Sam Kinison: Breaking the Rules

I don't think I've ever laughed harder than the first time I heard Sam Kinison's 1993 CD "Live From Hell." Indeed, to this day, I chuckle every time I think about the Captain Kangaroo, rap music and Kurds routines on that brilliant album. Feeling down and in need of some yuks the other night (and let's face it, who COULDN'T use some more laughs in his or her life?), I threw on Sam's DVD "Breaking the Rules," and am pleased to report that this HBO special, filmed in 1987 before a Hollywood audience that included Hugh Hefner, had me tearing up with laughter within 10 minutes. This DVD is well named; Sam does break the rules and push the proverbial envelope, here as always; nothing is off limits, and topics such as Jesus' wife, the importance of lies in marriage, and homosexual necrophilia are sure to be offputting to many. The majority, I have a feeling, will be cheering and roaring with laughter. Sam's act is as un-PC as it gets, but Lordy, is it ever funny! He even tells us, in one hilarious routine, of his surefire method of pleasing a woman orally; a technique that I personally can't wait to try! I might add that this DVD's bonus footage shows Sam in Vegas some four years later, more manic than ever (how did the man ever perform without a constant influx of Ricolas?); his rant on gerbils in this segment is particularly hilarious. Yes, the world surely did lose a brilliant comedic voice when Sam was taken from us in 1992. If laughter is the best medicine, then Sam was one of our most gifted surgeons. At least, he sure knew how to operate on MY funny bone! This DVD cheered me up on a glum night, and I can think of no higher praise for a comedian.