"You're not a human being...Until You're in my Phonebook."

This week's series: Comedians.  I don't know why...just comedians.  They're a seldom honored group in the art world, and they were the first thing to come to mind.

We'll start with the unfortunately posthumously beloved Bill Hicks.  Born in Georgia, Hicks got his start in the Houston comedy scened of the late 1970's.  Bill's caustically biting satire and social commentary frequently attacked the mediocrity and stupidity of media, pop culture, and modern man.  Bill's popularity in the UK was greater than it was at home during his lifetime.  He succumb to pancreatic cancer at 32.

On a side note, while living in Austin in the 90's, my friends working at Vulcan Video informed me that Bill's homemade comedy movie, Ninja Bachelor Party,  was one of the most frequently stolen films from their collection...along with 1992's Australian skinhead flick Romper Stomper...I'm not sure what to think about that.