Make God laugh, Mitch.
Sadly, news of comedian Mitch Hedberg's death last night have been confirmed by Comedy Central's bio . Rumors of a heroin overdose are unsubstantiated, but based on seeing a show last year (read my review here,) I am not surprised.…
Article comments
76 - Dan
Mitch was the funniest comedian I've ever heard in my life...I've never laughed as hard as when I saw him live just TWO weeks ago...I wish it was a hoax, I really do...Without him I would've never known that "Ducks Eat For Free At Subway!"...the funniest joke I have ever heard...We'll miss ya Mitchell
77 - Nico
Mitch Hedberg practically defined college for me...I am such a big fan of his. This is just terrible.
"Why is the floor as low as I can go?"
Poor Mitch.
78 - riley kehn
Rest in Peace, Mitch.
You were a great man.
I wish I could help you apprehend a Koala Bear but....
79 - Nokomis
Wow...Mitch will definately be missed. He was the funniest guy I've heard in a long time. On a 10 hour car ride, my friends and I listened to his cds over and over and just about pissed ourselves laughing. Reading favorite quotes here I'm laughing and crying at the same time.
This is truly a tragedy and just a sad, sad day :(
80 - Maz
Ironic....I can hear Mitch writing this joke...."I hope I don't die on March 31...No one would believe it." I say " Mom.....What are you doing? Is that a press release...?!?.. Oh shit I must be dead.."
RIP
81 - Heather
Maz, that was AWESOME.
My friends and I have decided withing the next week or so, we're going to have a Mitch party, and sit around watching videos (we even have his Dr. Katz appearance!) and eat pringles and spaghetti and carrots (my best friend, previously mentioned, actually made a list of the foods discussed while we were road tripping once) and just celebrate him. I'm still stunned. But I did buy a Dr. Pepper at Target tonight, and raised my bottle to him on the way home. What a weird day...
82 - JR
It's no joke. I've been following this all day, praying it was a joke. I'd been planning to see Mitch next weekend at the VA Beach Funny Bone.
But tonight, they've informed us that the show is cancelled, and they've refunded the money. They're trying to find someone to take his spot, and they're offering us free tickets to the show.
No thanks. I'll be staying home, listening to his CDs and watching his TV spots.
This really, really sucks.
83 - andrew
dude this is the worst news i have heard in a long time, i dont think its a hoax... that would be way to f-ed up.
good bye mitch hedberg, ask god if you can change the title of corn and such
84 - Stacie
I can't stop crying. :(
85 - John
I am in total shock!!! I never knew a comedian could cause so much pain. We miss you Mitch! We have lost a true genius. Within a few moments of listening to Mitch - he was your friend forever. What a style...what a delivery!
I pray you are the eternal 'race car passenger'. May God keep and protect you and we will look for you on Heavenly Central.
86 - Taleah
I am one of Mitch's older fans. My 19 yr old son Jared made me sit and listen to a couple of cds and watch a video and I was hooked. He was so funny, talented and creative with his humor. He is very comparable to George Carlin. He talked about real everyday funny things that you never really thought about. My son was a HUGE fan and we will both miss him terribly. Rest in Peace.
87 - Gabe
Mitch was probably my second favorite comic after George Carlin. I had seen him on Letterman, Carson Daly and such shows over the past three years or so, and always thought he was hilarious... A couple weeks ago, out of nowhere, he came to mind... I hadn't seen him or heard of him in a while, and he just popped into my mind, I don't know why... I didn't even remember his name, but there I was, just thinking about him for God knows why... and then two weeks ago he I put on the Howard Stern Radio Show and I heard a familiar voice... I knew it was Mitch... His name was mentioned and so I remembered his name, too. A couple of days ago I came across a CD of Stand up comedy performances I have downloaded, and Mitch's Comedy Central performance was on there, too... Since he went on Stern, it hit me, that this guy is my second favorite comedian after Carlin, and that says a lot 'cause I've never had a strong second favorite. Just as I became a huge fan of his, just as soon as I got attached, I turn on the Howard Stern radio show, and find out that he died. This truely sucks. He is still my second favorite comedian, and he was THAT DAMN GOOD! May God rest his soul.
R.I.P. MITCH HEDBERG (1968-2005)
First John Ritter, then Elliott Smith, then Jonathan Brandis, then Rodney Dangerfield, and a shitload of people in between, and now Mitch.
88 - hooligan
I dislike this article, so I gave it to my editor and he said they sohuld rewrite it.
Mitch said, f%$# that! I'll just make a copy..
89 - Andrew
I don't think it's a hoax... here's the link to the AP report. :-(
90 - Jono
Saw Mitch at carolines, one of his last shows. He was incredible, but he did in fact bomb. It was almost funnier that he bombed because he is so funny when it comes to not being that funny, or something of the sort. He kept turing to the wall behind him and banging his Mic on the wall. I thought he was hysterical but his timing was a bit off. His words were hard to understand and he was nodding off. Having stuggled with heroin myself i said to my girlfreind that he seemed like he was on dope, so when i heard of his death i was pretty sure that is was true. Regardless mitch was one of the funniest commedianes we have had and was at the height of his careeer with nowhere to go but up. It sucks especially when funny people die, its like losing a cartoon charecter or something.
