Digging Up Mother by Doug Stanhope

Digging Up Mother by Doug Stanhope

Doug Stanhope is one of the most critically acclaimed and stridently unrepentant comedians of his generation. What will surprise some is that he owes so much of his dark and sometimes uncomfortably honest sense of humor to his mother, Bonnie. It was the cartoons in HER Hustler magazine issues that molded the beginnings of his comedic journey, long before he was old enough to know what to do with the actual pornography. It was Bonnie who recited Monty Python sketches with him, who introduced him to Richard Pryor at nine years old, and who rescued him from a psychologist when he brought that brand of humor to school. And it was Bonnie who took him along to all of her A meetings where Doug undoubtedly found inspiration for his own story-telling.

Bonnie's own journey from bar-tending to truck driving, massage therapy, elder abuse, and stand-up comedy and acting never stopped her from being Doug's genuine number one fan. So when Bonnie's alcoholic, hoarding life finally came to an end, so many weird adventures later in rural Arizona, it was inevitable that Doug and Bonnie would be together for one last journey.

Digging Up Mother follows Doug's absurd, chaotic, and often obscene life as it intersects with that of his best friend, biggest fan, and love of his life - his mother, Bonnie. And it all starts with her death - one of the most memorable and amazing farewells you will ever hear.

Doug Stanhope has been performing stand-up comedy for over twenty-five years and has built a cult-like following around the world by using his uncompromising brand of humor to avoid mainstream popularity. He does a lot of touring and has over a dozen comedy specials under his belt. Stanhope lives in Bisbee, Arizona, on the US-Mexico border, with dogs named after people and an unusual relationship with his girlfriend Bingo.