Deadbeat Hero (CD with DVD) [Enhanced]

Doug Stanhope | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Stand Up! Records
• ASIN: B000S95LQG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,312 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

...if you like your comedy rough, raw, and rowdy, there's no one better than Doug Stanhope. --The Austin Chronicle

Product Description

Listening to Doug Stanhope’s “Deadbeat Hero” is a lot like playing a game of “Would you rather…?” with yourself. There are tough questions. You might discover larger truths about your own psyche. You’ll probably be disgusted. You might put your fingers in your ears and sing “la la laaaaa!” Because, as he puts it, a Stanhope routine’s a lot like being led into battle: some of you won’t be here when we’re done. But those of you who are? You’re the hearty souls, the battle-hardened comedy aficionados not too afraid to ask, “Would I rather perform fellatio on another man in order to earn the right to use derogatory terms for gay people or confront a self-satisfied southern law-man as he righteously raids a sex shop?” or “Would I rather go through life with a conjoined twin head atop my own or go all biblically ‘eye-for-an-eye’ with a molester priest?” or even “Would I rather send my mom in as a suicide bomber to protest the withholding of breakfast sandwiches in the afternoon or stubbornly vote ‘not guilty’ on an otherwise unanimous jury just to stick it to the man?”

In addition to helping listeners probe their minds (and other regions), Stanhope proves he’s in it to win it by including a full DVD of his live performance at Seattle’s Comedy Underground, as well as rare clips of his past hairdos (and stand up routines, but let’s face it, we’re in it for the mullets) and “Street Rants” with the accompaniment of Banjo Randy. Stand Up! Records is proud - and only slightly chagrined - to present “Deadbeat Hero.”

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Epitome of the Real, January 9, 2007

By 

Alain Blanc "fairykarma" (Kuching, Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deadbeat Hero (Audio CD)

Comedy is diverse. You have comedians like Brian Regan who discuss trivial but funny issues, and don't use profanity. You have eccentric comedians like Mitch Hedberg who rely on delicate but cleverly phrased one-liners. Ray Romano and Jeff Foxworthy discuss family life. No doubt, it's all funny; but every once in a while you get someone like Doug Stanhope, the embodiment of the abyss, way beyond Bill Maher's cynicism. Stanhope is nihilism.

When people think of nihilism, they most likely think of chaos, failed hippie communes, and in general misdirected angsty teenagers with nothing to do. Stanhope escapes this by embracing an optimistic twist to nihilism. The jokes he tells, you definitely wouldn't tell to family and friends, and you probably don't want to anyway because Stanhope is there just for YOU.

He acknowledges the establishment is screwing you over, so drink on the company dime. If you get fired, steal something. He tells extremely lewd sex jokes and does a piece on the Iraq War. In all of this, I don't believe he insulted anyone but himself. I like this. Race or prejudice/stereotype related jokes are funny but they create some tension. Even when you're alone, you think to yourself as you laugh nervously, is that really funny? But Stanhope does something rare. He destroys his own ego. This is self-deprecating humor at its best. He doesn't rely on anyone but himself to make you laugh. He allows you to just relax. You don't have to censor your laughter anymore. To me, that's comedy. Carlos Mencia and some others seem to think comedy is all about tension. It isn't. Comedy, for me, doesn't consist of making fun of other races or constantly pointing out the stupidity of others. That trick is overdone. Read Nietzsche. Who's he making fun of? Read Plato, who's he making fun of behind all that flowery prose? Dumb people. We get it! People are dumb. But it's not funny. It's like listening to a George W. Bush joke, over and over until oblivion knocks on the door.

What comedians need to understand is they're comedians, the audience isn't. The audience still has to censor itself. With Stanhope, this isn't necessary. Stanhope doesn't rely on overused stereotypes or observations to make his point. Instead he points to himself. This offers originality and extremely obscure situations that would never happen. There's no tension anymore. He allows the audience to enjoy a good cup of black humor, without thinking twice.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars deadbeat her0, February 23, 2005

By 

A. Stearns - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deadbeat Hero (Audio CD)

well.. i searched high and low for this disk. Even went out of state to get it, and still denied. And tonight i went to the local wal-mart for batteries, and much to my suprise they had it on dvd *which came w/ the audio cd* for $11.99. I could've done a back flip i was s0 happy. Got it home, popped in the dvd and oh yes, ladies and gents. It's rude, crude, fowel humor and i love it. Another Stanhope classic. Expecially track 7..cracks me up every time. Definately buy this album, if you like uncut-rude comedy! A+

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Album, November 3, 2008

By 

Sean O. Johnson (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deadbeat Hero (CD with DVD) (Audio CD)

This is an excellent album, quite possibly Doug's Best. If you enjoy dark humor from a loud drunk then this is it. this Libertarian ex-presidential candidate is by far one of funniest comics in the country, his stand-up ranges from drugs and alcohol to deformed babies to effecting the legal system. All of which will leave you on the floor laughing. BUY IT NOW then go search for Doug's tour dates so you can catch him preforming near you