[CD Hanks]

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/11278099.htm

Comedian Mitch Hedberg dead at 37

BY MATT PEIKEN

Pioneer Press


Even family and close friends had a hard time understanding Mitch Hedberg, a St. Paul native who ran away from home and, despite living a scattershot life, became a runaway success as a standup comic.

Hedberg, whose space-case persona was as much part of his soul as it was his act, died early Wednesday morning in a New Jersey hotel room. He was 37. A medical examiner hasn't issued findings, but Hedberg's family is told he suffered a heart attack. His wife was with him.

After graduating St. Paul's Harding High School, Hedberg rose through the ranks at Minneapolis' Acme Comedy Co., and caught his big break through a Comedy Central special. He made several appearances on David Letterman's and Conan O'Brien's shows, made more Comedy Central appearances and produced two comedy CDs. His big dream, to have an HBO comedy special, was in the works.

Hedberg's one-liners, dished off in a spacy staccato, were based on absurdist, random observations. His long, dirty blond hair harkened to the image of a 1970s stoner, and his success occurred in light of, in spite of and even because of his quarter-century affair with drugs and alcohol.

"I'd probably be living in Costa Rica, eating oranges on the beach, if I wasn't doing comedy," he told the Pioneer Press last September.

"There's no two ways about � having a son in entertainment industry is challenging," his mother, Mary Hedberg, said Thursday.

She recalls being at work when her oldest daughter called in a panic to tell her Mitch had packed some brown paper bags and left home. Mary Hedberg couldn't get home in time to either see him off or talk him out of it.

"That was heartbreaking for us, but he kept in contact with us. He called as soon as the car broke down," she said. "You know, it was like putting him through college, even though he wasn't at college. But when he got his first break, we were just so thrilled for him, because we wanted him to know he was O.K., and to have that self-confidence that he could do what he wanted to do."

Louis Lee, owner of the Acme, said Hedberg not only became the Twin Cities' first breakout comedian of the 1990s but, along with Lewis Black, helped shape a national resurgence in standup comedy.

"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."

Unlike many comics, Hedberg was demonstrably thankful to his fans. Not long ago, a group of college students in Florida, speaking with Hedberg backstage after a show, mentioned how hot their dorm room was. Hedberg surprised them the next morning by showing up to their dorm with a new air conditioner.

"Mitch presented a lot of challenges, but a lot of opportunities for traveling that we wouldn't have otherwise had, and he had a heart of gold," his mother said. "He was a brilliant comic and a wonderful person."

Dates haven't been set, but eventual visitation and services will be at Wulff Family Services, Woodlane Mortuary, in Woodbury.

He was a funny ****.

[anthonyvthc]

That is sooo sad. Mitch was by far my favorite standup comedian. Dammit.
If you've never heard of him, do yourself a favor and pick up his cds.

[Proudest Monkey]

the first time i saw him at the fitzgerald in downtown st. paul i never laughed so hard in all my life. he was the best. he invited everyone to the bar down the street afterwards for a drink on him. nicest guy ever. the following time, at the state historic theater in downtown minneapolis, he was with lewis black. hilarious.

i just can't believe it.

[DarwinX]

This is a sad day. He was truly a funny man.

[Lancer409]

"That's just filler ..."

hilarious =)

[Proudest Monkey]

Originally posted by Lancer409:
"That's just filler ..."

hilarious =)

i have not slept for ten days ... bc that would be for too long

[ironknee]

now this is sad

[CD Hanks]

I'd just like to remind everyone that there is still the slight and remote possibility this is an elaborate prank (given the fact that April 1st is tomorrow, etc.)

But...don't get your hopes up. I know that we'd all just love it for him to pop out on Conan or Letterman tomorrow night in a pink tutu smoking a blunt saying "sup doodz".

[CD Hanks]

Hrm, MTV has picked it up. One step closer to the AP wire.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/149...headlines=true

[SubGeniux]

Damn, that's sad.

[waxcrash]

He was so funny. The rumor is he overdosed on heroin.

[JLFanboy]

Dammit. Mitch was by far one of my favorite contemporary comedians. He was one of the few standups who could be even funnier if he was bombing than if the audience was into him.

Dammit dammit dammit.

"I've got some tartar control toothpaste. I've still got tartar, but that sh*t's under control. If the tartar gets out of line I'm like, 'Come on man, you know the deal. Fall in.'"

Enjoy.

[IceEnclosure]

so ****in sad. I think he was the best, and I got to see him live. I almost pissed my pants.

'my friend asked me if i wanted a frozen banana, I said no. but I want a regular banana later, so... yeeeahhhh'

: \

[JLFanboy]

Originally posted by IceEnclosure:
I think he was the best, and I got to see him live. I almost pissed my pants.

