Funny People - Bill Hicks

Bill Hicks

The Texas Outlaw comic was a prodigy of comedy. He began performing comedy routines at the age of 14, while still in school. Hicks joined the Houston Comedy Workshop when it opened in the late 1970's, and was already a star before he was 18. He worked in L.A. and Texas in his early years and experimented with many drugs, mostly psychedelic, which would become apart of his routine.

He began to make a name for himself in the mid-1980's when he appeared on Letterman and Dangerfield's Young Comedians Special in 1987. His career sky-rocketed in the early 1990's with the releases of his debut comedy album Dangerous and stand-up specials Sane Man and One Night Stand, and had a memorable performance at the 1990 Montreal's Just For Laughs festival. 

Between 1990-1993, Hicks starred in the low budget comedy Ninja Bachelor Party, recorded the music album Marble Head Johnson, toured Britain successfully and released his last two comedy albums/video releases Relentless and Revelations. In mid-1993, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and began to work non-stop, writing books, comedy material, articles and continued to perform on stage. Some of which were released posthumously.

Hicks passed away on 26 February 1994 at the age of 32. His material based on politics, philosophy, religion, drug use and consumerism has left a lasting appreciation by comedians, musicians and fans alike. His audacious stage persona, which was sometimes dark, was his way of opening up people's eyes to the truth. 

Memorable quotes / jokes

"You have to admit beliefs are odd. A lot of Christians wear crosses around their necks. Do you think when Jesus comes back, he ever wants to see a fucking cross?....That's kind of like going up to Jackie Onassis with a little sniper rifle pendant."

"How about a positive LSD story, wouldn't that be news worthy just once, to base your decision on information rather than scare tactics and superstitions and lies, just once? I think it would be news worthy. "Today a young man on acid realised that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration. That we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively. There is no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves. Here's Tom with the weather.""

Funny People - John Cleese

John Cleese

Cleese's writing and performing abilities were apparent early on in his career, earning him success in theatre, television and radio. Cleese came to prominence when he formed part of the Monty Python comedy group that created the classic four-season series Monty Python's Flying Circus. He then went on to create the sitcom Fawlty Towers with his wife Connie Booth, which was named by the British Film Institute as the best British television series of all time in 2000. The success of Monty Python transferred to the big screen with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. Cleese has been involved in films and television including television ads, guest appearances on TV shows and films including A Fish Called Wanda, Rat Race, Die Another Day and the final three Shrek films.  

Memorable quotes / jokes

"If God did not intend for us to eat animals, then why did he make them out of meat?"

Monty Python and the Holy Grail -

French Soldier / Taunter (Cleese) : I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.