Customer Reviews

Deadbeat Hero (CD with DVD)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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+

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

I must say, before I had heard this, I had heard a lot of things (mostly good) about Mr. Stanhope. After hearing this, I can see why I had. This man takes absolutely no prisoners. As he says near the beginning of his show, "Seeing me is like going off to battle, some of you aren't going to be here in the end." With his content, I can definately see why he might say such a thing. He goes over everything, from terrorism to two-headed babies, he mercilessly covers it all. This guy can deliver too. He flows through his set like no other, keeping everyone wondering the same thing, "What will he say next?" It's that good. I'm a huge fan of Bill Hicks and I still wasn't prepared for this. Nobody can be. There is nothing like this.

If you are a Stanhope fan, you won't be disappointed. Stanhope is vulgar and very funny. Real word comedy. If your feelings are hurt easily, don't listen to any of Stanhope's stuff. Very Funny!

Brutually honest and hilarious. I highly recommend this cd and Doug Stanhope in general. He will challenge you and open your mind or just piss you off and make you sad. Either way its pure entertainment!

I'v been a fan of stand up since the 80's and while some are good and some are great and others you just want to forget there are a few that make you laugh so hard they become something beyond simple ratings. Doug Stanhope is one of those, so funny, so raw and amazing I couldn't stop laughing, I ran out of oxygen, began coughing then puked. Then I played what I missed while coughing again. Don't eat, drink or smoke during his stuff, you could die. The only shows I can think that come close to this recently are Rodeny Carrington's Morning Wood, Lewis Black On Broadway and Stephen Lynch. If you can't understand a life more than normal but less than common, if sex and drugs offend you, pass. People easily offended shouldn't watch comics anyway, nor should anyone who can't laugh at themselves. Which is what I think Doug does, he makes us laugh at ourselves and WITH him.

Doug Stanhope is funny because he has funny things to say, that's really about it. Although released in 2004, this CD still sounds very fresh when so much current stand up comedy seems to be centered around ethnic humor, a goofy delivery, or some combination of both. I haven't found any other comedian whose material holds up to repeated listens like Stanhope's.