It was great to be the rock comic, the shock comic. But after you've played Giants Stadium with Bon Jovi in front of 82,000 people, after you've done the 'Wild Thing' video with Jessica Hahn and every rock band from hell, you're not gonna top that.
Interpretation
Sam Kinison reflects on the peak of his career and the challenges of topping past successes.
In this quote, Sam Kinison expresses his realization that after reaching the heights of fame and performing in front of large crowds, such as at Giants Stadium, it becomes difficult to continue achieving comparable success. He highlights the fleeting nature of stardom and the pressure that comes with trying to outdo monumental moments in one's career.
In practice
During a comedy club performance when discussing the challenges of fame.
You don't know what a rough crowd is. If all I have to do is go make people laugh, that's nothing. Let me tell you what a tough crowd is. A tough crowd is going to a morning service and you got six people there and you gotta pay your house payment. That's a tough crowd.
That evening I rode downtown on an unaccountably empty bus, sitting in the last row. At the front I saw a thin cloud of smoke rising around the driver’s head. ‘Hey, bus driver,’ I said. ‘Can I smoke?’ ‘May I,’ said the bus driver. ‘I love you,’ I said.
Comedy is a tool of togetherness. It's a way of putting your arm around someone, pointing at something, and saying, 'Isn't it funny that we do that?' It's a way of reaching out.
I've always believed, in my heart of hearts, that it would be a better show if, when I crossed over to the desk, the band kept playing for an hour and I danced in a cage.
When I'm funny is when I'm angriest.
Good night, Westley. Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning.
Some people have no idea what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.
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