Damn, he was one of those few contemporary comics I thought was really hilarious...
I always thought the guy was on something, but I figured it was just mary jane. posted by clevershark at 8:59 AM on March 31, 2005
wow that sucks, he was hilarious. posted by chaz at 8:59 AM on March 31, 2005
damn. one of the few standup comedians that actually made me laugh. stupidly, I always figured the "I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to to" talk was just part of his act. posted by kevspace at 9:03 AM on March 31, 2005
some favs....Totally kicking myself for not going to see him last year.
I bought a doughnut and they gave me a receipt for the doughnut...I don't need a receipt for the doughnut - I'll just give you money and you give me the doughnut, end of transaction. We don't need to bring ink and paper into this. I can't imagine a scenario in which I would need to prove that I bought a doughnut...Some skeptical friend, don’t even act like I didn't buy a doughnut, I've got the documentation right here...oh wait it's back home in the file...under "D", for doughnut.
I think Pringles' initial intention was to make tennis balls. But on the day that the rubber was supposed to show up, a big truckload of potatoes arrived. But Pringles is a laid-back company. They said "Fuck it. Cut 'em up."
I wrote a letter to my dad - I wrote, "I really enjoy being here," but I accidentally wrote rarely instead of really. But I still wanted to use it so I crossed it out and wrote, "I rarely drive steamboats, dad - there's a lot of shit you don't know about me. Quit trying to act like I'm a steamboat operator." This letter took a harsh turn right away...
This shirt is dry clean only. Which means...it's dirty.
I hope the next time I move I get a real easy phone number. Something like, 222-2222. I would say sweet. People would say, "Mitch, how do I get a hold of you?" I would say, "Press 2 for a while, and when I answer, you will know that you have pressed 2 enough
I wrote a script for a guy, and he said he liked it but he thought that I need to rewrite it. I said, "Fuck that, I'll just make a copy
In England Smoky the Bear is not the forest fire prevention representative. They have Smacky the Frog. It's just like a bear, but it's a frog. I think it's a better system, I think we should adopt it. Because bears can be mean, but frogs are always cool. Never has there been a frog hopping toward me, and I thought 'man, I'd better play dead. Here comes that frog...' You never say here comes that frog in a nervous manner. It's always optimistic. Hey here comes that frog, al-right. Maybe he'll come near me so I can pet him, and stick him in a mayonnaise jar, with a stick and a leaf, to recreate what he's used to. And I'm pretty sure I'd have to punch some holes in the lid, because he's damn sure used to air. Then I can observe him, and he won't be doing much in his 16 ounce world.
When you go to a restaurant on the weekends and it's busy they start a waiting list. They start calling out names, they say "Dufresne, party of two. Dufresne, party of two." And if no one answers they'll say their name again. "Dufresne, party of two, Dufresne, party of two." But then if no one answers they'll just go right on to the next name. "Bush, party of three." Yeah, what happened to the Dufresnes? No one seems to give a shit. Who can eat at a time like this - people are missing. You fuckers are selfish....the Dufresnes are in someone's trunk right now, with duct tape over their mouths. And they're hungry. That's a double whammy. Bush, search party of three, you can eat when you find the Dufranes.
I hate turtle necks. I have such a weak neck. Plus if you wear a turtle neck it's like being strangled by a really weak guy... all day. And if you wear a turtle neck and a back pack it's like a weak midget trying to bring you down. posted by slapshot57 at 9:06 AM on March 31, 2005
Oh, what a drag. He was hilarious. posted by digaman at 9:07 AM on March 31, 2005
That does suck. He was funny as hell.
The cliche about rock stars flaming out needs to be replaced by comedians. They go way too young way too often. posted by pardonyou? at 9:07 AM on March 31, 2005
I don't have a girlfriend. But there is someone who would be very upset if she heard me say that. posted by bardic at 9:08 AM on March 31, 2005
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
I loved this guy's act! Noooo!
A comedian friend of mine said he was a smack addict, but I always that that was just her guess :(
I'm going to try and make some homemade Sprite tonight to honor him. posted by redteam at 9:08 AM on March 31, 2005
I'd quote him, but it's all in his delivery ("stairs.", "the emergency make the car smell funny lever.", ..). I can't find any other news on this, though.. it would be a damn shame if it's true, but why do I think it's a fake? can I just not let go to those things I hold dear? posted by kcm at 9:09 AM on March 31, 2005
Man, heroin of all things. That's a total dead end road he got on. posted by mathowie at 9:10 AM on March 31, 2005
That really sucks. At least he's gone to that great Doubletree in the sky.
