Mitch HedbergMy favorite comedian, Mitch Hedberg, died in 2005, a great loss to comedy. But he’s back!:

Mitch Hedberg was one of the most beloved comedians and world renowned for his off-kilter one-liners and inimitable style. He died in March of 2005 with nearly an album’s worth of new material he was preparing to record later that October. While he never had the chance to record the album as he wanted, “Do You Believe In Gosh?” was taped live just prior to his passing and captures a large portion of his new jokes.

The CD was recorded two months prior to his death and contains nearly 40 minutes of previously unreleased stand-up material. “Do You Believe in Gosh?” captures most of the material Hedberg was working on for what would have been his next full-length album in a free-form show with a large amount of audience interaction. Listeners can expect the same bizarre one-liners like, “Is a hippopotamus a hippopotamus or just a really cool apoatmus?” delivered in the drawly, good-natured way only Hedberg could pull off. … Also included in the CD package is a booklet including never-before-seen photos and excerpts from Hedberg’s private journals. The CD pulses with Hedberg’s unique wit and spirit and is a document of a comedy master.

That’s one to buy for sure. I haven’t heard it and I’m already recommending it to everyone who loves stand-up. Hedberg was a pure, comedy genius – not in a Carlin or Bruce kind of way, but in a Hedberg kind of way – and the utterly pleasing, likable, carefree kind of guy you’d love to spend a night watching TV with. For another short piece of mine on Hedberg and to watch him in action, click here. To buy the new album, click here.