When the Laughter Ends

Bill Hicks, Elmer Dinkly, David Letterman, and when comedy stops being funny.

David Letterman apologizes to Mary Hicks, mother of Bill Hicks, January 30, 2009

On January 30, 2009, David Letterman apologized to a national television audience and Mary Hicks, the mother of the deceased comedian Bill Hicks, for the only time Letterman censored a guest comedian on The Late Show. 

Bill Hicks appeared on The Late Show on October 1, 1993, his 12th appearance as a guest of Letterman. Bill’s routine was edited out entirely from the Late Show broadcast later that same night.

Bill Hicks never appeared again on the Late Show.

He died of pancreatic cancer on February 26, 1994.

Who is Bill Hicks?