When we saw him in Boston last time he was around, he was in pretty bad shape. His classic Mitch stuff was all off and he went into several extended asides about how much he liked drugs. Still glad I got the chance to see him twice. posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:11 AM on March 31, 2005
I'm really hoping this is an April Fool's joke, because I just discovered the guy, and he's unbelievably funny. posted by Specklet at 9:17 AM on March 31, 2005
I just got a huge chill down my neck. I saw Robert Creeley read two weeks ago at the university Festival of the Book, and he died. I bought two Mitch Hedberg CDs this weekend on recommendation and just encoded them this morning so I could listen to them at work. And he OD'd. People have said I had all the charm of the grim reaper, but this is eerie. posted by dhoyt at 9:19 AM on March 31, 2005
Mitch was one of my favorite comics. If he's gone, that is the worst news I've gotten in a long time.
It's dated March 24th, which says "Comedian Mitch Hedberg has had a weird week." The Howard Stern news piece is from the 17th. posted by null terminated at 9:22 AM on March 31, 2005
"Because if I did it tomorrow, it would be too obvious" posted by Mick at 9:31 AM on March 31, 2005
The Howard Stern news piece is from the 17th.
I think it's a typo on the Stern link. The date (the 17th) is for the story about when Mitch sat in on the news during the Stern show two weeks ago. posted by stifford at 9:32 AM on March 31, 2005
"i can't wait to finish. i've got lifesavers in my pocket and pineapple is next."
Comedy Central now has this logo featured on their front page:
http://images.comedycentral.com/images/hp/hedberg.jpg posted by Qubit at 9:33 AM on March 31, 2005
null, I think the March 17 was the show he was on, not the date they learned of the news. posted by mathowie at 9:34 AM on March 31, 2005
right now, the comedy central link is to the shop to buy his CDs. nice. posted by whatnot at 9:37 AM on March 31, 2005
kept clinging to the hope it's some joke, but apparently it's true.
shit. posted by Silky Slim at 9:38 AM on March 31, 2005
Sad. Saw him live in Seattle at Giggles, probably one of the worst clubs in one of the worst cities for standup. I think he knew that, because he just read from a notebook the whole night. Later, I found out he did that in several places. It was strange. But I find it especially sad to hear he was a junkie. Entertainers need to stay away from drugs - they become much more interesting that way. posted by ValveAnnex at 9:39 AM on March 31, 2005
Thanks stifford and mathowie. I was just hoping it was some hoax or joke.
died laughing that is. Wow, that was a poor choice of wording. posted by dig_duggler at 9:50 AM on March 31, 2005
period, then. posted by kcm at 9:50 AM on March 31, 2005
Some discussion on the possibilty of this being a hoax? The most official report comes out of Howard Stern--indeed, likely the originating source of this story, and so close to April Fool's--and a quick news search garners no results. I'll keep searching, though, but no real "official" reports as of yet. posted by jennanemone at 9:51 AM on March 31, 2005
People have said I had all the charm of the grim reaper, but this is eerie.
saw Robert Creeley read two weeks ago at the university Festival of the Book, and he died.bought two Mitch Hedberg CDs this weekend
Not for me since you have made it clear you skip my comments -- no reply needed. posted by thomcatspike at 9:51 AM on March 31, 2005
edit: Oh. I guess I got to this thought a little late.
on preview: Yipes. I'll take Comedy Central as official. posted by jennanemone at 9:54 AM on March 31, 2005
I just spoke to Mitch's booking agent (his number is posted on Mitch's website). He confirmed that it's true. I didn't ask any other questions.
I still hope it's an elaborate joke. posted by michaelbrown at 9:57 AM on March 31, 2005
Sucks. Musicians, artists, comedians, celebrities: avoid the smack. posted by fungible at 9:57 AM on March 31, 2005
loved this guy. I didn't even know his name for the longest time, having only caught him on TV in bits and pieces. Always killed me though.
he won't get the attention he deserved because he shares a death day with someone else.
Aldous Huxley syndrome. posted by soyjoy at 10:01 AM on March 31, 2005
I like to drink red wine. This girl says "Doesn't red wine give you a headache?" "Yeah, eventually! But the first and the middle part are amazing." I'm not gonna stop doing something 'cause of what's gonna happen at the end. "Mitch, you want an apple?" "No, eventually it'll be a core." posted by Silky Slim at 10:04 AM on March 31, 2005
An escalator can never break. It can only become stairs. You would never see an "Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order" sign, just "Escalator Temporarily Stairs.
