R.I.P. Mitch Hedberg

Comedian Mitch Hedberg passed away yesterday afternoon. As of this moment, there are little details to his early demise.

I only learned about him a month or two ago on a satellite radio comedy station. I was hooked right away with his dry humour. He took the Steven Wright style of everyday observations and brought them to a whole new level. I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud listening to a stand-up comic on the radio - until I heard Mitch. He had a truly great way of working the crowd with his delivery.

I'm sorry that he left so soon.

[ Edited by: MachTiki on 2005-03-31 09:05 ]

Source?

I'mma not believe this for a bit or two.

From TwinCities.com

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.

There is also a link on Comedy Central's website about this

[ Edited by: MachTiki on 2005-03-31 11:46 ]

Mitch Hedberg quotes

Compiled from the Internet:

I tried walking into a Target, but I missed.

I once saw a forklift lift a crate of forks. And it was way to literal for ME.

I would imagine if you understood Morse Code, a tap dancer would drive you crazy.

I was walking down the street with my friend and he said "I hear music." As though there's any other way to take it in. You're not special. That's how I receive it too...I tried to taste it, but it did not work.

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 flammible and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit.

You know when they have a fishing show on TV? They catch the fish and then let it go. They don't want to eat the fish, they just want to make it late for something.

I haven't slept for ten days, because that would be too long.

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? Boy, you really like Tide."

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

This shirt is dry clean only. Which means...it's dirty.

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

One time a guy handed me a picture of himself and he said. "Here's a picture of me when I was younger." Every picture of you is of when you were younger. Here's a picture of me when I'm older. How'd you pull that off? Let me see that camera.

I think foosball is a combination of soccer and shish kabobs.

A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer.

My friend said to me, "You know what I like? Mashed potatoes." I was like, "Dude, you have to give me time to guess. If you're going to quiz me you have to insert a pause."

Personal favorite:
I'm tired of chasing my dreams. I think I'll just find out where they're going and hook up with them when they get there.

[ Edited by: MachTiki on 2005-03-31 15:09 ]

I too was exposed to Mitch Hedberg on XM's comedy channel... though I'm not particularly fond of one-liner comedians his stuff was pretty good...

I'd heard him a few times, always made me laugh. He was on Howard Stern a few weeks ago inspired me to go see him when he came to Baltimore this weekend. So many favorites, here's my 2.

"I bought a donut and the guy gave me a receipt for the donut. I don't need a receipt for the donut, I give you the money, you give me the donut, end of transaction. We do not need to bring ink and paper into this. I can not imagine the senerio where I would have to prove that I brought a donut. Some skeptical friend. Don't even act like I didn't get that donut. I got the documentation right here."

I had a bag of Fritos. They were Texas grilled Fritos. These Fritos had grill marks on them. Hell yeah. Reminds me of summer time, when we used to fire up the barbeque and throw down some Fritos. I can still see my dad with the apron on. 'Better flip that Frito, Dad. You know how I like mine.'

[ Edited by: Turbogod on 2005-03-31 17:10 ]

thanks Machtiki for posting the quips...
I read 'em to my 18 year old daughter and
we laughed in Mitch's honor. Very sad.

I barely heard about this guy a few months ago and had to figure out who he was when I heard the news today. Seemed like he had great promise. I'm just disturbed that he passed away from a heart attack at 37. Jeez. I'm 38...what the hell does that mean?

Crap! Not another one... This upsets me greatly. Mitch was one funny mofo.

On 2005-03-31 20:52, donhonyc wrote:
... I'm just disturbed that he passed away from a heart attack at 37. Jeez. I'm 38...what the hell does that mean?

My thoughts exactly DHNYC. I'm 38 as well.

[ Edited by: MachTiki on 2005-04-11 14:15 ]