Sick Humor: What It Was, Where It Went

My 2023 Sean Kelly Memorial Lecture on Comedy :-)

The death of our beloved contributor Sam Gross last week and the blizzard of encomia that followed has got me thinking about what used to be called “Sick humor.” Though Sam produced reams of gags perfectly suitable to the most delicate sensibilities, it’s the Sick stuff for which he’ll be remembered—just as Lenny Bruce will be remembered for the bits t…