Bruce
Blue Room | Dangerous Words
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4m 26s
Contains Explicit and Uncensored Content.
A fierce iconoclast, Lenny Bruce revolutionized stand-up in the 1950s. At the time, most comics were still reciting tame routines and generic jokes. By contrast, Bruce’s sets were wild acts of self-expression, full of personal confession, improvised rants, and raw observations on sex, race, religion, and politics. Bruce’s insistence on pushing the boundaries of language, content, and form ushered in a new era of cerebral, artistic stand-up. It also invited controversy. By the early 1960s, Bruce had become the target of local vice squads, police departments, and even religious factions. Despite numerous arrests, he continued his attacks on hypocrisy and complacency until his death in 1966. Over half a century later, Bruce’s intelligence and irreverence still echo across the American comedy landscape.
This video includes exclusive interviews with Richard Lewis, Elayne Boosler, Robert Klein, Penn Jillette, Lewis Black, Gilbert Gottfried, Marcus Hunter, and Mel Watkins.
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