He had a balcony you could do Shakespeare off of.

March 9, 2012 10:54 AM

Firesign Theater's Peter Bergman Dead at 73 of Complications from Leukemia. Peter Bergman, founding member of The Firesign Theatre has passed on to that great Humbolt County in the sky.
posted by SPUTNIK (85 comments total)

I know there's other seekers entering this New Age of ours, but I suddenly feel alienated and alone.


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posted by Smart Dalek at 11:00 AM on March 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

God damn. God damn. Damn, damn, damn. He could not beat the reaper.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 11:08 AM on March 9, 2012 [5 favorites]

One less bozo on the bus.

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posted by oneswellfoop at 11:09 AM on March 9, 2012 [4 favorites]

:(
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posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:12 AM on March 9, 2012

Like the hot kiss at the end of a wet fist....

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posted by lumpenprole at 11:12 AM on March 9, 2012

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posted by sideshow at 11:15 AM on March 9, 2012

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posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 11:15 AM on March 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

The Firesign Theatre has never left me without something funny to quote in almost any situation.

Until now.

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posted by Faint of Butt at 11:16 AM on March 9, 2012

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posted by cmdnc0 at 11:19 AM on March 9, 2012

He's no fun, he fell right over. Too soon? Sorry. I miss him already, though.
posted by ardgedee at 11:25 AM on March 9, 2012 [12 favorites]

No ardgedee, that's where my mind went too. Also something about hoping they were wrong about being alone in the next world. Think I'll just go with the dot.

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posted by Lentrohamsanin at 11:27 AM on March 9, 2012

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posted by ahimsakid at 11:28 AM on March 9, 2012

He's no fun, he fell right over.

That'd look great on a tombstone.

Also:

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posted by benito.strauss at 11:33 AM on March 9, 2012

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posted by tommasz at 11:34 AM on March 9, 2012

Shoes For Industry...


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posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:39 AM on March 9, 2012

Hand me the pliers...
posted by Obscure Reference at 11:40 AM on March 9, 2012

I smoked quite a few joints on New Years' mornings back in the day while watching the Rose Parade on Channel 11 with the TV's sound turned off while listening to Firesign Theater's alternative narration on KMET. Probably the best concept ever for TV/radiosimulcasting.
posted by buggzzee23 at 11:45 AM on March 9, 2012 [7 favorites]

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posted by sutt at 11:49 AM on March 9, 2012

Everyone knew him as Nancy.
posted by Trace McJoy at 11:51 AM on March 9, 2012 [2 favorites]

Damn. Thanks for everything, Peter!

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posted by Thorzdad at 11:57 AM on March 9, 2012

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posted by Eyebeams at 11:58 AM on March 9, 2012

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posted by bmarkey at 11:58 AM on March 9, 2012

Shoes for industry! Shoes for the dead! RIP
posted by Gungho at 11:59 AM on March 9, 2012

I gave a talk at the Digital Storytelling Festival with my close friend John Worthington many years ago, and Peter Bergman and Douglas Adams came up to us afterwards, to tell how how much they enjoyed our talk, and how funny they found us. I don't think I've ever been as high as that moment. Somewhere, buried in a box, I have a photo of me with those two Titans of yucks flanking me on either side.

RIP, Peter, you and your cohorts defined the state of the art of underground comedy for those of us of a certain age and cultural background.

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posted by dbiedny at 12:00 PM on March 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

So very sad. We just introduced two of our friends to FT and I envy them all the great comedy that they are about to enjoy.

Fuck cancer.


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posted by blurker at 12:02 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by zzazazz at 12:04 PM on March 9, 2012

I'd never heard of this bit buggzzee23 mentioned - oh man what a great idea. So sorry I missed that. And about Peter of course.
posted by Eyebeams at 12:05 PM on March 9, 2012

Eyebeams, check your memail.
posted by SPUTNIK at 12:11 PM on March 9, 2012

I had not head of this either. Wow, I bet that was better than my snarky friends live tweeting award shows.
posted by zzazazz at 12:11 PM on March 9, 2012

GODDAMNIT
posted by Edison Carter at 12:12 PM on March 9, 2012

god damn it
posted by Edison Carter at 12:12 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by Edison Carter at 12:12 PM on March 9, 2012

Did anyone ever record this?
posted by zzazazz at 12:12 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by tspae at 12:20 PM on March 9, 2012

Yeah, gonna need to see this. Anybody?
posted by word_virus at 12:21 PM on March 9, 2012

I have copies of the audio, not the video. It's pretty funny.
posted by Edison Carter at 12:24 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by languagehat at 12:38 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by Dean358 at 12:42 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by lordrunningclam at 12:48 PM on March 9, 2012

Where're you gonna graduate from?