"I went to the doctor, all he did was suck my blood, do not go to Dr. Acuala."
91 - Sean
God, I loved Mitch Hedberg. He was my favorite comic. This reminds me of the loss of another favorite of mine about 21 years ago on April 1st, which I learned of at the Concord BART trainstation: The death of Marvin Gaye. The good die young, alas.
92 - zach
Why is it that the great, the truly great, always die so very young. Mitch Hedberg was great. While most comedians were attacking us with either corny observational humor about their dull relationships or stupid jokes about race and sex, Mitch took the ordinary and made it sublime. His jokes were more than funny, they were brilliant. His delivery was always dead on, while his humor seems to appeal to virtually everyone. Everyone I know, from my conservative mother to a hardcore liberal best friend, loved him and thought him to be a genius; now, we all cry for him and pray that this is, indeed, the suspected hoax. If not, then Mitch will surely join the legions of other comedic legends from Lenny Bruce to John Belushi to Bill Hicks, all taken from us too early. I'm sure that Mitch is reading our posts in heaven now, and I only hope that he is now as happy as he made all of us on countless occasions. With a warmth, honesty, and inspiration so hard to find in comedy today, Mitch Hedberg is destined to become an icon on the medium and a national comedic hero. There will be no greater crime in this world if he recieves any less.
93 - david
Mitch was one of the greatest. I hope he's in Heven with Bill hicks now Listening to Jimi on harp.
RIP Mitch. Thanks for the laughs.
Oh and barbara, I hope you choke on your own puke.
94 - Jeb
One of the greatest, my ass. I always thought his bits were among the lamest and unfunniest. Figures that american morons wouldn't know enough to be able to distinguish him and comedians with true class (like John Ritter). And that stoner delivery shtick wore thin after 5 minutes...something he never fucking clued into. Barbara just seems to be the only other one among you brain-dead sheep with the backbone to say it like it really is. Surprise. Anyway, this guy was just another bottom-feeder riding the dregs of the now long-gone stand-up boom...good riddance and onward Darwin.
95 - Heather
Don't feed the trolls...
What I think I will miss the most about Mitch is that he never made his audience the butt if his jokes. Sure, it might have been different if he ever looked at us, but still... he never found humor in making fun of anyone else... He really was the best.
96 - gonzo marx
Heather sez...
*Don't feed the trolls...*
oh noes!!!
what will i eat???
Excelsior!
97 - Jose Carrillo
I saw Mitch live two times both in Austin (Austin capitol comedy club, and the Paramount), and all I have to say is thank you. You made me laugh so hard i could not even breathe some times.
I am sure you are in a better place now making the Pope John Paul II smile, you rock man.
TWO I CAN BREAK A TWO
I AM SAVED BY THE BOUNCIY OF CITRUS.
98 - GillianSouth
I just want to go on record to say I love Mitch and my prayers go out to Lynn and the Hedberg family.
I've been a fan of Mitch for quite a few years- ironically, he made me laugh through hard times when my mom died of alcoholism (withdrawl and liver complications). My experience with this is that I won't remember Mitch for his bad days- only his best ones. I have a lot of awful memories of my mom when she was under the influence- but that's not who she was and that is not who she will be remembered as. Same goes for Mitchie.
He will always, always go down as a brilliant comic and an all-around guy, from things I've read about him. I encourage all to read his journals on his website. I wish he could have found recovery. I hope this is a wake-up call for any of his fans struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction. Some of the most amazing, brilliant, funny, kind people suffered from, as Mitch said "the only disease you can get yelled at for having."
Fans, laugh again, and remember him well as Mitch Hedberg, the one and only.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mitch_Hedberg
Mitch, as I hear they say in times like this at comedy clubs:
"Make God laugh."
Hope they have lots of koalas up there for you, pal.
99 - GillianSouth
one more thing: I think it would be nice, out of respect for anyone who has died, to not leave scathing and negative remarks on blogs like this, just an idea. There's no sense in comparing comedians or comparing people who the world has lost or cussing out people...
let's just say nice things. Mitch never made mean remarks about people and stayed funny and real, so let's go that route.
whether it's mitch or the pope or terry schiavo or hunter s. thompson- all people live and die, and are also loved and loathed. there's no point in comparing them to be spiteful.
let's just remember the love, shall we? what's the point in living otherwise?
PEACE, everyone. even on the internet.
100 - Sean
Jeb and Barbara. Barbara and Jeb. I'll just go with my own opinion, thanks.
101 - HW Saxton
I despise needles,users of intravenous
drugs and the like. They are diseased &
sick people. I have seen Heroin take the
lives of a good friend and an ex used to
be girlfriend in the last decade.Also I
have seen drugs destroy the families of
friends & life long friendships as well.
