American & Long Story Short

In the last few weeks, we have watched two incredibly inspirational shows. 

American: The Bill Hicks Story.  You already know (I hope) that Bill Hicks was a stand-up comedian whose growing posthumous fame began long ago, when he was a living "outlaw comic" in Texas.  You don't already know that he was one of the world's biggest sweetiepants sweethearts, self-educated, and that he regarded his time as an alchoholic as his least productive artistic period. Watch it, and then get up off your ass and do that thing you've been waiting to do.   

Colin Quinn:  Long Story Short.  I haven't seen Colin Quinn since his SNL days, and, honestly, until I saw Long Story Short, I didn't even know he was funny.  This show is hi larry us.  And I must confess a soft spot for nicely researched and educated comedy.  You know, nerd shit.  Not being a historian, I can't say how WELL-researched this piece is, but I can tell you that it made me like my neighbors a little better.*

*In case any of my neighbors are reading this:  that comment was made in a more general, biblical sense.  I happen to love all of my neighbors.  And after seeing Long Story Short, I even kinda like that one person who seems to fire up the chainsaw every night at 11:30.