Sorry for the convenience."
*I have no words to describe this loss* talk about unexpected. "F"ing A... posted by indiebass at 10:15 AM on March 31, 2005
He was just here in NYC earlier this month. They were sold out so I figured I would catch him next time. This sucks. RIP posted by xmod2 at 10:15 AM on March 31, 2005
Damn it. I saw this last night before I went to bed and didn't want to believe it. Strange that it's not picked up by any news organization, though. posted by bayliss at 10:15 AM on March 31, 2005
I am thinking this is a prank. Even on the comedy central site it says, "Mitch passed away in March, 2005." Give a date already.
Google news has nothing, too.
If I'm wrong and later look like an ass, so be it. posted by frecklefaerie at 10:20 AM on March 31, 2005
That's what's so weird about it. Nothing in the Baltimore police blotter, I can't get any confirmation from the Baltimore police (this is all assuming he died in Baltimore of course) and nothing on any of the news sites - only comedy central, Howard Stern and the booking agent, all of whom could be in on the joke. Frankly, until someone who doesn't even know who the hell Mitch Hedberg is chimes in with a confirmation, I just can't buy it. posted by michaelbrown at 10:25 AM on March 31, 2005
If it is a prank, it's awesome. Our cultural jesters haven't pulled something like this in way too long. All we need is the blogosphere to start buzzing to legitimize it. posted by frecklefaerie at 10:29 AM on March 31, 2005
um, so why would this prank be funny? it doesn't fit with his humor. posted by dig_duggler at 10:29 AM on March 31, 2005
Argh. Hope it's not true. posted by weston at 10:32 AM on March 31, 2005
My girlfriend and I met at Mitch Hedberg show. Since we weren't clear on dates, we would go to his shows whenever he was in town as our anniversary.
If this is true, it's ... well, it's a bummer. If it's a prank, it's not a very good one. posted by steelbuddha at 10:33 AM on March 31, 2005
he won't get the attention he deserved because he shares a death day with someone else.
If you think Google News is the last word on breaking news in this day and age, you haven't been paying attention (e.g., Creeley.) posted by digaman at 10:36 AM on March 31, 2005
That sucks. I'm a little surprised how sad this made me. posted by theFlyingSquirrel at 10:46 AM on March 31, 2005
dig_duggler - um, so why would this prank be funny? it doesn't fit with his humor.
I never said it was "funny," and it's true that it doesn't fit with his humor. I imagine that he's kind of a sacrificial lamb. The comedy elite decided it was time for someone to carry on the Andy Kaufman torch (mefi discussion here) and Mr. Hedberg has the right wattage of star power and hipness to be the one. posted by frecklefaerie at 10:47 AM on March 31, 2005
Serves the stupid ass right if the heroin use is true though. posted by HTuttle at 10:54 AM on March 31, 2005
I was at the Funny Bone in Richmond, VA last Friday night (3/25/05) to see Mitch. While buying my tickets, the guy at the ticket counter said Mitch may not make it to the show. I asked if anybody had given a reason why, and the guy smacked the inside of his elbow with his finger and smirked, "he's sick."
I thought it was a weird joke at the time, but now I'm depressed. posted by patgas at 10:55 AM on March 31, 2005
Here is a link to download a hedberg torrent that has both of his albums within it... Those of you who haven't heard of Mitch Hedberg but have still managed to make it this low in the thread might really enjoy his comedy. If you like it, buy it posted by herting at 11:06 AM on March 31, 2005
Damn. Mitch's friend and fellow comedian Josh Sneed has a tribute.
"...and then at the end of the letter I like to write "P.S. - this is what part of the alphabet would look like if Q and R were eliminated."--Mitch Hedberg posted by Cedric at 11:10 AM on March 31, 2005
Google News : not that it's the last word in breaking news =) posted by deemer at 11:10 AM on March 31, 2005
How sad. He was great at what he did. posted by clockzero at 11:11 AM on March 31, 2005
Hi digaman! posted by dhoyt at 11:12 AM on March 31, 2005
I had never heard of him until this thread. Sadly, I have some catching up to do. Those excerpts were hilarious and I'm sorry to have missed him. posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:13 AM on March 31, 2005
Tonight's show in Baltimore has finally been officially cancelled. I saw him on Leno (I think) a while back and was taken aback at how great he was. This sucks. posted by amandaudoff at 11:15 AM on March 31, 2005
I think another one of his jokes was: "I want to live forever ... so far, so good!"
