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Comedian suicide not funny matter

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Also by Mike Peters:

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Hats off to three funnymen (April 27, 2007)
Kings of Comedy list needs revision (April 20, 2007)
TV execs clean out best shows (April 13, 2007)
End of 'Punk'd' better be true (March 30, 2007)

by Mike Peters

Friday, March 16, 2007

Who's ready for some comedy? Today's topic: Suicide.

Since my column's focus is on comedy, I feel compelled to discuss Richard Jeni's suicide, which occurred March 10. I must first admit that I did not know much about him. In fact, I still do not know a whole lot about him. I was aware of him, occasionally caught him on television and saw him in "The Mask," but I never really invested any attention in his stand-up.

In fact, I am ashamed to say I probably knew him best as the punch line to a joke from "Family Guy." As Peter lies in bed, sleeping, he calls out the name "Jeni." He completes the thought by eventually saying, "Oh, Richard Jeni, your HBO comedy specials have brought pleasure to millions." After a brief pause, he then humorously adds, "And what a sweet ass."

This past week, as I read several articles and the general Internet response, I realized the first part of Peter's sleep talk is not so much funny as it is true. Okay, it's also funny, but people do remember him fondly, and many specifically reference his HBO specials. Therefore, I decided to seek out "A Big Steaming Pile of Me," his most recent special that aired in 2005.

From what I watched, he was indeed a solid performer. Had I checked him out earlier, he would have never been one of my favorite comedians, but I could have respected what he was doing. At one now-sad point during "A Big Steaming Pile of Me," he tells a joke about wishing he were dead when a woman has PMS. This observation has gone from mildly amusing to incredibly unfortunate.

Sadly, I suspect that when people hear the name Richard Jeni now, suicide will always be the first thing on their minds and comedy will be an afterthought. Suicide has also somewhat tainted my memories of other such performers as Ray Combs and Freddie Prinze. Maybe this is just me, but I honestly cannot watch a rerun of "Family Feud" on GSN without thinking of Combs hanging himself. Then again, perhaps I'm just a dark individual.

Similarly, there are the comedians who kill themselves indirectly with drugs and/or alcohol. John Belushi, Chris Farley and Mitch Hedberg are a few that immediately come to my mind. I actually had the pleasure of seeing Hedberg here in Madison at the Barrymore Theatre on Sept. 9, 2004. This was less than seven months before he died of a drug overdose.

Hedberg took the stage unable to walk straight. He proceeded to slur his words, repeat jokes without even realizing it, forget jokes in the middle of telling them and get distracted by little things like the way the microphone cord looked when he whipped it in the air, an act — if I recall correctly — that resulted in spilling his beer. The crowd loved it. I loved it. Looking back, though, what I thought was funny at the time was actually probably a sign of his ill-fated future.

Why do comedians do this to themselves? It seems like more than most professions, depression is a prominent condition with comedians. I guess it's the classic sad clown syndrome — the smile is sometimes only painted on. Some comedians seem to have no happiness of their own, aside from the moments when they provide happiness to others. Even in death, especially in the age of the Internet, they can at least rest assured that they are still providing people with happiness.

I think Mitch Hedberg put it best when he said, "I went to a pizzeria. I ordered a slice of pizza. The fucker gave me the smallest slice possible. If the pizza was a pie chart for what people would do if they found a million dollars, the fucker gave me the 'Donate it to charity' slice. I would like to exchange this for the 'Keep it!'" I realize that has nothing to do with what I was talking about, but it is a damn funny joke.

Mike Peters is a senior focusing on communication arts, film and business. What's your favorite Richard Jeni moment? E-mail Mike at mpeters@badgerherald.com.

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Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 8:26am):

great article, and very much true about depression being a prominent condition with comedians...

Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 10:26am):

Letterman and Chris Rock discussed Jeni's death on Letterman's show a few days after Jeni died. They were appropriately funny -- nothing too light and certainly nothing sad or mournful. Rock said that if Jeni were alive he would be saying what a funny movie "I think I love my wife" is -- in fact, he is probably kicking himself for missing it.

Good stuff

Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 12:41pm):

Mitch Hedberg had congenital heart disease. Excuuuuse me. Get your facts straight.

Anonymous (March 16, 2007 @ 3:06pm):

Lobster Sweepstakes. That's all I need to hear to smile for a day. My room-mates and I (way back in the day attending the UW) would tirelessly watch and repeat everything Jeni. I miss them and now I will miss our household icon! Long live the yatch club and Platypus Man in my heart and soul! ;-)

Anonymous (March 19, 2007 @ 10:13am):

Yes, he did have a congenital heart disease but he died of an accidental drug overdose with traces of both cocaine and heroin in his body.

Anonymous (January 27, 2008 @ 8:09am):

Hedberg died from a drug overdose is a long dispelled myth. He died from heart valve failure, which had nothing to do with his preferred hobby.

Anonymous (May 26, 2008 @ 1:04am):

Comedians arent depressed, depressed people are comedians. It is a way of coping. Humor is a defense mechanism.

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