teen-something goth chick on Telegraph Ave the other day. It has the "Teen discovers all matter is just energy reduced to a slow vibration..." quote on the back, and a sillhouette of the man on the front. The best thing about it was seeing a new generation of Bill Hicks fan in the vendor.

As for what he'd say today... sheezus. I think he said it all with Bush the 1st, actually. His stuff from the early 90s is incredible to listen to now. It's the same America he left when he went, except perhaps moreso.

You spell like a waffle waitress, btw ;)
posted by scarabic at 7:39 PM on October 25, 2004

I think he would've discorporated from sheer dispair, or moved to a cave somewhere...if he hadn't been hung as a traitor first.
posted by black8 at 7:47 PM on October 25, 2004

Please, end this contest. Trying to think of what Bill Hicks would say right now is like going up to Jackie Onassis with a sniper rifle pendant.
posted by Hildago at 10:48 PM on October 25, 2004

His words are still spot-on for today the same way they were a decade ago. Not even the names have changed.

If he was around today, I'd guess all this neo-imperialist war-peace whatnot would have just saddened him. But if you want to hear what he would be saying, just play the damn tapes now. It all still signifies.
posted by chicobangs at 8:05 AM on October 26, 2004

Bill was an old friend. I seriouslly think he may have had a breakdown had he lived to see Bush V. 2.0, or maybe would have just walked into the water like Spaulding Gray.
posted by sixdifferentways at 2:42 AM on October 27, 2004

Yeah, from what I knew of Bill, I have to agree with sixdifferentways. I'm not sure he could have contained the anger that the current situation would engender.

The old routines are just as relevant now as they were with the "1000 points of light" Bush. If there was one thing I could wish for Bill, it would have been that he could have played to a room full of people who actually *got* what he was saying. I've never seen anyone work so hard to try and get a message through to people who just had no clue what he was on about.

I miss Bill. I doubt the contest will find another firebrand philosopher like him, but it's nice to see people trying.
posted by dejah420 at 10:16 AM on October 27, 2004

Isn't George Carlin sort of on the same topic nowdays? (No offense, just saying, it's not like no one's ever come close since)
posted by abcde at 5:52 PM on November 5, 2004