I am sure beyond reasonable doubt,that
some of you have reading this have also
unfortunately experienced the effects of
substance abuse first hand. Be it direct
indirect or peripheral.Whether it was
yourself,friends,family,co-workers and
what have you it's almost impossible to
avoid as it is an epidemic.
In as far as dealing with the addicted,
their problem should be looked upon as
the health (mental/physical)issue that
it is & not a criminal issue per se.
Now this isn't to say they should not be
punished for criminal activity related
to the problem (theft,prostitution,etc.)
but rather to say it should be addressed
differently than other major crimes like
Murder,Rape,Car Theft and the like.
Other countries (the Netherlands as one
example)that have dealt with it from a
health stand point and who've explored
other avenues of rehabilitation besides
just the incarceration of common users &
addicts have seen marked decreases in
drug related crime(s).
There are unfortunate souls who are just
unwilling and/or unable to change. Just
locking them up leads to no real change
in most cases and exposes them to hard
core criminal elements IMO,creating more
problems that may not have been their in
the first place.And it's not as if drugs
can't be found in the prison system.
Then on the other hand just maybe my car
stereo will still be there when I go to
work in the morning.
Oh yeah, R.I.P Mitch wherever you are.
102 - brett
Oh wow, Mitch was much too young to die. Mitch's comedy was so off the wall and clever. Even when he messed up jokes he could still pull of some laughs with his own laughter and honesty. Its good to read the comments from all the people that loved this guy as much as I did. RIP Mitch, you were one in a million buddy.
103 - Dan Miller
Mitch Hedburg was a comedic genius and made me laugh on the crappiest days.
he reminded me to get my priorities crooked.
i haven't slept for 10 days cuz that would be too long
RIP Mitch
104 - mel
This totally suxs! He's my favorite comedian and his life was cut short just when he was making it big. My condolences to his family and friends. He was one hell of a funny guy.
105 - klatfightar
its not sad at all you live you life to be as happy as you can be do whatever you want then you grow unhappy and die unless you fear death then you live untill somethings takes you so low that you give up. live your life to live not die
106 - Lynn shawcoft
I'm reading all you're words, he would have loved them...I was married to him for 6 years his brilliance will never leave me....I/we love you mitch...lynn hedberg
107 - Bob
Hey Jeb & Barbara you have no taste or class. I wouldn't be surprised if you are both the same person, having some sort of gender crisis! Funny is funny, Mitch had a unique, cool perspective. My sympathy to his family and friends. Mitch will be remembered long after Jab & Barbarian.
108 - John G.
Thank you Gillian South. You spoke volumes that I only thought. Sad how when you finally find something or someone (Mitch) you really enjoy they seem to go away. Thanks for the many laughs and that makes crying that much easier. RIP Mitch and may God bless your family.
109 - Mike
NOO!! MITCH!!!!! i found out like a week after it happened and i was sooo sad:-(:-(
R.I.P Mitch.
C'mon Mitchell! Don't give up! A message of inspiration from your friends at Yoplait.
Fruit on the bottom
Hope on top:-( :-(
we will always love you mitch hedburg:-( :-(
Rest in peace, man, rest in peace
110 - ComedyJay
Attention Hedberg fans....
There is goign to be a benefit show in Minneapolis, MN as a tribute to Mitch Hedberg, one of Minnesotas finest! The show, produced by Acme Comedy Company & RCM Entertainment, is going to feature a great line-up of well known comics. The show is going to be April 9th, 2006.
Keep your eyes and ears open as more info will be released in the upcomming weeks.
111 - zIPSCREW
ANYONE WHO'S THINKS JOHN RITTER IS FUNNIER THAN MITCH DEFINATELY HAS THEIR PRIORTIES CROOKED...
I love John Ritter... but there styles sren't even comparable..
peace
112 - Zipscrew
Oh,..and the reason AMERICA is the greatest country on earth is because we CAN figure it out...(and because of people like MITCH HEDBERG)
113 - Zipscrew
Is the rest of the world always going to be so jealous?I hope so...it's what keeps us on our toes! ;o]
114 - Victor
barbara you dumb ass dike get your head out of your ass and laugh because you know that mitch was is and forever will be funny
115 - ComedyJay
April 30th, at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis! The Mitch Hedberg Tribute Show!!!
Patton Oswalt, Dave Mordal, Nick Swardson, and Mike Birbiglia are all on board. More comics are lining up to join the show! Tickets go on sale Friday March 17th at 10am @ TicketMaster.com
http://www.myspace.com/AcmeComedyCompany has all the info, as well as their homepage:
www.acmecomedycompany.com
116 - rape stories
Maybe we can talk about it more.
117 - Tyler
mitch was an inspiration to me and still is
(escalader temporarily staira...sorry for the convience)
118 - frank
RIP MITCH,
you're the funniest person ive ever heard. you're jokes will live on forever through the people who've uve touched.
119 - Billy
I can't believe it's been that long. I still listen to him here.
120 - kym
" i'm a reach for a lime"
"floating by the bouyancy of citrus"
RIP