Sam Kinison: Outlaws of Comedy (2005)
Requiem for a Screamer
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
Buy Sam Kinison: Outlaws of Comedy on DVD.
When Sam Kinison (1954-1992) first appeared on those Rodney Dangerfield
comedy specials on cable in the mid-1980s, I immediately glommed onto
him. I taped the specials and memorized his routines, even attempting to
emulate his raspy, explosive scream. I thought he was the freshest,
funniest comic around. Unfortunately, the magic did not last long.
Kinison rocketed to stardom and easily fell into the usual glitzy
showbiz trap. This 1990 San Francisco concert catches him at a low
point, when he was into drugs, booze and whores. His entire 45-minute
act consists of his attacking anyone who has said anything bad about him
in the press. There is not a single joke. It's an ugly, unfunny show
with bad sound to boot. Two years later, Kinison had cleaned up his act
and even proposed marriage when he was killed by a drunk driver. Former
San Francisco morning radio talk show legend Alex Bennett appears,
introducing the show.
DVD Details: This new DVD from Geneon comes with a Sam Kinison bio and photo gallery.
Starring: Sam Kinison
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 45 minutes
Date: July 29, 2005
