Also like Cobain, Hedberg was heavily addicted to drugs, an issue he fought throughout his life. Entertainment Weekly referred to him as " comedy's Kurt Cobain." Much like the rock star, Hedberg seemed very uncomfortable with his popularity, many times mumbling his lines and keeping his head down and voice low. Mitch Hedberg's comedy was a bit of a throwback, as it relied more on clever puns and a quick wit, similar to that of Rodney Dangerfield or Jerry Seinfeld, the latter of whom he was compared to by Time. In 2009, Letterman invited on Hicks' mother, Mary Hicks, to apologize and played the entire performance. One of his last appearances was on the Late Show with David Letterman, a slot which became infamous for Letterman cutting the entire set to avoid controversy, enraging Hicks. Unfortunately, Hicks was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died from the disease within nine months. Like Lenny Bruce, these subjects limited his commercial viability in the United States outside of an intense cult following, though Hicks, unlike Bruce, saw great success overseas. Britannica described his later comedy as "ontological," discussing human existence itself.
He drew comparisons to the likes of George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, and Richard Pryor for tackling "taboo" subjects in society such as the First Amendment, advertisement, religion, and substance abuse.
According to Britannica, Hicks did about 300 shows a year for a five-year period. Hicks grew his audience and comedic style through relentless touring in the late 1980s and working in the Houston-based "Comedy Workshop" while a part of the Texas Outlaw Comics, a group of young comedians that famously included Sam Kinison.
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