"This product was available in four easy payments. But I would like to make a product that's three easy payments and one fuckin complicated payment. 'The mailman will get shot to death, the envelope will not seal, and the stamp will be in the wrong denomination! Good luck, fucker!'"
bye Mitch. I hear the toast in heaven is cool. posted by petebest at 11:28 AM on March 31, 2005
I wonder if Heaven has incense that's cinnamon-bun-scented... you know, so that when your roommates wake up they're filled with a false sense of expectation. posted by clevershark at 11:36 AM on March 31, 2005
"I bought a doughnut and they gave me a receipt for the doughnut... I don't need a receipt for a doughnut. I give you money and you give me the doughnut—end of transaction. We don't need to bring ink and paper into this. I can't imagine a scenario that I would have to prove that I bought a doughnut. To some skeptical friend, 'Don't even act like I didn't buy a doughnut. I've got the documentation right here... It's in my file at home....Under 'D'." posted by dhoyt at 11:37 AM on March 31, 2005
well fuckall.
thanks for the good quotes, everyone. posted by puke & cry at 11:38 AM on March 31, 2005
Even though I only saw/heard Mitch a few times, you could tell he had a unique comic voice. I can hear it perfectly in my head reading some of these quotes. posted by Cyrano at 11:39 AM on March 31, 2005
This is teh suck. You will be missed, Mitch. Yeah, I'll miss his jokes.. but it was more than that.. he just seemed really genuinely likeable... like if I met him after a show, he'd be the coolest guy on earth.. not in a "Better than you" sort of way... but in a "cool guy to hang out with, and probably always just as funny as he is on stage" sort of way...
Hope that pun's not intended... posted by fungible at 11:56 AM on March 31, 2005
apparently, mitch's drug abuse was no secret. here's a sickening review of a show he did in september. reading it made me go from sad about what happened to him to angry at what he did to himself, and at the people around him for not stopping it. posted by Silky Slim at 11:58 AM on March 31, 2005
reading the comments in that review is pretty crappy. posted by puke & cry at 12:06 PM on March 31, 2005
I was just about to link to that review, but Silky Slim beat me to it. I'm in Phoenix and never heard about that performance, but I do remember that it came months after a highly-hyped concert that he ended up cancelling.
Not to derail, either, but seeing a reference as obscure as "Silky Slim" managed to cheer me up a bit... posted by jimmy at 12:08 PM on March 31, 2005
Every time I go and shave, I assume there is somebody else on the planet shaving as well, so I say, "I'm gonna go shave too." posted by Specklet at 12:31 PM on March 31, 2005
.
/insert sad witty comment/ posted by schyler523 at 12:35 PM on March 31, 2005
Someone handing you a flyer is like them saying, "Here, *you* throw this away." -mitch hedberg
*sniff* I adored his act, this is sad. posted by dejah420 at 12:48 PM on March 31, 2005
Why do the most brilliant destory themselves. This sucks. posted by surferboy at 12:50 PM on March 31, 2005
I first learned of Mitch Hedberg through metafilter. Rented his special, got both his albums... played them ENDLESSLY, even picked up some of his mannerisms. He really made me laugh. RIP, Mitch. posted by jcruelty at 12:59 PM on March 31, 2005
I like rice. Rice is great if you're hungry and want 2000 of something. posted by jcruelty at 1:02 PM on March 31, 2005
Terrible news.
I'm going to go throw a potato in the oven. I don't want a baked potato right now, but by the time it's done... who knows. posted by Ynoxas at 1:19 PM on March 31, 2005
Maybe it is just Bigfoot's nature to be blurry. posted by vronsky at 1:27 PM on March 31, 2005
No! No. He was brilliant. RIP Mitch. posted by LeeJay at 1:39 PM on March 31, 2005
.
I saw Mitch last November, and I must say his show was actually pretty bad. He was fucked up on SOMETHING (I thought he was just drunk, but now I'm wondering if it wasn't something else) and couldn't get his jokes straight. At one point during the show he actually laid down on stage and pretended to sleep. It was really depressing.
Not as depressing as this, though. Damn. :( posted by salad spork at 1:47 PM on March 31, 2005
Looks like he might share a death day with someone else besides you-know-who. posted by Specklet at 1:53 PM on March 31, 2005
That bastard. That brilliant bastard. posted by graventy at 1:59 PM on March 31, 2005
two great things about mitch hedberg were that his jokes get funnier the more you hear them. And that you can make anyone who knows him laugh by saying pretty much any mundane thing in that...mitch hedberg way of talking. posted by lastobelus at 2:48 PM on March 31, 2005
It now appears that within the past hour, mitchhedberg.net has been disabled. It worked just minutes ago.. now it says the account is suspended...
