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And then I come to find out after that film, that all the lesbian sex scenes : let me repeat that. All the lesbian sex scenes : were cut out of that film because the test audience was turned off by them. Boy, is my thumb not on the pulse of America. I don't want to seem like Randy Pan, the Goat Boy, but that was the only reason I went to that piece of shit. If I had been in that test audience, the only one out front protesting that film would have been Michael Douglas, demanding his part be put back in, all right. 'I swear I was in that movie. I swear I was!' 'Gee, Mike. The movie started. Sharon Stone was eating another woman for an hour and a half. Then the credits rolled. I don't remember seeing your scrawny ass, Mike.' 'Was Bill Hicks in that test audience?'

Bill Hicks#23

MoviesAudienceCensorshipRepresentation

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker mocks movie test audiences and critics for rejecting lesbian sex scenes.
In plain terms
Test audiences rejected lesbian scenes, showing ignorance.
What can you take from it?
Audience taste is not always sophisticated.

Where it applies

  • film criticism
  • media studies
  • social commentary

Putting it to work

  • trust your own taste
  • defend representation

Questions to consider

  • Why do we reject what is unfamiliar?
  • Who decides what stories get told?

Another view

Marketing choices often reflect market data, not just prejudice.

More from Bill Hicks

  1. But you know, I saw this movie last year called Basic : Instinct. Okay. Now, Bill's quick capsule review: Piece of shit. Okay, now : yeah, yeah. End of story, …

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  2. By the way, if anyone here is in advertising or marketing, kill yourself. Just a little thought. I'm just trying to plant seeds. Maybe one day, they'll take ro…

    Permalink to quote #24
  3. It is hard to quit smoking. Every one of them looks pretty good to me right now. Every cigarette looks like it was made by God, rolled by Jesus and lightly moi…

    Permalink to quote #21

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