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posted by bakerina at 12:49 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by trip and a half at 12:50 PM on March 9, 2012

Since everyone seems to be asking, and I know the answer, I'll just say *cough* google "alternate rose" firesign torrent *cough*.
posted by SPUTNIK at 12:53 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by crunchland at 1:25 PM on March 9, 2012

Just a moment, I'l be right back I've got to get an ice cream cone... Hey! wait a minute Hey, hey! I've got a nickel! Wait for me...
posted by Devils Rancher at 1:42 PM on March 9, 2012 [6 favorites]

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crap....
posted by Confess, Fletch at 2:04 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 2:12 PM on March 9, 2012

"And here's a long line of Indians leaving Rancho Malario for YOU!"

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posted by Hobgoblin at 2:34 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by valkane at 2:41 PM on March 9, 2012

Why did the bozo cross the road? Someone told him not to.










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posted by Mental Wimp at 2:46 PM on March 9, 2012

. Butl you know, it's just shoes for industry.
posted by rtimmel at 2:47 PM on March 9, 2012

He had a balcony you could do Shakespeare off of.

Not really.

But he did invent the "love in" and MC'ed Albert Ayler. And taught economics at Yale. And worked with Tom Stoppard. And pioneered free-form radio.

So long, Bradshaw, Rocky, Mudhead, Clark Cable.

So long, Babe.

Move toward the light.

It's coming from inside the pyramid.

The one with the ever-widening hole in it.

There's a vacancy. . .

There's a vacancy.

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posted by Herodios at 2:47 PM on March 9, 2012 [3 favorites]

BTW, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society websites.

Also, tell your congresscritters to fund the National Cancer Institute. Shit's gotta stop.
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:53 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 2:54 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by luckynerd at 2:58 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by klausness at 3:23 PM on March 9, 2012

Damn.
posted by gamera at 3:29 PM on March 9, 2012

Cancer sucks.
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posted by cookie-k at 3:42 PM on March 9, 2012

I got to interview Proctor and Bergman when they played an early Bumbershoot -- in 1980, I am thinking -- and they were both so nice to me, spoke at length and were quite funny, naturally enough. And one of them, I forget who, was into computers and was so jazzed about just getting a 28 bit modem. High speed internet, baby ! I was so impressed.
posted by y2karl at 3:57 PM on March 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Squeeze the wheeze, many people like to. Goodnight, sweet prince.
posted by Kinbote at 4:11 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by jabo at 4:12 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by the sobsister at 4:37 PM on March 9, 2012

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The needle is now in the other other groove.
posted by mwhybark at 5:08 PM on March 9, 2012

Hello seeker! Now don't feel alone here in the New Age, because there's a seeker born every minute.

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Damnit.
posted by Aversion Therapy at 5:11 PM on March 9, 2012

I'm so glad he knew about that thread. That makes me feel good about the universe.
posted by Trochanter at 5:47 PM on March 9, 2012 [3 favorites]

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posted by Karmadillo at 6:16 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:52 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by DaddyNewt at 6:53 PM on March 9, 2012

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Funeral services will be held at the Church of the Presumptuous Assumption. Day and time yet to be announced.

Happy that my dad introduced me to this group via vinyl. He was sad to hear this news.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 7:06 PM on March 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

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posted by hap_hazard at 7:09 PM on March 9, 2012

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posted by RakDaddy at 7:20 PM on March 9, 2012

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Oh, dear.

"The mainspring of this nation... wound up as tight as it is... is guaranteed for the life of the watch. And who's watching? People like YOU..."
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:02 PM on March 9, 2012

Whether the gate's still grounded or not, I hope the Pneumatic Institute has kept everything shiny or stocked up on nylon-remover. We Amateur Electrical Leaguers will be dropping by after the Turing thing to get 'Coleridged'.
posted by Twang at 10:15 PM on March 9, 2012

"We're the leaders of tomorrow."
"Yeah! But it's today!"


My god this is incredibly depressing news. Yippie tie one on, Peter, and we'll see you on the Funway.
posted by Spatch at 11:15 PM on March 9, 2012

"Porgy Tirebiter
He's a spy and a girl delighter
Porgy Tirebiter
Just a student like you
Like me?
Just a student like yooooouuuuuuuuuuuu..............."

Sniff.


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posted by Lynsey at 11:22 PM on March 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

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posted by halliburtron at 5:57 AM on March 10, 2012

Not a winner at Beat the Reaper.


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posted by Obscure Reference at 6:10 AM on March 10, 2012

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posted by motty at 6:59 AM on March 10, 2012

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posted by gudrun at 7:51 AM on March 10, 2012

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posted by dragoon at 7:54 AM on March 10, 2012

Ever since the sun took LSD, it's been a fundamentally better sun.
posted by hap_hazard at 11:24 AM on March 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

and the little red needle is pointing to E

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posted by a humble nudibranch at 2:37 PM on March 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

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posted by zaelic at 12:16 AM on March 11, 2012

I'm guessing he's on the Antelope Freeway. Less traffic.
posted by argybarg at 11:02 AM on March 11, 2012

Ever since the sun took LSD, it's been a fundamentally better sun.

Gee, you! Are you?
posted by Edison Carter at 7:09 AM on March 14, 2012

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posted by steambadger at 8:28 AM on March 14, 2012