I'm so jealous. This past spring he and Dave Chappelle co-headlined a tour that came through my town. But I was too busy to go, and rationalized that they would always be touring again. I mean, that's what comedians do. They gig around.

Just not forever, it seems.

[Mafia]

i loved his stuff. i bet it was coke overdose.

[JLFanboy]

Thought I'd just post some of my favorite Mitch gags.

I got an ant farm. Them fellas don't grow ****.

I went to the store to buy a candle-holder, but they were out. So I bought a cake.

Last week I helped my friend stay put. It's a lot easier than helping someone move. I just went over to his house and made sure that he did not start to load **** into a truck.

I want to be a race car passenger: just a guy who bugs the driver. "Say man, can I turn on the radio? You should slow down. Why do we gotta keep going in circles? Can I put my feet out the window? Man, you really like Tide..."

...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.

I got in an argument with a girlfriend inside of a tent. That's a bad place for an argument, because then I tried to walk out, and had to slam the flap. How are you supposed to express your anger in this situation? Zip it up real quick?

My roommate says, "I need to shave and use the shower. Does anyone need to use the bathroom?" It's like some weird-ass quiz where he reveals the answer first...

Sometimes I wave to people I don't know. It is very dangerous to wave to people you don't know, because what if they don't have a hand? They'll think you're cocky. "Look what I got mother****er, this thing is useful...I'm gonna go pick something up"

On a traffic light green means go and yellow means yield, but on a banana it's just the opposite. Green means hold on, yellow means go ahead, and red means where the **** did you get that banana at...

I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.

An escalator can never break. It can only become stairs. You would never see a escalator temporarily outta order sign, just escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience... we appologize for the fact that you can still get up there."

I bought a seven dollar pen because I always lose pens and I got sick of not caring.


I played golf...I did not get a hole in one, but I did hit a guy. That's way more satisfying...You're supposed to yell 'fore' but I kept thinking "there ain't no way that's gonna hit him."

At my hotel room, my friend came over and asked to use the phone. I said "Certainly." He said "Do I need to dial 9?" I say "Yeah. Especially if it's in the number. You can try four and five back to back real quick."

I love blackjack. But I'm not addicted to gambling. I'm addicted to sitting in a semi-circle.

I went to the park and saw this kid flying a kite. The kid was really excited. I don't know why, that's what they're supposed to do. Now if he had had a chair on the other end of that string, I would have been impressed.

I don't own a cell phone or a pager. I just hang around everyone I know, all the time. If someone needs to get a hold of me they just say, "Mitch," and I say, "What" and turn my head slightly...

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"

The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how much I play, I'll never be as good as a wall. I played a wall once. They're ****ing relentless.

I don't have a girlfriend. But I do know a woman who'd be mad at me for saying that.

Alcoholism is a disease, but it's the only one you can get yelled at for having. Goddamn it Otto, you are an alcoholic. Goddamn it Otto, you have Lupus... one of those two doesn't sound right.

I was at this casino minding my own business, and this guy came up to me and said, "You're gonna have to move, you're blocking a fire exit." As though if there was a fire, I wasn't gonna run. If you're flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit.

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.

Go see a more complete list over at Wikipedia

My wife bought be his two CDs for my birthday. Hilarious stuff. I'll miss him.

[stevesnj]

He was on Stern 2 weeks ago and didnt hear about him until then and I was impressed...

[bstone]

Heart attack at 37? He must have been on Atkins.

[wdlove]

My prayers go out to his family an friends. May he rest in peace.

[ironknee]

I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.

he will be missed

[iREZ]

This sucks! R.I.P.

[E's Lil Theorem]

I first saw his Comedy Central Special a few months ago and thought he brilliant. I never thought a one-liner comedian could be so funny, but he was the real deal.

May he rest in peace.

[budster101]

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/11278099.htm





He was a funny ****.

Sad news. I never heard of the guy, but I'll go and check out his work. Laughing is supposed to be healthy... I guess making people laugh is anti-healthy?

Anyway, was he funnier than "The Amazing Jonathan"?



http://amazingj.com

[nredman]

some funny video clips on comedy central's website

[Truepop]

sucks.

demetri martin is someone who's routine reminds me of his.

[budster101]

Originally posted by nredman:
some funny video clips on comedy central's website

Thanks for the links.

He has a great web site as well.
I'm going to order his CDs as soon as I have some extra money.

[d0ubled0wn]

I hadn't heard of Mitch until I heard this segment on the Bob and Tom show this morning...

Mitch Hedberg clip