RIP, Mitch. Say hi to Layne and everyone else we've lost to the stuff. posted by hoborg at 3:35 PM on March 31, 2005
i do tv subtitles for a living. i fell in love with mitch's comedy when he came on an episode of "late night with conan o'brien" i was translating and told this joke: i'd like to hang a map of the world in my house, and stick pins in all the places i traveled to, but first i'd have to travel to the top two corners of the map, so it won't fall down. posted by Silky Slim at 3:47 PM on March 31, 2005
I passed up on seeing him on thanksgiving. Remembering how thanksgiving turned out, I wish I'd seen Mitch instead. posted by Lusy P Hur at 4:16 PM on March 31, 2005
He was my favorite comedian, and my wifes, for years. The last time I saw him, he was different, not his self. He did the whole reading from a notebook thing. Where before it was one joke into the other, there was lots of mumbling and silence.
We thought maybe he was just trying out new material, and I could listen to him read the phone book and be happy, but now it all makes sense.
I wonder if he'll miss sesame seeds after all. I know he'll be missed. posted by justgary at 5:02 PM on March 31, 2005
/cry
.
You will be missed Mitch. posted by Lizc at 5:19 PM on March 31, 2005
Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.
I had the great good fortune to see him a couple of years ago, which, if the review Silky Slim linked to is accurate, may be when he was at the top of his game.
If he overdosed, it's a pointless goddamn waste. He had a gift. He was one of the most creative and entertaining stand-ups I've ever seen. And he threw it away. posted by MrBadExample at 5:21 PM on March 31, 2005
"It's very difficult for one-liner comedians to get an audience going, but when Mitch worked here, you could see the kids call out the punchline," Lee said. "Mitch made the whole comedy community realize how important good writing is. It's a huge loss." posted by petebest at 5:56 PM on March 31, 2005
I was truly saddened to hear this news today. I'm really glad that I had the chance to see Mitch perform 4 or 5 times in San Francisco (and once in San Jose).
I'm only sorry I never carried out my plan to make "Mitch's Bitches" t-shirts for my friend and myself.
But you know, maybe I'll make those shirts after all.... And please feel free to steal the idea, I like the idea of a troupe of Mitch's Bitches running amok. posted by KatlaDragon at 7:27 PM on March 31, 2005
This is the saddest news today.
But at least it gives us all an excuse to share our faves...
"Goddamnit, Otto, you have lupus!" posted by solotoro at 8:50 PM on March 31, 2005
This sucks.
I never know how to feel when famous people die. I didn't know how to feel about this until I read this thread. Now, remembering all these jokes, I am both laughing and crying. To think he'll never write another joke, never tell another joke, never smirk like that after telling a joke. . . makes the world seem a bit more empty.
I saw him a couple month ago here on campus. He was late and seemed fucked up and everyone knew there were drugs being used. Being college students of course we didn't think anything of it. It was still a good show.
Just goes to show you how dangerous that stuff can be, and how fragile your life is. Reminds me to take better care of my friends. posted by mai at 9:08 PM on March 31, 2005
He was funny, but didn't he just rip off Steven Wright? posted by zorro astor at 5:01 PM on April 1, 2005
Miss him so much I posted it twice....
And no, he didn't rip off Steven Wright. One red wine (for example) is not a rip off of another different tasting red wine. posted by Smedleyman at 5:37 PM on April 1, 2005
Will miss him! Found a blog who did a nice tribute to Mitch. With a small selection of his one-liners.
"Somewhere a comedy club stage is very, very empty. " posted by mannythedog at 6:54 PM on April 1, 2005
slapshot57- a belated thank you for the out takes. I saw his take on doughnuts on television years ago, liked him a lot, but didn't catch the name.
Sorry it took this to get me properly in the loop. On the other hand, I'm glad he was recognized enough that his death made a real stir. posted by IndigoJones at 9:20 AM on April 2, 2005
.
This makes me angry. What a damn waste. posted by Radio7 at 2:02 AM on April 4, 2005
Surely you mean Mother Teresa syndrome?
Nope. Not the same day. Not even the same month, in fact. Thanks for playing, though. posted by soyjoy at 10:52 AM on April 4, 2005
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posted by ChasFile at 8:57 AM on March 31, 2005